Entry #027

Hey everyone,

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My wrist is starting to feel better. I'd say that most of the day it's back to about 80% usefulness, although three or four times a day I'll pick up something the wrong way or use the computer for too long and get set back a bit. Otherwise shooting is going well, I had a chance to look at the footage from the Ghost Trick shoot on Sunday and found a very embarrassing ghost C-stand in one of the shots that had some how gone unnoticed during shooting, a rookie mistake. Despite this, I can't wait to do this trick again, with a custom built set or a very large location with lots of black material, flags and high ceilings. With more space, more flexibility to rig and a dimmer board you could have so much fun with this. If anyone has access to some flats, a studio, 2-3 big pieces of lexan and wants to do a more polished ghost trick effect, be sure to let me know. Earlier that the day Paul came out and operated steadicam for some running shots I'll probably cut a couple of them into the next compilation video I put up.

I also shot another Mongoose interview since I last posted. This was the second last one, I've been having quite a bit of fun with these interviews so far. It's nice because there is both freedom and restriction. Sean is very easy going and trusts me to light to my taste, yet we decided early on to always use a kitchen backdrop which has been challenging at some of the locations. Also, these interviews are meant to take place in the summer rather than January, as a result, I may have pushed the last two interviews (Chisholm and Zurawski) too warm in camera. Usually I always shoot neutral to save for the color correct, but this time I went for it in camera and learned my lesson. This last interview with Matt Chisholm was shot in Angela & my apartment at night. It's my attempt at creating a day interior with only small fixtures. How did I do? (See screen grab)

Yesterday Aram and I officially started rolling on the music video for Acres & Acres "the polar bear song". We shot both video and timelapse of some melting ice blocks against green screen. While they were clicking away, Aram, Louisa (a very cool art department person I just met) and myself went outside and constructed a large, snowy, mountainous landscape we plan to shoot on Thursday. There are concerns about it melting during the day today if the temperature stays warm, also there are concerns of getting into Aram's living room, which we completely ransacked in the name of this project. Finally there are concerns about it taking several days to melt. Based on our tests, it seems hard to believe that we will be able to melt the landscape in any less than 48 hours. Despite all this, we will succeed and it will look awesome! Promise.

This Sunday Eric Duncan and I are collaborating on a music video for "Judge Bitch". It's a fairly ambitious project especially when you consider the the non existing budget we are hoping to work within VS what we hope to achieve. It looks like we will be able to pull it off due to the help and generosity of many many people. Which is exactly why I love working in Halifax. One of the main ideas of this video it that it takes place in slow motion. The look Eric wants is that of 120fps. Of course due to the pre-mentioned non-existent budget, it is unlikely we will be able to obtain a camera capable of 120fps. So today my shooting assignment is to test a few cameras at different shutter speeds to see how we can achieve the sharpest and most crisp edges possible in camera so when we slow it down in post, it holds up the best it can. This will of course require a silly amount of light. My goal for today is to see what is the highest shutter speed and frame rate we can achieve with the resources at hand.

PS. We need people to be in this video. Do you want to be one of these people? image@kevinAfraser.com.