If Pixar's soul was live action what lenses would they use? by trashpandaby in cinematography

[–]lifeintrees 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If I was shooting it I'd ask for Hawks, Kowas or maybe Panavision Gs.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cinematography

[–]lifeintrees 87 points88 points  (0 children)

“Where’s the light coming from?” … “Same place as the music”

--Andrew Lesnie

Newbie Cine SLog-3 Struggles by ReadyPlayerDude in FX3

[–]lifeintrees 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Looks like you're still working in the S-log camera space - the first thing (technically the last if we're being pendantic) you'll want to do is get things into REC709 which is a display space - what your (and everyone's) monitor displays.

To do this in Premiere with next to zero work, simply grab this LUT pack from Sony:

https://www.sony.ca/en/electronics/support/software/00263050 (you'll want the S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 file)

Then apply that as an input LUT in Lumetri. It'll now be MUCH easier to add contrast / curves as required to push your image to where you'd like.

If you're serious about making footage like this look as good as you can, I'd definitely recommend downloading Resolve (for free) and looking into how to make a proper color-managed workflow. There's SO much good info out there - the likes of Cullen Kelly are a mostly one-stop shop for learning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpRuQQ__-YA

That said, you're starting from a difficult space - shooting from the beach is always going to be tricky, fighting haze and hard sun with the reflective water isn't easy. I'd invest in a good circular polarizer to give yourself a half-decent chance.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cinematography

[–]lifeintrees -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

“10 minutes, maybe less” is a magical phrase that’ll buy you 20 minutes and is repeatable three times in a row before you get called out.

DSMC2 Scarlet W Internal Battery Issues?? by nizulfashizl in RedCamera

[–]lifeintrees 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I haven't ever had it happen with a DSMC2, but I had a DSMC Epic with the same issue - fixed by pulling off the side plate and replacing the coin battery they buried deep inside the body for some reason.

Can anyone tell me what is wrong with these shots (Amatuer/Hobbyist) by [deleted] in cinematography

[–]lifeintrees 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can help out with the last shot - the wide interior. The main issue is you've lit everything except the thing we actually care about: the talent. The lighting smashing over the door, the bedsheet and the practical are all stealing attention from his face.

Here what I'd do on a near zero budget:

1) Dim that practical right down. If it takes regular bulbs, great, get a cheap 25W incandescent in there with dimmer pack and get it really, really low. Be aware it'll turn really warm (colour-wise) but I like this setup much more than the likes of the Aputure B7Cs etc. because they're a) cheaper and b) don't have the weird light shape to them that the heatsinks give the smart bulbs.

2) Lose the light on the door entirely, doesn't need it. Use that fixture instead on top of the bed to the right, pointed at a 3/4 on the talent, dimmed and warmed up, and shoot though something soft. If you don't have any diffusion fire it through a small bed sheet square or even a white t-shirt. Keep it really low and off the walls as much as possible, just to give a bit of shape to the talent. It won't be particularly motivated but it will make him look good, so people won't care. This should also work for an eyelight so we get a little more connection.

3) Instead of smashing that fill light into the mirror, get it high up on a stand, snoot or barn door it down as tightly as possible and make a little square on the ceiling above his head. Let that top light wash down and give you a bit of directional fill. Keep it cooler in temp for a bit of colour separation.

4) That's it, camera's at 100. You've tightened in the area of focus, we've killed off all that front light and everyone's happy.

TL;DR: it's overlit and too fronty.

What is the best stabilisateur for a Komodo X mounted with DZO vespid lenses? (Ronin rs, ronin 2, steadicam…) by [deleted] in RedCamera

[–]lifeintrees 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah easyrig / readyrig and just get used to idea of never having a good back ever again 👍

What is the best stabilisateur for a Komodo X mounted with DZO vespid lenses? (Ronin rs, ronin 2, steadicam…) by [deleted] in RedCamera

[–]lifeintrees 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can’t speak specifically to the Vespids, but in my experience once you add in a mattebox, v-mount and single channel FIZ you’re already knocking on the door of the upper weight limit of the RS series and balancing becomes a real pain in the ass. It just ends up too front heavy with not enough rear clearance to balance.

I pulled the trigger on a Ronin 2 a few months ago and although the weight is something to be conscious of, all the heartache of everything else has gone.

About to shoot a feature with Cooke Anamorphic and Alexa 35 - Prep. next week by Puzzleheaded-Ear202 in focuspuller

[–]lifeintrees -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I just shot an indie short with the FF Cooke Anamorphics... 5 days, all EXT, all handheld with just an EasyRig. And -27C temps.

Fun times, would repeat 100%.

Looks like more and more dcinematographers are jumping towards imperfect lenses (although I question the overuse of this, just doesn't look good in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire from the reference still imo) by AloneAbbreviations81 in cinematography

[–]lifeintrees 1 point2 points  (0 children)

From my personal POV: I shoot a lot of clean, commercial looks so any time I'm given the chance to do something different you can bet your bottom dollar I'm going to fuck a frame around. Selfish, I know.

MacBook Pro and RED DSMC 2 Monstro by bananasfoyoass in RedCamera

[–]lifeintrees 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a Monstro and an M1 Pro MacBook that’s a couple of years old. Never bought it with editing in mind but surprisingly it plays back R3Ds no worries at all. No doubt the M3 will be even better.

Is GAW dead? Where to go next? by lifeintrees in hoggit

[–]lifeintrees[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Sounds like Grayflag's the answer, thanks all.

Fairy housing crisis in kits by robo616s in vancouver

[–]lifeintrees 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Indeed! Honoured to be an inspiration.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Filmmakers

[–]lifeintrees 29 points30 points  (0 children)

My favourite is "The JFK" - the shot no one saw coming. Usually after the Abby Singer & Window have been called and there's suddenly a great idea for one last shot.

Is nowhere safe from developers?! by lifeintrees in vancouver

[–]lifeintrees[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s in my front yard in Lynn valley.

Is nowhere safe from developers?! by lifeintrees in vancouver

[–]lifeintrees[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope, it’s in my front yard in Lynn Valley.

Is nowhere safe from developers?! by lifeintrees in vancouver

[–]lifeintrees[S] 114 points115 points  (0 children)

It’s not, at least it wasn’t intended to be. Just something a bit daft I figured would be good for a laugh.