My first time being DOP on a feature film.

[James Mulholland]

Hey Everyone,

So in the past 2-3 years I've been DOP on a few music videos and a good load of short films. I have worked on a few film features as B camera Op, Lighting designer, Assistant camera etc, but I have finally landed the DOP gig for a low / no budget feature film to be shot in Ireland.

Basically this film is completely new to me in the style and way it is being shot. First of all it will be shot in 4 days, yeah 4. The director made a film a year or 2 ago that he shot in 3 days. How? We are shooting a lot of long takes, on average every shoot is about 3-5 minutes long. Aiming to shoot 20 minutes a day. The film will be in documentary style where a cameraman follows these 2 irish hit-men in 2 days of there lives. They will be playing off the camera and there won't be much cuts because the cameraman (me) will be there in the action with them.

I've talked to the director about how best to shoot this to get his vision across and it won't really be rehearsed or flowing camera movement, I know what is going to happen in scenes but I will be a character myself with the camera, I'll be in the moment and just following the actors. They will be out of focus some times as would normally happen in this situation (also I am my own focus puller), and we have a few gags of me having to change exposure on the camera as we go from ext to int.

The film has a budget of about 2-3 thousand euro. Are crew is tiny, (basically Director, A.D, Me, Make up, Sound and 1 camera assistant). The A.D will double up as Clapperboard.

I trust the director in this approach because he has already made a film like this in this way which has got some recognition in Ireland at festivals this year.
Reading this post makes me think how crazy this is but I am really excited about shooting it.

Has anyone shot anything like this before and could give me tips?

Lenses will be a 24mm f2.8 and a 50m f1.8.

Will keep people posted on what will be my most challenging shoot but possibly my most exciting in a while since its a bit of a challenge.

Thanks

James

 

[ericyoung]

Get your handheld rig really well balanced and comfortable - good luck!!

 

[Patrick Tresch]

I' ve shot Ate ver a luz like that, but in 5 weeks...

I ll post more details on the Handhled configuration. Do you intend to shoot on RED?


I mainly shot with the 35mm 1.4 Zeiss Superspeed MKIII at 2 to 2.8. A nice all around lens, for light hand held rig and beautiful at 5k. If you want to focus yourself you have to use small DoF to see where the focus is. It's not the same technique as shooting with an AC where you want to give him the biggest T Stop to help him.

Here a trailer of the feature I shot like this : Ate ver a luz

I use a custom created hand hald rig to get it small (my rig is 8kg fully loaded with a 190wh battery). I use screw on filters (IRND 9, 12, 18) on Rokinon lenses or when shooting Superspeed lenses a clamp on matte box LMB5 with 4x5.6 filters.

I use the FanPlate for long takes to cool the camera with a low camera fanspeed.

I would also advise to use the Paralinx arrow to get wireless video and sound to the Director as the crew is to small to get a cable man or a video village.

I also use the ENG rig that is mounted on 15mm rods when shots have to be steady for longer period of time. It's allways easy to go from steady to fully handheld without stressing your back nor your arms and much more flexible than a monopod or tripod.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...DETAILS-PLEASE&p=996993&viewfull=1#post996993

And yes... practice, practice, practice. Making focus and framing is like playin violine you need some practice before the concert!!! ;-)

Pat

 

[Ethan Knight]

Hi James,

sounds like a great opportunity to expend your technical and artistic abilities. These "difficult" story telling techniques (small craw, long takes, little budget) are often the ones that really hone a creative skills.
So my first advice would be to approach these circumstances as a blessing rather then a compromise.

Whilst reading your initial post, two movies came to mind that if time permits you should try to watch: Gerry and Elephant both by Gus Van Sant.
They both employ very long takes, fluid camera work and an uncomfortable pace that really contributes to the overall feeling.

As for concreate technical advice, I hope other RU members would be keen to chime in and offer their wealth of knowledge.

enjoy the ride.

 

[Robert Hart]

My personal preference would be to have a 14mm f2.8 handy as a backup for any odd opportunity that emerges that might require you to be in a tight place. Please heed the sensible advice of others here who are fitter to comment than I.

 

[Chris McKechnie]

I think a monopod, much like the manfrotto ome with the 3 mini legs (don't remeber the exact model number) would be a lifesafer for u as opposed to hand holding the entire rig all day. I use this monopod for most of my handheld work and it's amazing. It retails for less than $350. I think its the 561 hbv.