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John_Burton

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  • Occupation
    Cinematographer
  • Location
    Oklahoma City
  1. Does anybody know where I can find a list of micro-budget (under $100K US) feature films that are streaming somewhere online? Preferably recent films--last five years, if I can find them. I'm producing and directing a film along those lines and want to research the competition, but can't figure out how to find these movies. Everything I've tried Googling just yields a list of breakout indies or classic zero-budget indies I've already seen. Where are the sorta-good, sorta-shitty movies that don't suck but didn't necessarily break out? Thanks!!
  2. I finally own a decent follow focus. It's a used Zacuto Z-focus. Works great, smooth turn, zero play. I'm using it together with a Sigma 18-35 f1.8, with a this ultra cheap focus ring: https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Adjustable-Follow-Lenses-diameter/dp/B008PP3LY4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486941772&sr=8-2&keywords=neewer+focus+ring The Sigma lens itself has a buttery smooth focus turn, and like I said, the Z-focus is basically silk when it's just spinning by itself. But the moment the Z-focus is actually put to use turning the Sigma lens, it takes a little more effort to turn than I feel it should, and there are some subtle vibrations in the movement. Adds up to a less-than-stellar focusing experience. I had a similar problem when I first got the Sigma and the Z-focus. I'd bought a gear ring that was specially fitted to the Sigma, and it proved totally unusable--vibrations galore. Is this a normal problem with cheap, crappy focus rings? I can't find anyone else who describes experiencing this issue quite like I have. Help!
  3. I'm shooting a fairly low-budget short film in February and trying to decide what camera system to go for. I won't need slow-motion, low-light wizardry, or a VFX-capable post workflow. I'll be shooting in one location, in controlled lighting. All I really care about is image quality, especially skin tones and highlight rolloff. Has anyone used--or better, compared--these two cameras, and could give a preference? Any help would be hugely appreciated! Thanks.
  4. Your test footage actually looks encouraging. Very accurate skin tones; pretty good highlights, etc. You seem to have solved a problem so many other Ursa operators suffer from--i.e., that weird orange-y, magenta-y mushy look in the skin tones, which is even present in BlackMagic's own promo video. Using a LUT or plugin to grade? Or manually with Resolve?
  5. Ok, sounds like my mistake is overeagerness. I think I'm gonna pursue the rental option. If I don't take this advice, I know I'll regret it when my camera craps out mid-shoot. Thanks to all!!
  6. Thanks so much everybody! Hugely helpful. Unfortunately, I don't have any film rental houses within a fifteen-hour drive. Flyover state blues. Are there any online houses that do 16mm? I haven't been able to find anything, but I'm not totally sure where to look beyond a Google search.
  7. I've got a budget of around $1,000 to get a 16mm camera that will allow me to shoot sync for a ten-minute, dialogue-heavy, all-indoors short film. I've looked into dozens of brands, models, and soundproofing methods, and I'm afraid i've begun to go in circles. Am I expecting too much at this budget level? Or is there a camera out there to suit my needs? Thanks!!
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