The Black and Blue

Filmmaking Tips for Camera Assistants

Comment Corner at The Black and Blue

Comment Corner: Week of July 18th

Have you ever read an article online that poked at a part of your brain? In some way it made you question something and look at it in a new light. Then, out of sheer curiosity, you just had to scroll down to the bottom and read the comments to see if others felt the same way.

by Comment Corner

As long as it wasn’t on YouTube, I bet you found at least one or two comments that had something insightful to say.

Comment Corner at The Black and Blue is all about highlighting those diamonds in the rough. Even if you don’t have CCS (Comment Curiosity Syndrome), this week’s roundup is definitely worth a read.

This Week’s Comments

Here are some of the best comments from this week in no particular order.

1. Ed Moore on Who’s Your General in the War of Filmmaking?

I don’t think loyalty comes into this discussion. An AC’s boss is the DP, full stop. If I felt an AC was treating the director or producer as their boss and side stepping me they would be off the job.

The only time loyalty as a concept regularly comes up for me is one way in which freelancers decide between different gigs whose schedules clash.

2. FB on Who’s Your General in the War of Filmmaking?

If you’re in the camera department, your boss, comrade, general is the DP. Period.

You may even like the director better, but your loyalty must be to the head of your department. That, or you’ve got the wrong job. That doesn’t mean you can’t be friend with directors or producers or any other crew member (that’d be silly, anyway), but when it comes to hierarchy, I think things are pretty clear.

3. Jason Cuddy on The Gift and the Curse of Zeiss Superspeed Lenses

The real crux, and irony, of it all, is Super Speeds look awful wide open.

4. Adam Conlon on The Gift and the Curse of Zeiss Superspeed Lenses

Most Superspeeds I’ve used in the UK have terrible chromatic abberation when shot wide open. The problem disapears on most lenses between 2.8 and 4 usually. I wonder if it’s more caused by wear and tear than anything else? Superspeeds don’t exactly hang around gathering dust on shelves…

Great lenses though, but would only recommend shooting wide open though if absolutely neccessary. Often it is, and you can still get a still get a good image. Some lenses in the set are bound to be better/worse than others. Always shoot lens tests before you start if you have the opportunity.

5. Lawrence Marshall on Useful Cinematography iPhone Apps (Part 6)

If you’re going to be busting out your iOS device all day long–it will not last 12-16 hours frequently.  I advise people turn off their 3G, or better yet, put it in airplane mode unless you need to have a cell connection for a call, or data connection for an app to work.

Turn off wifi, bluetooth, and crank down the brightness.  Charge it at lunch.

I Hope You’re Ready…

…there are some big things on the horizon for The Black and Blue.

I’ve been busy in the kitchen at HQ cooking things up, and though I can’t give away too many secrets, I can tell you you’re gonna love what’s in the oven right now.

There are more pocket guides in the works, yes, but something bigger than that as well.

I don’t want you to miss out on any of these new exciting resources things so make sure you’re signed up for The Black and Blue newsletter by entering your e-mail in the box below and be among the first to know when they’re available.