Anatomy of a Film Crew in Pictures

Behind the Lens 18 Comments

Anatomy of a Film Crew X-Ray PhotographerCreative Commons License photo credit: Karen Roe

What I’d give to travel in the past to the exact moment I stepped on a film set for the first time. As I walked through the set, there was a genuine feeling of fascination and the keen bite of anticipation and fear.

I remember how my mind surged with curiosity and filled with questions like a balloon.

Over the course of the shoot, I was given answers and my fears were quelled, but the memory of those first few days are still crisp as fresh lettuce. In particular, among the millions of other questions racing through my head, there was one that stuck out.

I couldn’t help but wonder: ”What do all these people…do?”Click to continue reading

New Website for Kunitaro Ohi, Designed by Yours Truly

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Kunitaro Ohi is a Japanese cinematographer who I not only admire as someone dedicated to his craft, but also as a good friend. Kuni and I have worked together on many projects, among them Ghosts Don’t Exist and Red Herring, as well as various shorts and a few commercials. A couple weeks ago Kuni asked for help on a new website design and just last Friday I was happy to help launch his fresh webpage.

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My Summer as a Camera Assistant: ‘Ghosts Don’t Exist’ Aftermath (Part 3)

Production Stories 1 Comment

The following story is the second in a series of entries exploring Evan’s experience with his first job on a film set working as the 2nd Assistant Camera for “Ghosts Don’t Exist,” which is available on DVD as of today, September 7th. The series is divided into three parts: Pre-Production, Production and Aftermath.

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After wrapping on “Ghosts Don’t Exist,” my first priority was to reestablish contact with the rest of my friends. I had essentially dove head first into an aggressive production and managed to drop off the social radar while doing so. I hadn’t known what I was getting into that first day, but I sure knew that I had loved it by the day after.

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My Summer as a Camera Assistant: ‘Ghosts Don’t Exist’ Production (Part 2)

Production Stories 1 Comment

The following story is the second in a series of entries exploring Evan’s experience with his first job on a film set working as the 2nd Assistant Camera for “Ghosts Don’t Exist,” which will be released on DVD in two weeks. The series is divided into three parts: Pre-Production, Production and Aftermath. For Pre-Production (Part One), go here.

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I arrived on set for Day 1 early in the morning after a nice 40-minute commute to our location in Leesburg. I liked the drive, it gave me a chance to wake up and to consider everything. I had spent the night before pounding into my head as much as I could fit from my camera assistant’s “bible” and was ready to hit the ground running.

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‘Ghosts Don’t Exist’ Gets DVD Release Date; Available for Pre-Order (Updated)

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Ghosts Don’t Exist, a film produced by 19th and Wilson (and that I was 2nd AC on) has been slated to be released on DVD by Echo Bridge Entertainment on September 7th, 2010. The movie follows television ghost hunter Brett Wilson on one last series finale episode before he retires. With an atmosphere that is brooding, subdued and chilling, the film splashes the cinematography of Kunitaro Ohi against the direction of Eric Espejo who took home the DC Filmmaker Award at the DC Independent Film Festival for the picture.

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‘Ghosts Don’t Exist’ Finds Distributor

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Announced on the Facebook fan page, “Ghosts Don’t Exist,” a film by DC-based production company 19th and Wilson, has signed a distribution deal with Echo Bridge Entertainment. The film was made around the DC area with a great local crew and a number of talented persons. Even Chris Cooley, a Redskins Tight-End, was involved on the project as an executive producer. The film follows the story of a celebrity ghost hunter, Brett Wilson, who decides to take one last case for his TV show’s finale before retiring. Ghosts Don’t Exist is a film in which I was 2nd AC. You can read the first part of my experience on the film and I promise the 2nd part is coming soon! Trailer after the break.

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At the ‘Ghosts Don’t Exist’ Movie Premiere for the DC Independent Film Festival

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Yesterday was the premiere of Ghosts Don’t Exist, a feature film shot in Leesburg, VA and produced by 19th and Wilson, for which I was 2nd assistant camera (you can read part 1 of that story). The film was shown as the closing selection for the DC Independent Film Festival in the “Twilight Zone” session, sharing the time with two short films. While there had been a cast and crew screening before, this was the first public showing of the film and the first time I had personally seen it as I had not been able to attend the aforementioned cast and crew event. Despite most having already seen it, a large amount of the cast and crew were there to celebrate and meet up with old friends. Everyone who worked on this movie truly felt like family.

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My Summer as a Camera Assistant: ‘Ghosts Don’t Exist’ Pre-Production

Production Stories 8 Comments

The following story is the first in a series of entries exploring Evan’s experience with his first job on a film set working as the 2nd Assistant Camera for “Ghosts Don’t Exist.” The series is divided into three parts: Pre-Production, Production and Aftermath. The “My Summer as a Camera Assistant” series will expand longer to the other films that Evan worked on.

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Marshall laughed at me because I told him I had never worked on a film before. Walking away, he put the last of his cases on the deck of the house. I was sitting awkwardly against my car trying to feign my nervous anticipation while he still chuckled to himself. We were both in the front yard of a farmhouse in Leesburg, Virginia – the main location of the shoot.

Marshall and I were the only two there. It was a preparation day for the camera department. He was renting the equipment to our production and I just happened to be the first one to arrive. I looked up the driveway to see if anyone else was showing up. I could tell there wasn’t. Gravel usually gives away anything that approaches.

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