Launch Night - Cleanists Season Two

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Well the time has come. It is december and last night 'The Cleanists' season 2 had its first launch party. Where all 10 episodes of season 2 were viewed by some of the very special people who contributed to our Pozible campaign to get season 2 funded.

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It was a great evening of fun, food, drinks, people and the screening, although yours truely was a little late because a corporate job ran long. But never the less, when I arrived the fun was on and people seemed like they really enjoyed what we had produced.

So we have another party screening night in Sydney on the 14th December  and on Monday 15th December be ready to have your socks blown off with season 2 as it will be live on the intrnet for everyone to enjoy.

But for now enjoy please still enjoy some of season one. www.youtube.com/thecleanists

Real Film Festival 2014

In November 2014, the 'Real Film Festival' was on in Newcastle for it's third year. This year was bigger and better, than the previous years, building upon the foundations already laid.

It was three action packed days full of film screenings, industry professionals delivering workshops, networking events & parties and panel discussions about the future of the Australian industry. 'Beautiful Motion Pictures' was contracted to the Film Festival to cover the event to provide highlights packages of selected workshops and a highlights video of the entire festival.

So keep your eyes peeled in the upcoming future for the release of those videos. In the mean time here are a few stills.

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Design+ 2014

A while back I got asked to put together an event video for the lovely people at Design Plus (www.designplus.com.au). It was great two day event (well one night and one day) aimed at Architecture and Interior Design industry professionals and members of the public alike, Design+ showcases the products, services and skills available right here on your doorstep. 

Check it out.

Shopping centre fun and Same Day Edits

Oh the fun of a 'Same Day Edit'. (SDE)

I guess for a guy such as myself, this is one of the ultimate tests. Can you shoot, edit and deliver a project in one day?? Well that is the task I took on the other week for a project for a friend over at Bedroom Studio.

A still frame of some happy center patrons from the edit.

I guess the day was filled with a mixture of anxiety, excitedness, expectation and also a tad of fear. Fear of what would happen if everything went pear-shaped. Luckily for me it went smoothly and the edit was delivered on time, a round of changes made and delivered in full, at the time promised. I wouldn't say it was easy as the filming took place in a shopping centre. The new 'Macquarie Centre' at Ryde to be precise and boy that place is one massive maze. From trying to park your car to finding where you are going, checking in for permits, the place also has split levels for the entire complex.....whatever happened to good ol' level 1, 2, 3, 4 etc

View from my edit spot

Basically with the day sliced in half I would of had 4 hours for shooting and 4 hours for editing. But that doesn't take into account, driving and moving, parking, a break, food etc. So sitting down to edit in less than 4 hours is a tight turn around no matter what you are cutting.

Luckily the client had their office in Macquarie Park so a place to edit was literally just down the road and the edit was not a complicated one which was also a big help.

So, same day edits are not something I would want to be doing all the time but they are a good test of your skills, composure and work ethic. 

TVC Mondays, Ninja & Lessons learnt

Monday - I was on location for a television commercial - I wont say much more than that as I was contracted onto the job, so I'm not 100% sure of the confidentiality of it. But it was a great day -mostly- with a great end result having already seen some of the footage in the edit suite. That was until I almost destroyed my Atomos Ninja 2, Camera and a 14mm Prime lens by dropping them onto a tiled floor. I can assure you a few expletives were said and it was a damn solid sound when everything hit the ground. But in the end everything turned out as well as possible for something that was dropped. The camera doesn't seem to have a scratch on it. The lens hood saved the glass of the lens from taking some serious impact, so that was fine. It was the Ninja 2 that took the brunt on the impact. Lucky for us it is made pretty damn solidly and all that seems to be broken is the plastic clear covering that covers the actual screen.

All in all i think it turned out good for my gear but i learnt a valuable lesson. No matter how time crunched you are always use the systems and workflow you have in place when using high end gear. If you cut corners/deviate from the workflow that's when stuff goes wrong and as you can see by the pictures it can go real wrong.

Canon disappoints at IBC 2014

I'm sorry but unfortunately this is going to sound a bit like a rant. I'm a camera geek obviously and love checking out all the new gear that comes out and IBC (International Broadcasting Convention) is a place where alot of big players debut/unveil/release/announce their new gear.

The Canon 7D mkII - a totally underwhelming camera. image - redsharknews.com

I have been a user of Canon gear now (I have 3 Canon cameras) for quite a while and their gear produces great results for me and clients I've worked with but whilst companies such as Samsung, Sony, Axiom, Lumix, JVC all showed off their latest 4k cameras at IBC, Canon decided to finally grace us with the 7D mkII. This camera was totally underwhelming for a camera that has been 5 years in the making. Video wise the only real differences from the camera that was originally released in 2008 besides the updated sensor making it better in low light was the ability to shoot at 60 fps, which would be a decent addition if cheaper cameras (namely the Panasonic GH4) couldn't do up to 96 fps in fullHD. I have even seen abit of humor across a few camera boards/forums where Canon have turned into the butt of many a joke. A fine example: 

“Canon 7D mkII - Best new camera of 2010”

— Many a camera forum

Samsung enter the camera market with a bang. 4k with super 35mm sensor for sub $2000 internally stored on SD cards in the new super efficient H.265 codec. image - redsharknews.com

My position with camera gear is quite stable at the moment. Atleast for probably the next 12 months I will not need to upgrade and by then, companies and their 4k cameras will have had time to iron out any kinks they may have encountered in their first 12 months or so. But as of the market right now, I will not be going with another Canon camera. They seem almost resistant to change. I understand they are in a difficult predicament. In that they do not want to add 4k to the 'Cheaper' dslr cameras for fear of crippling their high end cinema camera range, (as of right now the only Canon Cameras to do 4k are the c500 which is close to $20,000 and the Canon 1DC which is approx. $12,000) but unfortunately for them they have been backed into a corner where they have to do something because if they keep the status quo, shooters similar to myself will continue to abandon what seems like a sinking ship. They are basically caught in what they say is 'between a rock and a hard place'.

Some big decisions need to be made at Canon and anyway they go is probably going to ruffle the feathers of their current user base already and probably costs them in the short term. But as the way I see it right now. They are in an untenable position..

The Cleanists Season 2 - Done and dusted

An outdoor shot of Gregg (James Chapman) & Magda (Gabriella Chamberlain) in action 

Probably should have posted this a while back but as the title says - The Cleanists Season 2 is done and dusted. This year, just about everything was a step-up from last year. Camera, crew, writing, acting, equipment and also money. Last year was self funded by Cleanists 'writer/director/producer' Tristram Baumber, who essentially with help from family and friends was able to produce web series for about $500. Yep that's no typo. $500.

A indoor setup. Lit with LED panels using 1/4 cto gels on them to add some life to the skintones of the actors

This year is completely different though, backed by a $10,000 budget, (still miniscule really, but a great step up from last year) we were able to do things and go places we never could last season. Principle photography this year lasted 6 days (longer than last year), we had more extravagant story lines and guests, a much larger crew including a proper Art Department, multiple crew for sound, as well as a better recording medium his year. 

An outdoor, cleaning out the back shed moment with Gregg and Phillip (Craig Linderman)

Again like last year, Showcase in the UK and Ireland has agreed to broadcast our show directly into the homes of millions of UK viewers, but again, still much like last year - The extremely archaic, glacially moving, backward thinking and change resistant Australian television industry still wont broadcast shows that don't fit into their 22min (for a half hour show) or 42min long (for a 1 hour show) format.

An inbetween takes moment involving three of the four leads including Libby (played by Shanon Kulupach)

So get ready to have your socks blown off come december this year, with some head exploding, face meltingly funny comedy. And watch out as there are a couple of launch parties with screenings in the works, which will be plenty of fun!!.

Xerocon Sydney 2014

I recently attended Xerocon 2014 - Sydney. Yes, Xero is that software you have on your computer that makes accounting and bookwork that much much easier.

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A quick Iphone snap of the location shoot

I was there as a Camera Operator working for my good friends at GMRX Media. A Newcastle based Production Company/Advertising agency (see them at www.gmrxmedia.com). Whilst Xero has their own media crew, the extravagance of the event (biggest Xerocon yet and held in the dome over two days at Sydney Showground) meant they needed additional manpower to cover the event.    

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Still frame from a shot from my camera during an interview with Chris Ridd

Here is the video from which the still to the right comes from. The work we did mostly consisted of vendor interviews and coverage of them in action on the floor at their Xero-add on stall, and talks with some of the higher-ups from Xero.

 

 

 

Xerocon 2014 - Sydney Wrap Video

Xerocon Australia 2014 is done and dusted – and what a huge success it was! 1300 people and 83 exhibitors attended the accounting conference in Sydney to get the latest news from the world of cloud accounting. Xero Australia Managing Director Chris Ridd was thrilled with the event, commenting on how important the current changes in the industry are. Another speaker at Xerocon included Consumer Psychologist Adam Ferrier, who thinks Xero is one of the brands that’s “doing everything right.” Check out this Xerocon Australia 2014 wrap up video to hear from these guys and more.

Shane Hurlbut ASC - Sydney Talk

Whilst in Sydney recently for a shoot, I had the chance to see a talk delivered by Shane Hulbut. Who if you didn't already know has a long list of Hollywood films under his belt as a 'Director of Photography'

His palmares include:

Need For Speed (2013)
Act of Valor (2012)
Terminator Salvation (2009)
Semi-Pro (2008)
We Are Marshall (2006)
Into The Blue (2005)

It was a fun, entertaining and informative night to learn from a man that has had so much experience shooting, testing and trying out all sorts of digital cameras and sensors in so many different real life situations. And to also see some of the  gear and how he rigs them to be of best use for himself on his shoots 

Gearing up for 'The Cleanists' Season 2

Hey Guys back again,

Gearing up for production of 'The Cleanists' Season 2 very soon. If you haven't heard of the Cleanists, well get ready because Season 2 is going to be massive compared to Season 1. Yes! Still sticking with the 10 episode 5 minute format. Keeping it tight and punchy, which is ideal for a comedy. You can check out season 1 at www.youtube.com/thecleanists or if you live in the UK or Ireland it is airing sporadically on 'Showcase'

Here is a picture of my spare room, (excuse the mess) with some of my gear being prepped. ie. charging batteries, packing cases etc

More updates soon.

First Blog Post

Hi Guys,

If you're here you've most likely already had a squizz at my site, so thanks, much appreciated. The main aim of this blog is to really just give you a better insight into who I am, what I do and the love I have for creating 'beautiful' content. Along the way I'll post some cool links to articles about cameras, gear, some of my work and the experiences I have along the way and of course I'll post stuff all things film, tv and media. So stay tuned.

Thanks
Stephen