![]() The turning point for us was a trip that we took together to shoot at the Stern Pinball factory in Chicago via a 52-hour train ride. Basically, we were experiencing Robert through the lens of his various labels. ![]() The film, Vimeo’s first-ever original feature, had its world premiere at Hot Docs earlier this year and is available now on Vimeo, VOD and iTunes.įilmmaker recently asked the film’s directors Nathan Drillot and Jeff Petry about working with a subject who has autism, getting the rights to The Who’s iconic “Pinball Wizard,” opting for digital distribution, and more.įilmmaker: How did you initially approach the subject matter and how did your concept about the film change once you got to know Robert?ĭrillot and Petry: When we first met Robert we were anxious about how to interact with him, always editing ourselves, wondering whether or not we could even say the word “autism” around him. Wizard Mode tracks Robert’s rise on the international pinball circuit and his efforts to forge an independent life for himself. In this scene at the climax to the film, scrap maritime marker bouys were spray painted silver to depict giant pinballs, Tommy navigates his way through a surreal scene of giant pinballs and collections of burning pinball machines, after his followers riot and destroy the holiday camp.In Directing, Director Interviews, Directors, Distributionĭigital distribution, Salazar Film, Vimeo, Wizard Modeĭirected by Salazar Film (Nathan Drillot and Jeff Petry), the documentary Wizard Moderelates the story of Robert Gagno, a young man with autism who is one of the world’s highest ranking pinball players. It is now under re-development for housing and is situated just to the East of the M275 motorway, behind the Park and Ride site. The scrapyard at Tipner, at the top of Portsmouth harbour, was opened just after the Second World War and is where much of the discarded military equipment from Portsmouth Dockyard ended up. The pier was rebuilt following the fire but not in the previous grand style. Ken Russell's crew continued filming whilst the fire was being fought by the fire services and the fire scenes were used in other sections of the film notably the destruction of Bernies Holiday camp. The fire resulted in serious damage to the pier estimated to be £500,000. South Parade Pier, South Parade, Southsea, Hants, PO4 0SW.Ī fire broke out during filming when Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed, Tommy's mother and stepfather were dancing in the Gaiety Show Bar, disguised as the ballroom of Bernies Holiday Camp. Martens.įort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire The boots modelled on the classic cherry red, Doc Marten, were 4ft 6½ inches high and constructed from glass fibre.Įlton John kept the boots after filming Tommy, he later sold them at one of his famous auctions in 1988, they were bought by a director of R Griggs, the makers of Dr. In this scene Tommy battles against Elton John (character name Local Lad), wearing a massively high pair of Doc Marten boots, for supremacy as the Pinball Wizard, Tommy of course won the competition. The King's Theatre, Albert Road, Southsea, Hampshire. ![]() I'm sure the present residents realise the buildings religious background, but I wonder if they have seen the crazy scenes in the film when Tommy is taken to the church by his mother Ann-Margret to be cured and where the congregation take part in a communion consuming both drugs and alcohol? ![]() Following the closure of Eastney Barracks in 1991 this building has subsequently been redeveloped into private housing. This church was built to serve the Royal Marines Eastney barracks and was dedicated at a service on 17 November 1905 by the Lord Bishop of Winchester, it was built to the design known as 'Admiralty Pattern Churches'. St Andrew's Church, Henderson Road, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Hilsea Lido, Swimming Pool, Hilsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tommy opens a holiday camp for his followers to stay in and be near him, but unfortunately it all ends badly as Tommy's greedy and unscrupulous relatives try to rip off his followers financially, the followers riot in protest and destroy the camp. With the help of a specialist, Tommy cures himself and fans flock to him and worship him in a cult like manner. Tommy develops a special skill at playing pinball machines, "he sure plays a mean pinball" and goes on to become world champion bringing fame and fortune to the family. Being forbidden by his mother and stepfather to speak about the murder, he internalises the issue and stops speaking, seeing or hearing at all. Tommy the rock opera centres around Tommy a deaf dumb and blind boy who as a child witnessed his father being murdered by his stepfather. A very brief and very simplified synopsis.
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