Levi Ashlyn of Story City, Iowa asks:             How do you deal with extended gaps between jobs?             Gaps between jobs are a fact of life in the freelance world, but I look at the situation this way: I’m extremely fortunate to do what I do.  I enjoy it so much that carrying out … Continue reading “Q&A #8”

            Here’s a guilty pleasure for you: I really enjoy Oscar Day.  I used to like it even more during the pre-1999 period, when the ceremony was held on a Monday.  It was essentially a holiday in Los Angeles and always made me thankful for being exposed to the many great films that shaped my … Continue reading “FORTUNE OF A WELL-SPENT YOUTH”

I don’t have many trinkets cluttering up my home, but the ones on display are meaningful to me.  Pictured above is a treasured souvenir of a simpler time – a projection lens from the screening room of the now defunct film lab, CFI (Consolidated Film Industries).  Located at 959 Seward Street, just south of the … Continue reading “ARTIFACT, IN THE TRUEST SENSE”

Man, what a weekend!  Beginning with the Nominees Dinner at the ASC Clubhouse on Friday evening, it was filled with Awards-related activities from start to finish.  Celebrations continued on Saturday with the Honorees Luncheon, which welcomed a crowd of more than five hundred.  Then, capping it off was the granddaddy of them all, Sunday night’s … Continue reading “AFTERMATH…”

Yes, it’s that time of the year when the world’s best cinematographers and their supporters will be gathering at the Beverly Hilton to celebrate the art and craft of what we do.  Thirty-two candidates are vying for the top pick across seven categories, ranging from feature and independent film to commercial and streaming television and … Continue reading “ASC AWARDS WEEKEND”

            In the clip below, a fabulously realized LED wall provides background for a pair of young performers on a minimized set.  With the addition of some sea spray and a bit of interactive lighting, they couldn’t help but deliver something special.  As I took in the action from a sheltered spot, this thought came … Continue reading “FUN WITH FLASHING LIGHTS”

Apologies for any difficulties with previous versions of this post… Day 2 at Stargate with the Angenieux IOP lenses and Sony Rialto. The clip shows a mix of the latest technology (the starfield on the LED wall in the rear) and old-school practical effects in the foreground. The result was amazing!

            Yesterday I consulted on the shooting of a short film meant to demonstrate the capabilities of Angenieux’s line of IOP (Integrated Optical Palette) lenses.  Their recent design allows for the creation of new looks by mixing and matching internal filters, iris cartridges and behind the lens filters.  Due to their position inside the lens, … Continue reading “AN INTERESTING DAY”

            Once or twice on every shoot, someone will ask about the little pendant swinging from my neck as I move around the set.  When I reply that it’s a contrast viewing filter, it usually provokes a follow-up query.             “What the hell is that?”             According to spectracine.com, this simple piece of smoked glass … Continue reading “CONTRAST VIEWER, INDEED…”

            Perhaps more than any other star of the studio era, Joan Crawford was the beneficiary of some of the best black and white cinematography ever seen.  A similar argument can be made for hair, make-up and costume design (not to mention her bone structure and personal charisma), but the truth is defined at the … Continue reading “ANOTHER ONE FOR YOUR MUST-SEE LIST”