Mini35+HVX200 Rushes

Anders Holck

Anders Holck

Well-known member
Just finished a 4 day shoot, doing some pickup shots for a low budget feature.
I used my HVX200e with the Mini35 and the zeiss superspeed primes.

The build quality of the Mini35 is very good, but I found the camera mount to slip during the day, so we had to realign it a few times.

Here is a small compilation of raw rushes from the last day, mostly transport shots for the into sequence:
http://rapidshare.de/files/20655178/Rush.mov.html
(Scroll down, click free, wait 50 seconds, write the 3 letter code shown, click "download from ...")

Generally the daylight shots look stunning when viewed on a 42" HD set, but when doing the Night exteriors we had to "overlight" a bit to keep the noise down. Not a problem really, just nice to know.
We did a few car mount shots lighted by 2 x miniflow's and they looked a bit underexposed when I reviewed them later on. I was trying to balance the internal light to the exterior streetlights, but it got got a bit dark and grainy unfortunately.

It will be very interesting how they look when projected from celluloid.

well, must get going. Got a genie to get out of the door...
 
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Hey Anders,

this is probably the most professional and good looking footage ive seen so fare with an pal hvx!
Congrats!

Youve posted a lot of technical details, i am intersted how the mini35 workflow worked and how you monitored the footage for focusing!?

Id also like to know what kind of production you do: is it for TV or cinema, one hor, 90 minutes?

Have a good go with it, would love to see the final movie..keep us updated with beautiful footage like that!

You mentioned already some footage issue when you filmed in the night, i know its hard to us in europe to compare, but just from a guess, do you think they changed something on the noise issue in the 3 month till the pal modell came out?

I am still waiting for comparion test in magazines here in germany, but some people had a guess that it would be better with the pal..!?
 
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Thanks.
Setting up the mini35 was pretty straight forward (except the mounting and aligning of the lens which sucked in my humble opinion)
We actually shot the original footage on the HVW-750P and Pro35. But as it was impossible to get the same deal for the pickup's we were forced to either forget the pickup's or do them with this setup.

I know there will be a noticeable difference when projected, especially in sharpness and grain structure, but I think it was the right decision for the film to get it done.
After I talked with production the script writer made the additions as strictly new scenes or replacements so an intercut would newer occur, so there is always a scenechange when we change camera.

Focussing was not really an issue besides what's normal when shooting wide open at T1.3. I own a Bartech Focus Device and the M-one motor, so we used that for all the setups. Most focus work was done by measuring, and the marks was occasionally checked on the LCD with the focus assist function.
We had a 10m component cable hooked to a 9" HD sony production monitor and for a more mobile setup we used my 8.4" tiffen Ultrabrite daylight LCD monitor.

The film is destined for a small theatrical release and then TV and DVD.
We aim for a duration of around 80 minutes.

Noise wise I think this is pretty normal with 1/3" imagers. Even on the 750 there was noise, but the grain pattern was smaller due to the higer res CCD's and less obvious due to the larger pixel pitch. In the SD downconversion for the DVD I think it will be very hard to spot a difference.
 
btw:
The daylight exteriors were shot without any lighting, just good use of sun tracking...
And all clips are straight from camera with no color corrrection.

(Well, that should cover my as*)
 
vincent_price said:
I can't download! It says I have to get a premium account...try http://www.megaupload.com/
Click to expand...

(Scroll down, click free, wait 50 seconds, write the 3 letter code shown, click "download from ...")

Make sure you read his post. By the way, its well worth the download. Incredible footage, I love the camera movement.:)
 
A-mazing!
I guess besides the HVX/mini35 setup you had a "normal" filmcrew to shoot this...?
Could you give a brief roundup on what budget you had and how big your crew was?
Also how was your lighting setup at night , if you want to share hehehe?
The images need no further comment - just perfect!
 
Kdawg said:
(Scroll down, click free, wait 50 seconds, write the 3 letter code shown, click "download from ...")

Make sure you read his post. By the way, its well worth the download. Incredible footage, I love the camera movement.:)
Click to expand...

I can't!! It says: You have downloaded 48768 KB. Want to download more?
Get your own Premium-account now! Instant download-access! (Or wait 41 minutes)
 
Very inspiring, Anders! Great camera movement + choreography with the actors. It is almost a dance with some shots.
Steadicam? Love the low angles rushing up to the transport.
Yeah! Very cool.
 
The crew for the daylight pickup shots:
Me.
My AC.
The Director.
Scripter
Audio guy
Boomer
Set dresser
Makeup
Runners x 2
Producer x 2

Extra for night setups:
Gaffer/Light guy.
Light assistant x 2

Our light package for the night shots:
2 x 4 bank 4 feet kinoflo's
2 x Miniflo
1 x 2,5k HMI
1 x 4k HMI
1 x 2k Incandescent
2 x Dedolight 12v
1 x Dedolight 650w Fresnell.
1 x Arri Pocket par HMI

For the nightshots in the rush.mov we used one kinoflo for the key(left), a kinoflo just outside the frame (left) at the backwall for backlight, a 2.5k HMI thru 1/2 silk for general fill from front right, and two miniflo's mounted inside the car as key, one on the dashboard and one at the left rear side of the door frame to give the front guy a direction. The light inside the garage was a cheap Flourescent fixture ND'ed down.

The budget for the feature is around $300.000,- all included.

We had a much larger light package for the main shoot last year and a quite larger crew.

I did most of it either handheld or on my steadicam.
One big relief about using the HVX200/Mini35 was the weight.
The big 750/Pro35 package came in at about 36lbs when in handheld setup...
 
SilverWolf said:
You sure you haven't allready downloaded it ? Did you even get the 3 Letter code to enter ?
Click to expand...

I'm sure! I didn't! but I've already downloaded some other files from the website.
 
I'm the DP and Camera/Steadicam operator. It's my first feature...

Here is a few stills from the Main shoot last year:
_MG_0820.jpg

Shooting in the rain.

DSC03910.jpg

My Tiffen Clipper 2 sled was delayed last year so I had to rent a rig. This is Anders Elgaards Progrear sled.

DSC03852.JPG


DSC03868.JPG

My homemade car rig. Works pretty well...You can mount up to three light cameras.

DSC03904.JPG


DSC03862.JPG
 
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vincent_price said:
I'm sure! I didn't! but I've already downloaded some other files from the website.
Click to expand...
Hmm that's strange though because it should come right up. You could try another browser maybe
 
Matthew Bennett said:
Very inspiring, Anders! Great camera movement + choreography with the actors. It is almost a dance with some shots.
Steadicam? Love the low angles rushing up to the transport.
Yeah! Very cool.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the choreography is what I love about doing steadicam work. It really makes you be part of the action. When everything clicks it just such a good feeling.
Even for doing normal medium shots and closeups the rig makes it possible to adapt the images to the feel of the dialog. Something that can only be done with a really good grip. Of cause it also makes it much harder to pull focus as well....

<Commercial message>
The great thing about the Tiffen rigs is that they are "no tools" adjustable. I can go from 2m to 10 cm lens height in about 15 seconds, with a rough trim. And the tilt head is a great gem. And the lightness of the HVX200, even with the Mini35, makes it possible to operate for an extended time.
<end Commercial message>
 
Looks good Anders! I'm guessing it is from the feature "Det perfekte kup"? Sure looks like a lot of fun from the behind stuff on the site. Looking forward to see the final film.

Tony
 
tlorenzo said:
Looks good Anders! I'm guessing it is from the feature "Det perfekte kup"? Sure looks like a lot of fun from the behind stuff on the site. Looking forward to see the final film.

Tony
Click to expand...

Sure was great fun!

Although that handheld stuff was killing me:
09_stor.jpg

03_stor.jpg

Some production stills I did:
_MG_1460.jpg

The main prison

_MG_0922.jpg

One of the night exteriors
 
Anders that looks amazing!!!! I'm wondering if most of the shots in the rest of the movie had so much motion??? The movements are really, really nice , but would be a bit over the top for 90 minutes. :) That said they were some of the better camera moves I've seen on just about any movie. Great work.

Best,

jason
 
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