Reaching New Heights in Production
Borrowed from the industrial and construction worlds, the cherry picker—more formally known as a Condor or an aerial work platform (AWP)—is a critical piece of heavy machinery on large-scale film sets. It consists of a bucket or platform attached to a hydraulic, articulating arm, mounted on a vehicle. Its primary function is to provide a stable, elevated position for equipment or personnel, enabling shots and lighting setups that would otherwise be impossible, impractical, or prohibitively time-consuming to achieve with scaffolding.
Key Applications in Filmmaking
The cherry picker serves two main functions on a film set: lighting and camera positioning.
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Master Lighting Source: Its most frequent use is for lighting. By placing a powerful light source, such as an 18K HMI, in the basket and raising it high above the set, a Director of Photography can simulate a natural light source like the sun or moon over a very large area. This is essential for creating consistent, motivated lighting for wide exterior shots, especially night scenes where a single, high ‘moonlight’ source can realistically illuminate a street, field, or forest.
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The God’s-Eye View: For extreme high-angle shots, an entire camera package—along with the operator, focus puller, and camera—can be placed in the basket. This allows for epic establishing shots, top-down views of large-scale action sequences, or dramatic ‘God’s-eye-view’ perspectives that can observe the characters from a detached, omniscient viewpoint.
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Rigging Access: Grips and other technicians also use cherry pickers for safe access to high rigging points on buildings or large sets, allowing them to hang flags, nets, or other light-shaping equipment.
Safety and Operational Realities
Operating a cherry picker is a serious undertaking that falls under strict safety regulations. They are considered heavy machinery and require a licensed, certified operator. The production must ensure the ground is stable and level before extending the arm, and the crew must be acutely aware of overhead obstacles like power lines or tree branches. All personnel working in the basket are required to wear safety harnesses. The machine’s movement can be slow and deliberate, which must be factored into the shooting schedule. The rental and operation costs mean that it is a tool reserved for well-funded productions that require its specific capabilities to achieve a grand cinematic scale.