As we were moving, we were told who the famous and well-known actors were who were shooting right at that moment at the various sets we passed. We were then taken to a set where we got down and were seated. It was to be a demonstration of how certain scenes are shot.

Volunteers were called for. I was very keen to offer myself but never got the nerve to raise my hand, nor did any of my family members, knowing my lack of histrionic talents, encourage me.

The first scene was a person hanging from the top of a tall tower, scared of falling and thrashing his legs. Actually, he was very much on the floor with just the tops of the tower setting. But when the scene was shown to us after shooting, it looked so real.

Hitchcock’s many improvisations and innovations were explained. For instance, a person falling down from a tall building. The person will be lying on the floor, and the camera will move up, and when this is shot with the necessary background, it gives the impression the person is falling. The one who volunteered to act was asked to shriek as if in terror, and she did. The scene, when shot, looked so real.

Another was a car on a bumpy ride. The car was stationary, and two volunteers were pushing a lever up and down to rock the car. With the required background, this was shot, and again the scene appeared to be so true.

That concluded the trip.

But I want to recall the visit we made to San Diego National Park, where we had been before going to LA. Here in the zoo, which is huge, there are cages for animals, but behind the cage, they could move out into the natural forest. If some animal comes to rest in the cage, only then can we see it. There were a few shows in the zoo which we did watch. But the highlight was the whale show. Shamu the whale, as it is called all over the USA.

As we walk to the show area, there is a huge glass partition on the other side of which is water, and that is Shamu’s ‘residence.’ We can see him moving around. A long time back, maybe in one of the Bond movies, there was a fight scene that was shot underwater. All my colleagues used to wonder how the cameraman had shot the fight scene underwater. After watching Shamu through the glass partition swimming underwater, I realized how it is easy to shoot without getting into water.

First, a few dolphins perform tricks and dance. A guy keeps pouring water on the audience as the show is about to begin. Shamu, being the main attraction, comes in last. He speeds around the surface of the water around the arena, spouting water on the audience. We thoroughly enjoyed the show. But in the zoo, we could not see many animals. With a great deal of satisfaction and happiness, we returned to Seattle.

Continued in 259 - Out in Inn - Part 1