Greg Gross

Yes, Thank you for spelling check. Can you provide a regular spelling check on forum? I would appreciate it very much and thanks again! Greg Gross

If your're looking for "newsy" style look,you could use a light on camera. If thats too hard you can diffuse it some. Actually a photoflood in some type of reflector could get the job done. Of course it depends on actual look that you want. You could also use a china ball on a stick which would allow your gaffer to position light almost wherever you want it. Its a little vague here to me as to exact quality of light you want. These lights would allow you to move quickly and I presume you do not want to waste time.I believe your LED lights are a little on the blue side. Actually using one light for key and fill would allow you to model a little bit and would require even light to all edges of source. Greg Gross

I thought every cinematographer could speak french. La Nuit americaine Day for Night Greg Gross

Spectra Pro IV Digital: f-stop range of f-0.5 to f-90 10th increments for f-stop fps 2 to 360 Illuminated liquid crystal display,and displays: film speed fps foot candles lux Greg Gross

You know I'm not familiar with the digital four,but I'm assuming its a digital read out. I'll research it and come back and post. Greg Gross

Thanks for your posts,I enjoyed them. Obviously we are dealing with a contraversial subject and we'll see various opinions. Okay grimmet,I'm happy also,at least George was nominated. Greg Gross

Gravity drop would be fantastic. Can you do a gravity drop from a "Jimmy Jib" and still stabilize camera adequately? I like Mr. Butler's idea here. Greg Gross

Whats the budget for this shot? Greg Gross

Mr. Clooney told the press today that he does not think there will be any awards for his films this year. In my opinion two wonderful films went by the wayside for Brokeback Mountain. Mr. Clooney I feel your pain and yet you were humble and just stated that you hoped people would still go to see your films. Well Mr. Clooney we love you in Harrisburg and we love your films and by god sir we'll vote for you. We will go to see your films. My god this is such a god awful heartbreaking business to be in. People poor their hearts out,mortgage houses(re-)to finance films,spend un- told hours in pre-production,production. Only have their films in the spotlight for brief moments and walk away losers. Mr. Clooney thank you so much for giving us two won- derful films this year. Some how I get the feeling that if I would have made a film about pitt bulls feeding on neighborhood kids,I could have won an Oscar this year. I believe that would have been contraversial enough for them to vote on. I'm a very disapointed student cinematographer concerning the Academy Awards this year. Greg Gross I must say though that I am happy for Ang Lee and for his recognition. Greg Gross

Hal, Thanks so much for your post! This was a master class in its own you know. I am a student cinematographer but long time professional photographer. Public is forcing me to do almost entirely digital photography now and it has almost taken over. I really do enjoy using constant light sources Vs. flash. Now I'm packing Arri lights on location to do a corporate yearly report shoot at a corporate headquarters. I can view results imm- ediately on laptop,better than viewing on Canon camera screen. Can print out digital pr- ints for for their PR Dept. right on location. No more darkroom. Creative effects that I would normally have to wait for from the darkroom are now done on location,I can even use Photoshop CS2 on location. One of my areas of interest is varying W/B for creative look. So I am constantly experimenting and varying W/B and logging results. Yes sir my eye has been fooled many times! I now have a very healthy respect for the post-produc- tion professionals. I was a big fan of "Chicago". Of course in the film production Catherine Zeta Jones was photographed so beautifully,the camera loves her. I love to photograph bea- utiful women,not erotically however,but rather beautifully. Hal,thanks so much for your post sir. Greg Gross

I would suggest a Spectra 4a. Decent light meter to start with and dependable. I would say get some experience first before using spot meter. The spot meter will isolate a particular area of your subject and give you a reflectance value al- so you may hear some people use the term "ev's". The Spectra is priced reason- ably. You will probably get lots of advice here now for which meter to use. For use in still work an analog spotmeter will show you fstop opposite "ev" on a scale. Of course you must set proper ASA on spotmeter. I have never used one for mot- ion picture work. I have done extremely fine work with a spotmeter and 4X5 cam- era. I converted the spotmeter for use with the "zone system". Greg Gross

Thanks kata, Okay I understand now. Good luck with achieving desired look! You are a lucky guy!- I love Montreal. Greg Gross

kata, Have you thought about getting creative here through managing your W/B? Greg Gross

What was your white balance set at? If it can be adjusted and not automatic. Greg Gross Mr. Worth, I viewed the "Rise Above", the promotional spot on your web site. I love the way the girls were shot,wonderful use of color here. Would you care to comm- ent on how the girls were lit. The motion,action here is splendid. Greg Gross

I enjoyed your posts very much. I use the same lighting methods,same lights(Arri) as cinematog- raphers with digital photography(Canon EOS-1,D,Mark II). I am a student cinematographer.I do not use much flash with diigital shoots as I like the creative look I get by managing white balance. Greg Gross

Is your story based on the native american "skin walker"? Don't laugh as I'm very serious about this statement,can you have camera operator on bunji with camera? The only other thing I can thing of is a "Jimmy Jib" raised overhead of the action and you would have to zoom in with action. Forgive me for saying zoom,its such a dirty word you know. Maybe in a shot like this is where it belongs,you know politically correct. I've seen photos of Truffaut where he had camera almost vertical to floor, to photograph people on floor. Maybe also you could get bucket high enough above action with camera operator and camera. I think would be best as operator would have direct control of camera. May I come and shoot the shot for you? I'm willing to work for no pay. Greg Gross

laurent a., Thank you so much for the reply about Fanny Ardant,greatly appreciated! As you know Francois photographed her so beautifully, I was actually breathless. I like to photograph beautiful women. I'm presently reading "Francois Truffaut at Work" by Carole Le Berre and simply cannot lay it down. Highlander is a big deal to me in Paris, you are too humble sir. Now I have two cinematographers to look up at, one in France and one in LA. Thanks again and I will do research on Fanny Ardant. I've never seen a photo of Francois holding a light meter but lots of photos at the camera. I wonder what his metering technique was based on? Maybe I can research as I've been told his wife has allowed access to his personal director's notes. Greg Gross

I really enjoyed reading about Mr. Hora's work in "Reflections". Greg Gross

I'm not just going to hand it to you,but have you thought about shutter speed? Have you thought about creative use of your white balance? Then again if you are using Photoshop you have quite a few options. Can you explain more about the look,effect you want. I mean do you want it overpowering or just slightly,mildly noticeable? Greg Gross

I would not discriminate against the subject of the film. I just honestly did not think the story was strong enough against the other films up for awards. I was though very happy for the director and recognition he received. I viewed the film twice(2nd time by insistance of my girlfriend), give a girl a DVX-100A and you better watch out. Anyway I was not moved by the performances at all,and found myself bored. Camera work seemed okay and cinematography in general was okay,but I was not moved by it. Anyway on the lighter side I wore an Arri cap, Panavision T-shirt when I went to see the film 2nd time. Stephanie has not layed off me about this for over a week now. Greg Gross

When I shoot my romantic comedy this spring, I think I'll shoot myself stepping off a city bus in front of two main characters who will be embracing. Greg Gross

You know Mitch its really funny but I did not care for scene with the swing either. I remember acting negatively about that as I viewed the film. I lack the history of film due I'm not a film school graduate like most of you gentlemen. David Mullen set me straight about the stock used. I really did think it was shot at say 50,80,100 ASA. Actually most of the framing just captivated me but remember I'm new to the use of the motion picture camera. It did not look like Alfred Hitchcock Presents or Rawhide. I enjoyed your post. Greg Gross

I got mine at the ASC bookstore and I like to support the ASC. Have you noticed they are providing us with on-line chat this year from the open house. I appreciate this due to living on the east coast. They are honoring Mr. Pollock and Mr. Wiseman. Please support the ASC. Greg Gross

Sorry but story was not strong enough to suit me. So many fine films went by the wayside. I had no problem with the cinematography it was okay. In my eyes though Mullen's work with "North Fork" beat the living hell out of it. Now there was a real script a strong story. Greg Gross I guess the academy got sentimental about contraversial stories this year. Greg Gross

If your daughter is getting married,normally you do not look through the yellow pages to find a cinematographer to photograph her wedding(exception being millonares). If you are Mr. Copolla you do not interview professional photographers(generally now)to be DP of your production. I think the basic tools are very different but the photographic principles are the same. I'm just can't believe how many student cinematographers or aspiring cinem- aphotographers,come on line and ask questions about dop,focal length,pushing&pulling film. All of these are really basic principles of photography. Of course some of the effects you do with the negative in post-production are very different to what a photographer generally does. Obviously the still camera and the motion picture camera have many differences and as a stu- dent cinematographer I often get caught in that trap. I disagree here though with many who think the lighting techniques are different. I just do not see that,especially in good portraiture where you light for 3-D effect,produce modeling,emphasize texture etc. . To be honest I do not look at lighting as being that hard. I do know that you can overlight the hell out of any subject if you are not careful. I prefer starting with just the key- 1.where am I going?,2.how am I go- ing to get there? If I can't justify any particular light,than I subtract it. Now there is the element of what the director visualizes,I look at that as a challenge and a chance for growth,for me to de- velop art,craft. Photographers probably are more skilled at paying attention to the frame and to extraneous light. I have such a great respect of prime lenses because I was taught by an old ger- man photographer to take the camera to the subject. I'm disciplined to primes in that regard. If anyone has access to "Reflections" take a look at the chapter where Mr. Owen Roizman ASC dem- onstrates the use of the motion picture camera for advertising. I believe he shot subjects with pr- imes 50,100 and the Panaflex Millenium camera. Anyway its a very good section to read if you get a chance. I have the greatest respect for our professional cinematographers in regards to photogr- aphy principles. You know I think it depends on the individual photographer that has passion for cin- ematography. Then I think art,craft,technical principles come in to play. Obviousy I could not walk on a set and start doing what David Mullen ASC has been doing for many years. I think the individual must grow with experience,skills,art,craft are honed that way. How many cinematographers here on forum would like to shoot a 360 shot wedding for me this saturday at noon(I'll stay home and watch a good film)? I'm speaking now of a professional shoot,not a snapshot deal. Greg Gross