Learn how I use the camera’s white balance settings to assist in creating lighting for emotion in the upcoming feature film “Fathers&Daughters.” This is a continuation of On Set...
Lighting for Three Cameras: The Shoot
This is a playbook for all your lighting set ups whether you are shooting with three camera or single camera coverage.
Custom Picture Profiles: Canon 5D Mark II & III, Canon 6D – Zeiss RAW
This file includes my Canon 5D Mark II, Mark III, or 6D picture profiles for Zeiss RAW (Zeiss Compact Primes, Compact Zooms, and ZE or ZF lenses).
SIC Podcast: Ep 11 – Creating Depth, Mood and Emotion with Lighting
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Bounce Light: Enhancing Mood with Reflective Light
In this part of the bounce light series, we look at using Silver. I will break down all the different materials to create these colors, as well as show...
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Understanding Your Camera Placement
On Set With Shane Day 14 includes a lighting diagram and in-depth discussion of how I lit this scene for a three camera setup all on the Freefly Systems...
Location Scouting For Filmmakers
I will be sharing how I location scout, what I look for, what the director has asked me to do, the mood and tone that he or she wants...
SIC Podcast: Ep 10 – What it Takes to be a Cinematographer
This month's podcast covers your questions about cinematography - a little of everything from career advice to LED lighting
RED Dragon LUTs: Neutral and Skin Tone
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Bounce Light: Creating a Hyper White Look
Part four of this series will go into the Color Temp of bounce light that is Hyper White. This requires a silver material to retain this hyper-white color temp....
Setting your RED Dragon Sensor Up for Success with the Correct IR Neutral Density
In the next two weeks, I will be taking you behind the curtain to show you how I cracked the look of the Badlands and how and why these...
When To Use a Fill Light
The third point of a classic three point lighting set up is a fill light. This is that light that adjusts your contrast ratio. Depending on the mood of...
SIC Podcast: Ep 9 – Setting Up Your Camera for Cinematic Vision
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3D LUT Bundle: Canon Day Interior & Exterior “Fathers & Daughters” for your Lighting or On Board Monitor
The custom LUTs my Elite team and I have designed for the SmallHD DP-7 and other on board and lighting monitors were created for Fathers and Daughters.
Bounce Light: Matching Practical Light with Colored Bounce Sources
Part 3 of this series will go into the Color Temp of bounce light that is Warm White and Gold in tone, which will require a material that is...
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Scouting Small Locations
When you’re scouting these are the types of things to look for so it can expand your vision into the room. It’s not like a set. You can’t knock...
The RED Dragon Sensor: Extensive Tests Part 2
Understand the RED Dragon's breaking point with ISOs, IREs and Latitude. Know when to use the Skin Tone OLPF or the Low Light OLPF and as many myths that...
Welcome New and Veteran Members of the Inner Circle
I am talking to all of you from New Orleans as I finish up my last three weeks on Into the Badlands and wanted to take the time...
SIC Podcast: Ep 8 – Finding Your Visual Rhythm
It's time for the March podcast, where I answer your questions.
The RED Dragon Sensor: Extensive Tests Part 1
The master builds a camera design with forethought. They make it future proof; they think out of the box, providing a size that can intensify creativity and a workflow...
Lighting for Three Cameras: Why and How
Some inside secrets of how I light for three cameras. This is a very difficult thing to do and requires more lighting time but the benefits are huge.
Aputure DEC Adapter Demo
Aputure sent their new DEC adapter for MFT to EF mount. As a bonus, we shot a demo video
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Executing Seamless One-Shot Sequences
This was the day that I had been looking forward to for a long time in our shooting schedule. The reason why is because I love to do sequences...
Custom Picture Profiles: Canon C100 Mark II
The new sensor technology in the Canon C100 MK II requires a whole new design. I have designed four picture styles for you to use.
Bounce Light: How Light Quality Affects Mood and Tone
Continuing our Bounce Light series with another collection of materials, fabrics and boards for your instruction. Really study the light quality. This is where your day rate as a...
SIC Podcast: Ep 7 – Lighting Large Day Interiors, DIY Lighting, Essential Tools
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C-Stands: Etiquette and Shaping Light
I will cover c-stand etiquette, as well as help you understand how to shape light. We will be going into more advanced light control in the coming months and...
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Lighting Urban Street Light Environments
This is a big walk and talk down the streets. I ended up going through and re-globing all of the sodium vapors that were on the street. They were...
Custom Picture Profiles: Canon C100 Mark I
The CPICT401 profile is the more “baked in” looking picture profile. The CPICT402 profile based on the Canon Log gamma without sharpening.
Bounce Light: Mastering Light Quality
One of the most powerful qualities of light is the bounce light. It is very misunderstood and way under used. It is my number one choice for all key...
SIC Podcast: Ep 6 – Filmmaking Tips & Tricks: Career, Color Palette, Smash Glass Filters
Here is the podcast for January 2015, where I answer your questions.
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Blocking and Lighting for Small Interiors
This was the kind of day that you look at and say, "Oh, my God, how are you going to make this as a cinematographer?”
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – When to Sacrifice Lighting for Blocking
This is when technology all starts to bite you in the rear. This is all the learning process. Remember I always say, "You have to fail to...
Top Light: The 360 Degree Shotmaker
Top light is light that comes from above. It can be a skylight, a fluorescent, a practical, a shaft of light, etc. It can be an intense top backlight...
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – How to Lead Your Team in Tough Climates
These are the kinds of things on the movie set where you don't try to fix them. You just try to punt, and your punt has to be better...
SIC Podcast: Ep 5 – Collaborating with Directors in Pre-Production
Happy Holidays everyone! My family and I are off to Thailand until the beginning of January. We will be back and ready to rumble around January 10th. Enjoy the...
Lighting and Grip Packages
We had a request for information on the lighting package I used making The Greatest Game Ever Played, with a $25 million budget, as well as a package for...
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Emotional Impact of Color Temperature
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Camera: Canon C100 Mark II – The DSLR Killer – Extensive Tests
I was extremely impressed with the C100 Mark II and the improvements that Canon has made from the C100 have solidified this camera for me as the DSLR Killa.
The Digital Camera Sensor: Exposing Your Canon Cinema EOS Camera Platform
The C100/C300/C500 series of a very unique camera platform. Through the process of many camera tests, I have finally found its soul!
SIC Podcast: Ep 4 – Light Quality and Lighting in Layers
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On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Executing a Single Shot
Our director, Gabriele Muccino, saw these videos with the MoVI, and we wanted to come up with the shot that showed the unique ability to be able to pass...
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Late Afternoon Interior Set Lighting
As a cinematographer, you are always asked to make compromises. With Gabriele Muccino' s vision and my ideas for lighting and camera, we were taxing the budget to...
Where to Place Your Key Light
Your first point of lighting is your key light, which is the light that exposes the face.
Custom Picture Profiles: Canon 7D Mark I & II, Canon 60D & 70D, Rebel T2i, T3i. T5i
We've had a request for my Canon 7D Picture Profile.
SIC Podcast: Ep 3 – Understanding Your Camera, Lens, and Sensor
It's time for the October Inner Circle podcast, where I answer your questions.
Commercial Directing: Achieving the Director’s Vision
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Camera – Canon Cinema Zooms vs Cooke S4 Primes Lens Tests
The Cooke look is a very distinctive one. It is one that I have really embraced with film and now with digital capture. What we discovered with this test...
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – The Versatility of the MoVI in Narrative Storytelling
We started out in a psychologist's office, which was on the 13th floor on the Alcoa Building in Pittsburgh. The whole building is made out of aluminum.
Commercial Directing: From Concept to Creation
We all have seen the documentary style and how it looks and feels with real people. The director, Xander over at Backyard Productions, had a different idea and it...
SIC Podcast: Ep 2 – Mastering Lighting Challenges
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On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Practical Lighting in Small Interiors
This was a very interesting day. It was our first day with Aaron Paul. He plays Cameron, who falls in love with Amanda Seyfried's character Katie.
Panasonic GH4: Testing the Possibilities
First up in a series of camera tests, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 with the interface unit that has the audio inputs, SDI outputs and full sized HDMI output.
Custom Picture Profiles: Canon 5D Mark II & III, Canon 6D
Here is a Picture Profile that I used on the Canon 5D while shooting Act of Valor. This works on both the 5D MkII and MkIII.
Writer | Director: How to Set Up Your Story in 3 Minutes
When you shoot the beginning of a film, there is a huge amount of information that you have to convey to educate your audience in a short amount of...
SIC Podcast: Ep 1 – How to Start Your Filmmaking Career
Podcast #1, answering your questions. These are more general questions and how to get started in the business.
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Blocking and Lighting for Three Cameras
Day 2 lighting and MoVI adjustments
On Set: Fathers & Daughters – Lighting Interiors & Exteriors in Large Environments
Day 1 started with with a MoVI shot, pushing in on Amanda Seyfried, who plays the character Katie in our film. We pushed in on this character as she’s...
Shaping and Controlling Light
If a window is within the reach of a light stand or a condor, you can blast light through it, whether it be natural light or hard or soft...
Tricks to Modify Your GoPro
We have not seen much of the GoPro imagery where it replaces the job of a more expensive camera. That is what we will stress in this post –...
