I will be shooting a feature in December-January in the Minnesota lakes close to Fargo very soon so I would love to hear what some of your experiences might have been regarding EVERYTHING. We'll be shooting on HVX + SGpro + Zeiss Super Speeds. We'll likely be using an HPX-170 instead of an HVX, and if we get pushed back to the following winter we'll likely shoot on Scarlet.
FYI, I am talking about a place where the lowest REAL temperature ever recorded, not including the wind chill or humidity was -40 Fahrenheit!!!
:shocked:
Technical difficulties of shooting in extreme cold (I'll update it as I get more from you guys):
1. Thank god we are shooting onto solid state memory!
2. ALL batteries will only give you about 30% of their normal output.
3. Wear gloves!!! Have a light pair you can operate with and big heavy mittens to wear over those when on stand-by.
4. Get the best spinning polarizer you can find.
5. Have the 2nd AC bag the camera with a clear bag to keep snow off from it. Cutting slits and taping them for the front and view-finder and using bungee cords for the bottom for easy access.
6. Use one of the Pelican moisture absorbing things for condensation from changes in temperature when going inside.
7. Bring brushes to get rid of any snow if any gets on the camera.
Here are some specific questions I have so far:
1. What about the SGpro? Anyone used it in the cold, please post.
2. Should I go commit myself to an institution?
I know tons more about the crew and cast, call it "human", concerns but I'd love to hear any specifics and tips on how you've done it if you've gone though it successfully before. For all others tunning in, having people out on the cold, especially on the shore of a big lake where wind can pick up LOTS of speed can be FATAL. This is very serious stuff under bad conditions. We are preparing for the worse to keep everyone safe as comfortable as possible, and to make sure everyone comes back with all their toes and fingers! The main thing we will be doing is keeping about 95% of our cast and crew to be local. They know how it is, how to go about their day, and most importantly: when to bail and run inside for a cup of hot soup. Still, we'll talk it over with every single crew and cast member as we are booking them, we'll obviously have a big safety meeting well before day one of production and we'll be holding safety meetings just about every day when we shoot exteriors. There will be a standing rule, that if you have to go in, you go, you don't ask, you just say you are going in. We'll keep three crock pots running with tasty soups, we are hoping for a hot chocolate machine and there never ending stream of coffee we are all used to. We'll have a pallet of hand warmers and we are working on getting sponsored by a local cold weather outfitter so that everyone is given a crazy snow jacket and pants... the real cold weather stuff. Finally, I will have to have a KICK-BUTT 1st AD that can keep up with the ever changing shooting schedule which will change like crazy based on weather conditions.
Additional "human" info and tips from your posts:
1. I totally forgot to address this one, and we will be looking to get this from our sponsor too: BAD-A$$ BOOTS! The best we can get!
2. Try to get polarized sunglasses and/or goggles for everyone.
3. Keep a van running with the heat blasting near by when/if you are shooting too far from the cabins or at a remote location.
VERY IMPORTANT: The days will be SHORTER!
Well, I was just gonna ask but I didn't want to get a ton of posts that made me sound crazy or stupid... I hope everyone will realize I am taking this stuff seriously and I hope I can get some expert advice on how to prepare for the human and technical sides of the challenge. ALSO, I know there are other threads, probably tons more elsewear and I thank you for posting the links, however I want to make my own cause it will be an excellent process for me to get into the mode and ready. Thanks in advance peoplez!
FYI, I am talking about a place where the lowest REAL temperature ever recorded, not including the wind chill or humidity was -40 Fahrenheit!!!
:shocked:
Technical difficulties of shooting in extreme cold (I'll update it as I get more from you guys):
1. Thank god we are shooting onto solid state memory!
2. ALL batteries will only give you about 30% of their normal output.
3. Wear gloves!!! Have a light pair you can operate with and big heavy mittens to wear over those when on stand-by.
4. Get the best spinning polarizer you can find.
5. Have the 2nd AC bag the camera with a clear bag to keep snow off from it. Cutting slits and taping them for the front and view-finder and using bungee cords for the bottom for easy access.
6. Use one of the Pelican moisture absorbing things for condensation from changes in temperature when going inside.
7. Bring brushes to get rid of any snow if any gets on the camera.
Here are some specific questions I have so far:
1. What about the SGpro? Anyone used it in the cold, please post.
2. Should I go commit myself to an institution?
I know tons more about the crew and cast, call it "human", concerns but I'd love to hear any specifics and tips on how you've done it if you've gone though it successfully before. For all others tunning in, having people out on the cold, especially on the shore of a big lake where wind can pick up LOTS of speed can be FATAL. This is very serious stuff under bad conditions. We are preparing for the worse to keep everyone safe as comfortable as possible, and to make sure everyone comes back with all their toes and fingers! The main thing we will be doing is keeping about 95% of our cast and crew to be local. They know how it is, how to go about their day, and most importantly: when to bail and run inside for a cup of hot soup. Still, we'll talk it over with every single crew and cast member as we are booking them, we'll obviously have a big safety meeting well before day one of production and we'll be holding safety meetings just about every day when we shoot exteriors. There will be a standing rule, that if you have to go in, you go, you don't ask, you just say you are going in. We'll keep three crock pots running with tasty soups, we are hoping for a hot chocolate machine and there never ending stream of coffee we are all used to. We'll have a pallet of hand warmers and we are working on getting sponsored by a local cold weather outfitter so that everyone is given a crazy snow jacket and pants... the real cold weather stuff. Finally, I will have to have a KICK-BUTT 1st AD that can keep up with the ever changing shooting schedule which will change like crazy based on weather conditions.
Additional "human" info and tips from your posts:
1. I totally forgot to address this one, and we will be looking to get this from our sponsor too: BAD-A$$ BOOTS! The best we can get!
2. Try to get polarized sunglasses and/or goggles for everyone.
3. Keep a van running with the heat blasting near by when/if you are shooting too far from the cabins or at a remote location.
VERY IMPORTANT: The days will be SHORTER!
Well, I was just gonna ask but I didn't want to get a ton of posts that made me sound crazy or stupid... I hope everyone will realize I am taking this stuff seriously and I hope I can get some expert advice on how to prepare for the human and technical sides of the challenge. ALSO, I know there are other threads, probably tons more elsewear and I thank you for posting the links, however I want to make my own cause it will be an excellent process for me to get into the mode and ready. Thanks in advance peoplez!
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