Low Mode Questions

[Mike McGowan SOC]

On the flip side (pun intended) I've been standing with the director and DP when the director got the brilliant idea to go to low mode (we were on a roof top with an awesome view that would have been lost to the white 4' high wall around the edge). It was a stupid idea and I could tell the DP thought so too. So when the director said, "how long to go to low mode" I replied, "like 10 or 15 minutes" which I knew was too long to make it worth while. We did the shot in regular mode, it looked better and the DP (who I'd worked with before and knew I could flip in just a few minutes) understood that I took one for the team.

 

As for actually giving a time, I try not to. It may actually only take 3 minutes to do the flip but if there's a lens change, a re-load, a filter change and your ac is slow it could add 10 minutes to that time. It isn't 'your fault' it took so long but know body cares. It makes no sense to balance with the wrong lens, et. so you have no choice but to wait until your ac is done.

 

When I'm the first shot of the day on say a 1 day commercial and the first thing they ask is, "how long?" I say, "from the time the ac gives me a completely built camera with lens, mag, mate box and filters, I'll be ready to shoot in 5 minutes. I also remind them that the 5 minute clock doesn't start until I get the camera........ Basically saying your not going to be waiting on me, go bug the ac.

 

Finally, I totally agree with the, "don't cry wolf" concept. Get the shot right and don't ask for second takes. If you do however, don't ask, tell. I like to say, "I need another one, we had some technical problems". No ambiguity in that statement. I also like saying 'some technical problems'. Maybe the ac buzzed the shot, maybe the boom came in, maybe I got flared or maybe my framing sucked, either way, your not going to want to print that take, I've fixed the problem, we need to go again. I personally find I'm better off not selling out the ac, the boom guy, et.

[Jerry Holway]

I've often heard from AD's directors, DP's that they won't go to low mode because it will take too much time, and they are suprised when I say 2 minutes or one or five. They were used to hearing 15. Same goes for superlong modes, Antlers, lens changes, etc.

 

Practice to make any mode change as quick as you can. (I used to have an AC who could do a full film camera flip over & rebalance, ready to shoot in under a minute... alone I go a bit slower...)

 

My time estimate to production is situation dependent: how much do we have to do (roll over and rebalance, or flip the camera, and/or change lenses, etc.) and I estimate in consultation with the AC if he's needed for the flip or other chores. Day playing you don't get to rehearse with the AC, but on longer shows I try to - to make the changes more efficient.

 

I'm always straightforward in my estimates, no padding, politcs, or trying to look good or bad or anything else; there's nothing else in the question of how long will it take that requires anything other than a straight answer.

 

Charles' suggestion to be sure the shot is really low mode before you flip is probably the biggest time saver of all - and one is always prepared for the iris motor, low mode, long mode, whatever.

 

Jerry