AVAN LAVA // "Sisters" - Music Video shot in Puerto Rico on Epic + Leica-R

[A. Clint Litton]

AVAN LAVA // "Sisters" - Music Video shot in Puerto Rico on Epic + Leica-R

I don't often post work here on Reduser, but we just finished a music video that we are very proud of (chosen as a Staff Pick on Vimeo!), so thought I would share:

https://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/54545072

This project was a challenge to say the least...we had a very limited NY crew fly down to San Juan, Puerto Rico where we filmed a small cast for five days, hoping to create a broad span of friendship and experience that eventually turns into a tale of unrequited (and possibly forbidden) love.

Needless to say, the shooting style helped to highlight the many benefits of shooting on Epic in a minimal setup. We shot 18+ hours of footage, must have been to 40 or more locations, almost entirely daylight dependent with a very meager lighting package, working out of a 15-pass van. No permits, always doing our best to keep a low profile (more often than not it was the easyrig that got peoples' attention). I simply could not have accomplished this with any other camera.

Shot @ 5k FF, using a Duclos cine-modded Leica-R set. Graded primarily in RedCine-X Pro with a few secondaries done in Resolve.

Feel free to let me know what you guys think!

Director: Dan Gutt
Producer: Weston Auburn
Co-producers: Neena Litton, Xavi Medina, Juan Botta
Cinematographer: A. Clint Litton
Production Designer: Ethan Gutt
Editor: Alexander Hammer
Sound Design: Colin Alexander
Stylist: Lexx Alejandro
Asst. Stylist: Audri Nix
Cast: Crystal Gwyn, Jessie Joe Monge Murphy, Juan Botta
Story by Weston Auburn & Dan Gutt.
Filmed on location in Puerto Rico.

 

[Kurt Harder]

Saw this earlier today from the staff picks. Really enjoyed it, loved the convertible driving shots.

 

[C.H.Haskell]

NIce work mate, enjoyed that! How did you like working with Rs...nice feel to them.

 

[A. Clint Litton]

Love the Leicas...whatever they may lack in ergonomics, they more than make up for in image quality and aesthetics. If I could get this set fully rehoused with a PL mount, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Where are you hanging your hat these days? Still off in the old world or back in NY?

 

[Ryan De Franco]

Awesome work. High speed of the two falling before the window was on another level--and the Leicas were incredible.

Mind us asking which Leicas you used? This has got to be some of the most natural color I've seen from any digital system.

 

[Jagger Christian]

One of the best music videos I've ever seen. Incredible.

 

[John Brennick]

Incredible to say the least... I was compelled by the images and then the story took over. Excellent work.

 

[Sulekh Suman]

awesome work Clint!

 

[Chad Lancaster]

loved the look, curious what R lenses you used also

 

[A. Clint Litton]

Thank you for the kind words.

Color was tricky, especially trying to get skintones right, using IRND, lots of variances in contrast and environments. The director was a bit under the gun to get it finished, and neither of us know Resolve very well so most of our work was trying to do a shot by shot best light in RCX Pro. I would have loved to hand it off to someone more knowledgable in the color world, but it just wasn't a possibility on this one.

Leicas used: 19mm vII, 24mm, 35mm Summicron, 50mm Summilux vII, 100mm APO macro, 180mm, all with the Allstar adapter. They may never get the same respect as Ultras or S4's, but I'd take them any day over Compact Primes or Canon. Now if I could only round out my set with a 35/80 summilux...

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Love the last shot.

 

[Bud Anderson]

Ocean colors were so gorgeous...great job all around.

 

[Will Mayer]

Stills look beautiful, love it.

 

[Johnny05]

Hey Clint, it's John Will, rad is an understatement. I thought this was shot with cooke glass. Kudos to you and the team. Wondering if you remember which lens you used on the last shot of the girl in the ocean. Was it the 100mm?

 

[Jean-Claude Benet]

Looks really great! awesome work guys

 

[dennys bisogno]

Lovey, the color of the ocean and sand - wow

 

[Timothy Jones]

Nice work !

I too love that last shot . I bet it was the 180mm APO wasn't it?

Was it the 2.8 or the 2.0? Both lenses are killer.
Thanks,
Tim

 

[Jason Diamond]

Leicas used: 19mm vII, 24mm, 35mm Summicron, 50mm Summilux vII, 100mm APO macro, 180mm, all with the Allstar adapter. They may never get the same respect as Ultras or S4's, but I'd take them any day over Compact Primes or Canon. Now if I could only round out my set with a 35/80 summilux...

I have a full set of Leica-R's and LOVE them, they satisfy 90% of my needs on any production. I'm in NYC as well so let me know if you ever need an additional set on a gig or want the faster 35/50/80.

 

[Daniel Murphy]

Nice. I love the scene of both women falling onto bed in Slo-mo