ESS was contracted by Graeme Dew, through Tri Point Rigging, to provide arched structures inside a number of traditional-style warehouses being used as film sets. "Our archways were used to strengthen the roof of three buildings so that various flying scenes could be shot," added Barclay. Three different warehouses were rigged by ESS over a 12-month period, all in the Sydney region. The first installation formed part of a blue room at the Fox Studios where the majority of filming took place. The other two installations were more traditional, being used to fly heavy set pieces when the roof was unable to take their weight. ESS built the arches using their own Lite Tower and Roof trussing to create spans of up to 20m and in the final shots a regular arch with a 24m span was used.
So as you enjoy the latest escapades of Neo, the all-powerful one, and his faithful companions as they battle against Agent Smith, his clones and ‘the machines’, remember that ESS had a small part to play in saving the world. Or did they? Not until the final part in the trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, will we know for certain.
(Ruth Rossington)
