Boom!

Here's the promised battle VFX test video.

Description:

Short video testing Visual FX and props for an upcoming film. The costume here is very ww2/Korean war, but the film we are testing for is to be set in WW1 and revolves around ANZACS of Asian descent. Rifle carved from wood with simple door bolt screwed on for the 'bolt-action' - it's meant to be a Lee Enfield MkIII* and still needs some finishing touches. Helmet and packs from Mitchells and Aussie Disposals. Jacket is an old one my dad used when he was in the UK.

Shot on Nikon d3s + Nikkor 28-70mm, f/2.8.
Composited in AfterEffects CS4. Editing + Sound Mix in Premiere CS4.
Visual elements from Video Copilot's 'Action Essentials 2'.
Colour grading with Red Giant's 'Magic Bullet Looks'.

This footage was shot as a quick test of the 5dMkII and d3s for rolling shutter artifacts and performance in low light. Rolling shutter on both were negligible, and the Nikon out performed the Canon in low light, thanks to its amazing ISO capabilities.
d3s is our favourite because of its low light performance, and its much sharper images.

Please note that this was a quick test of several things, and not a proper controlled test. We just wanted to shoot some war stuff with two great cameras!

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That's a wrap!

Finally, the camera's of stopped rolling for principle photography on my short films. There are a few pickup shoots to follow, but the bulk of the two films have been recorded onto digital celluloid, better known as CF cards.

It's been a long haul, filled with interesting experiences both old and new, but the journey isn't finished - yet. Editing will continue till the films are ready to be released to the critical eyes of you, the public. The 'real' work of putting the film together will now occupy my time, as well as eeking out points of discussion for m exegesis which is still to be properly drafted (I feel so screwed now...).
I will be working my hardest to ensure my vision is as understandable as I hope it to be, and then it shall be released, at which point the film will no longer be in my hands but in the hands of people who will really make the meaning of the films known - the audience. I can only hope that I have the skills to be able to communicate it properly in my chosen medium, video/film, and that it is engaging enough for you, as the audience to actually pay any attention to them.

Anyway, below are stills from Going Home, which we wrapped on Saturday.

You may notice that the meal being eaten by the family in this film is the most Western of takes on Asian cuisine... and it's supposed to be Chinese New Year Dinner... poor planning and limited resources... but not to worry, it can be edited around.

On Tuesday, I shot the short Romantic Comedy 'Dumplings'. It was just the one night shoot, which we shot at the bookstore I work at - Academic and General bookstores. Just about a guy who wants to ask his co-worker out. Nothing terrible original, but it was fun to shoot. No stills from that, but it should be a quick edit.

Also, stay tuned for from test VFX footage for a possible WW1 trailer on ANZACS of Asian descent.

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Production

Going Home is almost finished! Last day of shooting is this Saturday (not including pickups, if we have any).

It's been a great experience, and my first real, proper taste at directing. The actors have been great to work with - Daniel Wu as the lead, and Kareem Ford Sarhan in a small part.

We shot the first scene last Saturday, and it was great to work on the dynamics of characters with two fantastic actors. Definitely daunting at first, but I'm getting used to it.

Below are some production stills. The first few is us on location at Flinders St Station. It was great to get permission to film at this iconic station of Melbourne, so thanks to Metro for their kind support.

The second lot is us at my RMIT post grad room., We re-created an office is that space with two computer screens, two sets of keyboards and mice, one phone, cups, pens and pieces of paper. I reckon it looks 'office-y' enough given what we had.

There's also some stills of our actor Daniel, taken with my Pentax k7 with the 50mm f1.7

The stills were taken by either my k7 or changas d3s. Awesome cameras.

Film will be finished soon, and will hopefully be able to upload more videos soon.

Watch this space.

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Going Home - first preview

Here is a first preview of the short film I have been filming, Going Home. More information about the film can be found in this earlier post

This is the first cut of the first flashback scene. Only the first part of the clip is almost finished - the Chinatown clips are random fill shots. Most of the footage has not been colour graded yet.

Shot on Nikon d3s, 720p 24fps. Edited in Premiere CS4.
Shot on Location in Melbourne, Australia, at Tian Jin Gardens Spring Street, and Chinatown on Little Bourke.
Flashback scenes shot in Siem Reap Cambodia.

More details can be found on the youtube page.

Watch in full screen to enjoy the pristine 720p HD footage that Changas shot with his beautiful Nikon d3s.
Enjoy.

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DSLR Audio

Just doing some research on audio recording gear for DSLRs.

I am shooting most of my project on DSLR - my own Pentax k7 and Changas Nikon d3s. The audio on these camera are good, but sometimes, better audio via better microphones are needed, so I will be recording audio separately - back to the old school way of doing things. I was settled on doing the traditional clapperboard sync, but my supervisor, Paul Ritchard, mentioned a piece of software that can do automatic sync. I googled it, and have become quite impressed.

It is called Pluraleyes - it automatically syncs your DSLR footage to your separately recorded audio by matching the footage audio with the audio captured on the separate device.

A problem with this software though is that there is currently no compatibility with Adobe Premiere CS4, which is what I primarily use to cut my work. Only FCP and Sony Vegas are supported thus far. They say a CS4 version will come out soon, so fingers crossed.

After discovering this, I went on to look up audio recording gear, which I intend to get soon to support my other work. Currently using a Marantz Solid State recorder hired out from uni. It's good, but quite big since it is old school. Not huge, just.. not as small as some you can get now-a-days.

The site dslrfilm.com has an article listing their top audio recorders for DSLR video. The Zoom h4n seems to immensely popular, and I will be looking into where to get it here in Melbourne, and how much - so anyone with that information, please contact me!

Also, Phillip Bloom has a useful article on the subject of DSLR filming and audio recording. Check it out.

A microphone will be next to look for on the list too.... damn so much money to be spent. I am looking at purchasing a new sleeping bag as well as my current one, thought immensely warm, is much too bulky to be taken on treks. Kathmandu has a huge sale on at the moment, and I am eyeing the $200 one... as well as a sleeping mat. *sigh*

Anyway, just got back from a long road trip up to Stawell to help Changas on a photo-doco shoot on a rodeo that was up there yesterday on good Friday. He's gotten some amazing stuff, which should be up on his blog some time soon. I managed to get a few good snaps too, as well as some footage of some bull-riding etc. I think I will cut my footage into a mini doco on Changas and documentary photography. I had a nice chat with Changas on the ride there and back, which I recorded on the solid state recorder. Will go through footage and audio material tomorrow to see what I can knock up. It seems there is a connection as well to my honours project on Asian-Australian identity - we were the only two Asians up at the rodeo, and we stood out like sore thumbs. We didn't get into any major incidents, but the issue did crop up during some moments.

Anyway, really tired and need some shut eye. Photos and more info should be up here soon. Watch this space.

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Reference Photo

One of the shots in the Going Home short film I wish to have is quite nicely summed up by this photo I found on flickr.

I had this exact shot in mind for when the main character looks down from his office into the street, and sees a woman in a red cheongsam and red parasol, disappear round the corner. A really freaky but awesome find really.

Also, just cast the actor for the lead in the film. Met him on Tuesday, and am quite happy with him to take the lead role. Asked my dad to play the Grand-father figure, and will get some makeup on him, mainly grey(er) hair ;). Changas has a little cousin who can play the kid-version of the main character. Still need to cast a housewife. Can hopefully start shooting by next weekend!

Keep an eye out for stuff. =)

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New Lenses

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the lens I got with my Pentax k7, the beautiful DA* 16-50mm f2.8, was damaged in the lat day of my Asia trip. I have been devastated ever since, but some good news arrived last week when CR Kennedy, the only guys in Melbourne who deal with Pentax directly for repairs and what not, finally called me up with a quote to fix up the lens - AUD$324.50c. Quite a bit, but not as much as I was expecting. *sigh*, more money out of the pockets...

Anyway, I was on a bit of an eBay addict phase the last few weeks, looking for lenses. It was the first time I ever used eBay, and needless to say, I was hooked. I have currently about 30 items on my watch-list... but I've only won 2 items so far. So I'm not THAT crazy over it - I did manage to control myself at least.

The items I went after, and won, were some Pentax primes. I just needed some glass to put on the end of my beautiful k7... it had been out of action for 2 months, and my trigger happy fingers were getting restless. So, now I have a SMC Pentax-A f2.8 28mm, and a MC Vivitar f1.7 50mm. Got them both for AUD$160.00, so not too bad. Maybe not the best types fo lenses out there, but I'm not that anal, and I'm more than happy with both of them for that price.

Was thinking of selling them after I get my 16-50 back, but I reckon I'll hang on to them. Primes are damn useful, especially since I'm considering investing in a lens adapter for digital film cameras. I'm looking at the SGPRO at the moment... *sigh* need to save up more money.

Below are a few photos taken with the 50mm 1.7. Not bad. I was debating between the 1.7 or the 1.4, but I just didn't have the cash for a 1.4, so just went for the 1.7 anyway. $56 versus $300+ ? At the moment, anything cheap and good will do. And as you can see, it ain't that bad :)

The night shift on Friday...

...fun times...

...watching the Friday night crowds walk past...

The depth-of-field on the 50 is awesome.

I like how the colour turned out on this one - no PS, just a different white balance I guess.

What the? All the best to that guy in the cab, driving with karaoke-style singing in blaring from the back seat ;)

Never knew that karaoke was that big a hit in this town... but I guess there have been ALOT of new karaoke bars opening up around town. Catered mainly for Asians of course, but I reckon they're trying to break into the mainstream market as well.

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