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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Epic underslung.

Björn Benckert

Björn Benckert

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While rigging up today the epic got me thinking... It was not to long ago we used a revolution lens system (comes at the cost of about 3 epics) together with our mitchell camera when doing some close to ground miniature shots. Back then it was all quite scary, not knowing how the exposure would look and what motion blur we would get etc. Not mentioning how scary it was to drag that expansive lens a few millimeters above the ground. Also back then there where a lot of issues with vibrations from having the weight from the mitchell and the long elephant trunk like lens in the front of the rig. Usually we then shot test rolls to see that we covered all our bases, then waiting for the tests to arrive in the morning for the actual shooting day was quite nerve wrecking.

Now, today, we just mounted the epic underslung on the milo head and use a normal 16mm macro lens. By doing so we can scrape the lens about a millimeter above the ground and have the lens center not more elevated then 3,5 cm. All while looking at the HD ref screen and having the footage piped straight into vfx machines... things are simply so much better for the nerves...these days.

So the only thing I miss now is a flop function next to the monitor flip. As our ref monitors can not stand on their head...

Another thing worth mentioning.... this shot would not be possible to do with an alexa, F65 or even with the F55, since the epic is so compact and short it allow us be so close to ground and while being down there tilt up without having the cameras rear end digging into the ground. So again thanks red, I do not think we could do half as good without you. :)


Here are some BTS... will update with more pix tomorrow when we shoot the stuff tomorrow...

Edit: pictures get all sideways..

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Nice
Thanks for sharing
 
Fantastic.

can you talk more about the spot? Or what this is for, I'm trying to piece the story together from the set. Looks very cool.

david
 
Thanks for sharing Bjorn.

Can we see a clip of the shots you guys were taking?
 
I'll have to get a buddy of mine on here who's done miniature work. He once described a "close shave" with an under-slung Epic and it "destroyed a village". Can't imagine what that shot looks like.
 
Brent J. Craig said:
How are the temperatures when you have the Red logo upside-down? You are sort of fighting natural heat convection in that configuration.
Click to expand...

It'll be fine - the Epic's forced air cooling doesn't rely on convection.
 
Björn,
thank you for your insight.
i absolutely agree with you when you said,
"so again, thanks red, I do not think we could do half as good without you."
 
Can not show the actual thing just yet. It's an insurance / bank film, starting back in history by a barn and ends up by a lady in a couch with an ipad...

But here is a iphone clip from the rehearsal... [video]http://www.syndicate.se/Files/~usr/lansforsakringar/BTS_Lansf.MOV[/video]

In the end we shot the miniature at 4 fps with a lot of cracker/smoke. Then Separate passes with the bluscreen lit and also with no light at all (black) for the bluescreen, a few different Fstop passes ranging from F22 to F4, to be able to pic and choose the DOF and also a 25fps pass for the actors with a completely different light setup with a few different actions for the actors and such... Strange how those simple little onetakes get so complicated all the time, Lol.

We also fiddled with a linear model mover and a "sun" that was rising behind the mountains. But the director/producer got stressed about it so we ditched it sadly.
 
That is just fantastic, I hope they paid a lot of money for it. Looks like a lot of work. you deserve it.
 
Obin Olson said:
That is just fantastic, I hope they paid a lot of money for it. Looks like a lot of work. you deserve it.
Click to expand...

Not much money and not to much work. I guess the guy that we need to give a big thank you to is the model builder. He made that little set very nicely and to perfect spec according to our animatic and got it done in just a couple of days. If he would have not managed to do so, the other route was to do it all in CG and then, yes, that would have been a bit more work for sure :).
 
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