M D Productions presents: 'Violet'

Thanks Blaine and a very Merry Christmas to you too!

I count one of my blessing this year having the opportunity to get to know you and other dvxers that I have had the pleasure to work with. There are a number of really upstanding people on this board which have become both business associates and really good friends. Best Christmas gift ever!
 
What a great sentiment, Kevin. I feel the same way, too. I wished I could have said it so eloquently...:thumbsup: :beer:
 
Hey guys! What is the status over here????

I know that we've kept you busy with TTN and the CES took you away as well. I hope that you are still on track to deliver!

Spread some love when you can!

-Ted
 
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Getting ill, shooting TTN, the CES in Las Vegas and the holidays all took their toll on my schedule. Just found out that one location isn't available for 2 weeks so this shot (a really important one) is a problem. I hope to be back on track in the next few days. Since we are in the non compete category and the fest isn't important to this project at all, it may slip and miss the time frame, but I hope to have at least a "version" done by the deadline.

Now, I need to get back to planning shots and you need to get back to editing so...
 
Well as of yesterday I found out that our lost location (lost when I was ill in December) won't be available again until the 10th of next month. This means that we will miss the deadline for the fest. I may cut around this critical scene, but it won't be the same without it. I am a bit disappointed, but as this fest wasn't our real motivation for shooting this, it really won't make any difference in the end.

I will be posting a few more frame grabs later and with any luck should have our last interior location locked down in the next few days. Once I have the location and talent I can schedule the lighting and grip rentals and get these scenes knocked out.
 
Hey Kevin, Really sorry to hear that news. I know that the fest wasn't your motivating factor to shoot VIOLET but it is disappointing news none the less.

Looking forward to more grabs when you get them. And as always, a little 101 on your set-ups!

-Ted
 
It really blows that your location got moved on you, but I just wanted to say that based almost solely on the poster, I cannot wait to see Violet. Everything else that's been going on with the project (cast, locations, etc.) just adds to the draw, but that initial poster is not only beautiful but intriguing. Good luck with finishing it.
 
Hey Kevin, just dropping in to say hi. While the poster is certainly provacative, I have to admit I'm most looking forward to seeing your film for Courtney's performance. Got one talented daughter there. :thumbsup:
 
Envision said:
Got one talented daughter there. :thumbsup:
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She certainly is, Norm. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to watch her work. She and Christa B. are great together.
 
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Here are a few screen caps from our most recent day of shooting. We have an interesting sequence coming up in the next few days. Hope to land a location for one of the interior sequences soon.

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Thanks for the comment. Using very skilled and attractive talent makes getting a pretty shot all the easier, so I really can't take much credit.

When shooting daylight exteriors with available light, there isn't much one can do but choose a good location and compose the shot in a manner that helps to tell the story. The only thing that we used on these was a 4' x 6' single stop silk to keep the facial lighting a bit flatter (and more flattering).
 
Kevin, those shots look really nice.

I have a couple of questions.....

Does that 2/3" 3CCD camera you are shooting with "naturally" give you that nice DOF?

Are you cropping your footage to 2.35? (that is the ratio of these grabs, isn't it?) Or does that camera shoot in that aspect ratio?

Where does your daughter get her looks??? I mean... I just don't see her father's image in her face! (sorry!) Does Courtney take after her mother?

I do have another serious question for you but I will post it on the TTN thread since that it what it is in regards to.

Really looks great, Kevin.
 
Hi Ted,

Thanks for the questions.

Actually, these shots (grabs) are not from a 2/3" camera, but are from a DVX100A. The shallow DOF is obtained by using the long end of the lens with an open aperture and blocking the talent to achieve the effect. I use a number of filters and in camera settings to achieve the look that I want. In these shots, I used a 85b (4" x 4") and balanced the camera with a slightly blue reference. I set the master pedestal and choose the ND to give me the maximum usable dynamic range for the conditions.

The advantage of a 2/3" camera is a naturally shallower DOF, but this alone achieves only a bit of the goal. What is really significant is the glass that you can use with these cameras. A set of digi primes with their T 1.3 speed can allow you to get great shallow DOF shots without being restricted to the long end of the lens.

I am shooting with a 1.2 PAR (1.778:1) and cropping in post to the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The screen grabs are straight out of my NLE and then converted to a jpg for posting.

Courtney is the product of good luck as she is certainly different looking than either of her parents, and in my case that is a really good thing for her and her career!

I will look for your other question on the TTN thread.

Kevin

PS I am loving your latest signature banner!
 
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