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How did TV ad makers drape Hoover Dam in orange cloth?
Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Mr. Sun,
I have been watching the AT&T commercial about phone coverage, showing orange bolts of cloth dropping from the top of Hoover Dam and Strip hotels. My question is how did they do that?
— Mary Gagan
Mr. Sun is too busy burning hydrogen to look specifically at how the computer magicians behind the ad made all of the iconic locales — the St. Louis Arch, Hollywood sign, downtown Los Angeles — appear to be draped in orange cloth. I’ll focus only on Hoover Dam.
On March 23, the crew making the commercial filmed a single bolt of the orange cloth — 5 feet wide and 10 feet long — being rolled over the edge of the dam. At 10 feet, the cloth barely kissed the dam’s 726.4-foot face. But it was the only real footage the producers needed to simulate the dam being blanketed in orange cloth.
Visual effects company MPC describes the simulation process on its website. Fabric was shot at high speed on “large models” so it could “be composited onto the live action element.” Experts in computer-generated imagery then created a program “that could simulate realistic vertical and horizontal rolls, with wind and surface resistance.”
In the case of Hoover Dam, such simulated footage would be needed because draping real cloth over the structure gets dicey — a lesson learned in 2002, when the Bureau of Reclamation draped a flag over the dam to celebrate the agency’s centennial.
“With wind, it caused some logistical challenges in not getting snagged on some of the operational equipment,” spokeswoman June Wolfe said. “It made for a magnificent photo, but it was not a dam operator’s friend.”
To watch AT&T’s “blanket” commercial and read a very technical description of how it was created, click here.
Questions for Mr. Sun should be sent to page8@lasvegassun.com.
Discussion: 4 comments so far…
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Las Vegas Sun - Answering the tough questions.
This is-without a doubt-one of the dumbest columns in the history of journalism.
Shykid And it is up to you to judge that? Who is really dumb?
I love that commercial! That was a great question.
I don't think anyone pushes this as journalistic greatness, it is simply a column for trivia or other mundane questions. Never-the-less it is still amusing to some, entertaining to others and annoying to people like Shykid. Easy answer, if you don't like it then don't read it. Just because I may not like something, I never feel someone else shouldn't like it either. I never read the editorials from the RJ wingnuts but don't really care if someone else does. If you don't like something, no need to degrade it, just don't read it
wow. I waited all this time for this stupid question? Next!
I went out to dinner last night and had a glass of water. I drank the glass of water. I went to the restroom and when I returned, my glass was full!!!!!! Mr. Sun? Try and solve that puzzle Matlock!!!!
how can vegas support so many massage estabishments? thats a real question.
The column is a good column, the problem is in the inane questions. And how frequently they put up new ones.
Nice answer, but you forgot the part where they completely ripped off the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Also, Mr. Sun should be aware that he does not burn hydrogen, as burning requires the presence of an oxidizing agent. Instead, he converts it to helium through nuclear fusion.
Which also explains why Mr. Sun's voice is so squeaky.
I thought the fact that that they had to put a disclaimer that it had nothing to do with Christo and Jeanne Claude (Who have actually draped entire buildings, islands, etc. in cloth) was comical.
Mr Sun, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
Mr Sun, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
Any commercial that plays a Nick Drake song is OK with me.
Mr. Sun:
Now that Vegas has been rated the most stressful city to live in by Forbes. And we have also rated as the worst drivers, most pedestrian deaths, shortest life span, least intelligent to go along with most forerclosures , most bankruptcies, 47th rated school system ect.. Why does anyone choose to raise children here?
Don't approve of the question? Ok Geniuses, you ask a better one...
Sure will logic. Mr Sun is Vernos, mschaffer, willietanner, Virdi, El Lobo, mred, dipstick, richard mundy and others ever gonna write letters that make sense?
Mr. Sun is bound to get stupid questions like this in a city where half the kids can't even graduate high school.
Listen - I'm just glad ATT picked Vegas to be draped giving us a lot of free PR.
that commercial is so damn annoying.
Since the Sun is answering hard-hitting questions, what is 1+1=? Take your time. Tick, tock, Tick, Tock.... I'm waiting...!!!!
Look on the bright side; all the posters on here and those who ask questions to Mr. Sun may someday sit on a jury for you or may cast a vote for a candidate other than yours. That is if they are elgible to serve or vote.
I just wanna know where I can get some dam bait!
I bet they could do wonders with the COSTCO SHOOTING TAPES.
OMG. This person is either a UNLV graduate, a Barak Obama supporter, or LV Sun reporter. Can someone really be this simple?
Ok Mr. Sun......Mr. know it all...then how did they do the same thing to the St. Louis Arch?
That's what I would like to know.
Wait, wait! I can answer that one LivingLarge...because some of us are third, fourth, even fifth generation Las Vegans and we built up a community via our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, congregation, etc. We've worked to make our communities better and we remember what it was like to be a little bitty town with big aspirations. Unfortunately, not everyone moving here cares to get involved and make the community better.
SO HOW ABOUT A NEW QUESTION?
Why not put up a new question every Friday?
OR every Monday?
Seriously, this column needs to be updated more often.
I have a question Mr. Sun.
How come Las Vegas Sun doesn't post POSITIVE news. Lots of great things going on in town, but it only posts negative garbage.
I boycotted RJ, however they still send there crap to me, so by accident I read the latest LAS VEGAS BUSINESS PRESS (some reason I thought it was a Sun publication), and its FULL OF POSITIVE INFORMATION of new businesses in town, millions of dollars being spent here, etc... etc...
Get with the program.
THANKS MR. SUN
Who cares
sevenhills-Interesting post..Maybe you should lead by example and change the tone of your own posts from negative to positive.
Where do I sign the petition to get Christo to wrap the damn for real?
This question was posted on August 18th.
HOW ABOUT A NEW QUESTION?
Don't knock it. Every day we (should) learn something new. To me, it is an interesting commercial because of the special effects. Being a techie nerd, I think it is just awesome how far graphics & special effects have come over the past few years. It's just one aspect of our whole society and how it is evolving.
It's over a month and we STILL have the same question. Someone is asleep at the wheel!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz