Rigging with Vertigo Flying Effects in Istanbul

Yes, there is a Mini Cooper underneath this hot air balloon!

Over the winter of 2014 I have spent most my time in Istanbul. Here in this thriving cosmopolitan city, balanced precariously between Asia and Europe, I have spent the majority of my time doing wholesome activities like cooking, sleeping, eating and gentle exercise interspersed with occasional circus and dance training. I have also had some occasional work with Vertigo Flying Effects.

Vertigo are an Istanbul based rigging company that cater for special flying effects and stunt work in particular for the Turkish film and television industry, they also do some live work in collaboration with Theatres and Artists across Turkey. I have joined them on several jobs here over the winter ranging from television commercials and series, advertising campaign photo shoots, a pop video and more recently a t.v commercial where we were asked to suspend a Mini Cooper underneath a hot air balloon. This was a particularly exciting gig not least because I got to have a ride in a hot air balloon for the first time, but also because the shoot location was in the stunning Goreme national park in Kappadokia central Turkey.

It was altogether a short trip It took us around 12 hours to drive overnight in our small van from Istanbul to Goreme, We arrived just before sunrise and got to work straight away assembling the support frame for the hot air balloon. It was beautiful that morning. All the hot air balloon daily flights take off at around 6am with the sunrise, this is because there is much less likely to be any wind early in the morning and hot air balloons cannot really steer. Our flight however took place at sunset. It was officially the test run but in the end the camera crew got everything they needed in the first shoot so the second attempt planned for the following day was cancelled giving us plenty of free time to explore before we set off on the return drive. Here are some Images from the job and also a few snaps of our fun day out on some quadbikes in Goreme.

Our Gear

Assembling the frame for the balloon

Cihan at work

The morning sky

So Pretty

Obligatory Selfie

Exploring the town of Goreme

Filling the balloons for our flights

The Mini in question

Cihan and Mevlut attach the slings to the Mini

Me inside a hot air balloon as its taking flight

We did it!!

NOW ITS PLAYTIME !

having fun exploring on quads

badass mother fuckers

totally stunning landscapes

Thanks for looking,  see u next time :)

On Air - International Collaboration

'On Air' at 'The International Scenography Biennial' .DE

I was delighted to be invited by my good friend Cihan to collaborate with all Turkish art collective on a special comission for the closing ceremony of the International Scenography Bienniel in Ludwigsberg, Germany. 

  Bags were packed and I set off to Istanbul for rehearsals...


My friend Cihan picked me up from the airport, Its been a long time since I've visited Istanbul, Its always been a city full of adventures and the memories are fresh. Im excited to meet the new people I will be collaborating with and even more excited to be creating work in the city.

We take our first rehearsals in the Istanbul ATA film studios I am thrilled what a great and perfect place to dance on the wall... I am introduced to Melih, he will also be dancing in the performance, we train together.

Me and Melih on the wall at ATA film studios Istanbul

I love the city and we travel everywhere by Motorbike which suits my thrill seeking nature perfectly, while I am in the city Cihan takes me to work with him on a Turkish TV series as an assistant rigger, I'm sure it was just to keep me out of trouble but I had fun, we spent the evening dangling an actors stunt double by his ankles from a large crane in a torture scene. Cihan runs a stunt and flying effects rigging company in Istanbul and specialises in flying people around. Check out Vertigo Flying Effects online here at  www.vertigo.gen.tr

Team Vertigo

The next time we gather for rehearsals I am introduced to Asli and Mihran the other members of the Ciplak Ayaklar Dance Company. During this rehearsal we also start to play with live music from Viola Star Omer of Istanbul alternative rock group Gevende. I Love the sounds that Omer makes with his Violin. Sooner or later we are all checking into a hotel in Ludwigsberg, Germany...It feels surreal to be touring in Europe with a Turkish company, but before you know it, we have created a show and its opening night.

Omer at the opening night.

Me and Cihan find show publicity in the streets of Ludwigsberg

Event Poster

 It really was an Inspiring collaboration in so many ways. Firstly let me comment on the musicians, The two artists present were from the Istanbul based band Gevende were absolutely astonishing, some of the most beautiful violin and trumpet playing my ears have ever heard. They composed a wonderful piece of music for my performance and on the last night were joined by a beautiful Japanese woman who played the synthesizer, she had come to see the performance, got chatting and joined the band... I just loved that!

The Riggers and Production team from Istanbul Vertigo Flying Effects were amazing as well, In my ten years as an aerialist i have never felt more empathy for performance from a technical team, I felt creatively supported by them as well as feeling completely safe in their hands.

My co-performers Asli Ozturk and Melih Kirak or Ciplak Ayaklar Dans Kumpanyasi were incredible to work with and we created effortlessly together.

And finally visuals from Osman Koc, a computer genius who stepped in last minute and  speed programmed sound responsive and beautiful visuals for the event.

We did terribly well and had a standing ovation on the last night and from an auditorium filled with academics...we should be proud :-)

If you want to see a little teaser of my part of the show there is a reel on vimeo HERE

Pictures from Shai Gertzman