Jack Carpenter(I)
- Stunts
- Transportation Department
- Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Carpenter began his career in the motion picture business driving
for Pat Hustis Camera Cars in February of 1976.
Born in Hollywood in 1953 he graduated from Sylmar High School in '71
and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Although he saw no
combat, he served with distinction and was honorably discharged as a
sergeant in January '76.
While studying mathematics and engineering at California State
University at Northridge he followed his father Ralph Carpenter into
the business driving part time for Pat Hustis.
Mentored by the likes of "Chainsaw" Tommy May, Tom Prophet and Gaylin
Schultz (all former Cammy winners), he began to truly learn and hone
his craft until his first big break doing a pilot for the action TV
show "CHiPs" for MGM.
When the show was picked up, cinematographer Robert Sparks, concerned
with the risky nature of that show, went to production at MGM and
insisted that they put Jack on payroll full time. When for monetary
reasons MGM later objected to this arrangement, Sparks threatened to
quit the show and take his entire department with him. When both lead
actors weighed in with similar sentiments, MGM backed down. The show
ran for six seasons.
Moving from TV to feature work, Jack began to build an impressive list
of credits and accomplishments on such films as "A View To A Kill", "To
Live And Die In LA", "Terminator 2", "Forever Young", "True Lies", "Die
Hard With A Vengeance", "Enemy of the State", "Gone In 60 Seconds",
"The Italian Job", "Bridesmaids" and "Identity Thief" to name but a
very few.
A technical innovator from the start, Jack has continually created or
adopted technology that would make it easier to do his job and to keep
his fellow crew members safe. He designed and built switchable battery
systems that could run everything from nine lights to carbon arc
"brutes" without an on board generator. Long before cell phones he
equipped his vehicles with public address systems and long distance
studio frequency radio equipment to ensure clear communication with his
police escort and traffic control.
As the founder of his own company Carpenter Camera Cars in 1981, and an
innovator in the use of air suspension technology, Jack went on to
design and build every manner of vehicle to make the cameras move, from
the first ever camera ATVs to the most sophisticated and modern
high-speed camera cars.
As an example, Jack learned early on how to slide a car while it was
being towed with actors in the car and with crews manning the cameras.
It was all about speed and horsepower, but it put a lot of stress on
the equipment and on the crews. Using existing pneumatic technology he
created a simple device to control the brakes on the back of a towed
vehicle allowing him to slide the car around but at significantly lower
and safer speeds.
Jack will be forever grateful for the trust that was placed in him by
such accomplished cameramen as: Peter Salim, Richard "Beau" Pease,
Robert Sparks, William Fraker (ASC), Harry Stradling Sr., Haskell
Wexler (ASC), Adam Greenberg (ASC), Jonathan Taylor (ASC) (VES),
Russell Carpenter (ASC) and Don Burgess (ASC). Over the years legendary
film makers like: Richard Brooks, Tim Burton, Garry Marshall, Tony
Scott, Ron Howard, William Friedkin, and James Cameron have done much
the same.
Currently Jack Carpenter resides in Sylmar with his beautiful wife
Leslie and their two adopted daughters Hannah and Mia.
for Pat Hustis Camera Cars in February of 1976.
Born in Hollywood in 1953 he graduated from Sylmar High School in '71
and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Although he saw no
combat, he served with distinction and was honorably discharged as a
sergeant in January '76.
While studying mathematics and engineering at California State
University at Northridge he followed his father Ralph Carpenter into
the business driving part time for Pat Hustis.
Mentored by the likes of "Chainsaw" Tommy May, Tom Prophet and Gaylin
Schultz (all former Cammy winners), he began to truly learn and hone
his craft until his first big break doing a pilot for the action TV
show "CHiPs" for MGM.
When the show was picked up, cinematographer Robert Sparks, concerned
with the risky nature of that show, went to production at MGM and
insisted that they put Jack on payroll full time. When for monetary
reasons MGM later objected to this arrangement, Sparks threatened to
quit the show and take his entire department with him. When both lead
actors weighed in with similar sentiments, MGM backed down. The show
ran for six seasons.
Moving from TV to feature work, Jack began to build an impressive list
of credits and accomplishments on such films as "A View To A Kill", "To
Live And Die In LA", "Terminator 2", "Forever Young", "True Lies", "Die
Hard With A Vengeance", "Enemy of the State", "Gone In 60 Seconds",
"The Italian Job", "Bridesmaids" and "Identity Thief" to name but a
very few.
A technical innovator from the start, Jack has continually created or
adopted technology that would make it easier to do his job and to keep
his fellow crew members safe. He designed and built switchable battery
systems that could run everything from nine lights to carbon arc
"brutes" without an on board generator. Long before cell phones he
equipped his vehicles with public address systems and long distance
studio frequency radio equipment to ensure clear communication with his
police escort and traffic control.
As the founder of his own company Carpenter Camera Cars in 1981, and an
innovator in the use of air suspension technology, Jack went on to
design and build every manner of vehicle to make the cameras move, from
the first ever camera ATVs to the most sophisticated and modern
high-speed camera cars.
As an example, Jack learned early on how to slide a car while it was
being towed with actors in the car and with crews manning the cameras.
It was all about speed and horsepower, but it put a lot of stress on
the equipment and on the crews. Using existing pneumatic technology he
created a simple device to control the brakes on the back of a towed
vehicle allowing him to slide the car around but at significantly lower
and safer speeds.
Jack will be forever grateful for the trust that was placed in him by
such accomplished cameramen as: Peter Salim, Richard "Beau" Pease,
Robert Sparks, William Fraker (ASC), Harry Stradling Sr., Haskell
Wexler (ASC), Adam Greenberg (ASC), Jonathan Taylor (ASC) (VES),
Russell Carpenter (ASC) and Don Burgess (ASC). Over the years legendary
film makers like: Richard Brooks, Tim Burton, Garry Marshall, Tony
Scott, Ron Howard, William Friedkin, and James Cameron have done much
the same.
Currently Jack Carpenter resides in Sylmar with his beautiful wife
Leslie and their two adopted daughters Hannah and Mia.