SHADOWS Still Frames

Here's some of the cast at work (l to r):Robyn August, Shawn Barber, Rai Alexandra, Derreck Wayne Smith, (Victoria is hidden), Shellah Garrett at the head of the table, Nadia Valenzula, Alex Petrovitch, Erinn Koch and Jenna Allen.

Frequently I'm asked about controlling depth of field using the F900/3.  In the above DAY INTERIOR shot of the dining room I wanted deep focus so I could see all the actors clearly.  Now, look at the shot below.

Debbie (Nadia Valenzuela) gives Richard (Alex Petrovitch) a peck on the cheek .  This 2-shot was exposed at the bottom of the barrel with a slightly longer lens to achieve a lack of depth of field.

Benny (Robyn August) teaches Angel (Jenna Allen) to play tennis.  This was Jenna's natural look.  The entire "film" was shot with a Fuji 5mm-50mm lens.  I think I was at 30mm for this shot.  You don't need to be on a 200mm lens to get that film look.  Enough said about the F900 giving the shallow depth of field of 35mm.

Here Stevie (Victoria De Mare) takes a swim.  Shot in the natural shade.  Note the direct sunlight hitting the pool in the b.g.  A reflector gives her a little grease.

Star (Erinn Koch) acts weird throughout the film.  Not that her acting is weird... well, you get the idea.  Erinn is standing in the shade.  The Version 3 software helps hold the direct sunlight coming through the trees and on the grass.  Only the walkway behind her right forearm loses detail.  I could even hold that detail with the DCC on but I think that would give the entire image an unnatural contrast.

Paul (Adam Fleck) speaks with Julie.  Note the mirror in the b.g.  It is reflecting the exterior and there isn't any ND on the windows.

Julie (Shellah Garrett) gets surprised.  But I'm not surprised that Shellah booked a national IBM commercial.  Congratulations!  Eric Sears talked me into letting the "moonlight" go full blue.  This saved both time and money (expendables) as we didn't gel any lights with half.  This also gave us a little more stop out of our lights.  I think the full blue is fun!

Bobby (Derrick Wayne Smith) senses something behind him.  I shot SHADOWS at 24 (23.98) P without shutter so the shutter speed is basically 1/24th of a second.  This gives me a stop more than shooting with 1/48th shutter like a film camera but it also gives me more blur.  I think the extra blur adds to the "film look".  I'm amazed how sharp these images are especially this one because not only is Derrick turning his head but this is a frame from a (slow) dolly shot.

Monica is about to "connect" with Derrick.  This is how the average night shots are lit including the scene below

Monica with another man, this time it's Robyn.  This is a still frame during a lightning flash.  I wanted the lightning to overexpose but the Version 3 software tries to hold the detail.  The biggest advancement is how the overexposure looks:  Instead of that hard edged, video "clipping" look, there is the softer bloom of film.

Rebecca Wilkins and Vinnie Bilancio have a little fun.  I should have given this part to myself!  Rebecca's tattoos are amazing...

Rebecca is caught during a lightning flash.  She's not having a very good day.  I don't mean because she's being stabbed but because there is so much Karo syrup on her, Rebecca actually stuck to the sheets!

And Vinnie's not doing much better.  That tile floor is cold!

Kim Balcerzak is scared for her life...now.

...but cracks up when Monica really gets into her character.

There's a lot of (I hope) intentional humor in the film.  Derrick kept the crew laughing.

Alex's nose is about 6 inches off a 5mm lens for a comedic effect.  Okay, one more comment about depth of field.  By keeping the subject close to the lens the background still softens up with a 5 mm lens.

Here are a few Behind-The-Scene shots.