Aaron Francis Farrugia

Hey all,

I would love to share a spot I had just recently shot in Barcelona for the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei. Its a 5 minute Branded entertainment commercial shot for the european market.

Was quite exciting to shoot basically a short film rather than a standard 30s TVC

Hope you enjoy.

Shot on an Alexa Plus

Zeiss Superspeeds uncoated

2.35 crop

cheers

Aaron

www.aaronfarrugiafilm.com

Just a question out of interest .... Do cinematographers charge for overtime in the countries your from?

I've heard mixed things about this in countries outside of Australia

the coffee cup holders in my front box

Check out my book, "The Camera Assistant's Manual, Fifth Edition" published by Focal Press.

 

David E. Elkins, SOC

Camera Operator

Connecticut

i second this, easily the best book i read when i was getting my start in the industry and the same book i recommend to up and coming assistants

i managed to do a 2 camera Alexa shoot for a series out of my truck which is about the same side

i ended up knocking out my darkroom and creating more shelving space down the right hand side

2 camera trolleys can fit down the aisle ive got a cut out on the right hand side for another camera trolley which also doubles as more shelving space

on the left hand side is a bench that can fit two fully built alexas with long zooms on which goes about 3 quartes of the way down the truck, and also on the left hand side past the bench is a desk for a 2nd ac to do paperwork/data if the job requires it

its very possible

the only time ive worked out of a massive camera truck was on i, frankenstein which filmed out here recently

people are also moving away from trucks out here and running 3 camera shoots out of vans!!

just a quick question is it true there is a lot of feature work going to canada?

I use an 8 inch one nearly full time

i find it puts me in a better position as i tend to stand back more next to the operator so im able to see all the details on the lens flick my eyes up to the monitor which i place closer to the front of the camera facing back towards the operator and also flick my eyes across to set to see the action that were pointing at....

hey all

just wanted to inquire about what crew agents in LA are reputable that represent you guys.... namely camera assistants...

any info would be greatly appreciated

cheers

Aaron

youll be fine

arrimags are easy just in one hole and back out the other

just remember 9P to remember the direction of the film

get your systems down in the darkroom

and handle and label your mags and film right and you cant go wrong

ive always use fluro tape to mark actors.... and keep rolls of camera tape and paper tape with gaff and matt gaff on the tape roll on the onset trolley

i also keep a roll of white electrical tape on me to quickly cut up a piece of tape for marking up the preston remote for the 1st AC or general cabling, and also a roll of 1" black matt paper tape to hide cables or create "chewing gum" marks for the 1st AC if marks are seen during a shot if environmental marks cant be found

and on sensitive floors i use rubber marks with blue tack to stick them down and sometimes i find actors love it because they can feel the mark i even sometimes catching them moving their own marks which always make me nervous!

The UK system is different. Clapper Loader is a single job here, even when referred to as 2nd AC it still means assisting the focus puller and doing the mags. On jobs with an exceptionally high amount of stock being used there will be a central loader. There is also a camera trainee (3rd ac) who deals with batteries/boards when the loader is loading mags etc

thats the same as australia, although the 3rd who is responsible for the video split and also to assist the 2nd AC....increasingly over here the 3rds role has been upgraded to a videosplit/ bcam or truck loader position.... this way the A Cam loader can be on set full time

Hey

My name is Aaron... im a 2nd AC from australia, ive worked on many various films, documentaries, tv series, music videos and commercials over the last 5 years ive been active on various formats from Film to Digital heck over the years ive been lucky enough to witness the shift from film to digital in production and the role of a 2nd AC or clapper loader on some shoots to Clapper Data wrangler no longer going to the darkroom but to a computer to download footage...

some of my credits can be seen here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2529839/

im also represented by Freelancers, a melbourne film crew agent

Ive been working very regularly now, im starting to feel established as a 2nd AC here

but recently ive been considering moving to LA just to be closer to my family, but worry about starting work in film over there....

i feel like ive worked so hard to get to where i am over here but wanted some honest advice about how a 2nd AC from australia moving over there is viewed, as im unsure how far my australian credits will go in LA and i realize i may have to start again, and wonder if this is the case, which part of me doesnt mind as i know that the systems employed by ACs over in the US differ from australian ACs..

just wanted to know if anyone could point me in the right direction or if you could let me know of reputable Crew agents over that i might have a chat with

and first and foremost how achievable it is for me to build a new career in the US

cheers

Aaron

Gday all,

My name is Aaron Farrugia, a 2nd AC from Melbourne, Australia... i have been working in the Australian Film industry for about 4 years on various TV series, Feature Films, Documentaries, Music Clips and TVC's. Im about to go on holidays during the quiet christmas period here in OZ and have decided to come to California... and travel through to New York...to visit family and friends.

So I thought id take advantage of this site to reach out to other film industry professionals from the california and New york area... for places to go, things to see/ people to meet... film related... for example, ive prepped countless times, gear in panavision melbourne... but would love to check out panavision in LA or other reputable Camera rental Houses... id love to visit the ASC club house, as the ACS in melbourne doesnt even have a club house or a base for cinematographers to meet.... so basically id love to take a peek into the american film industry while im holidays to learn and see how it differs from the world im used to here in Australia.

So this is sort of my starting point and any suggestions would be great both film and non film related... even for a catch up over a friendly coffee/beer/ soup (dunno how could your winter gets) if anyone is quiet like i am over this period. I will be in California on Wednesday the 16th of this month through till about the 30th before i may my way to new york...

Thanks guys, look forward to hearing your thoughts

PM me if your interested in catching up for a drink and ill send over my details.

cheers

Aaron

PS if you see a touristy looking australian with a hasselblad shooting, its most likely me so say hi!

Gday all,

My name is Aaron Farrugia, a 2nd AC from Melbourne, Australia... i have been working in the Australian Film industry for about 4 years on various TV series, Feature Films, Documentaries, Music Clips and TVC's. Im about to go on holidays during the quiet christmas period here in OZ and have decided to come to California... and travel through to New York...to visit family and friends.

So I thought id take advantage of this site to reach out to other film industry professionals from the california and New york area... for places to go, things to see/ people to meet... film related... for example, ive prepped countless times, gear in panavision melbourne... but would love to check out panavision in LA or other reputable Camera rental Houses... id love to visit the ASC club house, as the ACS in melbourne doesnt even have a club house or a base for cinematographers to meet.... so basically id love to take a peek into the american film industry while im holidays to learn and see how it differs from the world im used to here in Australia.

So this is sort of my starting point and any suggestions would be great both film and non film related... even for a catch up over a friendly coffee/beer/ soup (dunno how could your winter gets) if anyone is quiet like i am over this period. I will be in California on Wednesday the 16th of this month through till about the 30th before i may my way to new york...

Thanks guys, look forward to hearing your thoughts

PM me if your interested in catching up for a drink and ill send over my details.

cheers

Aaron

PS if you see a touristy looking australian with a hasselblad shooting, its most likely me so say hi!

another for fun, on set

Gday all,

My name is Aaron Farrugia, a 2nd AC from Melbourne, Australia... i have been working in the Australian Film industry for about 4 years on various TV series, Feature Films, Documentaries, Music Clips and TVC's. Im about to go on holidays during the quiet christmas period here in OZ and have decided to come to California... and travel through to New York...to visit family and friends.

So I thought id take advantage of this site to reach out to other film industry professionals from the california and New york area... for places to go, things to see/ people to meet... film related... for example, ive prepped countless times, gear in panavision melbourne... but would love to check out panavision in LA or other reputable Camera rental Houses... id love to visit the ASC club house, as the ACS in melbourne doesnt even have a club house or a base for cinematographers to meet.... so basically id love to take a peek into the american film industry while im holidays to learn and see how it differs from the world im used to here in Australia.

So this is sort of my starting point and any suggestions would be great both film and non film related... even for a catch up over a friendly coffee/beer/ soup (dunno how could your winter gets) if anyone is quiet like i am over this period. I will be in California on Wednesday the 16th of this month through till about the 30th before i may my way to new york...

Thanks guys, look forward to hearing your thoughts

PM me if your interested in catching up for a drink and ill send over my details.

cheers

Aaron

PS if you see a touristy looking australian with a hasselblad shooting, its most likely me so say hi!

another for fun on set