Ben Weinstein

there are some genius solutions that use a fan, a halogen bulb and a flap of orange silk...teh wind form teh fan mechanically flutters teh silk...very convincing...however a lantern doesnt flicker like a flame, i think this gadget may be your best bet: http://www.lanternnet.com/fauxflame.htm

I have an idea that requires using a very small shutter speed indoors. I do not want to pound my actors with 20Ks to get the desired effect. I am thinking of using Unilux strobes with a syncronized 435...is there any danger using these strobes with actors? Do they cause nausea over the course of a long shoot day? Anybody use these lights to light larger areas than tabletop requires? thank you in advance... ben

Well put, thank you. What about Fuji 500T Eterna pushed one vs. 5218 pushed one? For grain? DOe one handle a push better? b

Normally I shoot with one camera. On an upcoming feature I'll have the benefit of a B camera. The film will be at least 75% hand held. The director wants to make the most of this by shooting different actors in the same scene simultaneously, which I must admit, sounds like a good idea, for the ability of the actors to play off eachother. In one scene, two soldiers sit side by side in the back of a transoprt vehicle, whispering, while they both look straight ahead. We plan to shoot it with two cameras, one on each actor, matching framings. I must consider the cuttability of the two lenses. I plan to use the new Lightweight Optimo 28-76 and/or the 15-40, I do not have the budget to double up on S4s nor get two exactly matching zooms so please consider the following: Will a 28mm on the 15-40 match the 28mm of the 28-76? What about matching to an S4 prime? Will the 25mm on the 15-40 Optimo (nearly) match a 25mm S4? How do these new generation of Angineux Optimos intercut with the S4s? Im not too concerned with the color of the glass, as much as sharpness, as we will be doing a DI. Next, is it possible to use the 2X extender on the 28-76? Any issues with 2X extenders and zooms? Further, are the LW optimos good enough to shoot the whole damn feature? I could opt get only the longer primes...I have considered going this route but havent yet embarked on a feature without a set of primes in tow...These zooms boast no breathing, but do they have much distortion? How's the coating? Fall off focus on the edges? Thank you in advance for any information. b

In a discussion of push processing with a German DoP friend of mine, he mentioned that some German cinemtographers had done extensive tests pushing 5218, and found that it did not lead to a brighter image, only a more contrasty one, (a darker black) resulting in a perception of added brightness, but no real benefit. Any one ever hear of such a study, or take part in it? B

Has anyone had any issues with this camera in terms of scratching? Hair? "I've heard things." but no actual reports. My experience with a 4 perf version was fine on the last feature I used it on. I'm approaching a shoot date on a feature, we will be on location, in Santa Fe and would like to use the 35-III as our B cam...how about good old fashioned scratch tests on location? Lastly, is the Penelope yet available? Thank you in advance for your thoughts. Ben Weinstein

An amazing camera with some finicky loading, but worth the hassle for its outsanding hand-holdabiility. Also good for rigging in high angles. Brilliantly similar in design to the other aatons. Best as a B camera; if you need just one camera for a whole picture,the aaton may be too loud in some interiors. At checkout make sure to get a barney for it or you can make one out of neoprene in a pinch bw

Im embarking on a doc style commercial shoot and will be shooting 24P vid as well as (thank you jewsus) 16mm. I've only ever shot 500 ASA in 35mm, usually I keep to 7274 for its tighter grain. We'll be shootng all natural light and Im ready to take the plunge into 500 ASA for 16mm. Ill be usingthe A minima with a Canon 7-63, as well as a superspeed or two. Has anyone tried the new 7229? How does it rate against the 7218 in granularity, color, etc? We'll be doing a film to tape.