It’s with great excitement that I am working with Sinohui again, and this time on a feature film, “Dark Harvest”.

I will be providing DIT (Digital Imaging Tech) services for the film. We are shooting on two RED MX cameras and I will be converting footage for edit through REDCINE-X with a RED ROCKET card.

Check out some behind the scenes.

I recently worked on a short film by Amy Puzia called, “The Gift”.   The shoot was actually just an editing exercise for class at De Anza College, but in order to edit something, you have to shoot something, so we ended up doing this piece.  We had a very minimal crew, and did very minimal lighting.  In fact most of it was natural, or the ambient light was enhanced with a single HMI 400 Joker. It’s a silent film, so there is no audio. If anyone wants to put music to it, let me know.  The camera settings were tweaked to reduce the contrast of the 5d Mk II or 5Dii as I like to call it.  The contrast was reduced to

Amy edited the film in 1 day, and then it took another 4 hours of color correction inside apple color. Here you can see the difference between the two versions:

Two minutes later on the 9^th of January Jim Jannard announced the RED Pro 17-50 T2.9 zoom lens.  The price is $6000.  They dropped the price of the RED 18-50 Zoom lens to $3995 until supplies run out.  Prices on the used market dropped immediately, running between $2000 and $2800 for a used RED ZOOM.

This zoom lens was used to shoot the “snappy” footage of RED’s resident crustacean.

Since the announcement we have been waiting for more information about the lens.  Originally, slated to ship by RED DAY (February 13^th) the lens is still not yet shipping as of March 7^th.

Some good tidbits about the lens:

-       No i/Data

-       Fit’s Arri Cameras (flange depth is less than the RED Pro Primes)

-       Minium focus is 4” in front of the hood, 11” in front of the plane, and marked 1 foot on the lens

-       Outside ring diameter is 144mm

-       Threads on the inside of that ring at 139mm with 1.0 pitch.

-       Overall length is 129mm.

-       3.2 Pounds.

-      Covers 5K.

[Update] The 17-50 Does cover 5K 2:1 [update]More importantly, many people really want to know if it will cover the full 5K of the Mysterium-X s35 sensor.  This question has not yet been answered. Also, not answered, is the ability to hold focus over the zoom range.   The original 18-50 zoom is used more as a “variable prime” because it does not hold focus over the zoom range.

The release date has come and gone, and still no word on when it will ship.  However things are always moving forward at RED whether or not we see it.  Just the other day, word that EPIC prototypes are booting in 15 seconds was announced.  It’s the “Epic prototypes” comment that is important there.  After the prototypes are working, the Tattoo program will start.  Estimated time on that is currently 4 to 5 weeks from today, March 7^th.

Sinohui and I discuss the live episode in episode 15 of the Bay Area Filmmakers Podcast.

The new “Lowry Theater Company” is a massive space. A huge theater, big stage, large prop and wardrobe rooms, and a large black box theater, left us in need of more lights. Luckily Prompter People came through. We were able to use several of their new LED lights, called Flolights. We use three LED 500′s and five LED 1000′s

These lights provide a broad and long throw without the heat. The barn doors allow us to control the spill of the lights as well. The first thing you will notice is that on close ups, we finally have the lights to properly accomplish 3-point lighting. You can see in episode 8 how that tool changes the look of the show. With all of our lights, we now have enough light to accomplish the 3 point lighting for multiple cameras. And we no longer run the risk of throwing the breakers! These lights use considerably less power than equivalent “hot lights.” In fact the lights consumer just one-tenth of the power.

If you notice the credits to Episode 8, you will see that Chris Faulkner is listed as the Director of Photography. Chris has been shooting with us since we moved to the new location and has been handling a lot of the gaffer duties during these shoots. I had a job that required me to travel to Germany for a week, and during that time, EXIT Stage Left had 2 shooting days. Chris took charge of the camera department during that time, and used the new LED lights to great success. Those two shooting days resulted in footage for all of one episode and most of the next one.

I resumed my duties as the Director of Photography a few weeks ago and have been delighted with the LED lights. These lights, when diffused with frost gel provide some extremely smooth and powerful light. The built in dimmers give us the infinite control of the light. The throw from these lights are several times more than fluorescent light fixtures as well, and are an excellent replacement for both Hot Lights and Fluorescent lights. This allows us to move the lights back from the actors and give them more space to move around. This is extremely important when we are doing the improv elements to the show.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=342748&modelNo=Content04162009020504436&surfModel=Content04162009020504436

Maxell has also announced that it will be creating P2 cards. http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20090420/NY0091020042009-1.html

I remember a new NAB’s ago that Hoodman also made such an announcement which never came to fruition.

We use Panasonic HVX-200′s and P2 cards for our web series, EXIT Stage Left

Check it out at Breakaleg.tv

The first thing to note, is that this series was produced and stars a lot of top bay area talent.  I am extremely impressed with the writing of the series as well as the acting.  Those two elements lead the way for this series to be a hit.  Lead, as in the past tense.  Or is it present tense?  It was a hit.  It is a hit.  Either way, they have a lot of views and good press.  I am a fan of the show.

However, I should point out that when I first sat down and watched the first few episodes, I wasn’t entirely sold.  But that because I’m probably one of the only people that HATES the office.  Specifically, as a Director of Photography, I HATE the office.  But I love Arrested Development!

I stuck with the series though, and somewhere in the 3rd episode, Act 1 or 2, the series really hit it’s stride.  After that, I couldn’t stop.  I had to continue on and watch the ridiculous story play out.   Each episode built nicely on the next and plot themes continued through the series.

I just went back and watched the first few episodes again, and I have to admit that the first episode was a lot better than I remember.  Really really good in fact.

Anyone out there who has not seen this series should do so immediately.