Just like Arri’s hand built cameras, lenses rely on significant manpower working in tandem with machines to deliver a crystal clear image. A quality lens is no small feat to manufacture and here’s a video showing how lenses are made to prove it. If you don’t appreciate the precision optics of lenses already, this video should convince you otherwise.
Filmmaking Tips and Advice
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Spike Jonze, Cardboard Cutouts, and Pulling Pranks On Set
Spending days working long hours often leads to silliness and pranks on set. Whether that means sending a PA to go find a bag of T-Stops or simply making your own 40mm lens, a crew goofing off is a crew that is building teamwork. And a crew that works as a team gets things done. Spike Jonze knows this and he’s seen it first hand.
How to Exchange Camera Lenses and Look Like a Pro
You may think the check the producer cuts to the lead star of a film is the biggest transaction on set. But I’d argue that the lens hand-off between a 1st assistant camera and a 2nd assistant camera is up there too.
Should You Buy an AC Pouch to Wear On Set?
Camera assistants often wear a pouch on set to hold essential tools, gear and other knick-knacks. These pouches come in all shapes, sizes and brand names. But before you pony up the cash to buy one, ask yourself whether or not you would want to wear one at all.
10 Questions You Should Ask When Writing Your Resume
A quality resume is something that every freelancer struggles with. How can you dilute a wealth of knowledge and experience onto one page? It hardly seems fair, and honestly, it isn’t.
Prepare for the Worst with Fire and Blood
Fire, blood, special effects – what would movies be without them? From a visual standpoint and audience perspective, special effects elevate a film’s excitement. For a camera crew, however, it means taking some extra precautions to protect your gear. If you aren’t preparing for the worst, you might have it coming to you.
Comment Corner: Week of March 21st
This week, “Comment Corner” has a lot of new faces and was the hardest one to pick comments for yet. Whether it is through personal anecdote or a list of points, you bring something new to the blog that is useful, valuable and entertaining. Thank you for that! Now let’s find out who gets a place in the corner this week.
On Set: When Gravity Meets a $5,000 Lens
What happens when a lens falls out of someone’s hands and lands – thud! – onto the ground? It gives a heart attack to those of us in the camera department watching, especially when we know that gravity always wins.
5 Rules to Help You Dress for Success On Film Sets
In the old days of Hollywood, back before talkies ruled and when cameras were still cranked with film, burly men would wear suits on sets and sweat their butts off. Not today. These days dressing for filmmaking is a different game all about comfort and common sense. Here’s 5 rules to stick by to stay comfortable on set so you can focus on doing your job right.
If You Don’t Collect Call Sheets Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
In the land of freelancing, anybody can claim experience and make up fake productions to confirm their work. So if you want to join a union or another professional organization, having proof of real experience is necessary. One way to prove that is through call sheets, so if you aren’t collecting them, here’s why you should start right now.