robert duke

As to pros and cons it first starts with the DP's personal likes. that is paramount. A ring like give you light from above and below the lens, the lens becomes the flattest light possible, and imagine the reflection on a gloss black globe and that is the ring light as an eye light. the reflection creates a ring that resembles an iris. so with an eyeball it highlights the eye color and can really make the eye pop. (makeup advertising was one of the first big commercial pushes for the use of the ring light.) a hot shoe light only has one direction, where it is mounted so the eye highlight takes the shape of the light. imagine the gloss black ball. the light will look very conventional and be a small point source 9 depending on the camera /light distance. the hot shoe light is flat but still can create shadows with crows feet and other age wrinkles. you can camera test these using a 8 ball. great teaching tool. they are best at close ups but can give a camera eyelight from further away. personally i feel they arent worth much after 8 or so feet. I have known people who have used them up to 15 to 20 but... to each his own. Ive been waiting on a project to use EL wire and get crazy. Ive got some ideas, might just do a portrait series for fun. I have strung x mas lights on an empty 2x3 frame for a fun effect.

Respectfully, Brian and Richard, you both need to get some work going. Too much jaw flapping and to little work happening. Seriously though. you are both right and wrong. it would take a month of line by line post response to untangle the full truth here. Brian, its not just the tax incentives that movies run out of LA to shoot, Its a big one but not the only one. The rates can be half of LA rates in places like michigan and louisiana. location fees are so much less. and there are locations you just cant duplicate. Richard, Its f%&^$#k cold in canada. It snows A LOT. LA is a bastion of filmmaking because the equipment is so plentiful and the city is almost engineered for it. The climate makes it so easy to shoot (90% of the time). People are readily accepting of filming in LA. you rarely run out of people with the ability and talent you need. as to NAFTA and FTA. Stop shopping a Walmart, costco, and other big box stores. start reading the labels and shopping responsibly, Locally grown is so much better for the economy and the world. yes sometimes kumquats are out of season. it is especially easy in LA. Shop artisan for your clothes and other items, buy USA made. doing that is the only way to bring back jobs and factories and movies. If you boycott movies made outside your state and country they will take notice, eventually. But change starts with you. I am not a hippy, I am not a socialist, I am not an Obama lover. Politics in the US is fu&* up. We stopped electing people who actually write the laws. Laws are written by lobbyists. Congressmen are just messengers for the lobbys they are convinced by. We need to change our lobbying laws. we need to change our campaign finance laws. the last 6 presidential races these were topics of debate and nothing has changed other than corporations can now spend unlimited funds to advertise for their chosen politician. Our system is flawed. but all systems are flawed. Including Canada. you wanna stop production in canada start imposing a tariff on imported products, and include movies. BUT HERE IS WHAT WILL SHAKE CANADA AND THE US. Europe, Asia, Africa, and South america are also wanting in on the movie game. look at the young filmmakers that subscribe to THIS website. in the last 4 years the international members have increased. and they will continue to increase. All of these members want to tell stories, and they will. these will be the competitors in our industry. as the standard of living in each country increases and the expendable $ increases so will the number of films shot in those regions. films are being shot in Mexico, a lot in fact. mexican filmmakers have crossed the border and have made major impacts on our Hollywood. South america is just a step behind them. and that is what NAFTA wanted. once you level the international playing field everyone becomes equal. We all see only what we want to see and hear in this argument. Richard makes Moderately low budget films and they fill a niche or he wouldnt continue. Brian you shoot BTS. Neither of your paths would cross with out this site or some intervention. you both have different and respectfully valid opinions. but really you both spend far too much time on here bickering. Attack me all you want. I know who I am and what I am not. I am happy with that.

what you saw was called a ringlight. It gives a smooth softening light to the subject and a nice eyelight. It is frequently used on aging actresses and beauty shots where you really want to enhance the face. there are several manufacturers from Kino flo to Litepanels to Gekko. you can make your own as many gaffers have done. make it simple with a piece of foamcore and x mas lights, or complex with aluminum and leds. we used to use plywood and 16 55w bulbs. Some reality shows use them in their "private" interviews. My favorite are the creative ring lights. 6x6 with 4ft kino tubes making crazy shapes and stuff, or colored xmas lights creating a pulsing ring etc. ring lights are another tool for dp's and gaffers to use. they have their place.

Hostess tray, or speed rail construct in similar fashion. or bazooka with 150 bowl adapter or ...

Phil. lead dont follow, in that I feel you need to get right with the script. let it tell you how to light it. Blade runner had so many different looks to it. lots of negative fill etc, big soft lights etc. its been done. do something new.

Yes there are ways to clip a second, third, fourth net onto a c-stand. Either a gag gobo head, #1 pony clips, or even tape for those who are challenged. They do make a Third stop net, and if you ask any recover/sewing shop they will happily make you in any variation. Grips use the nets and electricians use the wire. each has their own place. wire scrims dim a light overall without a color temp change. nets can dim a specific area without changing color temp. Diffusion will also do this (soft siders, etc). A black silk 18x24 will dim a light by 3-4 stops. There is always a way.

whats the difference between a sound guy and a puppy? eventually the puppy quits whining

B&H or just call modern studio supply and seno will make one for you.

a wall spreader may be another option. I assume you can't SCREW into the ceiling. but a wall spreader can be assembled and used without screwing into wall or ceiling and with the weight of a china ball it is overkill.

mark, your way risks gumming up the threads for future repairs, and turning a Nylock nut esp. one that large is a LOT of torque. More than what you could hold with pliers one handed on a sliver of thread.

yes you need a long socket extension to get at the bolt head.

what about steel pipe for the floor to ceiling bit and using a speed rail cross and bit of speed rail to Junior clamp? that take all worries out of the weight bearing as the steel and speed rail are far more than rated for it.

the double net serves as a wind block without acting as a negative fill. it assists the steadicam op in keeping control of the balance in the wind.

the lantern locks are fantastic. no complaints at all. china ball boom poles are frequently a painters pole or something similar. you might use a robust sound boom pole but...

Any harness from Miller or safeways is great. Federal law say you shouldnt have to provide safety equipment such as a harness. That being said, youe son is lucky to have a loving mother such as you. you can find them on Amazon pretty cheap, the Miller Revolution series is definitly cadillac. Any 5 point harness for fall protection is great. Harness should be inspected before each use and inspected each year by a professional. Great care should be given to the storage and care of a harness. exposure to heat (like in a car), chemicals, and abrasion can severely limit the life of a harness. make sure your son understands the fitting and use of the specific harness. I recommend reading OSHA rules and regulations for any fall protection system and fall protection devices. In the film industry we use almost all the systems including fall restraint systems. again any 5 point harness from miller, safewayz, DBI/sala, or other major manufacturer will do. I have the DBI exofit and love it.

no, a baby big bite is different. In the center photo you can kind of see a big bite. http://www.newyorkfilmgear.com/gearinaction.aspx its jaws are like a cardellini bit are hinged. the pin is movable in 2 positions. they are great clamps.

Mafers are great in department stores holding signs. they are fantastic for that photo studio at the mall, you know the one with glamour in its name. they are great for those guys who wont spend the extra $15 for a cardellini.

Its a custom build, its easy. rent as many kino single tube fixture as you need. take a 6x6 frame and put chicken wire on it. zip tie the lamps without the housings to the wire in what ever shape you want. you can also do this with rope light. cut a hole in the wire for the lens and BAM there you go.

I am looking at a whole package, with remote head. yes people still ride cranes. The Nashville market is a Music VIdeo market and while the markets are changing, I still see a demand for cranes, even ridable. I also work a lot in the features world so cranes are frequently called for there. As a gear owner, I have a diesel to pull it and a lot to store it.

any thoughts on the pegasus crane? Ridable and remote?

I am in the market for a camera crane. Anyone care to give a lean to any make or model? Any input is desirable. I am taking a leap and headed down a path. Any input is input.

this is the SECOND hardest thing about filmmaking. The first being away from family, home, and friends. The jobs come and go, some better than others some worse. Each adds its own take on your life. Its hard but follow your heart. I have found that following your heart always leads to the best choice. I have made sacrifices for work wished I hadnt. I have passed on jobs that I really shouldnt have. Indies are great, studio stuff can be filled with the corporate doldrums. series can be nice or brutal. It is all how you want to go. As my wife said "forget the money, be happy we'll make it work."

1. Clove hitch: simple easy and quick weight bearing knot. good for tying to a rail or truck side. 2. Bowline: simple easy quick weight bearing knot. Good for making a loop to safety a camera off to. 3. Trucker's hitch: good for tying carts off with when caught without a ratchet strap. 4. figure 8: good fast knot for securing things to the end of a rope. 5. monkey fist> good to sell to comrades as a key chain. takes an afternoon to learn.

Mouth Shut, Head down, do what you are told. Best advice for a young and hungry, Love steel, love sand, show your love by being the first to grab a stand and the first to grab some sand.