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Damon Tidwell

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  • Occupation
    Cinematographer
  1. DAMN ! My question is what happened from the day the director and producers first met ? or what happened during the pre-production ? Maybe..there were miscommunication between director and producers. Nowaday, Most first-time feature directors are not involved in post production. Producers controlled entire projects. Remember he's a WRITER / DIRECTOR not a producer. I wish him the BEST.
  2. FELLAS ! Thanks for all your advices and inputs because I'm inspired to get back in the game. This is a GREAT site. The last couple of days, I went through the forums and search the answer I'm looking for but no luck. Hopefully you can help.. Last year, I wrote a comedy short and here's the story.. Comedy : There are Five elderly men playing cards in the living room. One man hates losing by the same man twice and wants to seek new challenge. The winner accepts new challenge. The new challenge is BATTLE (rapping). The two elderly man going at each other while other three elders cheer on. Having two elderly men battle hip hop as such as KRS-1 vs. Chuck D or Mos Def vs. Common. This will be my first short to direct and my sixth as DP. I decided to have a team instead doing everything by myself or work with inexperience crew. This time I want to shoot on 35mm Format. I already experineced with 16mm, HD and Mini DV and it's time to move to another level. The question is...what's the size of the crew for one day shoot ? It's a 8 pages ( 7.5) long and runtime is 10 minutes because I might add something. The shooting ratio is 3:1 ( need to buy 2700 feet roll of film) There are five casts, but I might add or eliminate 1 cast. One location..Living room : elderly men playing cards or add the Den for 2 men rapping ( or remained in living room). 1) Do you think it's a one day or two days shoot ? Remember it is a 35mm short.. 2) How long is the set up for one day? I know 2 times meal are mandatory!!! 3) Is this a good size crew ? Me - Dir/DP/OP Camera Dept. 2 people = 1 AC, 2nd AC/Loader Electic & Grip Dept. 2 people = Gaffer/Electrician, Key grip Sound man 4) How can I have a good, fast and smooth production from 10 to 12 hour shoot ? I don't want to experince 16 hours one meal day again LOL I truly need your help...THANKS.
  3. David, I felt the same way too. I have had alway been a cinematographer since college as one-man band. When do you know it's time to go on your own become a cinematographer full time ? I have a hard time getting a job as a crew member but never stop learning and hone my craft. I am confidence and talented. Sometime my mind tell me to join the crew first but my heart tell me to stay as cinematographer.
  4. I'm going to need your honest opinions regarding cinematographer getting all the credit. Whenever I worked on the set as crew member, I found it very strange when so called DP don't know what they're doing. They're depend on their AC and gaffer. Few years ago, a young DP had a veteran AC (20+ years SOC member) and 10 years experience gaffer. These guys know their STUFF but the DP was not very good giving direction. At the end of the night, the producers were truly impressed by him. Also, I worked on another music video and the DP was even worse, in my opinion the gaffer should've been a DP because he's smart and FAST. The DP's very slow and indecisive. I said to myself...WTF. Recently, I saw the video for the first time on youtube (it came out good) and then check his website and he shot over 100 music videos, features and commericals (90% of the time he used the same gaffer). I know some DP jump into the game without any type of training or experiences. I thought it better to start from bottom and understand all three dept. before becoming a DP. My fellow DP told me " make sure you hire a GOOD gaffer " What you guys think ? I want to shoot again...
  5. It's good to know. God..I truly love this thread.
  6. Fellas, I've begin to noticed that both cinematographers and editors don't stay with the directors too long. I have been with the same director since college and we produced three shorts. He wanted to produce a feature but it never happened. When I moved to New York City in the year 2000... I worked with 2 talented directors but they're not moving fast enough, but I was patient (tooo long). I started to realizes that it's my time to move on and look elsewhere. I'm a kind of person that is LOYAL to my director. It doesn't matter if budget or no budget but I'm a true friend and true believer in the project. I want us to be SUCCESSFUL together, but it is sad that we're not going the same direction. " it's business not personal" Not everyone can be successful as : Spike Lee / Ernest Dickerson, Darren Afronofsky / Matthew Libatique, Coen Brothers / Barry Sonnenfeld or even Kevin Smith / David Klein etc Shall I move on ?
  7. I Love this thread. I will apply these input. Thanks again Fellas.
  8. Hey Fellas, What "sign" I should've look out for...Producer, Director/Producer or even so called wannabe producer ? In the past, I had worked with B.S. producers who wanted me to shoot their short for a little money or no money. It was cool when I was in film school (Class of '99) because we struggled and learned together. Now, I am knowledgeable and talented. Sometime I'll do a favor for a friend, but not someone I don't know. There was a time I was asked to shoot the short(s) which were unorganized, unprofessional and lack of funding. The projects either non-commited or haven't start post production. The worst part is when the same people, who were unorganized or unprofessional etc, finally have the money and resources they're hire the PROFESSIONALS: DP's who worked on Budget features and music video with top notch/a list artists. The bad part is they called me to shoot their next project with no money. Can you believe this ? I don't want to be considered as " no budget or shoestring" DP. Any thought gentlemen ? Thanks.
  9. What are the DP's Kit ? What you should bring to the prep, scout/location and production ? If it's already DISCUSSED, will you be kind enough send me the past thread. Thanks.
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