Crew Diaries:
JOHN THOMAS
Director of Photography

the magic hour

As filmmakers we often get caught up with our own problems and projects -- while striving to weave a web for our audience, we can lose sight of the world around us.

The Alamo is the best known symbol of the Texas revolution. Its famous outline is a reminder of the actions of heroes, outnumbered and surrounded by the army of Santa Anna. The crew of "Still Breathing" was scheduled to be at this historic site for a day to fight their own battle. We had a long performance piece to shoot that day, and a magic hour shot ("magic hour" is the time of day just as the sun is setting -- it's a brief 10 minute period in which everything must be set perfectly and go right to get it right) and a small night exterior to shoot in the early evening. Because of the length of the performance piece, we started very early in the day.

Thousands of tourists flow through the old mission's doors each day unaware of the changing patterns and effects created by the Texas sun. But the sun was a huge problem for us that day, not only in terms of heat (it was 100 degrees and our star was wearing a leather coat!) but in terms of consistent lighting. Cinematographers need to take care in planning their shooting days to take advantage of a location's natural light. The fickle Texas weather can wreak havoc with the lighting continuity of a site which the audience visits briefly on the screen, but we as filmmakers may struggle with for days or weeks.

As we camped outside the Alamo slowly shooting our scenes, to a casual observer we must have seemed like an army waiting and then working in spurts, fighting the moving sun, photographing our story in pieces while trying to respect the Native American burial ground under our feet (no dolly track allowed). During a portion of the day, we had to avoid the brilliantly lit Alamo from the background of our shots. This building is why we were there! Somehow, as always, we "made the day". The magic hour shot (which opens the film) was taken with just moments to spare. The night shot of Lou Rawls playing the saxophone in front of the Alamo went off without a hitch. We even walked home to our hotel, the Emily Morgan, overlooking Alamo Plaza.

Sitting in the shade in Alamo Plaza some days later, I had the opportunity to reflect on this special location. I hoped that our film work may bring some joy to an audience. I hoped that the tourists who visited this site felt something for the brave defenders of the Alamo, who died defending the Mexican constitution, heroes of Texas and protectors of freedom.

...John Thomas - Director of Photography

Director's notes: John was a first-time feature director's dream -- not only does the film look so beautiful that grown men have been known to leave the theater weeping, working with John was a one of the most creative and delightful experiences on the show. Sometimes a director feels like he's stuck in the middle of a lake of quicksand -- John was always there to wade in after me and pull me out.

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