It’s been an incredible year for The Black and Blue and next year looks even more promising. But before we pop champagne to celebrate 2014, let’s take a moment to look back at the most helpful, most entertaining, and most visited posts published on The Black and Blue in 2013.
Filmmaking Tips and Advice
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Who Needs Sleep? Watch Haskell Wexler’s Call for a 12-Hour Workday
As a cinematographer, Haskell Wexler has brought to life some Hollywood classics and brought home two Oscar statues. But Wexler has also had to put up with the same strenuous working conditions that film crews are often beholden to. Specifically, long working hours that cause sleep deprivation. So he did what any filmmaker might do – he made a movie about it.
New Update for the Digital Cinema Pocket Guides Released
The Digital Cinema Pocket Guides give you easy reference for your camera in the chaos of the shoot. And now there’s a massive update available today for half the pocket guides that brings them up-to-date with new camera firmware. Plus, a new, better way to download them.
How to Net a Cinema Lens (Video Tutorial)
Netting a lens is a great and simple way to add style to a scene using cloth material mounted on the rear element of a lens. While netting lenses won’t happen on every job, it’s a technique camera assistants are expected to be familiar with – and can learn how to do in this video.
88 Cinematographers Share the Best Professional Advice They’ve Ever Received
88 cinematographers and ASC members reveal thoughts, advice, tips, and tricks they’ve received that helped them throughout their professional careers. Their responses range from the simple to the complex, the obvious to the specific, and the easy to the hard – but all of them stand to help you make the most of life in the film industry.
How to Be a Resourceful Camera Assistant, in Under 300 Words
Without resourcefulness, I wouldn’t be able to solve camera problems effectively. I wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure of pulling focus handheld on wide open SuperSpeeds. I wouldn’t be able to ruthlessly cut inefficiencies on set. It’s worked wonders for me and it can help you, too.
Focal Points: 5 Irresistible Weekend Reads for Filmmakers
With Focal Points, you get a roundup of the best of the best writing from within the filmmaking community. This week brings five articles that make great weekend reads – whether you’re waiting on set for a scene to be shot or you’re waiting at home for your phone to ring.
10 Great Pieces of Advice from a 1st AC’s Reddit AMA
Have you ever wanted to sit down for coffee with an industry pro just to ask them a few questions about their experience and their life as a crew member? That’s exactly what a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) is like – a virtual version of a coffee meet-up. And though it won’t get you that latte you’re craving, this AMA with a union camera assistant may help you answer a few questions.
Raw Stock: Storing Lenses, Shouldering Blame, and Setting Day Rates
Raw Stock is here with four new questions from readers of The Black and Blue. This week’s topics include how to make sure gear is reliable when renting, the proper way to store lenses, setting day rates, and taking unfair blame on set.
Introducing Focal Points: 7 Awesome Filmmaking Articles
Focal points is a weekly summary of the best around the web from the filmmaking community. From videos to articles to apps and everything in between, focal points focuses on the greatest filmmaking resources available – starting with these seven awesome filmmaking articles.