the plan was, & what they rehearsed, was Alex would stay behind Tilman with simply one hand on his shoulder as they moved thru the rooms.
They rehearsed signals Tilman could make to tap out.
Discussion
By the time they approached the climax of the film, a huge room full of so many extras & an orchestra, Tilman's body gave out. He was not strong enough, not fit enough, his body could not bear the weight of the camera.
He signaled that to his director but the director mistook it as him simply overcome by the room because that is what Alex, who was not carrying the burden of the weight of the camera, was experiencing.
As in, moving thru so many rooms, rehearsing it so many times, knowing each-other so well, Alex's hand never leaving Tilman's shoulder
to Alex? they were as one
but only Tilman was carrying the weight of the gear.
Alex, having misread Tilman's signal in that moment, pushed Tilman forward, Tilman completed the scene & the film
it came at the cost of his spine
serious spinal injury
is this film i enjoy so much
(& so many others do)
a feat of excellence truly
worth Tilman's spine?
~No.~
not to me anyway
any day of the week i would trade not seeing it or experiencing it even once
if it meant Tilman was not injured.
That's my personal opinion
the opinion that matters way more is
what Alex would say
& what Tilman would say
in their heart of hearts
not publicly
in their real heart of hearts