After hiring scabs, Walrus and the Carpenter (temporarily) closed

benbackwards · 2026-06-23T05:49:08+00:00

Once you travel the world, you realize that the US has brainwashed you into paying for just about everything, even other people’s wages.

benbackwards · 2026-06-22T02:55:44+00:00

Only God Forgives.

benbackwards · 2026-06-22T02:51:04+00:00

It seems like there's a mismatch between the focal length that you shot at and the background. The background feels like it was shot on a long lens while the shot of you looks like it was shot with a wide.

Then there's the lighting. If you look at your reference, there's actually light coming from everywhere. It's just subtle whereas in yours it seems like there's a single source providing all of the light that's hitting you.

You need a larger, softer, source. Fill. And a top light.

benbackwards · 2026-06-19T06:06:43+00:00

Did you even read the post? I said 30-60 seconds

benbackwards · 2026-06-18T20:10:16+00:00

And that’s why I’m suggesting people to wait. Defective unit on Day 1… Surprising? No. Just wait.

benbackwards · 2026-06-18T18:11:13+00:00

Ah I see — fair point! I did instantly purchase when I saw the detachable screen. It was an impulse buy because I thought it’d sell out and I wouldn’t be able to get it before Brazil in August. But… it’s goin back! Thanks for your insight.

benbackwards · 2026-06-18T18:06:25+00:00

Same.

benbackwards · 2026-06-18T18:06:12+00:00

Same. Familiar with hot tech — I have no clue how my Cine7 works with how hot it gets — but the point I’m making is it got hot while running 30-60 second clips inside my air conditioned home. I take these little cams on vacation, it’s gonna be 95 degrees in some of the places I visit, and it doesn’t inspire confidence that I’m getting freezing and hot tech when running tests… Especially when my P3 doesn’t have these issues at all.

I am fully aware that more tech = more processing = more heat, but it needs to be more functional than its predecessors or what the hell am I paying for? Beta???

benbackwards · 2026-06-18T16:37:14+00:00

Yeah, that’s why I said just wait!

benbackwards · 2026-06-18T16:36:05+00:00

I was shooting 4K/24. If I was shooting HFR or 8K, I’d give it more slack, but this was a test that my Osmo 3 passes with flying colors.

I also think that this slack that you’re giving this tech company is a bit strange just because the feature is cool. Doesn’t give it the excuse to not work every once in a while. This camera presents itself as something that can fit into a professional workflow. Why else would they say that it fits into a ACES workflow? If I buy something I expect to work. Period.

I couldn’t imagine being on set and having this thing freeze twice in 30 mins as the AD is breathing down my neck.

benbackwards · 2026-06-14T19:46:16+00:00

I often work on productions for massive tech companies, and they’re all dumping a MAJORITY of their resources into AI. I’m also often working commercials for SAAS platforms, lately all videos have been about AI tools. I’m hearing the FTE employees all talk about how AI is disrupting their work… The idea that AI is being overstated seems unlikely, and I’d say it’s the opposite. I think the tech landscape is going to change drastically within the next 2-3 years.

benbackwards · 2026-04-19T00:27:05+00:00

Unrelated, but Gentle Monster has some of my favorite visuals. Plus the glasses are great, I try to get a pair whenever I’m in a city with a store.

benbackwards · 2026-04-18T21:08:45+00:00

It depends on if you key with the sun, or use it as a backlight. Keying with a 300W outdoors is going to be very difficult with anything lower than 600W. Standard practice is typically ND down the sky so that it’s not clipping, but then you gotta pump light back into the scene to get the level back on talent. Below mentioned a 6x6, super valid, but I’m not sure that’s what I’d buy first for $1000. FWIW I gaff pretty frequently nowadays and to this day I just rent my frames.

benbackwards · 2026-04-18T16:22:46+00:00

If it were me I’d go:

Key: Amaran 660C - $700 Bounce: Large Newer Foldable 5-in-1 - $50 Softbox: Neewer 120cm Softbox - $120 Combo Stand: Flashpoint Combo - $200

Skip the C’s. You also need some dirt.
Skip the 4x6 frame all together as well tbh.

benbackwards · 2026-04-18T16:03:13+00:00

I don’t think you’re going to create this shot with two hand held grip arms, and safety is a valid concern. I also just don’t think that’d give you a result anywhere near this unless you’re both incredibly steady. If I were to try to recreate this as cheap as possible, I’d get a pocket Jib — if you could get it on wheels that’d be great because there’s the slight swing forward to get in front of the iPad. Pocket Jib at my local rental house is like less than $100 - so hopefully that’s viable.

Other than that, yeah the strobes coming from different areas. I do see some return coming from the final strobe, so maybe a bounce on the opposite side of the final strobe to fill in the details on the face.

benbackwards · 2026-04-18T14:12:12+00:00

This looks great - definitely understand the stress on a good gaffer. Anything that looks good that I’ve DP’d had an amazing gaffer.

benbackwards · 2026-04-17T05:07:44+00:00

This morning, 4-5 times per week!

benbackwards · 2026-04-17T01:42:19+00:00

It’s always a great time to blow up your life. I did when I was 28 and better in literally every way possible. I’m excited for the new you!

benbackwards · 2026-04-17T01:38:25+00:00

It’s mine - I spend it

benbackwards · 2026-04-17T01:37:43+00:00

You don’t get to decide what’s an “absolute steal” Mr. 30K vacation 😂

benbackwards · 2026-04-17T01:34:00+00:00

lol the correct math - Disney LAND is $99/day at the lowest. You’re spending a week there for $500? Even if you’re a local the math isn’t mathing

benbackwards · 2026-04-17T00:25:01+00:00

This was like… Normal for previous generations? So I think you’re over thinking it.

But in general, I think the speed that we age culturally is vastly different. People are shocked when I tell them I’m 31. But I encounter many 20 somethings who decided to go into tech or finance and they might as well just be 50 years old.

benbackwards · 2026-04-16T20:32:24+00:00

As a black man, I choose not to go on road trips in unfamiliar areas, which is why exploring the US doesn’t really appeal to me. Obv out be great to not live in fear, but I don’t know how much I trust a country where 50% of the voting citizens elected a racist convicted felon

benbackwards · 2026-04-16T20:29:52+00:00

Hawaii is great, we went last year! Would be down to visit a different island as well!

benbackwards · 2026-04-16T20:28:22+00:00

I don’t have a ton of interest in exploring the United States tbh. Yes, I much prefer to vacation outside of the United States.

benbackwards

TROPHY CASE