Blair Witch Cinematographer Killed

08-17-2004, 04:47 PM

I just read that Neal Fredericks, the cinematographer for "The Blair Witch Project" was killed in a plane crash in Florida on Sunday. He was filming some new horror movie called "Cross Bones"...... Only 35 years old!

If anybody cares!

Shannafey · 08-17-2004, 05:03 PM

Not to sound negative, but there was no cinematography on the Blair Witch project. It was a bunch of Hi8 video!!

Anyway, regardless of what he was on the film, my prayers go out to his family. That was way too young to leave this earth!!

dwatts · 08-17-2004, 05:09 PM

--Not to sound negative, but there was no cinematography on the Blair Witch project. It was a bunch of Hi8 video!!--

I thought cinematography was an art form, not a piece of equipment or format. If the look of Blair Witch was planned, talked about, and executed, then he gets a lot of credit, imo.

Still, age isn't important here. A plane hitting the ground knows no barriers.

x666x · 08-17-2004, 05:56 PM

Yeah, not to be an ass, but his cinematography was ripped off from the likes of Cannibal Holocaust and Man Bites Dog.

Nonetheless, I feel sorry for him and his family. That is a terrible way to go for anyone. I wish the best for his family. At least there will be some comfort in the fact the he definately left behind a film memorable to a lot of people. His work received more accolades by the age of 35 than most of us will receive if we live to see 80.

08-17-2004, 06:01 PM

Excellent.......

Actually, one of the main reasons I posted this was to get people stirring again on the subject of "The Blair Witch Project"..... There's such a split between those who hate it and those who love it. I get a kick out of it, when I read people arguing back and forth about this movie.

For the record, I think this is a great movie, and I thought it was very well done. I do feel bad that this guy will no longer grace us with his work!

Grim · 08-17-2004, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x666x

Yeah, not to be an ass, but his cinematography was ripped off from the likes of Cannibal Holocaust and Man Bites Dog.

How do you know he had even seen these films? Proof would be nice.

dwatts · 08-17-2004, 06:10 PM

--Yeah, not to be an ass, but his cinematography was ripped off from the likes of Cannibal Holocaust and Man Bites Dog.--

Not to mention - IT DOESN'T MATTER. If the only cinematographers to get credit were those who innovated, we'd have to drop a lot of favorites from our lists. He did a good job - and THAT is what you he gets credit for

Jamm · 08-17-2004, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Ralph

Excellent.......

Actually, one of the main reasons I posted this was to get people stirring again on the subject of "The Blair Witch Project"..... There's such a split between those who hate it and those who love it. I get a kick out of it, when I read people arguing back and forth about this movie.

For the record, I think this is a great movie, and I thought it was very well done. I do feel bad that this guy will no longer grace us with his work!

Why on earth would you purposely stir up shit?

Shannafey · 08-17-2004, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwatts

--Not to sound negative, but there was no cinematography on the Blair Witch project. It was a bunch of Hi8 video!!--

I thought cinematography was an art form, not a piece of equipment or format. If the look of Blair Witch was planned, talked about, and executed, then he gets a lot of credit, imo.

Still, age isn't important here. A plane hitting the ground knows no barriers.

The Cinematographer or Director of Photography picks the lens, filters, camera crew and lighting scheme of the film, as well as getting the right exposure for the film. In general, he/she decides on the overall look of the film. None of this applied to the Blair Witch Project. It was a home movie shot on a home video camera!! Most home video cameras are auto everything and no lights were used on this film. That's why the term Cinematographer is amusing to me!

Agent Z · 08-17-2004, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwatts

I thought cinematography was an art form, not a piece of equipment or format. If the look of Blair Witch was planned, talked about, and executed, then he gets a lot of credit, imo.

I totally agree on the cinematography argument: defintely an art form and, in this case, one that succeeded in achieving the film's desired effect.

X-human · 08-17-2004, 07:35 PM

While there certainly is thought that has to be placed into the lighting sceme of a movie no matter what it's shot on, my understanding of Blair Witch is that the actors shot most of it. Admitedly some of the framing and lighting for certain scripted scene they were told what to do, but I wouldn't credit the D.P. for something like Blair Witch as anything more than perhaps an advisor. There was some 16mm stuff in there to wasn't there? The film stock and exposure (in that he told them what range they had to be in) all had to be choosen and selected by someone, I'm sure the D.P. would have done that as well.

But that does not take away from the fact that he has had a successful career, it looks like he's been the busiest one out of the whole group. It's kind of ironic that it's this success that probably made him a bigger target for air plane crashes over the rest of the Blar Witch crew. It happens and is a tragedy when anyone dies in a plane crash.

aoiookami · 08-17-2004, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Ralph

I get a kick out of it, when I read people arguing back and forth about this movie.

Nice to hear you posted about someone's death so you could stir up shit and get a kick out of it

edit; just to clarify, I read that everyone in the plane escaped, except for him, who was strapped in and under some film equipment while the plane was submerged. An awful way to die.

And there have already been several threads about BWP, all started way more tastefully.

08-17-2004, 07:44 PM

I just have a problem with the word 'killed'...to me 'killed' implies that someone had a hand in killing him...unless the pilot purposely crashed the plane he 'died' but was not 'killed'

x666x · 08-17-2004, 07:45 PM

I openly welcome "stirring up shit" threads. Some people can't take friendly confrontation. I was curious as to who would point out that this will end up to be another argument of BWP's validity.

Perhaps this guy never has seen either of the two films I mentioned earlier. It doesn't matter to me. It is just that people who make such a big deal about this film usually do it with its "style" and "originality" in mind. It has neither. If you think so than I think that is great for you. At least there are others out there who did feel like they were getting their money's and time worth.

08-17-2004, 07:51 PM

Does anyone know what kind of education or experiance that Neal Fredericks had? Who his influences where? I see nothing posted here in regard to that, therefore we can't assume what kind of a cinematographer he was; with the exception of his accomplishment on the Blair witch Project. If you don't like the film that's fine, but had another cinematographer shot BWP, I guarantee you that the results would have been different, regardless of the alleged simplistic shooting techniques.

08-17-2004, 04:47 PM	#1
Crazy Ralph Guest Posts: n/a	Blair Witch Cinematographer Killed I just read that Neal Fredericks, the cinematographer for "The Blair Witch Project" was killed in a plane crash in Florida on Sunday. He was filming some new horror movie called "Cross Bones"...... Only 35 years old! If anybody cares!

08-17-2004, 07:35 PM	#11
X-human I ate my keys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 6,316	While there certainly is thought that has to be placed into the lighting sceme of a movie no matter what it's shot on, my understanding of Blair Witch is that the actors shot most of it. Admitedly some of the framing and lighting for certain scripted scene they were told what to do, but I wouldn't credit the D.P. for something like Blair Witch as anything more than perhaps an advisor. There was some 16mm stuff in there to wasn't there? The film stock and exposure (in that he told them what range they had to be in) all had to be choosen and selected by someone, I'm sure the D.P. would have done that as well. But that does not take away from the fact that he has had a successful career, it looks like he's been the busiest one out of the whole group. It's kind of ironic that it's this success that probably made him a bigger target for air plane crashes over the rest of the Blar Witch crew. It happens and is a tragedy when anyone dies in a plane crash. __________________ The combined weight of the horrors I have authored wrought would crush your carbon hearts into perfect diamonds of terror! A Few Ants Short. And what the hell, check out my DVD Collection won't you?

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08-17-2004, 05:03 PM	#2
Shannafey Don't Monkey With Me! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: South Florida, But Far from the Hell that is Miami Posts: 6,366	Not to sound negative, but there was no cinematography on the Blair Witch project. It was a bunch of Hi8 video!! Anyway, regardless of what he was on the film, my prayers go out to his family. That was way too young to leave this earth!!

08-17-2004, 05:09 PM	#3
dwatts HackMaster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Crashed Posts: 16,580	--Not to sound negative, but there was no cinematography on the Blair Witch project. It was a bunch of Hi8 video!!-- I thought cinematography was an art form, not a piece of equipment or format. If the look of Blair Witch was planned, talked about, and executed, then he gets a lot of credit, imo. Still, age isn't important here. A plane hitting the ground knows no barriers.

08-17-2004, 05:56 PM	#4
x666x HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 1,551	Yeah, not to be an ass, but his cinematography was ripped off from the likes of Cannibal Holocaust and Man Bites Dog. Nonetheless, I feel sorry for him and his family. That is a terrible way to go for anyone. I wish the best for his family. At least there will be some comfort in the fact the he definately left behind a film memorable to a lot of people. His work received more accolades by the age of 35 than most of us will receive if we live to see 80.

08-17-2004, 06:01 PM	#5
Crazy Ralph Guest Posts: n/a	Excellent....... Actually, one of the main reasons I posted this was to get people stirring again on the subject of "The Blair Witch Project"..... There's such a split between those who hate it and those who love it. I get a kick out of it, when I read people arguing back and forth about this movie. For the record, I think this is a great movie, and I thought it was very well done. I do feel bad that this guy will no longer grace us with his work!

08-17-2004, 06:10 PM	#7
dwatts HackMaster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Crashed Posts: 16,580	--Yeah, not to be an ass, but his cinematography was ripped off from the likes of Cannibal Holocaust and Man Bites Dog.-- Not to mention - IT DOESN'T MATTER. If the only cinematographers to get credit were those who innovated, we'd have to drop a lot of favorites from our lists. He did a good job - and THAT is what you he gets credit for

08-17-2004, 07:44 PM	#13
Deus Ex Machina Guest Posts: n/a	I just have a problem with the word 'killed'...to me 'killed' implies that someone had a hand in killing him...unless the pilot purposely crashed the plane he 'died' but was not 'killed'

08-17-2004, 07:45 PM	#14
x666x HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 1,551	I openly welcome "stirring up shit" threads. Some people can't take friendly confrontation. I was curious as to who would point out that this will end up to be another argument of BWP's validity. Perhaps this guy never has seen either of the two films I mentioned earlier. It doesn't matter to me. It is just that people who make such a big deal about this film usually do it with its "style" and "originality" in mind. It has neither. If you think so than I think that is great for you. At least there are others out there who did feel like they were getting their money's and time worth.

08-17-2004, 07:51 PM	#15
Morg Guest Posts: n/a	Does anyone know what kind of education or experiance that Neal Fredericks had? Who his influences where? I see nothing posted here in regard to that, therefore we can't assume what kind of a cinematographer he was; with the exception of his accomplishment on the Blair witch Project. If you don't like the film that's fine, but had another cinematographer shot BWP, I guarantee you that the results would have been different, regardless of the alleged simplistic shooting techniques.