Jump to content

My Sh*& Don't Stink and Yours Doesn't Either. What's the best shot you've done and why?


Dave Chameides

Recommended Posts

  • Premium Members

Not a bad shot Joseph, very cool. Slowly but surely you'll learn to master that sled/camera combination, then you'll move onto bigger and heavier rigs, and add accessories like FF, Low mode, etc. You'll have the basics down, and will learn how to control more weight, like starting a work out regimen, after a few weeks of exercise 10 pound dumbbells feel like 1 pound dumbbells. Keep up the good work!.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Dave, thanks so much for this thread, it's been great watching shots from very experienced operators down to Joseph showing us what a dedicated new operator can do. This entire thread, and especially Joseph's post have reminded me of all the excitement that went through me when I first started wearing a dance partner.

 

I've been hard pressed to think of shots I'm particularly proud of, doubly difficult when looking for shots I have access to or am allowed to show. However, I did an interesting shoot two weeks ago that I'm actually pretty proud of.

 

This is the second time I've worked with the director and DP, and the first time was an absurdly ambitious oner, which is Kurt's MO. He also directed the "Make It Up" video recently posted on the forum with mixed reception. So when I showed up to the house I was prepared to help design a shot that would wind throughout all the rooms for 3 to 4 minutes, and leave 10 hours later (yep, only 10) exhausted.

 

I showed up and was told everything was in the living room. In fact, all three performers would be sitting on the couch the entire time... I seriously questioned why I was there.

 

Kurt gave me a vague idea of why I was there, and then we were off. He left the shot itself in my hands. It developed as I went, and I tried something different almost every take, deciding what worked best. This is far from a perfect shot, it could be better designed and executed. But I'm really proud of what was accomplished in a just a few hours. Even though I still think steadicam maybe wasn't the best way to shoot it, I'm very happy about how much I was able to take advantage of it while, for the most part, not drawing much attention to the camera itself. I was in danger of doing so much worse as I tried to make the steadicam more relevant But the shot was more about the phones and the performers, so I didn't want to stick out.

 

The whole gag with the phones is so cool that I don't think it would have mattered much if I'd just been steadi-sticks. But this shot afforded me an opportunity to exercise creative muscles to achieve something cool with steadicam despite so many restrictions to my movement, and there were plenty of restrictions (much more than is noticeable in frame)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nFJmd5MX4k

 

Bonus off topic video: The Jingle Bell Rock video is actually a sequel of sorts to a non-steadicam oner Kurt did last year. If you like the phone gag, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHpaCq7xIQM

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Brian,

Thanks so much for sharing that. I have to admit, I'd also question why they had you there, but that said, it's pretty cool. I really wished i had named this thread differently because we can both agree, it's not the greatest steadicam shot done to date, but it's pretty darn cool and how great that you were involved! That's the point of the thread so thanks for nailing it on the head.

 

Ok, I just watched it again and I disagree. It is a good use of steadicam in an odd way. I don't think it would have felt as fun had it been on a dolly/crane, or other device because the slight movement it has and the choices you make give it a fun feel that it wouldn't have otherwise. Good on ya. I also love that he basically left you to find the shot and figure out how best to make it work. So great to be a part of the process like that. A few years back Eriq LaSalle directed a film. I did a bunch of steadi for him and he took me into the main room of a school we were in and explained that he wanted me to come up with a one shot intro to the insane asylum this was supposed to be. He told me we had 100 extras and i could design it anyway that I wanted and had an hour to come up with something cool. Also, being the guy he is, his parting words were that i should come up with three things he had never seen done before. Don't know if I got three but I worked in a walk up and over the pool table that was fun and the shot was crazy fun to design (even thought it's not the greatest thing done). Fun to be involved on that level.

 

 

Just watched it again and realized it's actually cut short by about 45 seconds as it starts where it began. In retrospect, even less great than I recall, but still fun.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Thanks for the kind words Dave. Yeah, I'm presenting my shot precisely because it's an odd choice to use steadicam but ended up working well (IMO).

 

In the space provided a jib of any size would have been useless. A dolly would have been feasible, maybe a peewee. But had it been my video to direct, I probably would have used a 6' slider due to the space (although, my back was against the wall on an 18mm on the wide parts of the shot, so a dolly might be better). Obviously all the pushes become only zooms, but I think that could have been really nice. In the end, I think what we did was really nice too.

 

We would have needed a lighter camera, but a Movi could have done just as well, and with an Easy Rig I could have done as many takes back to back as I did on steadi. Though I do think the dynamic of the shot would have changed a bit, possibly for the better, possibly for the worse.

 

Your asylum shot is inspired! I can see where it could be better if I'm nitpicking, but I think even as a camera savvy viewer I'd be so involved in the brilliant shot design so as not to notice or care.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Totally agree, but I do feel that even with the slider/peewee it wouldn't have felt as "organic" (hate to use that word here but it fits).

 

Thanks for the kind words. So are you saying my shot isn't flawless? Why does everyone on this board have to heat so much? Ha

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Absolutely, with a slider or dolly it would have a different, more formal feel. I think it could have been a nice shot that way too, definitely different. I tried to use my extra range of motion to advantage with Steadi.

 

 

So are you saying my shot isn't flawless?

 

Only if I'm nitpicking ;)

 

Totally agree, but I do feel that even with the slider/peewee it wouldn't have felt as "organic" (hate to use that word here but it fits).

 

Countdown till Ron shows up...

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Hi all, here I go.

This is an excerpt of my first feature, which allowed me to pay back my rig.

It's a crazy experience to shooting for a crew that doesn't speak your language. Shot in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

The whole time I was thinking: "Poor baby" he was so scared of the lead actor (with the orange jacket)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Nice job for a first feature. Better than my first that's for sure. Love the lip dub too.

Thanks.

Also, interesting fact: There is NO sound crew on a Bollywood film. There are so many different dialects in India that they only take a reference sound (with a pin head mic on the Red, right next to the fan) then, they ADR everything. And the real stars there are not the actors, but the voices.

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used my Zephyr w/ Bartech, 7D, Zeiss ZE lenses, and one of Janice's weight plates courtesy of a member here. The cabling was kinda a pain since I had to go from HDMI to SDI, but I was able to get my hands on a Blackmagic converter that worked great for me. I was kicking myself when I got on set and realized I left the Teradek Bolt on my desk at work. My 1st AC had never pulled focus before and was pulling off the steadicam monitor and trying to judge the distance (you get what you pay for). So personally, I'm just impressed any of the shots were in focus haha!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

I used my Zephyr w/ Bartech, 7D, Zeiss ZE lenses, and one of Janice's weight plates courtesy of a member here. The cabling was kinda a pain since I had to go from HDMI to SDI, but I was able to get my hands on a Blackmagic converter that worked great for me. I was kicking myself when I got on set and realized I left the Teradek Bolt on my desk at work. My 1st AC had never pulled focus before and was pulling off the steadicam monitor and trying to judge the distance (you get what you pay for). So personally, I'm just impressed any of the shots were in focus haha!

great work man ! But your shadow kinda ruined a little ~

 

still great work !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Dave and Shawn!

 

I agree with you that the shadows were really annoying! We did one take and then rearranged the lights so it wasn't as big of an issue anymore. Unfortunately the editor used some of the first take.

 

I also have the classic noob mistake of cutting off his head routinely. -_- It's frustrating because I was trying so hard not to! I guess that's what happens when you're (a noob) 5' 4" operator and the singer is 6' and on a 2' raised platform. I've just been practicing for 6' guys, not 8' tall guys!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Great job Caitlyn, couple notes that are hopefully helpful :)

 

Thanks, Dave and Shawn!

 

I agree with you that the shadows were really annoying! We did one take and then rearranged the lights so it wasn't as big of an issue anymore. Unfortunately the editor used some of the first take.

 

You're always going to have things happen that you don't want to see in the cut but will make it anyway, you cannot completely avoid it (sometimes it feels like they're looking for the bobbles and shadows to put in). But you can limit their options. It's totally okay to check the lighting before you go. If you aren't going to get a camera rehearsal (and you know it), walk the path without the rig when the lights are going up. Look for lights that will cause shadows and let your gaffer know. You know the time will be taken to move them at some point, so might as well do it before the first take.

 

I also have the classic noob mistake of cutting off his head routinely. -_- It's frustrating because I was trying so hard not to! I guess that's what happens when you're (a noob) 5' 4" operator and the singer is 6' and on a 2' raised platform. I've just been practicing for 6' guys, not 8' tall guys!

 

It's also totally okay to balance the rig for the shot (maybe you did, I don't know). If you need to be tilted up for the entire take, or most of it, adjust the fore/aft so that the camera is tilted at a better angle. That way you have less compensation for headroom to worry about. You'll still have to adjust as you move around, but less so. Also, the slower your drop time the easier it will be to tilt (but also the easier to go off level)

 

And know that in performance stuff like that where anything can happen at any time, things like cropped heads are going to happen. You'll start to adjust for more headroom, and the talent will start to move forward at the same time, next thing you know you're fighting it for several seconds, struggling to back up and tilt up and dodge a crew member and a light stand just to fix the headroom all while the director or DP is yelling, "watch your headroom, watch your headroom!" You'll get better at these adjustments with practice, and always strive for your best, but not every take will be perfect and that's okay. You'll think you have it for the next take, but the talent will do something different. It happens.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...