Eliott Ward

Hello everybody- I'm considering buying a camera - making a large investment $20K or so. Have people found that owning a camera contributes to more work? I'm thinking about a S16 camera - I'm far more interested in feature work than music videos. Of course in this day and age, perhaps the HVX is the better way to go. I'm certain it would help get me work, but perhaps not the kind of work i want. Do folks have any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks, Elliott Los Angeles

Hello I'm using the F-900 for the first time in a couple of weeks. I've got the opportunity to test out the camera this weekend. Unfortunately, the lenses will be different (i'm shooting w/ a panavision cine package in a few weeks, but will only have ENG lenses this weekend). This will not be going to film, but will simply be for dvd. What suggestions do people have for tests. latitude of course, what else.... thanks Eliott Ward Los Angeles, CA

Thanks John, I know what you're saying, but it's much more fun to push reality a bit and try to use the visuals to evoke something in the viewer. A bit of expressionism is always fun. And, if the story is any good, the audience will eat it up. Then again, if people are sitting there and saying "a screen would never project onto somebody's face" well, then we're in real trouble. I'll look into a projector of some kind. Thanks Eliott

Hello - Any suggestions for the best way (and gear) to produce the expressionistic effect of text scrolling up somebody's face as they look at a computer monitor. This will be shot on HD (F-900). The office will be dark and we want green words (though they can be indistinct) to roll across the actors face. Do they make gear for this sort of thing or am i best off getting some kind of projector? Thanks Eliott Ward Los Angeles

Though there are many threads on this topic already, I specifically am wondering about shooting something a TV screen at 29.97? My shot involves seeing an actor in the FG with a TV in the BG, though not too distant. For a short shot, with no synch dialog, but some small actor movement, will shooting at 29.97 (it's S16 w/ SR3) look strange? We're posting in HD, there will never be a print. Obviously, there will be a pull down at some point for the regular footage, but if something is shot 29.97 and doesn't need to be pulled down won't that be jarring. Mixing TV feeling footage at 29.97 in with the 24 fps feel of film? thanks. Eliott Ward Los Angeles

one wall - opposite the windows is made of a large brown sliding door. the other two walls are wall papered. it's white with checks of blue. thanks eliott

Hello all, I've got a largeish room 25'x25' with 10' ceilings to light. I have to do it from outside. There's a wall with lots of windows. The goal is to make it look bright, airy, sunlight, etc. I've got some amount of sidewalk outside on which to place lights. 10-15'. i'm planning on using two 4K hmi's through diffusion frames (250?) coming in the large windows. Do people have any thoughts on simple, elegant and beautiful ways to light a big room as if with sunlight. Keep the ratio pretty small? these are farily large lights for my experience. I'm hoping they can do the job. thanks Eliott Los Angeles

I wanted to create a Venetian blind pattern. I first tried a real set of venetians and later a 4x4 frame with 2" tape on it. (neither one seemed any better then the other) I used an open face lamp, 1500W. I flooded it and moved it back, expecting to see a nice pattern...but it was very indistinct. Strangely when I closed the barn doors some (reducing intensity unfortunately) or even held up my hand in front of the light (again, taking down intensity) the pattern got much more distinct. Why is this? I would have thought an open face lamp would be perfect for this. Moving the light back further didn't help. Obviously, there's some characteristic to this light that is not conducive to casting a distinct pattern. But i thought such a strong point source is exactly what we would have wanted. Thanks for any help. Eliott Barnes Los Angeles