"Catching The Fever" feature film stills

Hey, we definitely represent 2 different approaches -- i've worked with gaffers who would talk about "logic in lighting" -- if one person is back lit by sun then the other person (talking to the first one) HAS to be front lit. And they would have an never-ending argument about it even though optically on the screen it makes sense to have both backlit or front lit. Then on another shoot another gaffer was bitching about lack of logic in the lighting set up (everything in this city shot is back lit by sun from the left but your action is back lit from the right). He forgot that the cities have building made up of windows and often light comes just from this kind of source.... List goes on and on about people "worrying too much" while in reality what count is getting the shi* done and, yes, having fun while you are at it. Filmmaking is one of the greatest profession out there so threating it as if you were an accountant is just dumb.

One again don't worry too much. Make stuff happen, have fun, and you will get more work because instead of stressing out you will be the calming force on the set (this advice doesn't actually come from me but from an old German DP I once AC'ed for).

Another friendly advice, be careful with your words. "I'd have more sympathy for the cheap look of the film" So far it's me who has something to show for (and proudly i might say as i also include link to my website in my profile). Before you use such strong words be sure that you are not using words as empty rethorics without having anything to back it up.
 
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patryk, the main DP at the prod. company I work for is exactly what you described when you spoke of the two gentlemen arguing over the "logic" of lighting.... although he (our DP) is very knowledgeable and has been doing this for a long time, he is very traditional and limited sometimes because of this..... I believe that if you have the utmost confidence in your project and you know your limitations as well as your strengths (if not better) then you can be more relaxed on set and the whole experience of making a film will be a more pleasant one for everyone involved... that was a very good point you made

IMO it goes beyond an approach to lighting..... its more of a personal filmmaking philosophy.... I guess you either "get it" or you don't
 
Patryk,

The lighting looks good. Definitely not flat. The benefit of having these well lit exteriors is the ability to adjust it in post. The key light may be a bit much on some of those shots...but again...it gives you more options in the color correct.
 
walken0709 said:
I'll have more fun on a set if I don't worry that much about lighting? You've got to be kidding - that's possibly the worst filmmaking advice that I've ever heard.

If you'd said, 'well, it was a 20 day shoot, and we were pressed for time on some shots...', or something to that effect, I'd have more sympathy for the cheap look of the film - but to outright say that you were more interested in having fun than taking your time to get it right? No one will know?

I can't believe I'm reading this. When someone is putting up money, regardless if it's $60K or $60M, they deserve more than 'don't worry so much on set'. Yeah, that attitude will take you all the way to the top.

Well, I'm sorry that I actually took the time to critique your shots and ask questions about your methods when you were clearly just hoping for empty praise.
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Easy Walken.

Having fun on the set is the best advice I've heard in a long time. If you're not having fun, then why are you there ?

Patryk has employed a stylistic approach to the lighting on this it seems and we haven't even seen the shots in context. I can name film after film after director after director that employ similiar style in lighting ...

I think you are jumping to conclusions (and flaming) on many things here.

Relax. That sounds like advice you should rethink about taking.

-

Edit

Take a long look at the work on Patryk's homepage .... Yeah, he won't get anywhere (Rolling eyes)

-
 
John nailed it. And I also might add that I've seen very similar lighting schemes even in some of the most highly regarded dramas like The Sopranos. If it works for the scene, it doesnt matter how logical it is; limiting yourself to lighting things logically limits your creatvity and can be ESPECIALLY annoying for the director:

"Hey Tom, I'd like this shot to show some more contrast; i want to stress the dichotomy of his character...the clash of good and evil.

"Well Chris I'm sorry, in the reverse of Billy there is only soft light, therefore there can't all of a sudden be some strong light source on the other guy."

"Yeah? Well you can take your logical lighting schemes, and go light Barney for all I care. You're fired!"

Good looking shots btw; would love to see them in 720 but from these i can tell it was a fun shoot...heh who wouldnt have fun with all that eye candy anyways? :thumbup:

EDIT: Didn't realize this was over a week old already.
 
walken0709 said:
I'll have more fun on a set if I don't worry that much about lighting? You've got to be kidding - that's possibly the worst filmmaking advice that I've ever heard.

If you'd said, 'well, it was a 20 day shoot, and we were pressed for time on some shots...', or something to that effect, I'd have more sympathy for the cheap look of the film - but to outright say that you were more interested in having fun than taking your time to get it right? No one will know?

I can't believe I'm reading this. When someone is putting up money, regardless if it's $60K or $60M, they deserve more than 'don't worry so much on set'. Yeah, that attitude will take you all the way to the top.

Well, I'm sorry that I actually took the time to critique your shots and ask questions about your methods when you were clearly just hoping for empty praise.
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agreed. i'm definitely gonna throw my money at the guy who is constantly pushing him/herself and never settling for "average". Not to say your footage looks average in any way, but as far as forsaking "effort" and "worrying" to be some sort of "calming force"? Sorry, but leave that to the director.
 
Originally Posted by walken0709
I'll have more fun on a set if I don't worry that much about lighting? You've got to be kidding - that's possibly the worst filmmaking advice that I've ever heard.

If you'd said, 'well, it was a 20 day shoot, and we were pressed for time on some shots...', or something to that effect, I'd have more sympathy for the cheap look of the film - but to outright say that you were more interested in having fun than taking your time to get it right? No one will know?

I can't believe I'm reading this. When someone is putting up money, regardless if it's $60K or $60M, they deserve more than 'don't worry so much on set'. Yeah, that attitude will take you all the way to the top.

Well, I'm sorry that I actually took the time to critique your shots and ask questions about your methods when you were clearly just hoping for empty praise.
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second that.

i don't think we're not talking about skill, clearly Patryk has it. we're taking about personal approach. IMO the "hang loose, no worries Spicoli" approach is for the wrap party.
 
I think this is getting blown out of proportion.

Walken took the time to critique very specifically - if more people did this on this site we could all learn from each others ideas - You may agree with none, some or all of his suggestions but they are valid.

Patryk had shot a feature - and it looks great. He has put his style into it. You may agree with none, some or all of his choices but they are all valid.

Finally - I agree that you have to have fun on set - but at the same time if it is your job you need to treat it as such. Laid back is cool - rating system for girls on set is frankly a lawsuit waiting to happen - remember this is the USA - the lawsuit capital of the world.

Lets all just listen and learn from each others viewpoints.

Patryk - outstanding work here. Give us some video so we can give you some more feedback (both positive and negative).
 
Everyone takes a different approach to filmmaking.. As long as we don't settle, and do our BEST with what we have, we're fine.. If we have fun at the same time, THATS GREAT! But sometimes having too much fun on a tight schedule leads to less quailty, more fun..

Looks like you even out the work and fun Patryk by the look of your website..

Lets see some CC motion pictures!!
 
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Lighting is clearly a huge consideration, but this was lit with his style and his creativity based upon certain criteria and decisions that were important to him and his crew. I don't understand why there's aesthetic wrangling in a user-support forum, but whatever, I guess it's inevitable...

That's my -2 cents.
 
John - totally agreed.

On the other hand Patryk didnt take the comments as suggestions and a point of view. I thnk everyone should give some weight to other peoples comments cause in that you can learn, even if its how people perceive your work.

ok - fine - im going out to shoot now :)
 
I won't comment on the grabs because I think you need a clip to judge, but if we are giving our opinions on motivated lighting with continuity vs. unmotivated light, I vote for the former. I think the audience may not always be able to articulate the problem but can sense when something is amiss. It may limit you, but so does not crossing the eye line and dozens of other realities of filmmaking. One of my favorite quotes I found here in someones signature: "The enemy of art is the absence of limitations." Orson Wells.
 
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Do people post here just to get positive feedback?

I posted here for the first time about 6 months ago.. I got some amazing feedback, most of it was what I was doing wrong..

Now since I know I'm not "THE BEST" I took those comments, and used them to make me BETTER.. Since then, I've shot 2 short films, operated on 2 national TV commercials, done aerials for Honda, and shot a feature film..

I couldn't have done any of that as well as I did, without the helpful constructive comments from people on this message board..

I think when someone takes the time to watch your material and give their honest opinion, you need to take it as one persons view on your material, not an attack you and your way of life.. Talk with the person and see why they came to these conclusions..

OR

Be defensive and anyone that doesn't bow down to your work is wrong.. HOW DARE THEY!!

I'd go for the top one..
 
Patryk, great shots... just emailed them to a friend to show off the camera...

Two questions... the inside the car shots how'd you light them... with a car kino kit...

I have no clue what the story is about and how it came out... but I can't understand why people here always tell what their budget is...

Yes its a smaller film... but if everything works (acting, story, editing, sound mix... looks like you nailed down the production values) and a buyer wants to buy it and he or she knows you only did your film for $60,000 that's what they'll offer...

But if they think you spend $200,000... you can see where I'm going...

------

Wow I must have fallen asleep because I don't know how I missed 3 out 4 pages...

I still like the images... shooting a feature in 20 days... is a lot of work... its like a dp I know used to say... "hey give me a week to light one scene and my stuff will look like it belongs to a $100mil movie... but I only had a day"...

The best shoots I've worked on have been where there is a fun set... and trust me I like running a tight ship... I don't think unless I missed it... remember I did miss 3 out of 4 pages here :-)... but I think what Patryk meant was to enjoy and have fun in what you do and you'll have a better time...

Still my only problem again is telling people your budget...
 
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The inside-the-car shots are especially interesting because there we shot the same way it was done in the 40s with back projection.

You can see some pics of the setup here (also click NEXT to see more pics):
http://catchingthefever.com/bs_v9.html

It looks totaly awsome in motion. ACtually until they saw it in actions all the actors were like "WTF are they doing!". However the final results are jaw dropping. Using back projection not only we were able to control the back ground (we picked only attractive background cutting out all boring stuff) it was awsome to be able to control whole situation.

Here huge thanks go to my crew who despite late hours were dedicated in moving "passing cars" lights and flashing the actors faces at various interwals.

I posted the budget because i was so happy to see that we achieved so much with so little (i understand your concers though).
 
Thanks Patryk... I was thinking that they were green screen or in your case rear projected... maybe it was just the framing in one shot... but still looks good...

love to see the car stuff... have a film that I have some night time car stuff also... trying to think of ways to get the known actors in and out as quick as possible to also cut down on the budget...
 
Patryk,

Those stills look grate... the lighting is awesome. You are a very talented artist... I can't hardly wait to see what you all came up with.

By the way is great to see you here at the DVXuse site.

Peace,
 
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