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Prasad Kumar

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Everything posted by Prasad Kumar

  1. I am reading a movie analysis on the film Notorious. In that, I came across this passage: "...the “master” is used as a bookend — opening and closing the scene — which is “magnified” (a term coined by Steffan Sharff in The Elements of Cinema) by the two shots that render Devlin and Prescott in separation." I don't clearly understand what the author means by "magnified"? Can someone please clarify this? (2-shot when magnified becomes a single shot?)
  2. I was reading a book "Film Production Technique", and it said "Cinematographers will “light for black”...they will light a dark area to just outside of the latitude of the film so that they get a richer black." I didn't quite understand what "lighting for black" means to get the richer black. Let's say the film stock latitude is 3 stops. If I light the black objects but make them fall outside the latitude of the film, it's still not going to give me any details. Then 1) Why do I have to light them? 2) How will I get a richer black when I light them? Thanks.
  3. Hello Mr. Mastrion: Thank you for your reply. I looked into the link you gave me. It says how to do the setup in the camera, but I am looking for the meaning of multi-gamma. PS: Please forgive me if this is a basic question. I am a beginner, and I am just learning about the camera and the cinematography concepts.
  4. I was reading about Panasonic Varicam Camera. In that, it specified “master-quality, full-resolution 10-bit 4:2:2 AVC-Intra 100 recording; variable frame rates in one-frame increments; HD-SDI output of 23.98PsF/24PsF; and a multi-gamma function including Film-Rec for the prized VariCam look closely matching the color and response of film stocks". What is multi-gamma function in the layman term? (Google search mostly talks about Gamma camera, I believe that is different from this).
  5. Thank you for the explanation.
  6. Currently, I am reading the book "Cinematography for Directors" by Jacqueline B. Frost. In the chapter "The Lab, the DI, and Achieving "the Look," on Page 221, the author talks about "Flashing." In that, she says, " In both [Neutral flashing and Color Flashing] of these methods the film is subjected to a low intensity exposure, which causes an increase in the minimum density of each color layer in negative films and a decrease in the maximum density of each color layer in reversal films." I never worked on the film, so it's tough for me to understand what the author says here. I understood flashing is done to bring out details in shadows (darker areas) without altering the highlights significantly. But I don’t understand what the author means by "an increase in the minimum density of each color layer in negative films and a decrease in the maximum density of each color layer in reversal films?" Can someone please say what that means? Please see the attached screenshot for author's quotes. Thanks.
  7. I was reading some filmmaker quotes (https://scriptcat.wordpress.com/quote-for-today/) and I came across this one. “It’s all about making sure the film bounces off that sheet and comes to life in the mind of the audience. What is a film outside the audience’s mind?” —director George Stevens, Conversations with The Great Moviemakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age at the American Film Institute. I don't understand what Mr. Stevens mean by "film bounces off that sheet and comes to life in the mind of the audience." Can someone please say what he means by that? Thanks.
  8. I know foreshortening is frequently used in drawings and photography to convey the illusion of three-dimensional space. Do DP/Director intentionally uses this technique in films? Or films have many other techniques (size difference, overlapping, focus, movement etc.) to create the illusion of three-dimensional space that they don't consider foreshortening? Thanks.
  9. I took the fog test and it came out fine. Technician told me to overexpose half a stop to 1 stop. Thank you everyone for your suggestions.
  10. Hi: I shot my first short film in 16mm in 2011. I bought 7 rolls (Kodak) and used only 6. I kept the remaining one in the fridge (not in the freezer). After that I shot my short films in Digital. Now I am planning to shoot in film again. Can I use the one that is in the fridge? When I bought the film roll, I was told that I can use it within 7 years if it is kept in the fridge. Now I am seeing in some forums that it is not advisable to use it if it is more than 6 months. What is the general time frame? Thanks.
  11. In the book 'Film directing fundamentals' by Nicholas Proferes, he mentions as 33 degree rule (Page 174). In other books, it normally says as 30 degree rule. I know three degree doesn't make a difference, but I would like to know why he specify like that? Thanks.
  12. I don't read or speak French. Yes, please send me a message if you find it in the English version. Thank you.
  13. I just now called AMPAS Margaret Herrick Library. They said they have many film archive books but I cannot check out the book though. Maybe sit and read and take notes. I applied for the inter library loan. I am on the 7th waiting list. Normally one person can keep the book for 4 weeks. So it may take at least 6 months. I read the snippets of the book and they are real treasures. If getting this book is this difficult in Los Angeles, I cannot imagine the other parts of the world.
  14. One of the veteran DP recommended me this book 'Notes on the Cinematographer' by Robert Bresson. I looked in amazon and looks like only rich people could afford it. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1557133654/...=IJ7UFM0VJWOFN) Ebay: http://product.half.ebay.com/Notes-on-the-Cinematographer-by-Robert-Bresson-1987-Book-Other/2879858&tg=info Publisher Green Integer is out of business now, so the books are out of print. That is why the book price is close to $ 200. As a student, I cannot afford this. I checked at my school and they didn't have it. I also checked three Los Angeles public libraries and they didn't have it. Does anyone know where I can buy this book at a reasonable price? Used copy is totally fine. I got snippets in the websites here and there but I prefer a book. Any suggestions? Thanks.
  15. In the book " Cinematography for Directors" Page 229, Roger Deakins says "When I was shooting Jesse James, I was flying every weekend from Calgary to L.A. to do the digital timing of Jive, which was Sam's last film and going back to Canada to shoot Jesse James". When he meant Jive, does he mean Jarhead or is Jive, some technical word?
  16. I am planning to buy Director's viewfinder. This is the one I am going for. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/195356-REG/Alan_Gordon_Enterprises_1000_01_Mark_Vb_Director_s_Viewfinder.html As I am a student, I can get the student discount, around 75 dollars less. So far I have used the viewfinder only once and I liked it. My friends are using iPhone apps and told me that the apps pretty much function the same as viewfinder and they cost only $30. * Is it worth buying actual viewfinders over apps? Are there any big difference? * I am also considering the other options - micro and mini viewfinders which is one-fourth of the price of actual viewfinders. Actual: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/195356-REG/Alan_Gordon_Enterprises_1000_01_Mark_Vb_Director_s_Viewfinder.html Micro: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292697-REG/Birns_Sawyer_162128_Director_s_Micro_Viewfinder.html Mini: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/607336-REG/Alan_Gordon_Enterprises_1000_03_MINIPOC_Mini_Director_s_Viewfinder.html All three viewfinders cover varying film standards and video formats. Big one have more aspect ratios and focal length ranges than the micro/mini. But the price is almost 4 times the micro/mini. Any disadvantages in using micro/mini over the big one? * One of my senior who graduated and now working in indie films told me that other than location scouting, directors rarely used the viewfinder these days as there is a HD monitor while shooting and directors just look at that to give the framing adjustments. (Looked like even for location scouting, only very few directors used it, others just took still pictures.) Is it worth buying a viewfinder for shooting in digital? * If I buy one, can I use the viewfinder for any digital cameras? Thanks.
  17. Hi: I am a student filmmaker specializing in directing. For my short films so far, I prepared the shot list and storyboards and then handed over to the cinematographer. He goes through that and based on his comments, I revised those again. For the feature films, does the director prepare the shot list/storyboards separately and shares it with the cinematographer or is this a team work, they sit together and prepare? Also, what I do was, first I draw the floor plan in 2D. Then, I assign the camera set ups (based on my pre-vis on blocking), prepares the shot list and finally I draw the story boards. Most of my friends do it the other way. First, they draw the storyboards and then prepares the shot list. Is there a right approach to this or can it be done either way? Thanks.
  18. Hi: I am a film student specializing in directing. I am preparing a look book (visual references) for my next short film. My reference movies are * Days of Heaven (1978) * Witness (1985) * The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) I might be watching these movies with my DP before the shoot, but during production I would like to have something physical to refer to. I would like to prepare the look book in a proper way so that I can use this not only for this film but also for any future references. My friends are using iPad to show the reference pictures to the DP/other crew members. But I would like to have the physical look book, so I started printing pictures. I took around 50 snapshots from the movie Days of Heaven (Blu-ray). I printed 4 pictures per page in regular 8.5”x11” paper using a laser printer. I was not satisfied with the color quality. Then I tried CVS/Office Depot photo printing 4”x6” size. Color was definitely much better than laser printer quality. But the problem is, 4”x6” aspect ratio is 1.5 and the still shots I have from the movie is at least 1.78. So I lost some portion of the picture on left and right side, significantly altering the framing on some pictures. Also, printing 50 pictures in photo quality paper increased the weight. Eventually I will be adding more and more reference pictures, with the more weight I cannot carry the book everywhere. To avoid heavy-duty look-book, I also tried printing 4 images in 4”x6” size. Each image is 2”x3”. I don’t know whether this way of printing in small size will benefit DP/PD. My questions: 1) Does the visual reference pictures have to be precise (color/quality wise) or is it just a sample reference to show it to the DP/PD? 2) What would be the best way to create a physical look book? Paper or photo? Or any other better way? 3) When I took the snapshots from the Blu-ray it almost took me 2 hours to get 50 snapshots. But the quality was good. Each picture is around 2 to 3 MB and all Hi-Res. There are some websites that gives the snapshots of films. Just takes less than 5 minutes to download all those pictures but the picture quality is one-forth the resolution of Blu-ray snapshots. Does the resolution quality matter that much from DP’s standpoint? Thank you everyone in advance.
  19. In "cinematography for directors" book (page 61), it is mentioned that Darren Aronofsky stand right next to the camera with a clam shell. Also mentioned, "Alejandro will be right behind the camera with a clamshell." What does clam shell means? Thanks.
  20. I was about to rent HMI Lighting (day light) for one of my shoot. I was told that HMI lighting can be used only with crystal cameras. What is crystal camera? I goggled it and couldn't get anything that are explained in layman terms. We are shooting in Canon 5D Mark II and Sony PMW-EX3 cameras. Thanks
  21. Hello all: I am the camera operator for the past 2 years in India. I used mostly Sony EX3 Cameras. I am in the process of developing myself as DP. First, I decided to learn about the lighting techniques. I started reading books about lighting. Theoretically, I have the knowledge of exposure, light meter, lighting equipment, other good stuffs. But practically, I am not comfortable doing the lighting. For one of the recent Bollywood projects, I will be coming to LA this summer. Is there a place in LA I can learn the lighting techniques like a hands-on seminar? I will be staying in LA for 5 weeks. I will have 2 weeks for myself other than the shooting time. I know lighting comes by experience. But if I have a good foundation, I can develop myself better on the ongoing projects. Can anyone suggest any place or any other way (like DVD that shows how to light)? Thanks for all of your time.
  22. Hello all: Thanks for all your replies. I developed my film yesterday and telecined. Nothing happened to the film. I think some miracle happenned. Anyway, I learnt the lesson.
  23. It's a hallway. Fluorescent light. No sunlight. Tungsten lights was turned off when I was unloading it. .
  24. Hi: I have done loading/unloading the film stock in 16 mm Arri SR II Cameras more than 50 times. Two days back, when I was unloading the film from the magazine and putting it in the can, part of the film stock was exposed to light for 3 to 4 seconds. Immediately I put in the can and sealed it with the gaff tape. Will this have any effect? Thanks
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