Hi Nick,

I'm quite impressed by your work. I went through your website the other day and ended up downloading every video you had there. You've managed to achieve a great look throughout all your work! The lighting, DOF from your adapter, colour correction, editing, and even the 3d animation. Just a couple of questions I'd like to ask.

Firstly, you've done a really great job with the colour grading in all the videos on your website. Can I ask what plugins or tools you use for that, and if it's done during the compositing stage or editing?

Also, you speak highly of an upcoming version of Wayne's SG Pro adapter. I was actually thinking of buying an SG Pro sometime soon. But after reading what you wrote about a superior future model, I'm wondering if I should just keep waiting until that's ready to go? If you're reading this Wayne, is there anything you can add about this next model you'll releasing? Time frame etc?

Glenn

Glenn,

The new model of the SGpro will mainly add support for more camcorders, like the JVC HD100, which does not currently work with the SGpro.

Nick,

Again... yet again. Beautiful work! Muy Combustion love. I wanted to throw out there, have you tried Synthetic Aperature for After Effects yet? I'm actually liking some of its grading capabilities more than whats available in Combustion.

If you have a chance, and have any available - can you post some photos of your lighting and stage setups? I'd like to see how you threw lighting on that scene in the waiting room (see exactly how much light you filled with) and also how you dropped lights in the operating room.

Wayne,

Cheers, yeah I didn't think it could really be improved on much at all, judging by the image quality of the latest clips I've downloaded from your website. I'll get in contact with you sometime soon as I have a few minor questions to ask aswell.

Nick,

Wow, I touched a nerve there (you took it as an assault) even though I was careful to say "Don't take this the wrong way."

I'm not frustrated and I don't think you have any particular secret. I just pointed out that you keep claiming your adapter is different than Wayne's, yet you won't even spill the beans on your own stuff. You say you decided not to go into business so there's no reason not to share what you've learned from this board. Giving back, it's called.

No attack here, nor was my previous post, if you re-read it without being so defensive.

As for my "long and tiresome assult" (assault?), mine wasn't half as long as yours, so I don't follow you there.

I'm not even having trouble with my adapter; mine works great. I was given a very expensive achromat by someone in the business of selling 35mm adapters, which will probably blow your mind.

What I'm getting at is not what lenses you're using. I just asked for some details on your adapter. What's different about yours than Wayne's?

Try to calm down before you answer this time. I'm not attacking you and it's a basic question we've all been asked.

I would certainly say that the majority of my time is spent studying cinematography and the other various skills needed to be a low budget filmaker theese days, rather than working on my adapter.

This brings up a good point. I found that building my own 35mm adapter and getting it right was soaking up a LOT of time. Time I'd rather spend working on my skills as a filmmaker.

I managed to get pretty far rather quickly, but could see the ole "the last 10% takes 90% of the time" adage coming into play.

-> http://207.200.5.12/jtp/35mm/pics.html

After two weekends of work and several trips to Fry's, I plunked down $370 for the Letus35a

-> http://letus35.com/

Money very well spent (I was shooting a short with it some two weeks later).

Hi Glen,
Thanks very much for the question. I have used combustion on the last piece, shake on the previous pieces, and after effects before that. I am really happy with combustion, and will continue to use it now, it is absolutely perfect for color grading. I dont really use any plugins for the grading side of things to be honest, becuase the software tends to allow enough control.

Hi Jeremy,
yep, I have tried synthetic apature, and it is a really good plugin, but i have never been that keen on after effects for grading. Just not keen on the interface, and i am not massively keen on the way the synthetic apature has its own separate interface which seems to load fairly slowly etc. But it does alow some excellent control. I downloaded the standalone copy trial for the mac, and really liked it, however becuase you can use layers etc, it has limited uses for me, so i cant warrent the expense.


Bill,
Well matey, you are just one of those rude people who preceeds an insult with "don't be offended".... If you are not going to be offensive, why would you say don't be offended... you funny chap. Having looked at some of your previous posts, you havn't made an exception just for me, which makes me feel better.... flaming people seems to be your forte. Anyway sorry mate, but im not really interested in talking to you. I'm on this forum to share information with decent people, who arn't quite so narrow minded, and who dont become offensive when they dont get what they want.

Hi Jim,
Absolutely, it is so easy to get sidetracked with anything very technical like this, and although it is very usefull, its important to find the right balance. If you want to be a filmmaker, fit the engineering in where you can.... between the real work wouldn't you say.

As a general point, given Bill's attack, and some of your questions, i am writing any information i can regarding my adapter. Can't imagine it will be of much interest, but i hope it helps someone.

I'm not sure if this is of any use to anyone here, but I can tell you guys that i have a 10cm gap between my gg and camera lens, i am using a motor speed regulator from rs components in the uk with a 4k potentiometer. The speed regulator was about £40 i believe ($80). The 12v battery pack i am using are also made my myself, and are rechargable, and to be honest there isnt much else to tell. My gg and motor mechanism is from the sgpro, as is the project box. The rest of my components are simple machined aluminium and brass.
My achromat is about a 130fl i believe.

Thanks guys

Nick

Bill, if Nick doesn't want to talk about his adapter, that's his right. Don't keep pressuring him to post what he doesn't want to share.

And Bill, I do remember asking him, a long time back, if he could send me plans for his adapter so I could build one. Never had a response. :)

It could be that some aspects of the design is similar to the sg35. Having collaborated with the company, obviously he might not wish to give away the design rights of which he is sharing with the company and vice versa.

If you still want something similar to Nick's, why not go any buy an sg35? I've brought a Letus 35 from Quyen and I love it, though I havn't used it yet...Need to start practicing my focus shots and all that.

Nick, thanks for sharing some portions of your design, although I'm more interested in the way you shoot video.

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply mate. Really sorry if i didn't reply to your email, but i do get lots of emails for design plans and requests for adapters, and although i try to get back to most of them, it is often difficult. To be honest, when i have a job on, i usually dont even have the time to get back to potential clients.... everything goes on the backburner. Dont let that put you off though. I am really crap with emails. If anyone wants to chat about anything, just add me to your msn list if you have it... And if im not in the middle of a big job, i'd love to chat.

I find msn a lot easier then tackeling my inbox.

(nicholasbartleet@hotmail.com)

I have tried to contribute as much as possible to these forums, and i am always willing to help anyone who contacts me with regards to any element of film making if i can.

Thanks, Nick

Hello Nick,

Thanks for the reply. You sound quite impressed with Combustion, so I downloaded the trial version to give it a try. Wow, it is quite good. You're just using the Discreet colour corrector? I've just had a play with that and can see how flexible it is. It's so much easier to get decent results with than say the colour corrector in Vegas, which I thought was good. The overall look is quite impressive too. Just wondering, do you colour correct full length clips before editing, or once you've worked on the edit and know what needs to be adjusted?

Just one other question. What kind of lens or lenses did you use on Fatal Beauty? Anything special? Sorry if this has already been asked.

Nick, quick question: What were the specs on the 35mm lenses used on this last video?