Strong beginning to the year so far. This week I start shooting another set of commercials with Director Tony Hope for Time Warner Cable as part of their “I Am Time Warner Cable” campaign. This time, it’s en Español, Olé! Like the previous spots, we’re shooting with the Panasonic HVX200 and the Letus35 lens adapter. Unlike last time in which we used still photography lenses (Nikon in particular), this time we’re using the PL mount lens adaptor with Zeiss Planor T1.3 lenses in focal lengths of 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. The folks at Alan Gordon have machined parts to make the system work with rods for follow focus and a matte box. More to report later in the week.
↑ On the workbench at Alan Gordon seeing how it all fits together.
↑ Just like last time, we shot against a white cyc and the footage will be in black and white.
→ Tony studies the footage while the P2 card is being backed-up.
↑ Our 50mm lens and it’s beautiful narrow depth-of-field.
→ Watching the inaugural celebrations.
↑ This reminds me of the rising the flag on Iwa Jima. In the frame Ken W. (L) and Andrew A. (R) – making it work while we chase the sun.
→Love those glasses.
↑ A brillient use of a Hoodman monitor shade when the blackwrap is no where in sight.
→ Our little camera doesn’t look so little with all the accoutrements.
↑ Whatever it takes to help the non-actor.
I had the opportunity to take a look at the latest version of Gamma & Density 3cP software. The seminar showcased the latest version of the software that now incorporates a workflow to accommodate a tapeless camera system, specifically the Red One. I liked it so much, I’m purchasing a copy of the software to take to Canada for a feature I’m shooting. Should be a good test of the software since I’m not relying on the it in a critical way.
The final color grading for “Dead Air” just took place and I’m pleased, very pleased, with the results. The coloring was performed by Randy Starnes of Westwind Media in Burbank on a DaVinci 2K and was laid-down to Sony SR tape. A DVD copy should be available later this month – I look forward to viewing it on my home television. Popcorn anyone?!
We’re going into the home stretch — we have a couple of locations shots left but the bulk of the project is shot.
↑ Picture two of these boards full of storyboard fames, that’s how we started.
→ My favorite shot of David and Ryan. It’s on our insert set of the refrigerator.
↑ He shoots…
→ …he scores!! The dreaded pie that managed to stay in play for a month before its ceremonious farewell after a brief role in the film.
↑ The lighting setup for the time-lapse shots consisting of three 40w par lights from Ikea of all places. They’re mounted on a C-stand using Cardallini clamps and links.
→ Our three camera setup for the time-lapse shots: two are HVX200s and one is my Canon XTi linked to and controlled from a MacBook Pro using the canon EOS Utility software.
↑ Give me some of that Fincher $#!7. Oh the humanity!
→ A tighter shot of our underslung, camera rig – a little pat-on-the-back for Petersen.
↑ I love this kludge. The camera is mounted to the tripod head from the camera’s handle. The tripod head is then connected to the C-stand. It allowed me to get very low and inside the “fridge set” with relative ease and still allowed for pan and tilt.
→ Our “fridge set” with one wall removed.
↑ Here’s a better view of the lighting setup (click to see a larger version) – below is the same photo with notes.
It’s been a great start to the new year. Finishing up a short film I’m very excited about that started shooting a week or so before the new year. Finishing the color grading for “Dead Air” (a film I shot some time ago). And soon, I’ll be shooting another commercial for Time Warner and this en Español. Olé!
My very best wishes to all of you this new year. As dour as the news can be these days, we should each do our part to make this year a good one.
I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. Let us all try to make the next one better than the last.
Here’s to the bright New Year,
and a fond farewell to the old;
here’s to the things that are yet to come,
and to the memories that we hold.
What a wonderful way to end the year and start a new one, doing a project I’m enthusiastic about. The project is called “Fridge” and it’s directed by David Green and produced by Ryan Hendricks. “Fridge” tells the story of a community of refrigerator inhabitants and their valiant and noble struggle against a mortal foe – a baleful and metastatic ice that threatens to enshrine them if they don’t act quickly.
The bulk of the movie takes place inside a diminutive refrigerator. Shots we couldn’t get with the real fridge were shot using a small “set”. It should be noted that all our little “actors” are being puppeteered by either Ryan or David with me lending a hand on a rare occasion to work the wires. Also, since someone asked, this project isn’t stop action.
To light our little actors, we used a large array of LED “throwies” (see image below for more notes). We’re in the middle of shooting right now – I’ll add more in next year’s blog.
↑↑ LIke Patton and Marshall planning the field of battle, David (dir) and Ryan (prod) map out the day.
↑↑ The fridge during the recce, notice the ice beast
↑→ To get all the angles we needed, we attached a baby spud / 1/4, 20 adapter to the handle of the camera and positioned the camera using a c-stand.
↑↑ Using the magnets to position the light. It’s odd how like lighting a large set the work has been.
↑↑ Role over the image to see my notes.
↑&→ Images taken from the monitor don’t do the project justice since you can’t see the food animated.
