I haven’t posted one of these in quite some time but the theme is worth reviving, so here goes…          Whether you’re prepping, shooting or sitting on the couch plotting your next move, turn every idea you come up with completely on its head.  What that means is, within the context of what you’re … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #23”

         Since I’m currently shooting in Canada, this ad stood out as I was leafing through old issues of American Cinematographer while trying to fall asleep the other night.  Featured in the April 1974 edition, its blatantly sexist approach to selling motion picture equipment was not uncommon at the time.  But don’t put the knock … Continue reading “IT WASN’T COOL, EVEN THEN”

         We all know Ed Lachman, ASC as a superb, Oscar-nominated cinematographer, but he has directed some entertaining films as well.  Last August, I was fortunate to see one of them at the appropriately named Rockaway Film Festival, in Rockaway Beach, NY.  This 1984 documentary – titled Report From Hollywood – serves as a light-hearted … Continue reading “AN OBSCURITY RETURNS”

         This Todd-AO camera is among the newest additions to the ASC’s collection of historically significant items.  Generously donated by multi-Oscar winner and special effects legend Richard Edlund, ASC, it’s in pristine condition and is a fascinating relic of a time when Hollywood’s studios were doing their best to think big.          Dating back to … Continue reading “THE CAMERA THAT ALMOST WRECKED A STUDIO”

         Earlier this year I photographed a short film for Chaos Group, a special effects software company with offices located around the world.  Its purpose was to demonstrate the efficacy of Project Arena, a new fully ray-traced virtual production technology that reduces the time needed to put an image on the LED volume from days … Continue reading “RAY TRACING FOR THE WIN”

         When I think about motion picture cameras, the first models that come to mind are probably the same ones that occur to you – Arriflex, Panavision, Red, Sony, etc.  The usual suspects.  Go back in time a little and you might mention Mitchell, whose ad below makes me feel like a total rookie.  I … Continue reading “HOW DID I MISS THIS ONE?”

         To my knowledge, The Five C’s of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques Simplified is the only book ever written that explains the fundamentals of angles, composition and cutting continuity from a camera-centric perspective.  Written by Joseph V. Mascelli, ASC and published in 1965, it presents a comprehensive examination of the basic rules needed to … Continue reading “C – C – C – C – C”