Angel Sighting
October 20, 1987 -
Once again I was working with Larry Hutson and his team from Partners, USA. All the usual suspects were present as we gathered at Rancho de las Fresnos in Hidden Valley for a Treetop juice commercial. What made this one unique is the fact that it starred former Charlie’s Angel Shelley Hack. Granted, she wasn’t an original Angel but rather a back-up. But she was an Angel, so it counts.
Shooting on the rustic ranch nestled in the beautiful Hidden Valley ranch wasn’t by itself what made this job so special. Nor was it the fact that the ranch hand who ran the property, a gentleman by the name of Nick, was a cowboy poet. It was the fact that the Czech Camera Assistant PL revealed his highest compliment he can give a Director when he views the dailies with the Director on the moviola.
PL, in his thick accent, would be viewing the film from the day before with the Director and when he thought a particular shot was especially beautiful would declare in his thick Czech accent, “Ooh Larry, I got boner!” Ordinarily, given the star of this commercial I would say that the comment might be appropriate, as crass as it sounds. Sadly, PL would declare this same graphic phrase of excitement if it were a close-up of a glass of apple juice.
I always wished he would have become a film critic.
