:60 mockumentary spot w/ Mini35, DVX100a at DVinfo.net

Charles Papert · October 27th, 2004, 06:49 AM

Here's a spot I shot and edited recently; think you guys might enjoy it. It's in the Christopher Guest mockumentary vein. We shot the testimonial section with a Mini35/DVX100a and two standard DVX setups for the classroom.

The actor playing the acting coach improvised the whole thing. The footage will eventually be made into a short film. It's priceless stuff, I had a hard time shooting it while suppressing the giggles. My actress girlfriend (who is the poor soul face-planting off the stairs) tells me that this is barely exaggerated from some of the acting classes she's attended--scary!

The spot was directed by Ahmed Best, a very nice chap who happens to have played Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars 1-3.

http://homepage.mac.com/chupap/Film/...Theater32.html

Josh Caldwell · October 27th, 2004, 08:16 AM

Hey Charles,

That was hilarious. You totally captured the whole Christopher Guest feel to it. Really funny. Nice job.

Josh

Alex Cano · October 27th, 2004, 09:46 AM

I second that, it was great!

About the DVX without the mini35... people talk about its look resembling film the most... I can't say that I agree at all. I've watched a lot of footage from dvxuser.com and other sources, it looks very "videoish" to me in motion (as opposed to screengrabs). Charles, of course you were trying to make a distinction within the two looks.

Some examples of DV footage I've liked:

"The Seinfeld Amex ads" XL1s and mini35
"Precursor" by Rich Lee on XL1 and heavy image manipulation in post.
"Marla" on GL1 (!!), homemade mini35 and heavy post image manip.

Of couse, shooting conditions make any configuration look good or bad, I've even disliked some mini35 footage, but I've never been excited by straight DVX footage, like I was for the examples above.

Charles Papert · October 27th, 2004, 11:14 PM

Thanks gents.

I didn't sweat the straight DVX look, since I had to light the room to be able to shoot nearly 300 degrees with two cameras in a documentary fashion. We were shooting down and dirty. However, I do feel that it would be entirely possible to make cinematic images with the camera even without the Mini35. But I do miss my Xl1 a little bit sometimes...

Glad you liked the Seinfeld ads, too!

Dan McCain · November 9th, 2004, 11:18 AM

Charles, could you please tell me which lens you used for the talking head dolly shot. Also did you color correct in post or how did you get the blue tint in the bg/blacks?

Dan McCain · November 9th, 2004, 11:19 AM

Followup: BTW I loved the look, also could you tell me which light you keyed with?

Charles Papert · November 9th, 2004, 09:51 PM

Dan:

The dolly shot was either a 50mm or an 85mm, I'm afraid I forgot! We moved the track closer to get the tighter version rather than go for a longer lens to keep the move smooth (it's tougher to operate a non-riding dolly with a long lens also).

I did do some color correction on the piece. If I recall, I isolated the skin tones (in FCP4), then cooled off everything else.

The key light was two 1200 HMI Pars bounced into a 12x griffolyn with 1/4 CTO. A 4x4 solid was placed to the left as negative fill. For the "documentary" stuff, the same par/griff setup was moved against one wall, the overhead lights were turned on, and away we went.

Josh Brusin · November 11th, 2004, 09:09 AM

you had a 12x Griffolyon!
http://agencyb.typepad.com/photos/un...zed/b0_1_b.jpg

you get those imported?

Charles Papert · November 11th, 2004, 10:16 AM

Hee hee! Yeah, he was really helpful when it came to moving the big pieces of gear around, although he cast a bit of a blue shade to the bounced light...

October 27th, 2004, 06:49 AM	#1
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	:60 mockumentary spot w/ Mini35, DVX100a Here's a spot I shot and edited recently; think you guys might enjoy it. It's in the Christopher Guest mockumentary vein. We shot the testimonial section with a Mini35/DVX100a and two standard DVX setups for the classroom. The actor playing the acting coach improvised the whole thing. The footage will eventually be made into a short film. It's priceless stuff, I had a hard time shooting it while suppressing the giggles. My actress girlfriend (who is the poor soul face-planting off the stairs) tells me that this is barely exaggerated from some of the acting classes she's attended--scary! The spot was directed by Ahmed Best, a very nice chap who happens to have played Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars 1-3. http://homepage.mac.com/chupap/Film/...Theater32.html __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 27th, 2004, 11:14 PM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Thanks gents. I didn't sweat the straight DVX look, since I had to light the room to be able to shoot nearly 300 degrees with two cameras in a documentary fashion. We were shooting down and dirty. However, I do feel that it would be entirely possible to make cinematic images with the camera even without the Mini35. But I do miss my Xl1 a little bit sometimes... Glad you liked the Seinfeld ads, too! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

November 9th, 2004, 09:51 PM	#7
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Dan: The dolly shot was either a 50mm or an 85mm, I'm afraid I forgot! We moved the track closer to get the tighter version rather than go for a longer lens to keep the move smooth (it's tougher to operate a non-riding dolly with a long lens also). I did do some color correction on the piece. If I recall, I isolated the skin tones (in FCP4), then cooled off everything else. The key light was two 1200 HMI Pars bounced into a 12x griffolyn with 1/4 CTO. A 4x4 solid was placed to the left as negative fill. For the "documentary" stuff, the same par/griff setup was moved against one wall, the overhead lights were turned on, and away we went. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

November 11th, 2004, 10:16 AM	#9
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Hee hee! Yeah, he was really helpful when it came to moving the big pieces of gear around, although he cast a bit of a blue shade to the bounced light... __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 27th, 2004, 08:16 AM	#2
Josh Caldwell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 183	Hey Charles, That was hilarious. You totally captured the whole Christopher Guest feel to it. Really funny. Nice job. Josh

October 27th, 2004, 09:46 AM	#3
Alex Cano Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 33	I second that, it was great! About the DVX without the mini35... people talk about its look resembling film the most... I can't say that I agree at all. I've watched a lot of footage from dvxuser.com and other sources, it looks very "videoish" to me in motion (as opposed to screengrabs). Charles, of course you were trying to make a distinction within the two looks. Some examples of DV footage I've liked: "The Seinfeld Amex ads" XL1s and mini35 "Precursor" by Rich Lee on XL1 and heavy image manipulation in post. "Marla" on GL1 (!!), homemade mini35 and heavy post image manip. Of couse, shooting conditions make any configuration look good or bad, I've even disliked some mini35 footage, but I've never been excited by straight DVX footage, like I was for the examples above.

November 9th, 2004, 11:18 AM	#5
Dan McCain Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 65	Charles, could you please tell me which lens you used for the talking head dolly shot. Also did you color correct in post or how did you get the blue tint in the bg/blacks?

November 9th, 2004, 11:19 AM	#6
Dan McCain Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 65	Followup: BTW I loved the look, also could you tell me which light you keyed with?

November 11th, 2004, 09:09 AM	#8
Josh Brusin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	you had a 12x Griffolyon! http://agencyb.typepad.com/photos/un...zed/b0_1_b.jpg you get those imported?