John Carreon

Hey Everyone, I come from the feature world but recently got the opportunity to load for an entire season of a television show. I know the majority of it will be the same. Loading is loading and paperwork is paperwork. I was hoping for some tips or insight into what to expect. Any hard learned lessons or things that worked for you?!? All would be appreciated. Thanks, John

I would say that distinction definitely falls to some of the labs in the United States of America. F*$# Yeah!!! America is the best!!! And if you do have a good lab over there we will blow it up...or accidentally blow up the innocent people's house next to it... 'Merca Rocks!!!

Hey Guys, I have worked with the RED camera before but it's been a while. I just got offered a job to 2nd AC on a shoot in a couple weeks and was hoping to brush up on the menus and user interface. Anybody shooting in or around Los Angeles next week that could use some free labor? An extra 2nd AC or Camera intern? I make a delicious cup of coffee. I'll even come label cases for you if you're prepping!!! I am a competent 2nd (I've been told) and would love to help you out while learning a little more about the camera. So the deal is you get an extra set of hands to help out and I ask you a few questions (when you're not busy) about the camera. Send me an e-mail if your interested... Thanks, John http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1410262/ (or I can e-mail you a more detailed resume if you'd like)

Hey Erin, I would make up some business cards and head to some Rental Houses and start glad handing all the 1st AC's you see. Ask if you can hang out at their preps and ask a few questions. Then see if you can intern on something that they're working on...hopefully that will lead to a paying job in the future. A lot of Craigslist stuff is crap and will just teach you bad AC'ing habits. John

Hello, I'm in the Los Angeles Area and I was hoping to rent 2-3 P2 cards for a one day shoot next week. This is a no budget shoot so I can't afford the prices of most rental houses so please keep that in mind when sending me a quote. Thanks a bunch. John tornback@hotmail.com

Searched the archives and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. Looking for a cheap and relatively decent place to get a DVD or Mini-DV transfer of some Super 8mm film. Just a one-light would be fine...unless someone knows some place with great deals. I'm in the Los Angeles area... Any suggestions? I've heard Walmart processes...can you get a transfer from them too? Thanks, John

Bring all of the cameras. Make sure you have something ready and loaded when the important stuff comes around...rings, "I do's" I shot a friends wedding on a Bolex 16mm several years back and felt like a complete Jackass when I got caught reloading as the rings came out. I think I was sweating more that day then on the days when I'm loading for two cameras, 400' mags, one take per mag!!! Of course loading a Super 8mm camera is hell of a lot quicker...but poop happens. Hell bring a friend and get some B roll. (also, I didn't type poop...apparently it changes bad words for you...I feel like 5 year old...or a soccer mom saying that)

Cheesy effects?!? That little girl wasn't even real...she cost at least $45,000 in post CGI!!! We just tried to have fun with it and I think it shows. And Richard I could probably get you the girls info as long as you're not planning on shooting said "project" in the basement...without a camera... John

Hey Everyone, I'm looking forward to seeing it on the big screen. Hopefully Mr. Bay's Production Office will see this and possibly option the idea for a several picture deal. What do you guys think? I think we have a new Pearl Harbor on our hands!!! Awesome!!! John

Go with Panavision 100% Birns & Sawyer is a joke...it's not a bad place but professionals rent from Panavision. Watch a random group of movies...and the end credits will have Panavision on the list. You will make more connections and work with better equipment at Pan. Also, if you want to be a DP...working at a Rental House will get you mechanically familiar with the gear and job offers as a 2nd or Loader...not as a DP...if you want to work your way up through the Camera Department thats fine...but nobody looks for a DP at the Prep Tech Counter... John

Hmmn... I understand the anger at these sort of things...I also get angry when I am hounded by commercials and advertisements and people trying to force ideas upon me. However, unless your a prepubescent...or slightly post pubescent boy with rich parents and you have nothing better to do but slam some HTML together. You should realize that it takes a lot of time to make this all happen...and monitor it. I have been browsing this website for 5 or 6 years. How much money have I spent? About Zero. I say "about" because one time I spilt coffee on my keyboard...so in reality it's been about $25 bucks in all... I understand wanting it to be pure and holy and only have delicious SD, HD, 8mm, 16mm, 35mm goodness without the terrible influences of "Shamwow" and "the wonderful cucumber peeler". But unfortunately, people have to pay bills. Some people have these things called children, or dogs, or big houses, or drug problems...and they have to make money to go forward. Somebody came up to them and said..."you've been doing the same crap for around 10 years...would you like some more money?" And guess what? They said yes...Who'd a thought... If you can't believe this...if this ruins your belief in the internet... Then go join the priesthood...or the peace core. This isn't a non-profit organization The deal breaker should have been the stupid **(obscenity removed)**ing smiley faces that they allow on each post...but that's just me... My apologies for...actually... or as you said in your heading...F@#$ off... Sincerely, Slizzam McMickam (Please don't tell me to go back and put my real name in) P.S No disrespect...people rant...some people do it for the better of mankind some to the detriment...we do it for unimportant bullshit...

Hmmn... I understand the anger at these sort of things...I also get angry when I am hounded by commercials and advertisements and people trying force ideas upon me. However, unless your a prepubescent...or slightly post pubescent boy with rich parents and you have nothing better to do but slam some HTML together. You should realize that it takes a lot of time to make this all happen...and monitor it. I have been browsing this website for 5 or 6 years. How much money have I spent? About Zero. I say "about" because one time I spilt coffee on my keyboard...so in reality it's been about $25 bucks in all... I understand wanting it to be pure and holy and only have delicious SD, HD, 8mm, 16mm, 35mm goodness without the terrible influences of "Shamwow" and "the wonderful cucumber peeler". But unfortunately, people have to pay bills. Some people have these things called children, or dogs, or big houses, or drug problems...and they have make money to go forward. Somebody came up them and said..."you've been doing the same crap for around 10 years...would you like some more money?" And guess what? They said yes... Who'd a thought... If you can't believe this...if this ruins your belief in the internet... Then go join the priesthood...or the peace core. This isn't a non-profit organization The deal breaker should have been the stupid **(obscenity removed)**ing smiley faces they allow on each post...but that's just me... My apologies for...actually... or as you said in your heading...F@#$ off... Sincerely, Slizzam McMickam (Please don't tell me to go back and put my real name in) P.S No disrespect...people rant...some people do it for the better of mankind some to the detriment...we do it for unimportant bullshit...

Art Direction is HUGE!!! Don't make the mistake of having two guys sit at a table in a white room with one hanging picture and a random fern poking up in the background. It's hard to make that visually appealing. There's gotta be locations around the school or classmates houses that are more visually romantic and free to use. A shiny new ARRI 416 camera would be fun to play with but I think any extra money floating around would be best spent on lights if you need them. Shooting with only 2 rickety old 1k's from the school's equipment room can be frustrating. Also, after lighting...before shooting, if you have a decent SLR camera take a few shots and check out the image...it won't be exactly what you're gonna see on film but the ratios are...and that single image can be easier to focus on then a crazy set with people running around. Good luck and have fun...it can be hard to shoot with film when you get out of school. John

If you're starting out...go to Home Depot or some sort of Hardware Chain...you can get at least 3/4 of the stuff you need there...for way cheaper. Then when you start actually making money you can supplement your kit with fancy brand-named camera geek gear...

Try to keep it interesting... I've done my fair share of low budget music videos and I think the biggest pitfall is just making it a boring video... No one wants to watch musicians play for 3-4 minutes... Watch them Live...maybe...but not on Youtube...or wherever you'll send it out too... Try to come up with a good idea..be it visually...or stororally... (I meant narratively) But try to keep the viewer interested. John

I imagine, as most shoots go, that your a little short on cash. But if you aren't...I would look into getting an underwater housing for your camera if the majority of shots are going to be on the kayak...cuz one slip...and sploosh...there goes your movie for two weeks while you hike out of Alaska and buy a new one... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5195...Housing_f_.html Also, some sort of ratchet straps could be used to mount the camera to the kayak...I'd feel better about that then suction cups...near water...of course it'd be harder to pull off in an emergency... Good luck...and stay away from abandoned buses in the wilderness...they're bad luck... John

I think everyone is just interested... What equipment are you using? Are you going to pay enough to survive? Or are you just offering a tent...and a few clif bars...

Did a quick search on the net and nothing came up... Anybody know where I can rent a Redrock M2 Adaptor in Los Angeles? Wanted to test it out... Thanks, John

I think "Cloverfield" broke the record for MLK weekend...so no matter what it's a success... Artistically, aesthetically...it's all subjective... But the people that made it will be able to work again...most likely on a more prestigious project... I'd rather shake the camera like "a polaroid picture" as outkast said...and get another job...then throw it on some sticks...and get another worthless compliment from my Grandma... It's hard to judge a commercial project on a non-commercial level...

Thanks everybody... A lot of this seems like common sense after I read it...but I never would have thought about it myself... Maybe I should lay of the booze and hallucinagenic drugs...or maybe just post more... Thanks again...

Hey Everyone, I'm going to be doing some green screen work soon and they want the subjects to be lit pretty contrasty...noirish... My question for you guys is how bright do I have to get the Green screen to be able to get a decent key off of it while still being able to use contrast on the subject. These will be full body shots so I have to be able to get a key off the floor also... Hopefully this makes sense. Shooting on the HVX200 Thanks, John

Hey Everyone, Was wondering if there's anything on the web like ARRI's downloadable quickguides except for Panavision? I'm working with a Panaflex GII and I just wanted a little extra backup in case I have forgotten something... Thanks, John

Hey Chris, Go to: http://www.cameraassistantmanual.com/ Then search for the "camera threading diagram" section...click on the arriflex...and there you go... Another website that I actually use is: http://emrl.com/resources/film/technical.html I randomly found it one day...good stuff... Good luck

I was getting a print made...no transfers and I was hoping to do it in camera