PBDG hangs out with Wade Krause

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Anna Newman

Pinball artist Wade Krause was in the Bay Area last weekend to meet with customers and do some research at the Pacific Pinball warehouse. Wade was kind enough to let me, PBDG Director Don Starnes, and Cinematographer Charlie Kuttner tag along.

photo by Charlie Kuttner

While Wade worked at the PPM warehouse and we filmed him, I snuck in some photos of games.

Time 2000 backglass

Bally Hot Rods playfield detail

In addition to the wonderful games waiting their turn to be exhibited at the museum or PPE, I’m always fascinated by the machines under repair and the store of components and parts.

Beehive detail on EM game

EM game under repair

Wood legs for games

Woodrails waiting room

I was happy to visit a Pinbot we used in Pinball Donut Girl.

Pinbot Playfield detail

More Pinbot

Pinbot playfield detail

Wade and Charlie and I also made a quick trip to the De Young Museum and hit the Gaultier exhibit.

photo by Charlie Kuttner

Even if you aren’t into fashion, the projection technology of the exhibition itself and the over the top construction and materials of the garments never get old. I think this was my fourth visit. It runs through August 19, 2012 and is totally worth a trip.

Gaultier exhibit, San Francisco

While you are in Golden Gate park, you can go across the way and also visit the Academy of Sciences — that museum has been redone in the last few years and is amazing too.

PBDG Meets a Young Pinball Ambassador

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Anna Newman

Meet Brian and Chris. Long time supporter of the Pacific Pinball Museum, Brian brings his son Chris on regular visits.

Nine year old Chris is an excellent docent and pinball ambassador. Cinematographer Charlie Kuttner and I were at the PPM to film some more clear game footage, and Chris introduced us to Adventures in the Development of Pinball, the new exhibit. The show includes one of the Bally Freedom clear games built with Wade Krause.

Chris is pretty good at the clear game — he had moves!

On display are a set of images and interactive exhibits that explain the development and workings of pinball machines. Chris walked me through several of them with great expertise.

Be sure to stop by the PPM when you are in the Bay Area to visit the exhibit, check out and play the new visible pin, and of course play the other hundred plus games at the museum. Michael Schiess and his crew have everything set it up to be very hands on, and as you can see, kids will definitely enjoy it.

Adventures in the Development of Pinball
ART AND TECH SHOW, runs April 6 through July 6, 2012.

Physics, mechanics, art and history exhibits:

An art and tech show about the internal workings of the machines, and their art and design as they change over time.

Filming Surf Champ

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Anna Newman

This weekend I got to return to the Pacific Pinball Warehouse to film some material for a piece on the Clear Pinball games created by Wade Krause, Michael and Christian Schiess, and others at the PPM. DP Charlie Kuttner (who also worked on PBDG) and I were trying to capture some of the magic of the visible games.

They are pretty magical.

Michael has been such a huge supporter of PBDG — I’m really excited to be working on this small video for him and the museum. It will be included in the bonus material of the PBDG DVD.

It’s tricky to light all the reflective surfaces in the games, especially the clear pins.

photo by Charlie Kuttner

Unfortunately manipulating the playfield directly is not only the way to get the sounds that I want for the footage, but also the only time I ever get a free game ;).

Even the new artwork in progress at the warehouse is impressed by Surf Champ’s beauty.