Some Questions...

[shadows&such]

Dear Sir-

Thank you for reading this post of questions. They are as follows:

1.) What, in your opinion, is the most efficient, practical, & durable 35mm, "Quiet" camera system?

2.) With the "Panaflex" series of Cameras; does your Camera Assistant bring along a "Flange-Kit" to check proper "Depth". I know on ARRI & The Moviecam Systems you do not have to do this with their quiet cameras like the 535B, ARRICAM, or Moviecam Compact.

3.) Your opinion of putting a "Showreel" online, on the internet?

4.) Do advise using a "one-light" method when shooting R16 & or 35mm. Or, do you believe in "timed" dailies?

5.) Do you use a "Grey-Card" and when do you use it?

6.) In the film "The Game" shot by Harris Savides & Directed by David Fincher... Well, on some shots that are either "back-lit" or where there is a "practical" in the shot/scene... like in the film I am describing... On some shots, say of Michael Douglas, when the practical puts a slight "haze", or flare across the lens; I see what appears to be a 24 frame "flicker". Now, this is not HMI "flicker", or "strobing". This looks/appears like what you would see with a projector running @ 24fps w/o film in the gate. The talent is not flickering just the lower left corner of the frame in certain scenes in the film. The scenes are in the middle w/ Sean Penn freaking out, and at the end on the roof top of a S.F. high-rise. Perhaps you could view on DVD and perhaps let me know.

I apologize for the last question, just trying to find out what is causing this and if you have ever encountered it whilst shooting w/ Panaflex Cameras, (Platinum, GII, or Millenium).

Thanks,

Kate

 

[David Mullen ASC]

1.) What, in your opinion, is the most efficient, practical, & durable 35mm, "Quiet" camera system?

Since cost is always a consideration, they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Probably the Arricam Studio and Lite are the two top-end cameras these days. The Panaflex Millenium and Millenium XL have a lot to recommend, but some people prefer aspects of the older Platinum over the Millenium. Some people love using the Moviecam Compacts.

2.) With the "Panaflex" series of Cameras; does your Camera Assistant bring along a "Flange-Kit" to check proper "Depth". I know on ARRI & The Moviecam Systems you do not have to do this with their quiet cameras like the 535B, ARRICAM, or Moviecam Compact.

Generally this is done by the prep tech before you rent the camera, whether and Arri or Panaflex package. Some assistants may check it during prep; on a long location shoot away from the rental house town, one might carry a flange depth kit just in case, but generally you don't check it any more often than you would an Arri camera.

3.) Your opinion of putting a "Showreel" online, on the internet?

I haven't done it, but it's becoming very common.

4.) Do advise using a "one-light" method when shooting R16 & or 35mm. Or, do you believe in "timed" dailies?

It's been a decade since I last had print dailies. Usually I prefer that the dailies be timed for the grey card / grey scale at the head of the roll or scene, so that's sort of a "best lite" daily, not one-light for everything or everything timed, but timed everytime there is a grey card / scale.

5.) Do you use a "Grey-Card" and when do you use it?

When I want the timer or colorist to have a neutral reference to judge the scene against, something idiot-proof that cannot be misinterpreted.

6.) In the film "The Game" shot by Harris Savides & Directed by David Fincher... Well, on some shots that are either "back-lit" or where there is a "practical" in the shot/scene... like in the film I am describing... On some shots, say of Michael Douglas, when the practical puts a slight "haze", or flare across the lens; I see what appears to be a 24 frame "flicker". Now, this is not HMI "flicker", or "strobing". This looks/appears like what you would see with a projector running @ 24fps w/o film in the gate. The talent is not flickering just the lower left corner of the frame in certain scenes in the film. The scenes are in the middle w/ Sean Penn freaking out, and at the end on the roof top of a S.F. high-rise. Perhaps you could view on DVD and perhaps let me know.


Often that is shutter flare, since the shutter is a spinning half circle crossing the left side of the frame, so a bright light on the left edge of the film may strobe a little from glancing off of the spinning shutter.