Robert Drew

[Juanman[_2_]]

Robert Drew, director of the classic "The Sun Ship Game", died at the age of 90. Most soaring pilots who love this film know little of his other ground-breaking films. Similarly, filmmakers familiar with those films have never heard of "The Sun Ship Game".

When I made "A Fine Week of Soaring" he was gracious enough to let me use some footage from "Sun Ship" to frame George Moffat's story. I encouraged him to release "Sun Ship" on DVD, but there was a nagging question around music rights to the Bee Gees music. Years later I got a call from him that he had remastered the film on DVD and what should he do next to sell it. Fortunately it was early November and still in time for Christmas season, so I connected him with all the soaring retailers and the film made a splash.

His legacy in soaring and filmmaking circles will be present for a long time.

Juan

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3fe3bbbe0d68054ba2037af6a&id=e467ac02db&e=cb499a6045

[Sean Fidler]

For me, the Sunship Game is one of my very favorite movies. It's hard to put a finger on exactly why it is so good.

For me it represents a time in the USA were soaring was an absolutely huge sport.

It was amazing how the pilots were not afraid to land out (in the slightest).

Assigned tasks or distance tasks were the only game!

[Martin Gregorie[_5_]]

On Thu, 31 Jul 2014 08:34:28 -0700, Sean Fidler wrote:

> For me, the Sunship Game is one of my very favorite movies. It's hard
> to put a finger on exactly why it is so good.
>
Agreed. I feel lucky to have a copy.

> Assigned tasks or distance tasks were the only game!
>
What about cats cradles (now called POST?) or are they no longer flown?


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

On Thursday, July 31, 2014 12:29:35 PM UTC-5, Martin Gregorie wrote:
> What about cats cradles (now called POST?) or are they no longer flown? -- martin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org |

Cat's Cradle or Bikle Basket or Perscribed Area Distance were just distance tasks. You only got points for the miles you flew. No time limit. Landing was usually towards the down-wind end of the task area, to maximise distance at the end of the day. No longer used in sanctioned contests.

POST was Pilot Option Speed Task where there was a time limit, and you got points for the distance you covered as well as for the speed you achieved. You had to land back at the home base to get speed points.

Steve Leoanrd

[[email protected]]

First viewing the Sunship game at 14 years old when I was first starting out in the sport made me realize the beauty and possibilities of soaring flight. I still watch it ever six months or so and it never gets old.

I have been in contact with Bob Drew's daughter in recent months. All of the footage from the film is archived in LA but I have been given permission to view it. I hope to be able to head out there some time this winter and see what gems didn't make it into the movie.

On Thursday, July 31, 2014 12:37:50 AM UTC-4, Juanman wrote:
> Robert Drew, director of the classic "The Sun Ship Game", died at the age of 90. Most soaring pilots who love this film know little of his other ground-breaking films. Similarly, filmmakers familiar with those films have never heard of "The Sun Ship Game".
>
>
>
> When I made "A Fine Week of Soaring" he was gracious enough to let me use some footage from "Sun Ship" to frame George Moffat's story. I encouraged him to release "Sun Ship" on DVD, but there was a nagging question around music rights to the Bee Gees music. Years later I got a call from him that he had remastered the film on DVD and what should he do next to sell it. Fortunately it was early November and still in time for Christmas season, so I connected him with all the soaring retailers and the film made a splash.
>
>
>
> His legacy in soaring and filmmaking circles will be present for a long time.
>
>
>
> Juan
>
>
>
> http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3fe3bbbe0d68054ba2037af6a&id=e467ac02db&e=cb499a6045

[[email protected]]

Holy crap! You mean out takes yet still exist? I thought I heard that nothing remained, all the edited stuff had been discarded.

[[email protected]]

Sad news. The Sun Ship Game is one of my favorite films (of any genre) and we're fortunate that a gifted filmmaker like him shared our passion for soaring flight and put his considerable talent and resources into making it. The Sun Ship Game also seems to have considerable appeal to non-pilots too judging from the reactions my non-flying friends have had viewing it.

As an aside - if there are any remaining outtakes I for one would love to be able to purchase them on a DVD too!

[son_of_flubber]

On Thursday, July 31, 2014 12:37:50 AM UTC-4, Juanman wrote:
> Robert Drew, director of the classic "The Sun Ship Game", died at the age of 90.

What would it take to make "The Sun Ship Game" freely available on Youtube? I'd think that very few additional DVDs will be sold going forward. Maybe we could all chip in, and buy the rights from the estate, and put it into the public domain. Is there a copy of the film at the Library of Congress?

This is a piece of American History.

[Bob Kuykendall]

It has become sort of a tradition that we watch The Sun Ship Game at least once during the "Akaflieg" events where HP-24 Project enthusiasts get together to make tooling and parts for our gliders.

The film is wonderful snapshot of soaring as it became the sport we know today. In 1966, Dick Schreder stood on the podium in Reno and was hailed as the best soaring pilot the USA had to offer. A mere three years later, he got about eight seconds of coverage in Sun Ship, and that was just because he was sitting behind Suzanne Moffat at the awards ceremony. The sport had changed that much, and that quickly.

Thanks, Bob K.