Tuesday, September 09, 1997 - The fruits of many a weekend

The final tape is transferred, synced, and ready to be picked up. First the bad news.

My fear that shot 28Z ("Don't you believe in car pooling?") was not running at 24fps were well-founded: The camera was running at 36fps. And all of that effort to reshoot that. There's a lesson to be learned: Check and recheck all camera settings before a take. This means you, DP! Even with a low-budget film it's just way too expensive to waste everyone's time like that. And don't be in too much of a rush to get a scene, no matter how much everyone is complaining how hungry they are.

That shot's not a total loss, actually. Maybe it's a half stop (actually .585 stop) underexposed. That's well within the film's lattitude. Everything will run a bit slow, but that might work as well. I can have Michael driving to some cranked up music. This can help to explain why he doesn't hear Mary fumbling around in the back seat. Then she jumps up and we see Michael's reaction as she mouths the words. Next shot is outside as the car rolls to a stop. We still hear the music. Michael switches off the music and we hear Mary begin, "Well, don't have a freaking cow..."

I'll need to see the film before I can tell if this will work or not.

Speaking of the film I will be picking it up tomorrow.

Karen said the New Mexico footage looked great. A handheld Bolex camera, such a treat. So easy to use, so light and portable. And it only cost me $100. That's how shooting began and ended, this Baseball Heaven thing; all by my lonsesome, guessing exposures, wondering what the camera was seeing, especially since the Bolex doesn't have a true viewfinder (didn't I say it only cost $100?)

-George

Demonstra ad quas clementiam te amant.

-Calvinicus