If you’re like me, you appreciate the small amount of time on set during lunchtime to eat, relax and maybe even sneak a quick nap. Of course, as a camera assistant, your first priority is the camera. This is how I keep the camera safe during the extended break and you should be doing something similar if you aren’t already.
Filmmaking Tips and Advice
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On Set: In the Octagon with Wanderlei Silva
Part of the draw of the film industry is the spectacle of it. How many people can say they’ve stepped into the octagon with a UFC fighter responsible for 22 knockouts in 33 wins and ranked #3 in the world for his weight class?
Cameras Don’t Make Movies, People Do
Why do we spend so much time these days discussing RED vs. Alexa or DSLR vs. 4/3, when the real discussion piece should be about evoking emotion, capturing the soul of audiences, and ultimately, injecting a film with heart. It’s not about the camera or the lens, it’s about the idea, the story, and the passion that drives the filmmaking process.
Are Facebook and Twitter Costing You Gigs?
In a business where networking is more essential than a degree, social networks like Facebook and Twitter have been a godsend. The filmmaking industry is impacted heavily by these websites, in good and bad ways, but if you plan to use these sites to leverage your professional contacts and profile, beware that they can work adversely against you.
5 Common Focus Pulling Mistakes
On Friday, I wrote a post that detailed ways to become a better focus puller over the weekend. Now that you’ve had time to improve yourself, I’d like to take a few moments to address some of the more common mistakes that are made while pulling focus. Are you guilty of any of these?
Comment Corner: In the Beginning…
You are important to me. Yes, you. And you have great ideas — grand ideas — and even better ways of doing things than I can even imagine. Sometimes you even take the time to tell me about them. So, I want to try something new at The Black and Blue and it’s all about you, the reader.
Two Actors, One Mark, Easy Solution
When it comes to marking actors, the process is fairly straightforward. However, sometimes it can actually end up being quite confusing: for instance, suppose two actors, with two different colors of paper tape, have to end up on the same mark at separate times in a scene.
3 Simple Ways to Become a Better Focus Puller Over the Weekend
Do you find pulling focus to be tough? You’re not the only one. As Sam Garwood says, it’s “a really simple really difficult job.” The physical act is easy, but the mental pressure is immense. Even if you’re an experienced focus puller, honing the skill is an ongoing battle.
On Set: When Pizza Wasn’t Good Enough
Sometimes when I hear the word “low-budget” I think “long hours.” They always seem to go hand in hand. That doesn’t mean I don’t like the work or don’t find it rewarding, just that there’s a tendency on low budget productions to scoot past the 12 hour mark. That’s fine with me, as long as I get to eat, but going long days with no sustenance is a recipe for disaster – and ill tempers.
How To Never Forget the Names of Talent Again
It can be embarrassing to be trying to get an actor or actresses attention when you don’t know their name, especially if you’ve already met. Whether you’re marking at their feet or pulling focus to their eyes, there are inevitably situations where you will need to speak directly to the on screen talent. Remembering names can be difficult, but you don’t always have to — there’s another way.