Chris Dingley

Well the whole movie is dreamlike. It supposed to be surreal. The setting is New York City but it was filmed in london so it looks ike a "fake" or dreamlike N.Y. City.

Luke,

 

First, thank you for starting this thread; coming from someone who fell into the electrical department in film school and has taken a strong intrest in cinematography/DPing since then, I've been wrestling with the same decision -- to contrinue lighting sets and getting a good sense of that or pick up a camera and go the more direct route.

 

From my expierences thus far, most of the student DPs I work with focus on the camera, their movement, framing +composition, etc... and have a moe abstract, open approach to lighting. They're the ones to rely on a talented gaffer to actually apply units and technicalities to their projects... a good chance for guys like us to have some fun.

 

But I digress -- most (not all) DPs I've worked with, despite skill level or experience, tend to have a specialty in either department, and a slight handi-cap for the other. Personally, I think if you shoot every chance you get (like operating for ANYTHING) and know how to light, then you're on the right track to DPing; pick-up the finer points of the camera after you have good sense of painting... I also think that having a resource of aspiring DPs who focus more on the camera aspects of cinematography are indespensable; through my friend's advice, I've learned a few camera tricks that I wouldn't have in my electric path.

 

Basically what I'm trying to say is thatt I feel you can take either path toward DPing, as long as you have enough of a knowledge in both to get by.

Best of luck,

BtB

Yea, Brain I agree. I think that I myself am heading through electric cause, from what I was told, the camera you can easily pick up, its more important to learn how to light correctly. And if you are gaphing you are with the DP more than the camera DEPT, so you can pick his brain.

Thanks ill try everything posted.. and I had a retalk with sol and I completely misunderstood him he told me not to use the 650's or kino's lol.

Oh, BTW, I will reintroduce this question again (With more detai) when I figure out all the information.

Brian De Palma says the number One problem with independent film, is the use of Non-Actors. A friend, the camrea mans cousin, etc.

Use the best Actors you can find, rent, buy, beg, borrow or steal.

I dont by that. soem of the best acting in movies is when the casting director jsut pulls someone off the street,

Yea... I talked to DP Sol Negrin(superman, robocop) and he told me to look into a kinoflo or or some arri 650's

Ok, I am filming a music video with an xl2 for my friend. The scene I need advice for is him sitting on a chair playing the guitar but the room needs to be flushed out with lighting to look like a white infinity sort of thing. I was thinking of using all florescent lighting to give ti that look. Is there any ideas anyone would be great.

thanks,

chris

Ill help out,

long island.

If noone else id from here I'll grab a few kids form my college and shoot ot myself.

Hey, I just Dp'd my short film. we shot a billiards game. if you want the whole contrasty thing try a yellow-15 filter or a yellow-2 that should do the trick. and if your shooting at night a ND filter wont help very much.

some potential spoilers.

7.5/10 rating

I thought it was ok...

I liked the cinematography, but it wasn't goldeneye.

As for plot... well it was for one way to long. i felt the love plot was porely exicuted. I understand they tried to show how much he "loved her" but instead of ading 20 min to the film they could have done it with 2 seconds and some eye light and some fancy music.

Even though the film ran close to 3 hours the ending was completely pushed. it was liek the director called out on the last day of shooting " Oh, we forgot an ending lets do one now." I did not like that at all.

And the thing that I hated the most was the inconsistency in the time period. this was supposed to be a prequel to the other bond films and yet they still have "M" talk about 9-11.... that is a major flaw that almost killed the entire plot for me,

other than that I liked the whole poker thing it was very well done, and everything else was good..

7.5/10 rating