Miguel Angel

5 hours ago, Vital Butinar said:

Thank you.

Oh that's cool.

We almost always have a very light crew and never waste time. At most there will be 8 people at a time in the same room while shooting and that's only one scene. Most of the scenes are outside so that shouldn't pose any problems either. 

I think that all should be well since we're taking the required precautions. I've even gotten an email confirming that all our precautions are in line with the government recommendations. Accept for postponing the shoot another couple of months and missing this years window I don't know ho much more we can do.

I like having 0 people on set other than the director and the gaffer (if needed for hand-holding a poly) so I'm quite happy about the workers restrictions on the actual set while filming.
Maybe everybody will get super comfy on the chairs in the videovillage and they won't want to come to the set anymore ? Here is hope! ha!

Just as an update. 

There have been around 4 or 5 commercials made in Madrid, Spain, this week, very small crews (for what people are used to) and with a lot of precautions.  

Next week there will be another 4 or 5. 
 

? 

Good update of your website! 

I prefer layouts where I can see every project at a glance and don't have to scroll down much but in this case I think that your website works well.  

The thumbnails started to play eventually but maybe it would be better if they start to play when you place your mouse cursor over it?

Have a lovely day!

"The UK government has given the green light for high-end TV and film productions to resume shooting as soon as employers have put in place coronavirus safety measures"

https://deadline.com/2020/05/uk-film-tv-uk-government-coronavirus-plan-1202931107/

Great interview David!

Wonderful article by Jim McConkey about Mrs. Maisel on the Spring issue of the Society Of Camera Operators magazine! ? 

https://issuu.com/cameraoperators/docs/co-spring-2020/16

On 5/3/2020 at 10:16 AM, Manu Delpech said:

A lot of promising developments here, Variety or THR have made comprehensive articles listing all the countries where productions are ongoing or starting up soon. Seems to me that quarantining the cast and crew the way BBC is proposing around the sound stages is the best way to be able to get going with big productions (some big movies are supposed to shoot for example in the UK or start: The Batman, Fantastic Beasts 3, The Little Mermaid, several Star Wars shows too later) and allowing actors in a scene to interact normally.

The whole rewriting scenes (that some shows are doing right now) in order for actors to be able to stand 1.5 meters away from each other (which by the way is not enough, studies have shown that the 6 ft distance is bogus as droplets can travel up to 6-7 meters from shouting, or coughing or whatever) is ridiculous and too constricting creatively. 

On those big productions shooting for several months, as long as everyone agrees, it's a darn good idea, no strays wandering off set going god knows where ? Temperature checks are not enough though as asymptomatic carriers don't necessarily display a fever, same with some regular carriers. A daily test is a good way to go, with really reliable tests, as some have a margin of error. 

By the way, Oxford is saying they will know by June, July if their vaccine works, if all goes well, there could be hundreds of millions of doses produced by late 2020, they are building new facilities to boost the production. 

 

@Miguel Angel I see movie theaters are set to reopen in early August in Ireland too. I think Nolan can kiss his Tenet July release goodbye. 

I can't wait to go to the cinema! 
Either in Dublin or London or in Spain. 

Theatres in Spain are scheduled to reopen on May 25th (if everything goes well). 
Theatres in Czech Republic will open next week.  

July is a really far away date in terms of what we are living through nowadays.

If Nolan wants to release Tenet in July and the cinemas are open, I'll go and watch it twice!  (if I still have money ?) 

Ireland - 20th July according to the latest roadmap from the government, which can vary as the exit from the lockdown will be done in 5 stages with a 3 weeks difference between each. 

9 hours ago, Richard Boddington said:

Commercials have the advantage of a 1-2 day shoot.  Netflix can self insure, NP, they have enough money.  Independent feature films and big studio block busters those are the two big question marks.  The first needs insurance, the latter needs a global theatrical audience, which may take 2-3 years to recover.

R,

 

You're right, maybe Europe works differently than Canada / States in terms of insurance?  
Perhaps you will have to come back to the UK Richard!  ?

Two of my friends will start a feature film in Spain in June 1st, the budget is under 5 Million, which is pretty independent in terms of Canada / States / Uk budgets. 

Valhalla (Vikings spinoff) might start shooting in August in Ireland. 

There is a "Spanish Netflix" called Movistar+ which will start shooting in June too. 

And news programs haven't stopped! 

If there is not another wave I think that we will see people returning to cinemas as soon as they open, I can't wait to watch Mulan with a bag of popcorn! ? 

19 hours ago, Richard Boddington said:

If it's an exclusion in the policy, we are *bleeped* pure and simple.  And I mean really.....*bleeped*.

R,

Spain is going back to shoot commercials, tv series (including Netflix ones), features and etc in May, 11th if the conditions don't get worse. 

Yeah!!!

https://variety.com/2020/film/global/film-shoots-cinema-theater-restarts-spain-gets-tentative-dates-1234593442/

The Commercial Producers of Ireland association has created a document with guidelines about how to deal with Coronavirus shoots. 

http://www.commercialproducersireland.com/covid-19/

7 hours ago, Jae Solina said:

Were the litemats right on the windows or a couple of feet away? It looks fantastic in my opinion.

Thanks Jae, 

The litemats  were, literally, one foot away from the window because they had a rig built which allowed for a 1 foot separation between the window and the litemats.  
I used diffusion on the rig as well (Don't remember which one though!)

Now that I found a photo I see that there were 16 litemats per window.

6 hours ago, M Joel W said:

@Miguel Angel that looks great.

For situations where there are not such large windows and hard light is preferred, a DP friend of mine once recommended mirror boards. They require constant adjustment during the day (and sunny weather) but pack the punch of an 18K without drawing any power of course.

I use a lot of mirrors to recreate hot spots, I learnt the hard way that it is better to place a mirror with a light bouncing in it so you don't  have to keep adjusting it every 2 minutes.. but sometimes you do have to use mirrors and just the sun ? 

These two frames are lit with mirrors and sun (and a china ball with an aladdin light) for them. 

The Spanish association of commercial production companies (http://apcp.es/en/) has created a document with several guidelines in order to try reactivating shoots in Spain. 

https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/Castings-telematicos-recambio-personas-contagios_0_1019098587.html

Basically: 

- Work from home in all the preproduction stage (and post if you can)
- Shoots in sound-stages or private locations are allowed
- Shoots in locations which require permits from the government are not allowed (since the government has stopped giving them)
- All workers must have and wear PPE at all times (but the cast when they are acting)
- All locations will be cleaned before and after the shoot. 
- Food will be given in individual single use boxes.
- Costume tests will be done on the day of shooting.  
- There will be a maximum of 25 crew on set and 10 cast, the rest will have to be outside the set. 
- All cast will wear a protective "onesie" under the costumes.
- Hair & Make up department to clean and disinfect every tool after each use and if possible they will have to provide different tools for each cast member.
- The set will be a "clean" space, there will be temperature controls on the day, with backups of cast and crew.
 

5 hours ago, David Dominguez said:

Larry Sultan

Larry Sultan's work is extraordinary. 

I remember seeing the exhibition with Pictures From Home and The Valley together in Madrid many many years ago and instantly go to the exhibition's shop to buy the  books. 

Thanks for reminding me of his work! ? 

On 4/18/2020 at 6:05 AM, Uli Meyer said:

I've seen some of his work at Tate Britain. Very mesmerizing and atmospheric.

Thanks for letting me know Uli! I'll have to go back to the Tate to try finding them once it reopens! ? 

A new painter that I discovered through the Cooke youtube talks.
 

John Atkinson Grimshaw
https://www.johnatkinsongrimshaw.org/the-complete-works.html

I tried to find a book with his paintings but apparently the one from Phaidon has the paintings in black and white! ?

17 hours ago, Gregory Irwin said:

From our family to yours, Rosie and I wish y’all a very Happy Easter from stormy Georgia! Stay healthy and happy till this pandemic ends. 
 

G

Happy Easter to you too and happy easter to everybody!!!  ? 

My life hasn't changed much because of the coronavirus.  

I'm reading a lot, exercising a lot and paddleboarding in the canals near my house, which is what I usually do when I'm not working.
I miss surfing though and I'd love to be in Cornwall or Lanzarote riding some waves.. but I'll do that over the summer ? 

Oh, I'm cutting my first reel too! Shocking!

I just read this on the American Cinematographer website and thought that it could be appropriate! 

https://ascmag.com/articles/filming-the-i-love-lucy-show

Love the behind the scenes video on the article! 
 

20 minutes ago, John R Ker said:

Thanks Miguel! I've seen the doc. Brilliant. Unfortunately I can't read Spanish. Thanks for the offer!

 

I should translate it in English ?

I have it in Spanish, bought it in a second hand store many years ago. 

I had always thought that being a book from Nykvist it was already translated to English, it surprises me that it is not!.
It is a collection of Nykvist's memories from his childhood to his movies in Hollywood sprinkled with a lot of funny anecdotes. 

He also talks about the "Nordic Light" and the way he seeks simplicity yet perfection in all his work, but the simpler the better and that he is always trying to look for the real, truthful light which led him to use less lights and take advantage of the available light on the locations.

It is a similar book to that of Nestor Almendros, A Man With A Camera.

Alternatively you could watch the doc about Nykvist! ? 

https://www.amazon.com/Light-Keeps-Company-Sven-Nykvist/dp/B00I2U8YJE

And you can read a bit of it in English on the following website:

https://cinephiliabeyond.org/documentary-sven-nykvists-lighting-process-sacrifice/

Anyways, if you happen to understand Spanish I have it on PDF as well ? 

Have a lovely day.

You could also use a china ball with an Aladdin inside, black the sides and diffuse it through a thick diffusion frame as a quick setup for close ups! ?

Although if  you could use a blanket Litetile (I love them but they are not widely available in Ireland / Spain) the light would be softer..  and it takes, literally, 2 minutes to walk it in!

https://www.litegear.com/product-category/finished-fixtures/litetile/

50 minutes ago, Doug Wolf said:

Thanks! Information like that is exactly what I was looking for!

Much appreciated,

D

 

You're more than welcome! ? 
 

Have a lovely day!

Hi Doug, welcome to the forum!

Talking about my own experience, I light environments as opposed as shots as I like giving a 270º freedom to the director. 
It works for me because I work with people who understand it and we block the scenes together to shoot that way and probably because I like being invisible with my lighting and I light from outside the locations (through windows or with practicals)

Said that, if I go from a wide master shot to a close up I add either a diffusion frame near the talent and negative fill or a polyboard / china ball + negative fill if I have time in order to shape the face a bit.

Placing a diffusion frame + negative fill for a close up usually takes 5 to 10 minutes (depending on how many crew you have). 

So it definitely is a practical consideration and once that makes things a bit more natural under my point of view. ? 

Here are some practical examples:

On 3/20/2020 at 10:05 PM, Jon-André Hakvåg said:

Hello everyone!

As jobs get bigger, the need for a floorplan software gets bigger.

What kind of software are you using? And on which platform are you working?

Hi Jon-André, 

I use Shot Designer on iOS and OSX:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shot-designer/id556342711

Really good, quick and easy to master. 

There is also another one that I've heard of and that might be more up your alley:
Lighting Designer

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lighting-designer/id511366142

Have a lovely day.