Multi-Task - The Occupational Hazard of Being a Nobody

As this is my first work on a film set it's hard to tell just how things are supposed to work. For example, I had no idea when I signed up for the work that i'd basically become sound recordist, boom operator, grip, continuity advisor, runner, driver, assistant director (to name a few). I guess that's the way it goes when you're low budget...?


Me (in back) realizing my so far untapped skill for sound recording....or just pressing the red button and holding a furry stick. Try it, you could be a sound man tomorrow!

Intermission - Jim Blob's First Taster

Since writing my last little bit of bloggage i've had to put my little film on hold because i've got work on an actual film with existant actors and crew on it! It's a very low budget (I think) independent feature called 'Rebels Without a Clue' being directed by a guy called Ian Vernon. Actually he's also DOP, editor, producer, writer, camera operator and occasional actor too.



That basically leaves me doing the odd jobs - being a photo person I tend to change lenses a lot, hold reflectors/get hit in the face with reflectors, rig lights and all that sort of thing. Mostly it's just holding stuff so that it doesn't fall on the floor or stand in freezing cold locations whilst the rain comes and goes. We're shooting on Saddleworth Moors where it never stops blowing 100mph winds and where the temperature doesn't dare venture very high. Still, it's first experience and a first credit that I can use to blag another job with! Anyways, whilst I try to scrub the image of a massive sweaty man in nothing but his underpants, lipstick and a blonde wig out of my head (might have to watch the film to find out), here's a few pictures of todays studio shoot.

Justin Noe - 1st AC and genuinely good bloke!

Ian - Multi tasking maestro

Craig - Grip and handy with a knot (picked with body bag)

The stupid peasant of a 2nd AC

Day-for-Night

These images are from my first round of tests trying out the day-for-night effect in my back alley. The process is pretty easy - white balance temperature between 3000k and 3200k (around incandescent temperature) and underexposed by about 3 stops or more depending on what's being shot. This worked in some instances and less in others as I think these two pictures show (with, I thought, the top one looking less moonlight than the second). I need to try this out with graduated ND filters too to block out that pesky sky. It's all good though, and i've only trodden in dog crap and been stung by neetles a few hundred times. Scientists were right, doc leaves do nothing.

Tentative Steps Into The Alley.

After a four year hiatus from filmmaking I have recently taken the first steps in preparing for my next (possibly not so) lone venture. The inspiration arose from a pile of shoes lying around in my front porch. I'm not sure why but these shoes gave me an idea that i've now storyboarded and am making the first visual tests for. I'm a serial doodler so if you're interested a section of the storyboards have been included above. Also take a look at my flickr account for the early day-for-night tests but i'll do a little blogging about that later anyways.