Justin Marx

Hey guys, thank you very much for the input! I don't know why but I usually get an email when I subscribe to my posts.. I didn't even know their were any responses ???

Thank you in advance for your info! I have worked with these guys before on shorts, and now they are trying to get a feature together.. I am a fairly new DP, although I have shot a feature that was sold to lionsgate, and many shorts (not tooting my horn, just stating who I am) I have been in the business for over 14 years as a PA/AC and really like to think I have an idea of how this business works.. They want me to DP this film that currently has no financing or actors attached and are looking for about 1.5 million, and they want ME to tell them my needs for Lighting, Camera, and Crew.. To that I gave them a very "GENERIC" list of what the minimum would be and told them there is NO way I can give them anything more specific until we do a scout of every location, now they are asking me who I want as my gaffer because they are going to start "crewing it up".. WHAT THE HECK?!? Crew it up before they even have ACTORS or MONEY!?!?! He even asked me what film stock I want (which I told him) then he came back saying "oh, how about this film stock, it's newer!?!) At this point I am loosing interest just because I feel like they are going to get NOTHING QUICKLY and are over producing.. The director is an ok guy, but also says stupid things like "we don't need a dolly"?!?! I basically told the producer to don't ask me anymore questions until he has money, and whatever money he gets we will make the best film we possibly can with the crew we can afford. My question: What as a DP should I need to give the producers before they have any idea of what their budget is?

Have your grips build a "BLACK BOX" around the area of the windows, and use your own lights to bring some moonlight in. Grab some tree branches or plants to put outside if you need to see something.. No ND, no waste.. a couple of 8x8's and some duvateen.. Just mind the HEAT! Otherwise You would have to GEL the crap out of the windows and the look would be inconsistant with any sort of cloud cover.. My 2-cents..

The M2 is the adapter, the follow focus is just an add on. A VERY USEFUL ONE when your using 35mm lenses..Get the M2 before the FF.. - - Justin

Thank you..

You need to be in 24pn mode because when you shoot in 24p or 30p, its still keeping all the frame information as if shooting 60i, but with 24pN it drops the un wanted frames and shows you playback.. The good thing about shooting 24p is that you can speed it up and slow it down in post, because it's saving all that information even though your not using it.. It's still there..

Buy some heat shield while your at it. :-) - - Justin

are those 575's above the actors heads? Nice SET :-)

Has anyone found the ISO of the PS Tecknik and the XL2? I'd love to know :-) Thanks - - Justin

Really?

Great! Thanks.. Any pictures would be GREAT! ALSO, I am shooting DV 24P with the CANON XL2 with the Mini 35/Technik/Zeiss 2.1's

Thanks Kevin.. I have a prettygood idea of what I would like to do, I would just like as much input as I can get so I can go into it knowing more than I need.. I'll pick and choose what I really want at the end, but the wealth of information and qualified people here is such a great resource.. Thank you for the pictures.. They were great.. How was Howie to work with? - - Justin

Ok here's the SCENE: NIGHT INT. Hospital room The room has one WINDOW (diagram attached) the otherwindows will be blocked by a wall we are building. My charachters will play around the bed, the closet, and in the area to the right of the bed (looking from above) The lights I have are 3 1200 HMI's 1-575 1-dedo light kit, and 2 4-bank 4' kinos.. I have 3 1200's for another scene and only planned on using one, to blast through the window as night moon light.. I wan't the room to look fairly dark.. It's a dream world hospital, and I want it to look cold.. With the lights I have, how would you light the actors playing around the bed, and in the area to the right. I'd like to change the light as little as possible for each setup (I'm dreaming). The ceiling height is 8' and the ceiling is a DROP ceiling with removeable tiles.. I've never had so many lights at my disposal, and am afraid to OVERLIGHT.. any ideas? set_no_lighting1.bmp

Wow, never really knew the major cost difference!! Thank you! I will look into it.. I'll let you know how it goes.. - - Justin

Sorry guys!! We're shooting HD (Sony F900) I'm probably going to throw some diffusion on the windows and play with the distance of the 575 outside as much as I can. Thanks!! Any pictures would be great..