Friend's Pics

Be grateful for what you have--- Bekka Lee

Friend's Pics

Nothing like watching the sunrise in the desert while making TV---Wes Alley

Pick of the Week

Classified X (1998)- A documentary tracing the history of stereotypical portrayal of African Americans in the movies. Written and narrated by writer/director/actor Melvin Van Peebles. Van Peebles is best know for his groundbreaking 1971 film "Sweet Sweetback's Bad Asssss Song". Yes, the title is spelled that way. "Sweetback" broke the mold of stereotyped and assimilated black Americans in the cinema. His characters spoke like the people in the streets of the 1970's. They were strong, defiant and sexual. We will get back to that film in another posting. Classified X is entertaining and edged by the delivery of Van Peebles. He also wrote but did not direct this fascinating look into mirror for us all.

Friend's Pics

Live in Arkansas, work in New York, Take 4. I don't wanna go to sleep--FBS Grad Tim Yoder

A starry night at Joshua Tree National Park. Canon 1DC, 14mm Cine Prime Lens--Cinematographer James Neihouse

James Cameron dishes on Oculus Rift

Go to the link for the article:
http://www.slashfilm.com/james-cameron-oculus-rift/

Dialogue Greatness!

“Yeah I called her up, she gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her, or something, I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention.”
 
-----Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) in Dumb & Dumber, 1994

Walkie Talkie Radio Etiquette on Set

Walkie Talkie Radio Etiquette on Set

Tips for Proper Radio Use:
*Be professional
*Always use your name when identifying yourself. Common practice is to say "Go for ____(your name)" when someone calls for you.
* Keep your voice low when taking on the radio. Most crew will have ear pieces but keep your voice down. Especially when around actors. Just because they are not in front of camera does not mean they are not working.
*Know that anyone could be hearing your conversation.
* If you need to have an extended conversation (or private) take it to another channel. Do this  by telling the other person "Go to Channel___". For really private talks it's best to ask them to meet you in person.
*Production Assistants (P.A.s): If someone higher up than you has their radio battery go dead, give them yours and get yourself a new one. Same if their radio breaks. Be prepared by carrying a couple of extra radio batteries with you. You are being Johnny On the Spot by being so prepared!
* Always say "copy" meaning that you heard and understand. Without a response, people wonder if you heard them or not.

Common Radio Codes:
10-1: Going to the bathroom doing #1
10-2: Going to the bathroom doing #2 (It's not to be gross, just saying that it will take a little longer than #1)
10-4: I have heard and understand
10-20 or 20: Location of someone or something as in "What's your 20?"
"Copy": I Have heard and understand
"Do You Copy?": Did you hear me? Do you understand?
"Radio Check": Say this if you are not sure that your radio is transmitting or working. The proper response is "Good Check". If you hear someone ask for a radio check....respond!
"Stand by": Means that I am busy at the moment and will respond ASAP.
"Flying In": Always respond when asked to bring something or someone to the set. It lets them know that you are on it. Also lets us know that multiple people are not attempting to do the same task and wasting precious manpower and time.

Friend's Pics

Working on Halloween---FBS grad Dan Abbott

Friend's Pics

Today's Office...--Jay Shropshire

The smallest camera that I've flown so far. The black magic pocket camera. Shooting a part of a music video up in Mt. Beacon— at Hudson Highlands State Park. ---FBS Grad Mathew Perez

Pick of the Week

Bellflower (2011)- Two drinking, smoking college pals build muscle cars & modified weapons hoping that Armageddon happens. Their goal? To rule the roads just like in their all-time favorite film "Mad Max". That's enough for me...I'm in. 
Happy Halloween!

Film Crew Slang

Hot Set- After the master shot is complete, everything in view is now "Hot". Don't touch or move anything lest you mess up the continuity of future shots. A chair in the wrong place, a closed book that was previously open, a missing ashtray etc.

Master Shot- We film a master shot to capture all of the key dialogue, action and plot points of a scene. Usually it is a somewhat wide frame (but not always). Once the scene has been established in this way, we can shoot coverage, the many and varied specialty shots to enhance the edit and tell the story.

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hired guns . . . two of the best.---Robert Tuscani

Pick of the Week

"Decoy for Terror" (A.K.A. "The Playgirl Killer" A.K.A "Portrait of Fear) 1968- A deranged artist kills and freezes women for the sake of his art. Not only is this fun Canadian schlock, but 50's-60's teen pop star Neil Sedaka (famous for..."I love, I love my little calender girl..! Yeah, yeah,yeah!) breaks into song several times.  Best Scene-The artist has frozen a girl as a statue posed with a strung bow and arrow. Guess what happens when the power goes out and the room warms up?

Dialogue Greatness

"The Outlaw Josie Wales"(1976) - Clint Eastwood is civil war gunman Josie Wales battling the Union Army criminals who murdered his family. He encounters a snake oil salesman who foolishly chooses to try to sell his "medicinal" to the stoic gunfighter. The carpetbagger rolls off an impossibly long a list of ailment cures and uses for his potion. The salesman finally finishes his list smiling confidently.  Josie ponders it for a second:

Josie: [spits a glob of tobacco juice directly on the man's white suit]  "How's it for stains?"

Playing with fun toys. I didn't know my car sounded that good..--FBS Grad Jeff Hart

Friend's Pics

Sunday funday right? Working on a Sunday.... Wes. Alley

Wrap on Project Poseidon. Great photo of me operating the remote head while @jsmithfilm @fishypants @brandariz @brentowenmartin drive through the mountains. Photographer Gus Moncada.--- Jeff Hart

Friend's Pics

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear@Palisades Park----Leo J.

Friend's Pics

Burke & James portrait camera that was used to shoot all the Mercury and Gemini astronaut portraits, as well as the portraits of all the Apollo lunar expedition crews. Photographic history at NASA Johnson Space Center----Cinematographer James Neihous