I came across this video yesterday on the Chicago Cubs website, but it was presented as looking like just a basic "thank you" video for the fans as the home-season ends today, so I didn't watch. But with much thanks to the inveterate Chris Dunn who sent it to me in case I hadn't come across it (which is far more impressive than it sounds, him being a -- dare I even say it -- St. Louis Cardinals fan and all that entails), I took a look. And it's spectacular. Even if you don't care the slightest thing about sports, it's an absolute Must Watch. The four-minute video is a drone flight around the Wrigleyville neighborhood and through the nooks and crannies of Wrigley Field. But saying that doesn't do it justice. It's not just that it's spectacular, it's great filmmaking -- at times reaching, "Oh, my God, how did they do that?!!" level. Really. After home games when the Cubs win (which for much of the team's history hasn't always been a lot), the ballclub flies a flag with a big, blue "W" over centerfield. It was done so that passengers on the El train that passes a couple blocks from the ballpark could see at a glance if the team won or not. It's known as "Flying the W." Man, does this ever give new meaning to that. They clearly did rehearsals -- for instance, when the drone went past a cop who didn't look up and later flew past All-Star outfielder Ian Happ, as if the team would risk injuring him without rehearsal -- but I almost don't know how they rehearsed it. (Even if rehearsed, people still seem unperturbed that a drone is zooming past their ear.) And some things likely couldn't be rehearsed properly, like the finale on the field. (I shall say no more.) But also, how small was the drone?? Moreover, while it looks like one, remarkable take, there are definitely a few edits in the video, which isn't remotely a criticism because even they are so artfully and seamlessly done. And in addition to the video, I liked how they quietly, not to overpower anything, but to subtly augment it, had audio mixed in at the appropriate spots. The sounds of Ernie Banks and Harry Caray, and current radio announcer Pat Hughes, and the TV guys John Sciambi and Jim Deshaies. Almost above all, it gave a great sense of the city...but even more (to people who haven't seen such a thing, which today is most everyone) it does a magnificent job showing what it's like having a professional baseball stadium quite literally in the middle of an old brownstone neighborhood. For what it's worth, as a little side note, my dad grew up about a eight blocks away from Wrigley -- off to the lower right of this image below -- at 3530 Lake Shore Drive, by Belmont Harbor. (For that matter, so did my Aunt Joan, which is how she met my Uncle Richie, and they later married. How convenient.) He would often just walk over to the ballpark when a little kid and just ask some adult to let him walk in with them, because your children that young could get in free. (Man, does all that ever show you how times have massively changed. It was probably in the late 1920s.) Also, because the famous outfield bleachers hadn't been built yet, fans with outfield tickets would stand directly on the field -- where the brown "warning track" is now, that you can see in the image -- blocked off from the game only be a rope. By the way, the Chicago Bears also played their football games at Wrigley until 1971. And back then for halftime they wouldn't have marching bands, but instead the local neighborhood football clubs would have exhibitions against one another during the game-break, and so that's how my dad actually played at Wrigley periodically. And now, with that bit of personal history out of the way, buckle your seatbelts. Here's Wrigley Field. As it says, like you've never seen it before.
2 Comments
Nikon1
10/2/2022 03:37:07 am
What an incredible video — as a UAV pilot, seeing both the planning and result is amazing. While a lifelong Phillies Phan, I can certainly appreciate the emotional support that the fans give our teams — we my love them when they win and curse them when they lose, but they remain our team!
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Robert Elisberg
10/2/2022 09:26:57 am
Thanks for the note. Yes, the video is truly amazing -- but it's the planning that may have me in the most awe. And yes, it's a great tribute.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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