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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 :)

Eminem "Phenomenal" Music Video Teaser - Shot on Weapons and Master Anamorphics

Any comment on boot up time compared to Dragon?

Christopher Probst said:
The camera is SOOOO quiet it's hard to hear! The whole cooling path is so much better that the camera performs much better as well. We did have the built in scratch mikes working and they worked as intended. This was all Low Light OLPF, no big surprise there since the whole video is in LOW LIGHT!
Click to expand...
 
PatrickFaith said:
Thanks Christopher for posting this, is helping me out a lot study your work in detail and am trying to understand how you get so much "energy" into the camera.

I'm going shot per shot, edit per edit through your music video work trying to "get it".
Click to expand...

I'm doing the same, Patrick! One thing I really am trying to pin down/understand is how handheld adds that elusive "energy" vs just feeling like shakycam vs just feeling like someone trying to hold a handheld camera steady. I hear of shake added in post instead of doing it live etc. I feel like so much of the aesthetic falls into the hands of the camera operator (like the feel of a dolly move can fall into the hands of a dolly grip or a technocrane operator).

Nice work, Chris! This video and thread is a treasure trove of learnings! Would love to hear your thoughts on handheld, whatever you'd like to share.

Also, am a huge fan of Eminem. His stuff is about the only music albums I've purchased in a long time. Good to see more work from him.
 
Christopher Probst said:
::RANT MODE ON::

This is the sort of situation I get constantly and today it just boggled me enough to respond... So I post this Eminem job here on the forum... Today I get a PM asking:
Originally Posted by Lazy Reduser​
Is this the first video shoot youve ever done with eminem?

​

With the incorrect grammar and all, I thought about this for a minute and decided to respond with this:

Originally Posted by Christopher Probst
I don't want to sound like a dick, but a quick 2-second internet search would answer your question. I just tested this myself and all of my Eminem jobs popped up instantly. Try not to be so lazy and work for the information you want. It's a work ethic you should always instill in your film career. Easy sucks. Go the harder route.

Trust me, it pays off.​


I get this ALL of the time. It's uninspiring.

::RANT MODE OFF::
Click to expand...


Seriously an amazing music video. Huge amount of respect for what you have accomplished, but man... You must be fun at parties.

Maybe that person just saw this as a good way to start a conversation with you because they are sincerely interested in what you have to say. A private conversation with someone like yourself can go a long way in terms of motivation. Instead, you decide to tell everyone how this person doesn't have a work ethic good enough for googling and how great yours is? Nice, bro.

This forum is almost like a big social gathering of like minded people so why not treat it like one. So just like in a real life setting. It's totally acceptable to start off with a redundant question... You don't fire back with, "who are you and why are you talking to me?! Go google me instead of talking to my face".

One more example for shits and giggles. Say there is a girl with big titties in your apartment building and it's common knowledge she's a pro athlete. Now say you want to touch said titties. First step is to start a conversation. So you see her one day and strike up a conversation by asking her how many competitions she's won this season. She answers with, "I don't want to sound like a bitch, but a quick 2-second internet search would answer your question. I just tested this myself and all of my competition results popped up instantly. Try not to be so lazy and work for the information you want. It's a work ethic you should always instill in your tittie touching endeavors. Easy sucks. Go the harder route". Then she also sends a flyer to everyone in the building detailing the interaction. Well... More often than not people are going to be like, wow that girl's a total bitch. But you gotta admire her work ethic for not only working hard to be a pro athlete, but also for taking the time to print out all those flyers and deliver them.

Also, huge coincidence today. I was watching the new Wet Hot American Summer series on Netflix earlier and your post instantly reminded me of the episode where John Slattery went off on the poor girl trying out for the musical. Then after his rant about how she will basically never amount to anything, his assistant asks, "what was her question?"... It's funny because she didn't ask anything, he just saw it as an opportunity to go off on some poor kid and make himself feel like a big man. Do you feel like a big man? It is episode 4 at the 6:00 minute mark if you are interested in taking a look.


Maybe messages like the one you got are uninspiring to you. But it could be inspiring to the person to get a non dick response from someone like yourself.




PS: I am uninviting you from the pants party. Marshall's still invited though.

PSS: I'm sure I made a lot of grammatical mistakes. I studied finance, not english. See what I did there? Tooted my own horn. Beep beep.

PSSS: I would love your feedback on my work ethic after the time and effort I took to write this post.
 
Amusing. Perhaps I'm bipolar, and I DO spend a lot of time teaching and sharing knowledge, but I suppose I'm tired of people making the least amount of effort possible these days. Those that I go out of my way to help and share knowledge with are the ones that go after it with tenacity anyway.

Nothing in life is free.

I suppose each of us has a choice of when and where to doll out the dickishness or graciousness. In the cited example, I chose the former… Here, this is my attempt at responding without some defensive retaliation. What we absolutely don't need is another tedious forum squabble.
 
Call me kooky, but I don't care one bit if Chris has an opinion about somebody who sent him a PM. Not one bit. What I care about, is that somebody who is of the caliber he is, and gets the jobs he does (that many of us wish we had...) is willing (certainly doesn't have to, unless Jim and Jarred are paying him to use their cameras) to share with all of the rest of us wannabes HOW he did something. I'd really hate for him to stop writing on this board because people attack him. I am much more interested in what he has to offer than what he thinks about somebody's work ethic. This isn't a board about pro athletes and bullshit role models. It is about RED Cameras and what you can do with them.
 
Scot, it's cool that you appreciate information and seek it out, but at the same time, rude behavior online is certainly something that shouldn't be applauded. I left the poster anonymous, and I don't think I was excessively rude either, but I AM from the school of tough love. When I teach classes at CGI, I'm not there to hold anyone's hand and tell them this career will be all rosy and easy. It's not. It's tough competition for the jobs that are out there and if you want it, you have to go after it like it means something to you. I will always reward someone with tenacity and passion over someone looking for a handout. That's just my philosophy. I'll try to enforce that in a nicer way.

Now to be clear, I'm not employed not get any freebies out of Red. I buy my camera equipment just like any of you… But because I believe in this company and what they are doing, I HAVE been actively trying to support Red and show what these cameras can do. I make it a point to post jobs I'm excited about to help showcase the cameras and explain A LITTLE of what I do with them. I'm not necessarily giving away all of my ideas or techniques, because for that, you have to EARN it.
 
What's missing in this exchange is for Chris to get where he is, he's most likely had to work longer and harder than many of his peers. Sheer talent alone is rarely enough. No matter how good you are. Across the board, the most successful people frequently work the hardest, and are the most ambitious. Its a lonely road, for sure.

Which is why, not surprisingly, he has almost no patience for what he can't understand: lack of discipline and hard work.

When Chris posts and shares (as few of his calibre do), he's giving us unprecedented access to his thinking process (ambition and all). If Chris was this hard on our anonymous messenger, imagine how hard he is on himself?

Personally, I prefer to give Chris his space, and if I do reach out - I try and be as polite, thoughtful, and respectful as possible.

He's not the girl next door. He's a luminary in our field. Someone who barely has any free time. And who needs to be treated and reached out to with the respect he deserves.

By Chris's measured response above, he seems pretty aware of the pitfalls of sharing online.

We're very lucky he shares with us as much as he does.

Lets try and keep it that way.
 
Thanks Nick, but I'm certainly not a luminary. I'm a just working schmoe. I'm not one to schmooze with clients on set, I'm the dude too busy pushing the shots forward, dragging lights and getting dirty. I don't know any other way. It's 100% or complete collapse. So yea, I push myself very hard. One thing I NEVER feel is that I'm where I want to be. I feel like I have SO MUCH still to learn and figure out. That feeling drives everything I do. I must research and study and test out ideas as much as I can so that I can further my art. Technique is boring without having it say something of meaning. But you still NEED TECHNIQUE as cinematographers. First and foremost we are the technical masters on set. That's the fucking job title. And I can't keep a straight face if I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. Hence, my obsession.

I guess I'm just perplexed by others that don't approach it the same way. It's all my fault of course. If waiting for the information to fall into one's lap works for them in their version of a timeline to get where they want to be, I suppose more power to them.
 
Christopher Probst said:
Scot, it's cool that you appreciate information and seek it out, but at the same time, rude behavior online is certainly something that shouldn't be applauded. I left the poster anonymous, and I don't think I was excessively rude either, but I AM from the school of tough love. When I teach classes at CGI, I'm not there to hold anyone's hand and tell them this career will be all rosy and easy. It's not. It's tough competition for the jobs that are out there and if you want it, you have to go after it like it means something to you. I will always reward someone with tenacity and passion over someone looking for a handout. That's just my philosophy. I'll try to enforce that in a nicer way.

Now to be clear, I'm not employed not get any freebies out of Red. I buy my camera equipment just like any of you… But because I believe in this company and what they are doing, I HAVE been actively trying to support Red and show what these cameras can do. I make it a point to post jobs I'm excited about to help showcase the cameras and explain A LITTLE of what I do with them. I'm not necessarily giving away all of my ideas or techniques, because for that, you have to EARN it.
Click to expand...

Chris,
I am not applauding rude behavior. I am applauding your willingness to share with us, (and express your feelings, even if they are not unicorns and rainbows). And my comments about being paid by anyone weren't meant to be taken as serious. Rather, because I have seen you take grief from several people, one can imagine it is hard to put up with, but yet you do. I was an on camera TV News Reporter in Boston at a now NBC O and O for nearly 3 decades. I taught hundreds and hundreds of young wannabes who thought they should just get hired by NBC to appear on camera right away because they were cute, (or at least they thought so...). I am also of the school of tough love, and believe in hard work. I also will reward people who are willing to put their shoulder to the grindstone and start from square one rather than just be rewarded because they think they deserve it. Kurt Cobain described young people like this best when he wrote.; "Here we are now...entertain us." Again, I will take any info you give out....and don't mind some grit once in a while.
 
Christopher Probst said:
Scot, it's cool that you appreciate information and seek it out, but at the same time, rude behavior online is certainly something that shouldn't be applauded. I left the poster anonymous, and I don't think I was excessively rude either, but I AM from the school of tough love. When I teach classes at CGI, I'm not there to hold anyone's hand and tell them this career will be all rosy and easy. It's not. It's tough competition for the jobs that are out there and if you want it, you have to go after it like it means something to you. I will always reward someone with tenacity and passion over someone looking for a handout. That's just my philosophy. I'll try to enforce that in a nicer way.

Now to be clear, I'm not employed not get any freebies out of Red. I buy my camera equipment just like any of you… But because I believe in this company and what they are doing, I HAVE been actively trying to support Red and show what these cameras can do. I make it a point to post jobs I'm excited about to help showcase the cameras and explain A LITTLE of what I do with them. I'm not necessarily giving away all of my ideas or techniques, because for that, you have to EARN it.
Click to expand...

The poster was rude by asking if phenomenal was the first eminem video you have ever worked??Im not sure why work ethic got involved, it was a yes or no question.
 
Jae, no, you misunderstand my response. What my comment you quoted above was saying was that I was rude in my impatience and any rude behavior online shouldn't necessarily be accepted and certainly not rewarded... The question itself was clearly innocent. And even though the question was perfectly harmless I was short and intolerant. The reason I posted the exchange in this thread here was to illustrate an example of what I feel people passionate about this subject, in my opinion, should do to pursue information and this craft.

Just to be clear, I in no way feel like I'm so "great" that I can behave in any old way I feel my loftiness deems fit. That is not my point at all. I simply wanted to say, if one really wants to know and understand cinematography, one should take every adn any pains possible to saturate the understanding of the subject. And that's a pursuit that will take a lifetime. If this journey is one that is never-ending, expecting results/insight/knowledge quickly, painlessly or that these are somehow "entitled" to someone, well that's completely counter to my feelings on the matter. Regardless of any perceived "stature" of a cinematographer I was curious about, I would want to know as much as I could about the individual I was interested in.

I'll explain further... Let's say I saw some short film I admired the photography of. Now maybe a brand-new student shot this amazing work. If I was floored with the work my process would be like, "Holy fuck, WHO shot this..." I would take all pains possible to find that info out, and be like... "Hmm... wonder what else this person has shot..." Then I'd search to see if there was other work by that person and try to pick apart their unique visual engine driving their visuals. Do they vary their lighting techniques? Are they consistent in one style? Do they mold their style depending on the project? How do they process images/ideas and make their choices... OR perhaps the director of that particular project has a very distinct impact on the visuals of his work and maybe the cinematography was MORE of a function of THEIR influence... In that case, maybe I should look at just who this director is... Maybe I should track this person down. Maybe they are the next Ridley, or Fincher, who the fuck knows... My point is... I'd never, just write the dude and say, "Hey, have you ever shot anything else before?" To me that's anathema to the study of this craft and the very fiber of my being.

Now there was more on this idea discussed in this thread about the increasing nature of "entitlement vs. hard work" that I feel is growing in our industry. I can say this: I am constantly looking amongst every crew I work with for individuals that blow me away with passion, focus and enthusiasm. Any time I spot one of these people, I want to get them on future jobs with me, because that passion is worth its weight in gold. And if I can have an army of THOSE types of people working with me, then the possibilities are limitless. Enthusiasm is infectious. It spurs on other like-minded individuals to raise their own games and challenge each other. I'm ALWAYS looking for this, but to be honest, I RARELY see it. I'd be thrilled if I found some gem like this twice a year.

It just doesn't happen. AND it's becoming rarer and rarer. In the style of work I do and the directors and jobs we shoot in this current budget/scheduling model, we are ALWAYS in need of additional units... 2nd units, insert units, splinter units, to help us achieve the volume of shots, sequences, and even deal with talent availability/scheduling issues on set. Sometimes, we physically can't be in two places at the same time... So we are CONSTANTLY desperate to find ANYONE that we feel has the mindset and passion to relentlessly study this craft but has not yet not gotten so far in their career to be off shooting high level projects of their own. I'll have everyone know, I CAME UP from this very scenario. I did 2nd unit for a number of years. I entered the union in 1996 as a camera assistant but I was always striving to be shooting any moment possible. Any instant I could, I would assert this desire if it was needed on a project. As I came up, it was not uncommon for me to be the 1st AC on a job AND while we would setting up a large sequence, be off in a corner lighting and shooting 2nd unit inserts. I would do this seemlessly without interrupting the flow of the main unit I was also servicing. I offered up this idea as a way to test myself, build my reel (and more importantly) bulid my body of experience lighting a number of shots/scenarios... AND it added value to the production. Win/win.

This of course was with a director and/or DP that WANTED me to add this material to the project and knew I could make the shots not impact my work on the main unit effort. When budgets got larger, I broke off and did the 2nd unit full time with these directors because they knew I understood the main unit's visual style in terms of directing, cinematography and editing and how the 2nd unit material needed to fit that. I'm ALWAYS on the look out for people who could do that type of role with the passion and hunger for me now. Know what? I look for YEARS and often come up blank. And it's getting worse. I even teach students and always have in the back of my head, "Is there someone here that would fit the mold of being able to study what the main unit is doing and match it? Can they have a quick dialogue with me and be able to comprehend the essence of what I'm doing on the main unit and execute it on a splinter or insert unit with less guidance and resources?

I read these boards religiously and look at who posts and what they say. Again, are they here to socialize, or are they HUNGRY for knowledge and absorbing info? And are they applying that info and showing it in work here. Are they then looking for how they can continue to improve their work and putting themselves out there as artists? Talk is cheap. We need more people who put their money with their mouth is and SHOW something, rather than just talk about it all the time. Socializing with others similarly interested in a topic is all well and good, but I'm hear because I'm obsessed. I'm always elated to read posts that truly offer something valuable and offer some "meat" to chew on, and not just offer banter or even worse, worthless trolling/hate with nothing to back it up or offer a meaningful counter idea. To me that's a waste of my time to even read and such a waste of a great forum to exchange ideas.

I realize this is an idealistic viewpoint and I've taken probably 2000 too many words to explain it, but this debate just doesn't seem to want to go away, so I'm laying it out here.

In short, I'm no one special. I'm the same as all of you. BUT I'm ALWAYS looking to be impressed! So someone please, surprise me.

Really, PLEASE!
 
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So I saw the finale of GoT and loved it… then I grabbed the name of the director from the credits and started searching. "David Nutter" for those of you who may not watch the show. And I started learning about his craft -- atleast what's available on the net. Obviously, it won't be a lot, but for me, it was gold! Here's the article that offered me pointers that were very useful to me.

http://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/1304-Fall-2013/DGA-Interview-David-Nutter.aspx

Now, imagine if Mr. Nutter was available to me on a forum like this sharing even more in-depth thoughts on how he blends action with emotion, on how he approached the logistics of the Red Wedding GoT episode, OMFG. I'd give my left thumb for that (metaphorical only, please don't come at me with a sharp implement ;) )

Anyways, I appreciate posts by Chris. I get how someone may have asked a simple question just to start a convo and I get Chris's response. Even at the place I'm at, I get peeved and turned off by people who want to be spoon fed info I've spent hours and hours researching and learning, while they haven't even bothered putting in some level of requisite upfront work.

That said, I myself sometimes don't have time and energy to do everything everyone says one must do before pitching to a production company. I get lazy too sometimes. But I expect nothing in return for such crapshoot, why-the-heck-not efforts on my part.

We all have our good moves and bad moves. Its best to learn and move on. Looking forward to continuing to learn, which is one of the key benefits of this forum.
 
Keep the conversations going guys as there are no doubt a bunch of 'lurkers' like myself that are learning heaps just by following what is going on. Hard work, No...but sure is useful !
 
Christopher Probst said:
Jae, no, you misunderstand my response. What my comment you quoted above was saying was that I was rude in my impatience and any rude behavior online shouldn't necessarily be accepted and certainly not rewarded... The question itself was clearly innocent. And even though the question was perfectly harmless I was short and intolerant. The reason I posted the exchange in this thread here was to illustrate an example of what I feel people passionate about this subject, in my opinion, should do to pursue information and this craft.

Just to be clear, I in no way feel like I'm so "great" that I can behave in any old way I feel my loftiness deems fit. That is not my point at all. I simply wanted to say, if one really wants to know and understand cinematography, one should take every adn any pains possible to saturate the understanding of the subject. And that's a pursuit that will take a lifetime. If this journey is one that is never-ending, expecting results/insight/knowledge quickly, painlessly or that these are somehow "entitled" to someone, well that's completely counter to my feelings on the matter. Regardless of any perceived "stature" of a cinematographer I was curious about, I would want to know as much as I could about the individual I was interested in.

I'll explain further... Let's say I saw some short film I admired the photography of. Now maybe a brand-new student shot this amazing work. If I was floored with the work my process would be like, "Holy fuck, WHO shot this..." I would take all pains possible to find that info out, and be like... "Hmm... wonder what else this person has shot..." Then I'd search to see if there was other work by that person and try to pick apart their unique visual engine driving their visuals. Do they vary their lighting techniques? Are they consistent in one style? Do they mold their style depending on the project? How do they process images/ideas and make their choices... OR perhaps the director of that particular project has a very distinct impact on the visuals of his work and maybe the cinematography was MORE of a function of THEIR influence... In that case, maybe I should look at just who this director is... Maybe I should track this person down. Maybe they are the next Ridley, or Fincher, who the fuck knows... My point is... I'd never, just write the dude and say, "Hey, have you ever shot anything else before?" To me that's anathema to the study of this craft and the very fiber of my being.

Now there was more on this idea discussed in this thread about the increasing nature of "entitlement vs. hard work" that I feel is growing in our industry. I can say this: I am constantly looking amongst every crew I work with for individuals that blow me away with passion, focus and enthusiasm. Any time I spot one of these people, I want to get them on future jobs with me, because that passion is worth its weight in gold. And if I can have an army of THOSE types of people working with me, then the possibilities are limitless. Enthusiasm is infectious. It spurs on other like-minded individuals to raise their own games and challenge each other. I'm ALWAYS looking for this, but to be honest, I RARELY see it. I'd be thrilled if I found some gem like this twice a year.

It just doesn't happen. AND it's becoming rarer and rarer. In the style of work I do and the directors and jobs we shoot in this current budget/scheduling model, we are ALWAYS in need of additional units... 2nd units, insert units, splinter units, to help us achieve the volume of shots, sequences, and even deal with talent availability/scheduling issues on set. Sometimes, we physically can't be in two places at the same time... So we are CONSTANTLY desperate to find ANYONE that we feel has the mindset and passion to relentlessly study this craft but has not yet not gotten so far in their career to be off shooting high level projects of their own. I'll have everyone know, I CAME UP from this very scenario. I did 2nd unit for a number of years. I entered the union in 1996 as a camera assistant but I was always striving to be shooting any moment possible. Any instant I could, I would assert this desire if it was needed on a project. As I came up, it was not uncommon for me to be the 1st AC on a job AND while we would setting up a large sequence, be off in a corner lighting and shooting 2nd unit inserts. I would do this seemlessly without interrupting the flow of the main unit I was also servicing. I offered up this idea as a way to test myself, build my reel (and more importantly) bulid my body of experience lighting a number of shots/scenarios... AND it added value to the production. Win/win.

This of course was with a director and/or DP that WANTED me to add this material to the project and knew I could make the shots not impact my work on the main unit effort. When budgets got larger, I broke off and did the 2nd unit full time with these directors because they knew I understood the main unit's visual style in terms of directing, cinematography and editing and how the 2nd unit material needed to fit that. I'm ALWAYS on the look out for people who could do that type of role with the passion and hunger for me now. Know what? I look for YEARS and often come up blank. And it's getting worse. I even teach students and always have in the back of my head, "Is there someone here that would fit the mold of being able to study what the main unit is doing and match it? Can they have a quick dialogue with me and be able to comprehend the essence of what I'm doing on the main unit and execute it on a splinter or insert unit with less guidance and resources?

I read these boards religiously and look at who posts and what they say. Again, are they here to socialize, or are they HUNGRY for knowledge and absorbing info? And are they applying that info and showing it in work here. Are they then looking for how they can continue to improve their work and putting themselves out there as artists? Talk is cheap. We need more people who put their money with their mouth is and SHOW something, rather than just talk about it all the time. Socializing with others similarly interested in a topic is all well and good, but I'm hear because I'm obsessed. I'm always elated to read posts that truly offer something valuable and offer some "meat" to chew on, and not just offer banter or even worse, worthless trolling/hate with nothing to back it up or offer a meaningful counter idea. To me that's a waste of my time to even read and such a waste of a great forum to exchange ideas.

I realize this is an idealistic viewpoint and I've taken probably 2000 too many words to explain it, but this debate just doesn't seem to want to go away, so I'm laying it out here.

In short, I'm no one special. I'm the same as all of you. BUT I'm ALWAYS looking to be impressed! So someone please, surprise me.

Really, PLEASE!
Click to expand...

This may be one of my fave posts ever, I suppose because I relate to it?

I'm certainly someone who probably works way too much, and am very hard on myself, and everything I do. I take immense pride in my craft. And genuinely love talking shop with younger creatives (I feel blessed to have mentored many young, talented writers/creatives).

Unfortunately, it's true that the thirst for knowledge is often limited. Most learn enough to get by, and then stop drinking once they start to succeed. Which is sad, because so many never become the bonafide artists and craftsmen they should have been.

I feel blessed to have had a thrilling, satisfying career in post (I've lived in edit rooms for 10 years, and worked with some of the finest editors in the world).

As I now step out into a production life (which still flows into my post world), I look forward to meeting as many creative, and passionate people as possible.

Yes these folks are rare. And few and far between. But its our duty to all stick together, and make the coolest, most inspiring work possible.

Otherwise, what's the point?!
 
Christopher Probst said:
In short, I'm no one special. I'm the same as all of you. BUT I'm ALWAYS looking to be impressed! So someone please, surprise me.

Really, PLEASE!
Click to expand...




Thank you for this post, I feel the same way.

I'm haven't really built a name for myself. To a point, quite the contrary, as I tend to keep to myself.

But, I do see more and more of the "entitled researcher" personality popping up everywhere.
I've had certain people mock me for always trying to learn something new or doing the hard work.

Everyone wants the glory, I just want the work.
 
Apple Music, in all of their infiite wisdom has decided to finally release the behind the scenes of this music video... enjoy gang.

 
Looks great Chris! Loved Malkovich's cameo, and loved learn he's an Emminen fan! (who knew?)
 
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