SMEs or Subject Matter Experts…Day 24 of Bond 365

One of the other hats I wear which I have talked about before is that I attend the local cons in Southern California. Today was the first one of the season and boy was it good to get back into the cons after a two-month hiatus. One of the comic book stores down here puts on an annual free con, featuring local writers and artists that a person may not get to meet at the larger cons. It’s a wonderful way to meet some new folks and meet up and coming talent in the industry. It was a pleasure to meet friends I haven’t seen for a while and make some new friends as well! 

Claude Hudson

Born this day in 1922

Production Manger for Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun

Claude Hudson started out his career in film working as a second/third unit director and/or assistant director in 1944 with three movies. By the mid 1960s, he had moved into working as a Production Manager, which included working on three James Bond films in the early 1970s.

Looking at Hudson filmography, I thought that being a director was higher up the film crew ladder. However when I looked up about a Production Manager job description one of the sites I read explained that individuals interested in this position needed to work their way up and learn how all the various facets of making a movie first. So, being a second unit director could lead to a Production Manager position. The position is responsible for budget and business decisions, particularly during the pre-production and production phases.

With that in mind, gosh did Hudson have a lot to manage with the Bond films. All the cast and crew on the payroll, props, costumes, travel to the various locales, etc. What a lot of work that must have been!

Gerry Crampton (Telegraph.co.uk)

Gerry Crampton

Died this day in 2009

Stunts in Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, The Spy Who Loved Me, A View to a Kill

Gerry Crampton has an amazing 83 stunt credits according to his IMDB profile. He began in 1961 with Fury at Smuggler’s Bay and worked on several, very successful films beyond the seven Bond films. For instance, he worked on The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Willow (1988), and Batman (1989). In fact, he worked up to 2007 as a stunt coordinator! In total, that was over 40 years working in a physical demanding industry. And, in a third of those films and television shows, he also played supporting or minor roles.

There was good obituary article in the Telegraph that provides a lovely recap of his early life and career that is worth a read. 

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