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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 :)

Filmmaking - The RED Way

Chris McKechnie

Chris McKechnie

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
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Location
Dallas, TX
Website
digitalcinemaguy.com
I've been shooting with my Epic for 3 years now and not a day goes by where I regret my step into the RED family. It has opened so many doors that I never thought would ever be possible. RED created a camera that not only sparked my interest, but gave me the encouragement to quit my boring job, take a leap of faith and follow my heart for filmmaking.

Most of the content I shoot I just turn over to production or to an agency, but some of it I get to keep and share. Here's a glimpse of some imagery I've captured since owning a RED. Enjoy!


iOS Link: https://vimeo.com/146454196

On a side note and a post I posted a few pages in on this thread: I'm thinking about hosting a periscope session or free webinar...what would you guys like it to include? Shooting, gimbal setup/operating, gear I use, operating RED's, editing, color correcting? Want to tailor it to you guys, my RED community. You guys (and gals) have done so much for me, so I want to give back when I can.
 
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So sick.

Chris what was your boring job before?

I love this reel. I love your style. I love what you represent. You a rare filmmaker that can legitimately do it all - Cinematography, Editing, Grading, Writing. In many ways Chris, I think you are window into the future. I think many young filmmakers will be walking in the footsteps of pioneers like you - those that can multi-task elegantly. Many try and do it, but quite frankly...it's just hard to do...WELL.

But you are in that small camp. And for that - I think you are one of the most exciting filmmakers to watch. You've GROWN by leaps and bounds. Every year. It's both fascinating and inspiring to watch.

Keep it up. I for one...am LISTENING.
 
Joe D'Arcy said:
Great work Chris.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much Joe.

Nick Morrison said:
So sick.

Chris what was your boring job before?

I love this reel. I love your style. I love what you represent. You a rare filmmaker that can legitimately do it all - Cinematography, Editing, Grading, Writing. In many ways Chris, I think you are window into the future. I think many young filmmakers will be walking in the footsteps of pioneers like you - those that can multi-task elegantly. Many try and do it, but quite frankly...it's just hard to do...WELL.

But you are in that small camp. And for that - I think you are one of the most exciting filmmakers to watch. You've GROWN by leaps and bounds. Every year. It's both fascinating and inspiring to watch.

Keep it up. I for one...am LISTENING.
Click to expand...

Nick...you're way too kind. I've grown up in this industry...worked with my Dad's corporate ENG video production company, then became a contracted editor/shooter for Southern California Edison (a power company) producing training content and reenactment pieces. So when RED released the Epic, I was at SCE. I immediately felt a nudge to follow my heart...you know the famous saying..go big or go home right? haha That's what I did. Jumped all in, head first and haven't looked back. Being self employed and doing what I love is the best life in the world. That coupled with having children and a beautiful wife, I'm incredibly blessed.

Thanks RED for spearheading my progression, and once again to you too Nick, you're far too kind.
 
Nice reel Chris. I had seen a good bit of it before, but it is especially nice to see for those of us who also chose to stay with MX...
Dragon Schmagon....
 
oh...and who edit on FCPX and use Color Finale....
 
Scot Yount said:
Nice reel Chris. I had seen a good bit of it before, but it is especially nice to see for those of us who also chose to stay with MX...
Dragon Schmagon....
Click to expand...

Haha...thanks Scot. Always appreciate your feedback. MX is near and dear to my heart!
 
Incredible. Could you please write a book on how you do your color correcting/grading in the future? Thank you. Seriously. You make the mx shine. How were you able to get that highlight roll off at 0:05?
 
Chris - you've become one of my favorite people here on RU. And it isn't just because you use FCPX. lol I was delighted to get to meet you, however briefly, at the last NAB. And. perhaps most important, I admire the quality of the work you show here. You're a genuine talent.

While you are sharing, can you provide some insight into how you have marketed yourself? There seems to be so many "production companies" and independent shooters chasing the freelance-type work that it gets difficult to try and distinguish oneself in a crowded marketplace.

Keep doing the great work.
 
Jae Solina said:
Incredible. Could you please write a book on how you do your color correcting/grading in the future? Thank you. Seriously. You make the mx shine. How were you able to get that highlight roll off at 0:05?
Click to expand...

I'll second the book idea. Some people write books and shouldn't since they have nothing new to add. You are not one of those. Consider it. Seriously.
 
Jae Solina said:
Incredible. Could you please write a book on how you do your color correcting/grading in the future? Thank you. Seriously. You make the mx shine. How were you able to get that highlight roll off at 0:05?
Click to expand...

Thanks so much Jae. So many people love and swear by Dragon...don't get me wrong, I would love to have one, but my trusty MX has been keeping me insanely busy enough and it's been so consistent and reliable. I'll probably be making the jump to dragon soon though, as I have some things in the works, but MX still shines strong. Most of my clients don't care what I shoot on, snd it really shouldn't since any DP should be able to make magic with any camera.

Any DP's job is to give post-prod a great base image/exposure to start with, and that finished/amazing look gets completed by the colorist. I am by no means a colorist, nor do I try and be one. On most jobs, I'm not even involved with the grading work since turnarounds and my schedule generally don't allow it. Directors will send me grabs, and I can provide some feedback, but it's generally limited and working remotely. On personal projects I do everything. For me, I normally just do a base grade from within RCX or even FCPX with the plugin Color Finale. For that specific shot at 5 seconds, there was a subtle blue/reel hue which I was able to use the vector tool within CF to isolate that channel (to a certain extent) and I increased the saturation of that channel to bring back a bit more of that color. Again, start with a great base image and you'd be suprised at how even in-experienced colorists, like myself, can make an image really come to life!

Terry VerHaar said:
Chris - you've become one of my favorite people here on RU. And it isn't just because you use FCPX. lol I was delighted to get to meet you, however briefly, at the last NAB. And. perhaps most important, I admire the quality of the work you show here. You're a genuine talent.

While you are sharing, can you provide some insight into how you have marketed yourself? There seems to be so many "production companies" and independent shooters chasing the freelance-type work that it gets difficult to try and distinguish oneself in a crowded marketplace.

Keep doing the great work.
Click to expand...

Terry, you're too kind, and it was a pleasure meeting you at NAB as well. I too, always enjoy hearing your wisdom through the many posts you've tallied through the years.

In terms of marketing myself, I don't do anything really. I have a website, but I don't advertise through Google or anything like that. I've been in the industry for a long time, and most of my business comes from referrals or repeat clients (which is the best way!!!!). I don't have an agent, thinking about getting one, but I don't know. I'm not in the union either. Would love to get on a big show or big feature, but that generally requires that you join the union, and with all the hurdles and expense, it just doesn't seem attractive to me right now since I've been so incredible blessed to be busy. My clientele continues to grow each and every day, so for that I'm truly thankful.

Terry VerHaar said:
I'll second the book idea. Some people write books and shouldn't since they have nothing new to add. You are not one of those. Consider it. Seriously.
Click to expand...

Haha..again to kind Terry. I don't think I would ever write a book, though I don't know what the future holds. Denver Riddle from Color Grading Central wants me to do a training series of some-kind, but there are countless DP's out there who are much more credible and whom people would actually pay to listen to. I especially don't want to do a training series on grading, since that's not me nor where my expertise lies. I think I'll just continue to leave it to the amazingly talented guys like Phil Holland to keep producing kick-ass tutorials, books, training, etc.
 
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Well, no one ever said you couldn't be talented and modest. :-)

Just keep posting here to inspire us.
 
Thanks very much for that info. Amazing and humble. Good luck with your future endeavors. Cannot wait to see your future reels.
 
Beautiful work.. Im happy and sad at the same time. I see what the epic can do in the right hands but at the same time don´t have the competence at the moment to pull it off like that :) ):
 
Priit Joesaar said:
Beautiful work.. Im happy and sad at the same time. I see what the epic can do in the right hands but at the same time don´t have the competence at the moment to pull it off like that :) ):
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Thanks Priit. All I can say is absorb as much as you can from other cinematographers you like, reduser being a great place to start, and then have faith/trust in yourself...and take risks. You'd be surprised at what that can do for your career!
 
Thanks alot for the encouragement! You really are a great person, just as everyone says here!
 
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