Dillon C Novak

I am moving to Los Angeles Jan. 1st, and was under the impression that there would be an equivalent to the workshop here in St. Augustine. ([url=http://www.thefloridaworkshops.com/workshops.html]http://www.thefloridaworkshops.com/workshops.html[/url)] More specifically, the Advanced Lighting for Film & Digital Cinematography course they offer. I wasn't able to make the workshop because I was working a job, and can't find any similar types of workshops in LA. I thought because it was one of the biggest filmmaking hubs of the world it would certainly have something like it. But nothing comes up on google or in the forums. I know one obvious answer would be, "it doesn't matter, just keep working on your jobs and you will learn what you need to know". But I would like to make sure I am not getting paid for inadequate knowledge on a job and would rather learn and take that on set. Thanks guys, any help is much appreciated.

Nope. Gripping/Gaffing. Music videos are usually underbudget and over delivered. When it's your own project you want to see succeed, as a director, you're willing to make more sacrifices and deals in order to have a good video for your reel/resume. :( (In hopes that one day it will be you that gets hired by Atlantic, Capitol records, etc.)

The shoot went well for anyone that was curious. I was just psyching myself up. We didn't do anything I didn't already know. We played around with a 6K, 2.5K, 800 Joker. The rest was overheads and mirror boards. Here's the completed video if anyone is interested. I also dolly gripped. Fun shoot! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BClFpTijh1Y I also direct music videos. (http://montaukfilm.com/) Different aspects of film attract me, and one of them happens to actually pay a day rate. Thanks guys!

I have gripped at least twelve short films, and one music video in the last year, around 40 days total. They all have been FSU thesis films and had a fair lighting/grip package. I have now been asked to Key Grip Saturday and Sunday on a professional music video with pay. There will be a gene truck, and some fairly large HMI units. If there are any Key Grips out there, or even Best Boy Grips, I would love to hear what advice you would have from unloading, to setting up a 10K hmi on a (crank)ovator. Or even any first time rookie mistakes. Where not to get side tracked on a task? Where I should manage my grips? Where does the line cross when dealing with electricity? Does the key grips job end where the distrobox begins when striking the HMI units? Anything I should bring in my tool belt? I have a decent amount that I usually carry with me when best boy, but if there's anything extra.. Thanks guys.

What are people's preferred Utility Pouches? And their contents? I'm creating mine, so far for contents I have a stubby, a cube tap, a notepad, a multitool, and gloves. I'm trying to keep it lightweight and minimal. But I would like a pouch that I could potentially hold my light meter and maybe a roll of tape. Thanks guys!

As well as the bow hitch. You mentioned at the top that they would be used the most. I learned them both and was wondering the most practical uses for those two knots. Thanks!

What applications would the clove hitch be used for? Thanks again for all of the useful info guys.

This was VERY helpful. I liked the applications, especially the last one.

The knot that I have used a lot is the "single bow". I use it on almost everything from fasting a stinger that has been wrapped, or an easy to remove knots for silks/solids on speed rail. What other knots are important. I would really like to know some that are good for heavy duty fastening when grounding a 12x frame. Thanks guys!

Is there a forum anywhere on the internet or book that shows you a variety of tasks and ways to effectively accomplish them. Example from a set I gripped last week: (DP wants all of the windows for a kitchen scene to be blacked out, but he also wants a 2K moonlight source coming in from outside one of the windows) My Solution: We set up a 4X4 floppy which we pony clamped the draping end to the roof above the window he wanted and raised the flat end above the where we were going to place the light (so that when we visqueened everything the light had plenty of space to breathe without melting anything). We then set up a Junior Fresnel on a triple riser/junior stand and put one sheet of Full and then another of Quarter CTB to get his moonlight. We then draped a 30X30 solid over the floppy to cover the window with the light on it, sealing the light with tape/ponyclamps/drawstrings. We then visqueened the other windows. It was a lot of work to get one light coming through that window, where as if there was nothing it would have been a simple visqueen job. I'm not sure if it was the most efficient way to do it, but it would be amazing if there was a forum or a book for various common tasks and ways to effectively tackle them. Also, please let me know if there was an easier way to do this. Thanks guys.