Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of working as 2nd AC on this music promo shoot for the local SF musician Chris Clouse.
Experience:
Over the past six months, since I've started working on film sets, I have found that cinematographers love to talk about what they do. They are always happy to share what they know about gear and all of the how to's of being on set. As a newcomer to the world of motion pictures, this is a blessing. I always feel comfortable rattling off question after question and leaving set with bundles of new information.
Story is Key:
My biggest re-affirmation from this shoot is that photography and cinematography are the same animal. Aside from having different cameras, at the end of the day, lighting, composition, exposure, and telling a story are the key elements that make up a successful shoot.
I've also discovered that the major differences with cameras (photography and cinematography cameras) is actually quite simple. All cameras have the same basic functions, the primary difference being where the buttons are located. Find out where they are on prep day, and you are ready to rock and roll, simple and sweet.
Equipment & Challenges:
Inspired by the film Birdman, our director of photography decided to shoot the video in a similar one take aesthetic. We shot everything in one continues take, a total of fifteen times, and worked with the Arri Alexa on a Steadicam. Dai, our 1st AC, had a bit of a challenge due to not having a monitor to pull focus from. He relied on Cinetape to get him through the shoot as well as marks and taking various measurements during blocking. On top of that, you can also see the amount of movement that they had to weave through throughout each take, and the natural inconsistencies of talent hitting their mark. It was quiet a task to take on, and Dai rocked it!
Behind the scenes of the set:
Side Note: The shoot took place at the Lux Studios in Dogpatch, San Francisco. Dogpatch might not sound very inviting, or safe, but it is surrounded by gorgeous antiquated warehouses and factories that were constructed between the 1860's-1945. As someone who loves anything vintage or antique, I was happy to be there. I love abandoned buildings, and the ones at Dogpatch are full of history and are wonderful to look at. I always feel like I'm taking a stroll into the past.
Here's a sneak peek video brought to you by our camera operator, Koon Ya-Inta, of what was going on behind the scenes. Can anyone guess how much that camera rig weighed? Close to 58 pounds
Congrats to all of the performers for such an excellent shoot, it was a great experience getting to hear you play.
As it turns out, 2nd AC also meant a front row seat to a live performance!
Final Video
And last but not least, I'd like to give a shout out to Koon and
If you would like to see more of the crew’s work, just click on the links below.
Director/Director of Photography: Hong Min Kim https://www.facebook.com/hongmin.kim.9/about
Steadicam Operator: Koon Ya-Inta http://www.kineticw.com/
1st AC: Daisuke Konagai https://www.facebook.com/daisuke.konagaidaisuke?fref=ts
2nd AC & DIT: Alicia M. Blair
Key Grip: Vee Godinez https://www.facebook.com/silvia.godinez.904?fref=ts
Happy filmmaking!
Alicia M. Blair