This is the film Richard Simmonds did not want you to see
Performance on a Higher Plane was financed by Tele-Cine Ltd and produced by their sister company Palm Tree Video . Their belatedly aim was to get the event in the can and hope that they could interest one of the major networks to air it. Laser Sailcraft never gave the film official status, without which the film had no commercial value and was shelved for 20 years.
This was my first serious production since leaving Ravensbourne College of Art and Design. As director I had less than a week to plan the shooting which was done on a shoe string crew of three.
Some of the hand held camerawork was innovative and was made long before the introduction of Steady-Cam. As a result some of the subjects wander off mic much to the annoyance of the soundman at the time. With a higher budget we would have had more microphones and crew to bean pole them.
I love the interview with the German ( an ex Luftwaffe jet pilot) on the big wheel . The idea was to make it as wacky as possible to appeal to youngsters. My thanks to John Rowland for having the money and the faith in me. Steve Prior ("just do it") and Dave Pollard who I love to hate for putting my name in the frame originally.
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