My new project 'Venom Trickshots' is creating quite a stir.... at DVinfo.net

Nathan DuMoulin · October 27th, 2009, 09:34 PM

Well, it's finally complete. My new movie trailer for 'Venom Trickshots'.

This is my second movie ever. I did all the pre-production, production, and post-production work myself. The idea was to modernize billiard trickshots by bringing a more extreme and fast passed style to it. I've made this as dramatic as I possibly could.

Thanks for DVinfo for the help along the way.

Please take a look:

Youtube (larger but poor quality):
YouTube - Venom Trickshots DVD

My website (smaller but flawless quality)
Venom Trickshots DVDs

Chris McMahon · October 27th, 2009, 09:54 PM

Looks real good. I had to watch the YouTube version twice because I wasn't even sure if a couple of the shots were real because they were so crazy. Anyway, what'd you shoot it with?

Jad Meouchy · October 27th, 2009, 10:21 PM

okay that's pretty cool, flows really well

Nathan DuMoulin · October 28th, 2009, 12:00 AM

Thanks guys. I shot it with two EX1s. I had no idea how to use them, which probably explains why the picture isnt as good as it could be. In fact, I had never even used a camcorder previous to that.

I knew I needed something that shot 60p, and since I was offered a good rental deal on a pair of EX1s, it seemed like a solid choice. I intend to take some courses to learn how to get better at the cinematic aspect before I start my next movie.

James Clarke · October 28th, 2009, 06:00 AM

the video looks great to me

Kevin Lewis · October 31st, 2009, 09:44 AM

Both the trailer and your website looks great. It looks like you have done a great job with marketing. Awesome job!

Paul Cascio · November 1st, 2009, 07:05 AM

Nathan, that was awesome. I currently have my pool table covered and the space converted into a video studio, but after watching your trailer, I'm considering switching it back. I put three holes in the cloth just watching those masse shots. :)

Can you tell me about the lighting you used?

Thanks.

BTW, just watched the trailers for your instructional vids and they are light years ahead of the Byrne videos that I learned from. Great job.

Nathan DuMoulin · November 2nd, 2009, 02:27 AM

Thanks Paul.

As for the lighting, I built a custom rig for it. I made a grid of 4x2' reflective tin light boxes. Each one had two rows of six 23w CFs (works out to about 1200w of light per box, 4800w in total). Each box had an egg crate on the bottom to ensure that the spill didn't touch the black walls of the set. Using CF allowed me to control the heat levels over the table, as the table felt tends to dry out and play differently when the temperature changes.

I then mounted the boxes all together, and hoisted them up over the warehouse rafter on some steel cabling and pulleys. The table was then installed directly under this light.

I also used two 500w soft boxes at the front as fill lights (each at about 40 degrees from the center). I had to had to flag the spill off where the output from each light crossed, so as not to over light the black backdrop. I also then added to hard rim light in each back corner to help separate the talent from the darkness.

I opted to crush the blacks in post, rather than adjust the camera's black level (to make the background go pure black). Given my lack of experience, I figured it was the safer option of the two.

All in all I was pretty happy with the results. There are a few small changes I'd make if I were to do it again, but other than that things went very smoothly.

Thanks again for your positive feedback.

October 27th, 2009, 09:34 PM	#1
Nathan DuMoulin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 101	My new project 'Venom Trickshots' is creating quite a stir.... Well, it's finally complete. My new movie trailer for 'Venom Trickshots'. This is my second movie ever. I did all the pre-production, production, and post-production work myself. The idea was to modernize billiard trickshots by bringing a more extreme and fast passed style to it. I've made this as dramatic as I possibly could. Thanks for DVinfo for the help along the way. Please take a look: Youtube (larger but poor quality): YouTube - Venom Trickshots DVD My website (smaller but flawless quality) Venom Trickshots DVDs

October 28th, 2009, 06:00 AM	#5
James Clarke Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: BARBADOS Posts: 125 Images: 4	the video looks great to me __________________ There Can Be Only One

November 1st, 2009, 07:05 AM	#7
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	Nathan, that was awesome. I currently have my pool table covered and the space converted into a video studio, but after watching your trailer, I'm considering switching it back. I put three holes in the cloth just watching those masse shots. :) Can you tell me about the lighting you used? Thanks. BTW, just watched the trailers for your instructional vids and they are light years ahead of the Byrne videos that I learned from. Great job. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

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October 27th, 2009, 09:54 PM	#2
Chris McMahon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Jose, CA,, USA Posts: 144	Looks real good. I had to watch the YouTube version twice because I wasn't even sure if a couple of the shots were real because they were so crazy. Anyway, what'd you shoot it with?

October 27th, 2009, 10:21 PM	#3
Jad Meouchy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 663	okay that's pretty cool, flows really well

October 28th, 2009, 12:00 AM	#4
Nathan DuMoulin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 101	Thanks guys. I shot it with two EX1s. I had no idea how to use them, which probably explains why the picture isnt as good as it could be. In fact, I had never even used a camcorder previous to that. I knew I needed something that shot 60p, and since I was offered a good rental deal on a pair of EX1s, it seemed like a solid choice. I intend to take some courses to learn how to get better at the cinematic aspect before I start my next movie.

October 31st, 2009, 09:44 AM	#6
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Both the trailer and your website looks great. It looks like you have done a great job with marketing. Awesome job!

November 2nd, 2009, 02:27 AM	#8
Nathan DuMoulin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 101	Thanks Paul. As for the lighting, I built a custom rig for it. I made a grid of 4x2' reflective tin light boxes. Each one had two rows of six 23w CFs (works out to about 1200w of light per box, 4800w in total). Each box had an egg crate on the bottom to ensure that the spill didn't touch the black walls of the set. Using CF allowed me to control the heat levels over the table, as the table felt tends to dry out and play differently when the temperature changes. I then mounted the boxes all together, and hoisted them up over the warehouse rafter on some steel cabling and pulleys. The table was then installed directly under this light. I also used two 500w soft boxes at the front as fill lights (each at about 40 degrees from the center). I had to had to flag the spill off where the output from each light crossed, so as not to over light the black backdrop. I also then added to hard rim light in each back corner to help separate the talent from the darkness. I opted to crush the blacks in post, rather than adjust the camera's black level (to make the background go pure black). Given my lack of experience, I figured it was the safer option of the two. All in all I was pretty happy with the results. There are a few small changes I'd make if I were to do it again, but other than that things went very smoothly. Thanks again for your positive feedback.