Castle’s B-camera cameraman is very popular in twitter world and usually people ask him every kind of different questions. In this week, Castle was working on the episode 5×11 “Under the Influence”.
For a question about working with animals (what’s the difference) he answers that it usually takes longer to shoot with animals. The time when they did a “Cuffed” episode, they budgeted extra time for that. We also found out that the computer screens on the desks at the precinct are mostly 17”, some 21” wide. Also – the smallest place Andrew has found himself was a car trunk in one episode from S3. Castle crew usually rehearses at least once before doing a scene on camera.
Andrew’s favourite camera as a camera operator is the Panavision Platinum camera, because behind the lens gel. Great optical finder. It’s rock steady reliable. Panavision doesn’t make anymore, they can use only revamp. Since Andrew tweeted a picture of their “giraffe” he got many questions about that as well – we found out that camera “giraffe goes up to 30 feet and this time it was used only for 3 shoots and he was taken 16 feet high. He lets us know that he started his career in radio at the age of 14, in film at the age of 21.
When they do close ups, they try to avoid zooming in – instead they use tighter lense or camera moves closer to the scenes. Both A & B cameras can go up to “giraffe”, depending on the required scenes. The cameras trade what would be the “traditional” shot assignments.
The action scenes like the rooftop scenes in the episode 4×23 “Always” are always difficult to shoot, because all of the angles camera has to find and save. As for the rain used in “Always” swingset scene – “It was real water and it fell from the sky, but not from the clouds”. During the same shoot when Beckett was sitting on the swing in the rain, they used a lot of protective plastic for the cameras – not to soak them in the rain.
Strangely, he gets questions about the cast too, this time about Stana. For the question “Does Stana run very fast in high heels?” he answers – “She runs very fast in whatever she wears, trust me.” Fun fact – sometimes Stana’s and as well as the other cast member’s or extras’ heels are soundproofed – to avoid unwanted noises.
Q: What’s it like working on Castle?
A: It’s great. Wonderful cast and crew is like a big family.
Here’s some videos (here, here and here) and pictures Andrew have tweeted during that week:
You know you’re in the right place when ….
Part Duex of Rack Gear. Isn’t it awesome!
Recording studios have so many pretty little blinking (expensive) lights.
And you gotta have one of these in your recording studio too! Old Piano!
Here’s the real museum piece. 2″ open reel. Next to it, out of view, is a Mac Pro.
The mixing desk. NS10′s are almost always sitting right there too, aren’t they 
What is your view?” Zip lights in a mansion.
Today, I ride the Giraffe with the Blue Seat.
Goodnight everybody 
Here’s a parting shot…cheers.
John (a grip) adjusts the lighting truss (on chain motors) outside the bullpen windows based on Jono the Gaffer’s needs.