3. The Opening Pool Shot in Sunset Boulevard (1950)
http://youtu.be/nQNh_m3YIBc The opening sequence of Sunset Boulevard has had definite far reaching effect. It was clearly emulated thematically, for example, in Sam Mendes American Beauty; both films are narrated by characters that, from their introductions, we know will be dead by the end. Sunset Boulevards underwater shot has since been committed into the annals of iconic technical accomplishment. Since its release in 1950, weve seen massive developments in the field of underwater photography and the concept itself has been around since as early as the mid-1800s. Except this shot isnt underwater photography at all; its a clever cinematography trick. Why It Was Inventive: Director Billy Wilder wanted a shot from below of central actor William Holden floating face down in Norma Desmonds pool, with the police looking down at him from the pools edge, but didnt have access to the equipment necessary for underwater photography. Luckily, Wilder did have access to some pretty ingenious crew-members, and it was Art Director John Meehan who came up with the eventual solution. It was Meehans idea to capture this shot through a strategically angled mirror at the bottom of the studio water tank which, from the right angle, could shoot the reflection of Holden from above but still create the illusion of being underneath. And the Camera never had to get even remotely wet. Theres innovation, and then theres adaptation; this is definitely the latter, but without both, youll struggle to cope with making a great feature film.