Rome in black and white

GaryMM

GaryMM

Member
Hi guys

I've another short film up on our site that you might like to look at. Again, Im still using the DVX100, this time in Rome. Using a tripod there is not encouraged, so I had to go hand held with the tripod being reserved for a few out of city longshots. Comments of course are welcome. Hope you like it.

THe film is at:

http://www.assemblageproductions.co.uk/eura/2008_romeopener

Gary
 
Very interesting film, Gary. I enjoyed the music and the opening was smooth/fluid. It's a pain when you can't really set up solid shots, but most were stable enough. Nice editing all around. Good stuff.
 
Rome response

Rome response

Thanks for the response Lawsuit Boy. I wasn't too worried about solid shots as the intention was to shoot something with a little more immediacy. The theme for the conference (and the film) addressed the idea of work/life balance, which meant that we had to be out on the street capturing the Italians at work and play. I did take a Merlin Steadicam with me, but found this to be more of a hinderance than a help as there was just too much calibrating to do on the fly.

On the subject of immediacy in the shooting, I've been watching James Longley's 'Iraq in Fragments'. If you've not seen this film, you must, must, must get to see it. All shot using two DVX100s over two years - it is an extraordinary film.

Gary
 
Hi Gary,

I've been in Rome early this year for work, and your film just re-ignite the desire to go back to this city…
Anyway,
I'd like the "on the moment" mood, the b&w treatment, the choice of the music and the typo effect at the end.

Definitly a work that I wish have done myself…

Congrats and keep going…
 
GaryMM said:
Thanks for the response Lawsuit Boy. I wasn't too worried about solid shots as the intention was to shoot something with a little more immediacy. The theme for the conference (and the film) addressed the idea of work/life balance, which meant that we had to be out on the street capturing the Italians at work and play. I did take a Merlin Steadicam with me, but found this to be more of a hinderance than a help as there was just too much calibrating to do on the fly.

On the subject of immediacy in the shooting, I've been watching James Longley's 'Iraq in Fragments'. If you've not seen this film, you must, must, must get to see it. All shot using two DVX100s over two years - it is an extraordinary film.

Gary
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can imagine attempting to use a steadicam in such locations would be tiresome, unless you were to just keep it on at all times. I think this is where a nice shoulder mount comes in handy. You're right though, the hand held work really lent a nice aesthetic to the piece.

Ah, Iraq in Fragments...I've been meaning to get around to seeing this film for some time. I think I'll look into it for real now. Thanks for the tip, Gary.
 
Rome response 2

Rome response 2

Thanks Matador43.

If our film had that effect on you, then we succeeded! A number of the delegates picked up on the references behind our reason for going black and white - mainly older Italian films and a touch of fashion journalism. It seemed appropriate and we wanted to set it apart from being just another 'travelogue' film. The music was a great find and is a piece from a production library - fully licensed for playout on the web I might add.

We're working on another short film, shot in Vienna - a completely different treatment this time. This will be up for viewing sometime next year, but we have a few more past films that will be showcased during the coming months. Berlin, Budapest and Lisbon are featured in those.

Thanks again for your comments.

Gary
:dankk2:
http://www.assemblageproductions.co.uk
 
Rome response 3

Rome response 3

Lawsuit_Boy - Yep a shoulder mount would have been a useful piece of kit. However, 'official' shooting in Rome requires filling out many forms and paying for the pleasure, which at about 7K Euros is very silly money for a project like this! We wanted appear more like tourists and less like filmmakers...which is not difficult, when you're standing next to Japanese tourists who have three cameras around their necks and a large HD Sony camcorder in their hands. The Panasonic DVX100 seems like the perfect camera to have at moments like those.

Be interested to hear what you have to say about Iraq in Fragments when you've seen it.

Thanks for the comments.

Gary

http://www.assemblageproductions.co.uk
 
Brilliant Absolutley Brilliant! I loved the music, the pacing, the cuts.. I REALLY loved your ending comp where the company logod was materialized out of the water footage.. aww man so cool. 5/5 ^.^
 
GaryMM said:
Lawsuit_Boy - Yep a shoulder mount would have been a useful piece of kit. However, 'official' shooting in Rome requires filling out many forms and paying for the pleasure, which at about 7K Euros is very silly money for a project like this! We wanted appear more like tourists and less like filmmakers...which is not difficult, when you're standing next to Japanese tourists who have three cameras around their necks and a large HD Sony camcorder in their hands. The Panasonic DVX100 seems like the perfect camera to have at moments like those.

Be interested to hear what you have to say about Iraq in Fragments when you've seen it.
Click to expand...

Good points. I would also save the money and just go as tourist/guerilla as possible. You're right, the dvx most certainly blends right in and gets fantastic images at the same time.

I'll let you know what I think of Iraq in Fragments. Excited to see it.
 
Hey Gary,

Beautiful. The images and music were a perfect match. From watching your footageI could see many similarities between Iraq in Fragements and your work (compliment :))

Just wanted to chime in on Iraq in Fragements, I've seen the film (at least over 20 times) and I suggest anyone with a DVX100 to watch it. The film is a cinematic marvel. When you add the fact that it was a one man crew, shot with the Dvx100 original, no lighting setups were used, and sound was recorded from a cheap Sony mic, it just magnifies the axinom "that content is king".

What was your scene setup?


Thanks and keep up the good work
 
Rome response 4

Rome response 4

Vader - Thanks for the praising comments (especially the top marks!) It's very much appreciated this end.

Lawsuit_Boy - I learnt a fair bit shooting hand held in Rome - looking for street furniture to help support some shots, which I've done more since going there. I've even dispensed with a monopod in favour of just looking for something to lean against or rest the camera on. Look forward to hearing what you think aboutr Iraq in Fragments. Sounds as though manymoosh is a big fan of this film.

manymoosh - Thanks too for your comments. No similarities intended between my film and Iraq in Fragments. The shooting of that film just blows me away, especially as it was shot on the same camera that I have. I couldn't agree more with "content is king". It's a shame more TV commissioners here in the UK don't think the same, but then that's TV for you...(no bitterness intended there!).

Scene set up - I use a modified version of the 'cine' setting as I too have an original DVX100 (no A or B). Everything set to zero except detail (-4), master ped. (-1) and A. iris level (-1) with gamma cine-like. I shoot 25p all the time (PAL here of course) and have a 25p Normal gamma setup for less favourable light conditions.

Thanks again.

Gary
 
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