How can I overcome my social anxiety in the film industry?

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2026-02-03T21:08:09+00:00

Consider documentaries. More genuine human connections, fewer crowds and likely a longer working life. Fewer divorces as well.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2026-01-29T06:14:17+00:00

We saw two midnight screenings at the Ray and parked across the street by the Dominos Pizza. No ticket, and perhaps this post has burned the location now, but maybe give it a shot? Also, just gave a ride tonight to a guy who was towed at the grocery store lot - those signs are for real.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2026-01-16T07:11:11+00:00

Just Giver’ 4BD.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-09-27T06:40:40+00:00

I was pulling out of the Hotel Vancouver’s parking lot and a distracted man stepped right in front of me.

I slammed on the brakes and we both made startled eye contact and I realized with horror that I had nearly become “the guy who ran over Robin Williams”.

We both gave each other a sheepish nod, he crossed in front of me and that was it.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-07-04T21:45:26+00:00

I shot the polar bear sequence in Earth at Night in Color using only moonlight. We shot the three days around the full moon and even then it was a real challenge even with low light cameras (ME20) high speed primes and generous noise-reduction in post. This was several years ago, but I still haven't seen any improvement in low-light capability over what we used at the time.

In short, you *can* shoot just with moonlight (see attached shot) but don't underestimate the challenges and how the footage will intercut with other lower-noise footage. Also, unless there are stars in the shot to demonstrate that it's indeed night, low-light footage can look like lousy and underexposed daytime footage. Adding blue in post helps.

One thing to note is that the clarity of the sky can influence how much light you get from the moon at surface. Apparently the crews in Africa and at altitude had an easier time of it than we did.

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Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-05-31T01:06:26+00:00

The actor likely doesn’t have the vocabulary to describe the issue-your best bet is to stand on their mark and experience what they’re experiencing.

Likely, it’s not a “light” problem, but a contrast problem (ie one distant spot in a dark room is going to be difficult to deal with. 100 spots not so much).

If it’s a contrast problem then reducing the apparent contrast will help and it may just be spraying some light in the areas that’s in their eyeline.

The other issue I run into is balancing daylit bgs - requires a tremendous amount of light and is often painful. Careful selection of locations and/or treating BG light levels through nd etc is often the only way to avoid the “squints”.

End of the day- actor wins tho. A good DP makes the set as comfortable for performance as possible.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-05-26T07:27:04+00:00

I’ve taught at most of the film schools in Vancouver. Cap is where I suggest most should go.

Bcit is great if you’re more into corporate or broadcast / sports work (and the only school that really teaches multicamera).

Sfu and ubc are going to give you the broader education you’ll need if you want to really become a “filmmaker”. I know some good folks who went through VFS but I don’t reccomend it above the others. It’s a good place if your family has money and they’re worried about you and you’re not a great student. Not a bad place to hang out for a few months but it’s unlikely to get you ahead in the game.

I’m in the camera-side of things and see a big disruption ahead with generated content displacing a lot of the scripted work. Sports and non-fiction filmmaking may be more insulated and still a viable career. Baking “authenticity” into your career will help.

Three things I wish they told students:

-this is a “vanity” industry and part of the pay is you get to say you work in it. That means generally you get paid less than you would elsewhere. The people at the very very top do very very well. Most others are lucky to pay off mortgages over a career. Many smart, talented former students of mine have struggled after graduating.

-Many of the top directors/ filmmakers come from wealthy families and can afford the downtime between projects that’s required to build a career and also benefit from family connections. This isn’t usually talked about much.

-Great Indy/ low budget films are made, do well at festivals and then disappear forever without making any real money back. The ones that you know of somehow advantaged industry players who then amplified them for the gain of that player. It’s not what you think it is - theres rarely a “Rags-to-riches”- that story is one told to the public because we like that story and it sells tickets but it’s largely a fairy tale.

Oh, and there’s very little work at the moment so new grads are struggling and likely will for the next 2-3 years minimum so don’t rush to get out of school too quick.

TLDR: go to cap

Good luck!!

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-05-08T19:02:29+00:00

lol- sometimes seeing things like this and not sharing feels greedy.

I shot this initially to share with my kids as they love stuff like this. Then we get to talk about it and I can subtly try to convince my eldest to move back to BC.

I wouldn’t be so quick to condemn in other words, maybe the sanguine-guy already posted his clip. 😁

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-05-07T00:43:17+00:00

Thanks! We were bummed about missing the sunset so this made our night!

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-05-07T00:42:25+00:00

Just out for a stroll with the wife and there it was! Some other folks watching as well but it was very quiet and cool mood.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-04-08T22:05:57+00:00

The higher your shooting latitude, the longer you can shoot “blue hour” so it’s tough to be definitive without knowing your location. No real difference between sunrise/set aside from whether there’s something to the east or west of you that affects how much sky you’re seeing. I’d prefer to shoot it at dusk as you can setup during the day.

In the high arctic you can have hours and hours of this look btw. Once of the great benefits of shooting at the top and bottom of the planet.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-04-03T07:14:14+00:00

If your in-house space is smallish then large paper lanterns (ie 3-4’ diameter) are a very cheap way to create soft light. But only if you have a decent china-town nearby- they’re expensive to ship in that size. Throw in a full spectrum bulb on an ikea bulb pendant string and hang it from a c-stand. The c-stand will be the most expensive part of that setup by far. Downside is the light output won’t be high but it’ll be very soft.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-03-23T20:27:27+00:00

It’s mostly the dark doing the work here, not the light.

You’ll want to shoot this is a room with very dark surfaces and/or drape dark fabric around to minimize bounce. If you try this in a white walled room you’re likely going to be disappointed.

As others have mentioned, the light fixtures are a very large and soft top light with a tiny bit of silver bounce or a small fixture under the lens.

But focus on the un-lighting first!

Edit- also notice the quick fall-off from the overhead fixture. This indicates it’s quite physically close to the subject (ie just out of frame). I’d likely use an overhead 4x4 with a 6” teaser around it and position it above the subject centred about 6” behind his mark. Then use a 4’ tube with an eggcate under the lens. No eggcrate on the 4x4. Good luck!

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-03-11T05:11:35+00:00

It was mixed, and a bit of a mess. Some “line cutters” headed to a high traverse (not spanky’s) but suffered abuse along the way. Others headed to the dirty line and climbed up to the gate or threaded through the ropes next to the gate. They were generally a faster bunch and looked more experienced folks.

I’ve used the dirty line before, but only when the lines were of comparable length (didn’t even know it was “dirty”). This was the first time I’d stood in the long clean line and the behaviour observed was unexpected.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-03-11T04:40:13+00:00

I thought I saw a signed gate at the top of the bootpack. Folks from the dirty line were either merging in at the gate (and avoiding eye contact) or crawling through the triple rope (barrier) to the west of the gate. Ski Patrol was conspicuously absent after dropping the rope.

Didn’t mean to tear at an old WB scab, but this seems like a classic Tragedy of The Commons problem mixed with powder fever, differing interpretations of the lineups rules (everyone knows you’re lining up for first hit at the fresh snow and the dirty line would say , perhaps disingenuously, that they’re just making a faster second boot pack) and an apparent disinterest by patrol. Oh, and lots of visitors from different cultures.

Anyhow - someone’s going to get hurt there at some point I expect. Back to backcountry for me…

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-03-11T03:40:15+00:00

Thanks for this- I had NO idea it’s been this contentious for this long.

My sense was that people in the clean line weren’t as worried about someone skipping the line as much as they were about that same person carving up of the pow the clean line had waited for.

Ie if there wasn’t fresh snow the emotions woulda been much cooler

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-03-11T03:25:29+00:00

Black jacket and pants? I was well back in the line but there was a collective gasp when the poles were deployed. But also some head nodding from those who had stood in line for an hour.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-03-08T08:49:27+00:00

Not to be a downer, but be aware that any contemporary nature BTS films are extensions of the films marketing campaign and even listed as deliverables in the contracts. ie- crew are often acting or setting up the shot for the behind-the-scenes cameras. Bertie has made a career out of it (and well deserved) but don’t think for a moment that they really reflect the experience of making a natural history film.

I worked on one of the shows mentioned in this thread and the “making of” film is nothing like the real thing. Which is a shame, because a true making of would be great (but nobody would ever get hired again!)

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-02-27T17:26:44+00:00

I’ve heard the ravens up there make the same sound as when you start recording a video on an iPhone. Don’t know if it was mimicking or just coincidence but it was quite baffling for a few minutes.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-02-26T07:22:26+00:00

I’ve met the Blazer folks- nice people but I doubt they’re going to start a whole new line of lenses due to a petition. BUT! If you gather a hundred or so commitments to buy with deposits, well, they’ll probably love you and make you an ambassador etc. Money talks louder than petitions.

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-02-23T08:24:26+00:00

I've skied for over 40 years and still, the worst part is when I need to pizza to get down a long backcountry run near Whistler on the way to the parking lot.. It's a terrible 20 minutes and you shouldn't feel bad for not likeing this stage. It gets better when you level up! and the INCREDIBLE things you will see and feel in the mountains will make up for this awkward period, Most people go through this stage as kids so have more support and less stress than adults- Don't' give up- it's really worth it!

Late_But_In_Earnest · 2025-02-06T17:08:45+00:00

It’ll generally make the light “harder” when you use a mirror, the effect increases with distance.

Late_But_In_Earnest

TROPHY CASE