Hurlblog - the Blog for Shane Hurlbut, ASC

Captain Randy Crites the commander of the USS Florida SSGN Ohio Class Submarine was so graceful in giving us permission to come along while they were doing covert ops just of the coast of Cuba.  He let us shoot on the Bridge while his amazing, talented crew piloted her through the depths of the Atlantic.  I would say “lets go back to one,” and chief David Newsome the Dive Officer of the Watch would say I will be ready in two seconds let me get her stable.  “No problem.” This is the area where the periscope lives and where they steer and maneuver this huge impressive fortress; it’s like the cockpit of an aircraft.

Customized Canon 1D hits the Sub

With all the gauges rear illuminated for night ops the Canon 1D went in and kicked butt.  The sensitivity of the sensor is absolutely incredible.  I shot at 3200 ISO at a 2.0 on a 21mm Primo Primes.  All the gauges glowed beautifully and with a little medium blue green fill light and a red light edge you felt like you were on the Bridge of the Enterprise.  I was in Man Cam mode starting high overhead looking down over the Dive Officer’s shoulder onto the control panel then I wrapped around him and moved into a close up.  This would be impossible with any other camera. For film this would have to be a set that the Production Designer builds, more natural resources being spent, he would engineer the ceiling so that it could be removed for camera and lighting assist.  The camera would be then put on a Technocrane, more labor, more fuel being consumed, etc.  We would build the control panel so that I could use movie lights to back light all the gauges.  Then add the necessary fill and accent lights to bring it up to a film exposure.

Walkway between the missile tubes

We then took the Canon 1D to the Missile Launch tubes that extend 5 stories down into her hull.  We shot the SEALS hauling ass through them, we lit with 12 MR-16 Par cans that we placed at the end of the walkway that flared the camera out, all the rest was available light.  We photographed the SDV (SEAL Delivery Vehicle) launching from the DDS (Dry Deck Shelter), which is a huge compartment that is attached to one of the missile tubes, this has a door that swings open to release the mini-sub holding the SEALS into the open ocean.

Entering the DDS

We shot a 3-page scene in the BMC, which is the Battle Management Center; again taking advantage of the low light capabilities of the camera we were able to use their practical light, their cool monitors and screens to add to the reality of the scene. With all this said and done it would have taken about 50 build days, 4 pre-light days, 8 shooting days, a crew of over 175 people to make this happen, with resources being consumed from all over and money being spent for no apparent reason.  We did this in 2 days and with five crewmembers. Gene Martin (sound mixer extraordinaire), Elite team members John Guerra: gaffer, Darin Necessary: 1^st A.C., Michael McCoy the Director, and myself.  Multi-tasking to the max!!!

Mouse McCoy and Shane lens the approach

This does not even include the ocean portion of the operation.  Which was a recovery op. of 2 small zodiacs filled with SEALS that were ripping across the Atlantic when all of a sudden the Sub breaches in front of them, they ride the wake onto the stern of the sub, jump out and head down into a lock out chamber.  We did this all with 2 boats, 2 boat drivers, 5 Navy crew members to coordinate the sub, and talk with the zodiacs on Comms, the SEALS, 44 Pelican cases filled with lights, underwater gear, cable, cameras, props, and wardrobe in one day.

Seals activate first person helmet cam

What makes this sub so amazing is that she is 560 feet long Special Operation Forces sub that delivers Navy SEALS to front line in very cool toys. The SDV is a mini sub that is a totally flooded vehicle that they load six SEALS into on re-breathers so bubbles won’t give them away.  The SSGN Ohio Class Submarine’s propulsion system equals 15 million foot pounds of torque, over a million horse power that catapults her to speeds way over 20 knots, (the speed is classified).  She’s fast.  Living in this community was an incredible life experience and I thank the U.S. Navy for giving me this glimpse.

Sub recovers SEALS off the Horn of Africa

So I go under the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Cuba for three days that expands to five because of squall conditions.  We had 3 boats bobbing around the Gulf of Mexico, with boat drivers barfing their guts out; they were there to try and retrieve us.  Not a chance.  We starting thinking about other ways that we could get off the sub, the Navy offered because the Director was an ex-stuntman to shoot him out of one of the Torpedo tubes in an air bubble with a life raft and a light beacon, but none of them came to fruition because the seas were at 8- 10 feet.

Our bunks on board

So we had a few more days to live in this incredible self-sufficient living environment.  I had no idea how awesome a nuclear sub was.  So much of the world could learn how to become green from this monolith.  It uses a nuclear reactor to power its engines, 2 steam generators that give her power with zero emissions for 25 years at full throttle or power up Las Vegas for 5.76 years.  It has its own desalination plant on board to provide water for showers, drinking water, etc. Best water I have ever tasted. It makes its own O2 from the seawater she takes in. No plastics are brought on board.  All paper and cardboards are recycled and stowed on deck till they head to port.  It seems like she has it all figured out, how to live in harmony and save the environment. Plus packed with the power to defend us.  Wow, what a novel concept.

Sub bathroom

Bandito Brothers, sticking with their small footprint approach, fit right into the eco-system of the sub.  As we recycled our flash cards they recycled paper, as we conserved on film processing, using less lights, less crew, less fuel, less food and water being consumed on shore because of this small, nimble Canon HDSLR platform, the Submariners did the same at sea. DIVE!! DIVE!!