Gabriel Devereux

If I may chime in as an innocent bystander with pretty much no agenda or bias. I believe the Hitler and Austria comment was a joke. At least to me it was. The way you wish to interpret the joke is up to you! However to quote our past Golden Globes host "If you can't joke about the more horrendous things in the world, what's the point of jokes? Whats the point in having humour? Humour is to get us over terrible things.". Please do take what was said as light heartedly as you can! There is no point getting frustrated over something so insignificant. This forum has endless information to offer! To talk and discuss among some of the greatest cinematographers. It seems a waste to throw it all away over a joke. However that is up to you! About the criticism aspect. "The pleasure of criticising takes away from us the pleasure of being moved by some very fine things.". What strikes me as odd is you criticise something you haven't even watched. I believe we can all take criticism here, I believe it's part of our job. But even you have to admit if someone came up to you with issues with say your new film that they haven't even seen... you'd take what they say with a little less value. But what truly made me write this is. Do keep in mind David (or Mr Mullen as I call him), has taken time out of his day to help and teach other people. Answering rather advanced questions to basic ones that he answers almost weekly. Something he does continuously and something I personally have benefited and benefit from! His point of moving you to a separate thread was just so if a young aspiring cinematographer like myself where to read his thread they wouldn't have to skip over 2 or more pages of a person complaining about a tiny part of something they have not even seen.

I think it's commonly known. It's quite easy to see and feel. I remember watching a behind the scenes interview of Roger Deakins explaining why he sometimes shoots mid-close ups on a wider lens with the Coen brothers. He explained the same premise as what David said, you have a sense of presence. For an example when I look through a telescope or binoculars at a passing ship or plane I don't feel as if I am closer to it by doing so, I feel as if I'm observing it. Even though it is enlarged it doesn't feel closer so to speak. Compare that to shots in the Revenant where Leonardo DiCaprio is cm's away from the lens, it's the exact opposite. Those are extreme examples, you can gain the same effect by shooting on a 28 instead of a 35 or the reverse for the opposite effect!

First thing that jumps into mind is La La land colour pull. Not sure if this was applicable back then. If you gel your key +Green or 1/2 Green or (however not in this instance) 1/2 CTO or Full CTO you can pull it to get the desired background colour. I'll add an example I shot recently on a beach. I was camping and I saw I had a 'locations' gel pack in the car. I took a camping light wrapped it in +CTO and +Green and shot some video with a DSLR. Pulled it in post, no LUT, no fancy grade. Just pulled magenta. So this is blue hour + magenta pull. I believe this is your desired effect.

This is a very touchy topic. However one I have encountered before. I am copying this message written by a forum member 'Wooter'. He's rather masterful with words and I do believe he sums up what I and others think on this matter. Some of the message might not be entirely relevant especially the first part as we discussed the rather touchy word 'Pretentious', further down I find it a little more relevant to this conversation. ‘I used to get the meaning of the word "pretentious" wrong. I thought it meant something like holding oneself in a higher regard than others. But that's not really the correct definition as it turns out. It literally means what it says: "to pretend". In other another word: dishonesty. When dealing with art, truth is probably one of those words that should be at the top of the list but isn't often so. Of course, it's hard to point it out, especially publicly. But in a way, I think that's a shame. It shows how careful one has be these days because everyone gets offended so easily. If my work is pretentious, I would like people to tell me. I don't believe we're always very accurate about our own motivations, we're too close to it. So that's why it's beneficial that others tell you their truth/opinion. I find these days almost everything has some level of pretentiousness to it. But you can't really rationally explain it.. I mean, we're talking about other people's personal experiences. And to rationally invalidate them would be kind of... wrong. It's a personal experience, not facts. But there's a definite feeling that some stuff just screams dishonesty. It doesn't feel quite right. I don't think it's always with dishonest intention and I do think most folks do it unconsciously. They are buying into a fake reality and unwittingly contribute to its expansion. People describe me as a leftist and a progressive but I think the Hollywood woke culture is getting out of hand. I watch some bits of the oscars (until Roger came on stage and then turned it off) because I felt that it was no longer worth watching this bad piece of theater. It humoured me for a while but at some point it was enough. Honest to God, Roger's speech (and that audio guy who won) were the only two honest, real speeches. No politics, no bullshit, no pretending, just real gratitude and team spirit. That was fresh. The contrast with the other speeches was so stark that it was almost comical. All of Hollywood is playing this role "let's give the minorities a voice". But meanwhile they just keep draping themselves in all the attention. Getting richer on selling other people fake dreams. That's a bunch of pretentiousness right there. And a lot of the films are made by those people. I hold nothing against them, it's a free world. But it's a little bit distasteful. And it doesn't help the world one bit. It only helps themselves. Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes says it all. But remember: they allowed him to say it. And that's very meaningful. Reverse psychology marketing? is. So if you're not sure about seeing pretentiousness, well, it's really rather hard to avoid. Especially these days. I have a Mubi subscription so I get to see a lot of old, mostly European films. And what strikes me the most is sheer realness of it all. Of course, I'm watching a curated selection of the best, timeless works so I'm not seeing everything. Probably in those days there was a lot of pretentiousness as well. In the longer run, nostalgia isn't really a healthy way to cope with the dishonesty. It's not just in these times, it's from the beginning of humanity. Art is a lie. And it's not ill intended. But it is a lie. It is a reflection of reality. But the medium that reflects it, can't help but to attribute some of its characteristics to the reflection. So the reflections is not longer absolutely true. But any sincere artist understands that art is not about dazzling the senses. No, it is about a sincere effort toward exploring the truth about who we are and what it could possibly all mean, even if it's ultimately meaningless. And the artist knows that there is no answer, and there never will be. But still, something inside is burning, thrusting the artist forward into the unknown, willingly sacrificing himself every living moment. But with a smile, nonetheless. We all die. That's a fact. But how you go about doing it, that's up to you. Everyone is an artist, every life a masterpiece in the making. Even the ugly ones are beautiful in their own right. Thank you for indulging my nonsensical blabber. ’ I do think what you take from this is rather up to you. However I do find it relevant.

Yes it’s definitely moving, but you completely neglected the fact one million people are relying on government package from this in Australia! That’s 1/27th of the population. It has apparently ‘only just begun’ our methods are not sustainable long term and even already they are questionable. People die from economic hardship. A fair amount of people already die from economic hardship. Figures that in a weird saddening way make the Covid deaths look meaningless. 9 million people starve each year and a fair amount children. I don’t want to point out the obvious but if they had money... they’d buy food. So ya get where I’m coming from here. A 13 year old girl died from Corona yesterday, that is indeed saddening but I don’t see your point? Yesterday I imagine many 13 year old girls globally died from the sex trade. From starvation, fighting, drugs etc, notice how I’ve only stated what would be easily preventable deaths. So I do agree with you especially on how what we’ve done has dropped the amount of deaths. Your definetly right about that. What I’m saying is that economic hardship is fatal. Also the whole ‘13 year old girl dying thing’ is just looking for fear. I personally don’t think I should be discussing this topic with you. I’m mostly focused on how this will effect the industry we work in. Call me narrow minded but I think that’s what this thread is about, not about are thoughts on how the global crisis is killing children. I can’t help that child yet I can help mine by getting back to work.

Do give every point a chance. The idea is we can’t all courageously hide away. We need to keep the world moving, in our world everything relies on something it can not simply halt. The world must continue. In Australia currently one million people are expected to be relying on government packages. These packages aren’t coming through until April the 27th however today they decided to pretty much close all non-essential businesses and gatherings. Our shoot included of course however in the grand scheme of things that’s nothing. Currently we have 8 deaths. Now we are definetly being preemptive, but at what stage is it going too far? I’m probably not seeing the bigger picture but one million people relying on money that is more than a month away for something that hasn’t seem to hit us yet. People lining up in front of Centrelink (our public service centres) like something you see in movies from the days of serious communism in Europe. People are oddly desperate, the first world Australian kind of desperate yet still desperate in their own way. The majority of deaths are from the elderly aged 70 and over, one 86 and I believe even one 90+ year old woman. We are being preemptive yet possible a slight over reaction has occurred. Just my opinion and I’m following all the rules. I have an opinion yet I do still follow the experts advice as I like the majority of us are mostly artists and are rather uneducated on the topic of a pandemic or healthcare in general.

Yes but this is a short term solution. I personally don’t have the money or resources for a 1.5 year isolation waiting for a vaccine or for this to ‘go away’. So, what’s next?

For an upcoming shoot we will be shooting on an Ursa Mini Pro. The director wishes for several shots of ‘sun in frame’. This is an example from Y Tu Mama - With this I have two questions. I have always had the idea in my head that the sun should rarely be in frame as it can damage the lens and camera sensor. The director also wishes for me to have the sun in frame in mid morning shots as well so less atmosphere. Would this damage the camera even if properly exposed for? A lot of the shots the director has shown for influence comes from the tree of life and the Revenant with significant back lighting. I understand Emmanuel Lubezki shot digital on the revenant (Of course on a different camera) so I imagine that having the sun in shot won’t damage the digital sensor? However I’d like to make sure! My second question is how would one go about achieving the example shot I’ve given. I understand it’s almost late sunset-sunrise but the lack of flare and just the sun not being an overexposed mess and the actors not being in complete silhouette amazes me. Am I missing something? Is it waiting for the right amount of atmosphere? I apologise for the rookie questions and the poor grammar! I’ve written this on my iPad. Gabe

The issue with now compared to previous years is that it’s harder to be a pioneer. To be a pioneer you are not loved, nor celebrated until it’s a success. Most people who want to be a celebrated director, cinematographer, actor etc... don’t want to take that risk. If you were to suggest something outlandish nobody would fund it and critics would kill it. Money and opinion may be the two most harmful parts of modern day art. If Van Gogh new his paintings were going to be priceless and bring him eternal fame would of he painted them differently? Not show his bad sides, yaknow hide the fact he cut off his ear. But no he was completely open and expressed himself as at no point would he ever of thought anybody else would see his work (considering the fact he only sold one painting throughout his entire life). I had a thought if you got a director, actors, DP everyone. To shoot a film and release it in 50 to 100 years when they are all dead or forgotten would they shoot it differently? Especially nowadays film making is more confined. We are so vane and need to fill our egos with awards we wouldn’t dare cross the line. Also because we are so conditioned in society we wouldn’t even know the where the line is to cross. We believe outlandishness crosses the line. If one shoots a film with endless carnage and nudity more than anyone else has before that’ll make them stand out. However if anything that’s just feeding today’s society. I do still believe there are still great films being made. Call me ‘arty and pompous’ but I did enjoy La La land, Birdman, Sicario and many other films released throughout the recent years. Honey Boy, 1917 and I did enjoy Parasite, all great films and all relatively new. 1917 for more of its technical achievements however still gripping. I also truly enjoyed the Joker, it played on my mind. When do we find it acceptable to kill people? It’s always easier to be a critic. “A man is a critic when he cannot be an artist, in the same way that a man becomes an informer when he cannot be a soldier” Just a rambling of my thoughts.

I’d buy a used HMI. I’ve purchased one before. All it needs is a new bulb and sometimes if they come with a old ballast (magnetic) I buy it a new electronic one. However I’ve purchased only one 1.2 HMI par Arrisun in the past second hand. It was for 1300 AUD. About 850 USD on eBay. Now some could say ‘risk factor’. Which there is. However if your buying a second hand Arri HMI and want a quicker return on investment I’d find a better deal. Also the factor of ‘do you need it’. A 1.2k is a great light. However it sounds like you already have a pretty strong package if your buying a HMI to let’s say punch through a window. I’d buy something bigger than a 1.2k.

The issue with digital is that what once was amazing is now last gen. I remember watching avatar going ‘wow this looks amazing’. I rewatched it the other night thinking ‘it sort of looks more and more like video game graphics’. I remember with 720p, it was revolutionary. Why would anyone need more than that? Now a 720p visually looks poorer in quality. As the human eye evolves, and it is evolving. The difference between 8k and 4K will grow. The difference between 4K and 1080p will grow. The thing with digital is that if you watch a 480p video. The pixels are a harsh lapse of quality. They are tiny box’s, no real smoothness to them. Film however even though arguably doesn’t have more than 4K worth of information. The sort of lapse of quality is smooth. It isn’t janky like digital. Scanning at 8k does future proof it. Yes technically you’d be upressing it by a fair bit but like I said it’s different. One of the reasons why I love film. This however is complete opinion with very little fact. More personal taste than anything else.

Thank You! On my recce we didn’t have a ‘plug tester’ (I don’t know what they are called exactly but I’m familiar). I asked my gaffer to go around with a small plug in lamp to isolate which plug to which fuse. I do have one question though. Inside the fuse box on the breakers/fuses they had a 20A rating. So I could run 4000 watts off one circuit I’d imagine? Better to give it enough ‘breathing room’ in case the lamps spike on turn on? Or is that only with HMI’s. Yes! I was on a recce with my gaffer and the fuse box of one location didn’t have resettable breakers! I was in shock as I always considered Australia to be rather ahead. Like you just just a drive to the closest town takes an hour up here. Thanks for the reminder!

Thank you all! Ill go through the circuits of the house with one of my electricians and map it all out. I think we have one 20A plug as well so a lot of leeway. I’m pretty sure all are sockets will be alright, Australia is pretty safety conscious as a camera. If a forest fire does break out, at least we’ve had a lot of practice in the last few months! Gabe

Dear Forum members, For an upcoming project in far North Queensland Australia I’m planning on using several 2k and 1k mole fresnels. I recently moved back to Australia and have had the delight of finding out that the plugs use 10Amp instead of the regular 15 to 20 I’m used to. My instant thinking is that first of all we do not have the budget for rewiring a 20 amp circuit for each location (which I was told is a possibility), or buying and moving a generator up here so I am somewhat relying on mains power. After some research I found that although the amps are lower, Australia’s mains run a 240v instead of 110v. So using the calculation, watt = amps x voltage, means that the each circuit could sustain a 2k light? I am no electrician so I think this would work but I’d rather ask and make sure than be wrong and have 2k’s that I cannot use. I have always been told that a 2k Fresnel requires 20 amps. Another question I was worried about. Working up here a lot of the wiring, even mains wiring is temperamental. I have run a 2k off a house plug before yet I am wondering what is the worst that could possibly happen (within reason). There will always be circuit breakers but are there any extra precautions I could take to minimise the risk? Thanks in advance and I apologise for my poor grammar I wrote this on my phone. Gabe