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Secrets of the Movies: Thoughts from The Fault in Our Stars Set

2013-09-10 · John, Ben Richardson, Josh Boone, Isaac Klausner, Nat Wolff, Ansel Elgort, Shailene Woodley, a guest · watch on YouTube · Books & writing · personal update

John thanks Hank for an original Aero Fighters ('Nerd Fighters') arcade game as a birthday present, then shows light behind-the-scenes moments with cast and crew on the Pittsburgh set of The Fault in Our Stars movie.

What is said

00:00:00 — Hank's birthday present: the original 'Nerd Fighters' (Aero Fighters) arcade game arrives at the office; John's mock retirement from writing

  • ★★★ John says that although the brothers agreed Hank wouldn't get him a birthday present (since John got Hank nothing), the original 'Nerd Fighters' arcade video game arrived at their office. — 00:00:00 · Hank Green
  • ★★ John's description: Hank gave him Aero Fighters, the arcade game that created the word nerdfighter, for his birthday. — 00:00:00 · nerdfighter

00:00:33 — Back on the TFIOS movie set in Pittsburgh: cinematographer Ben Richardson on one camera filming seven angles; Deb and the slate; Indiana license plates

  • ★★ John says he is back in Pittsburgh on the set of the TFIOS movie, hundreds of miles from the arcade game. — 00:00:33 · The Fault in Our Stars (film)
  • ★★ John says he thought a shot seen from several angles used several cameras, but it turns out to be one very expensive camera filming each angle in turn. — 00:00:36 · The Fault in Our Stars (film)
  • ★ Cinematographer Ben Richardson agrees, and explains that a second camera would be visible in the shots they had just filmed. — 00:00:52
  • ★ John jokes that one of the weird rules of moviemaking is that nobody may do anything until Deb hits the slate. (playful) — 00:01:08
  • ★ John wondered why the cars on set had Indiana license plates, then remembered it is because of the movie. — 00:01:18 · Indiana, The Fault in Our Stars (film)

00:01:24 — Moviemaking is mostly a construction site, except the fancy porta-potties; free food and Atomic Fireballs with Josh

00:02:20 — Real teen cancer survivors cast in the support group; John thanks them

  • ★★★ John says one of his favorite things about the movie so far is that real teen cancer survivors were cast for the support group; he thanks them for taking part and sharing their experiences. — 00:02:20 · The Fault in Our Stars (film)

00:02:48 — Quick Question Tuesday with Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley: have you read the book?

  • ★★ John does a quick Question Tuesday with Ansel Elgort, who plays Gus, and says viewers can submit questions so that maybe they will do another one with real questions. (hedged) — 00:02:53 · Question Tuesday
  • ★★ Asked whether he has read the book, Ansel Elgort says yes, jokes that it was all right, then says he loved it. (playful) — 00:02:59 · The Fault in Our Stars
  • ★★ Shailene Woodley says she has read the book multiple times; it is in her top two favorite books ever, alongside 1984, which she really loves. — 00:03:22 · The Fault in Our Stars

Humor (significant)

  • John announces his retirement from writing to become a full-time Nerd Fighters player while playing the game. — 00:00:23 > «because as soon as I announced my retirement... I lost.»
  • John says the only glamorous part of moviemaking is the porta-potties, filming inside one. — 00:01:35 > «I mean, Hank, I've lived in apartments smaller than this porta-potty.»
  • Shailene Woodley answers a pretend phone call and John turns the camera away out of politeness. — 00:02:42 > «because you're such a good actress that I thought you were really on the phone.»
  • Standing in the road with Ansel's hand on his shoulder, John imagines they are about to be hit by a car. — 00:03:16 > «What's your last memory? Ansel Elgort's beautiful hand on my shoulder.»

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