On this week’s episode we are going over the very first commercial spot I shot after the feature film. We wrapped the film on a Sunday in Sydney and we shot this commercial on a Wednesday in Perth.
The shoot could not have been more different than the feature and after 30 days of chasing our tails 24/7 it was a nice change of pace to be back in the commercial world.
Patreon: Lost In Top Light
Over on Patreon this week we are taking an extended look at a film that looks great but doesn’t follow any of the normal methods we talk about on the podcast.
Lost in Translation is our featured content this week and I tried to pull some key scenes to breakdown that looked different than what we usually discuss.
Plus we throw in a little Roger Deakins and top it off with a scene from La La Land.
You can listen to this week’s Patreon podcast and check out all the images discussed in it by clicking the link below:
If you are a fan of the podcast and want more video content the patreon group is the place to be. Each and every week I release an exclusive podcast, video, or live stream just for the Patreon members.
Patreon members also get access to the Private Facebook community for the show. The podcast couldn’t exist without the Patreon support and I do my best to take care of the supporters.
Modern VFX – Do Your Thing
This commercial was a big shift away from what we had done the last two months on the feature. We shot Alexa XT Open Gate Arriraw for all the VFX and used Master Primes for their sharpness at the T1.3.
Camera Gear:
Check out the gear I use on all of my commercial shoots by clicking the link below:
Wandering DP Commercial Cinematography Gear
The only kit not listed there are the Master Primes.
For lighting we used a combination of LED and HMI sources.
The Spot – VFX Friendly
Set Up #1 – The Walk
The Shots
The spot opens on a young student walking towards the camera.
The Lighting
This shot was tricky as it was raining and we needed our talent to be dry. This meant we had to cover the talent as she walked without taking away too much of the light as it was already overcast and gloomy.
The Result
Set Up #2 -The Drone Shot
The Shots
The camera whips around and morphs in to the drone shot.
The Lighting
The rain meant we had nice reflections on the ground and a sky replacement took care of the rest.
The Result
Set Up #3 – In Tight
The Shot
The camera starts in very tight and slowly pulls back to reveal a droplet of blood.
The Lighting
We were inside a boring classroom lab so to make ti more interesting we threw everything out of focus, added some colored lights with the Astera Titan tubes and we were set.
The Result
Alexa Open Gate – 3.2k to 1080
Set Up #4 – The Same but Different
The Shots
Same as above with different talent.
The Lighting
See above.
The Result
Set Up #5 – The White Board
The Shots
The camera tracks alongside two people looking at a clear drawing board. This shot connects and morphs in to the handshake shot.
The Lighting
We used an M40 thru an 8×8 of magic cloth for the key light and then added neg fill to the side and above the two talent to create some more contrast.
The Result
Tech Scout Reference:
Shot #6 – The Coach Enters
The Shots
Much like the previous shot this one starts in tight on the professor’s face then pulls back and whips around to reveal the rest of the classroom.
The Lighting
Same fixtures as above adjusted for the new camera position.
The Result
Tech Scout Reference:
Shot #7 – In Close
The Shots
This is the classroom shot that turns in to the bridge montage.
The Lighting
We used a series of M40s and sky panels to create the appearance of window light from camera right.
The Result
Tech Scout Reference:
Shot #8 – The Table
The Shot
In this shot the camera pushes in over the shoulder of the foreground actor and then tilts down to run along the forearms of the two people shaking hands. Then that shot morphs in to a bridge shot.
The Lighting
We used the sun as a backlight then punched in an Arri M18 just off of frame left through a 4×4 frame to help add a little bit of contrast.
The Result
Tech Scout Reference:
Shot #9 – The Hand
The Shot
In this shot the camera pushes in over the shoulder of the foreground actor and then tilts down to run along the forearms of the two people shaking hands. Then that shot morphs in to a bridge shot.
The Lighting
We used the sun as a backlight then punched in an Arri M18 just off of frame left through a 4×4 frame to help add a little bit of contrast.
The Result
Shot #10 – The FAMOCO
The Shot
This shot was the trickiest on terms of camera movement. We had to shoot in a real classroom so we were tight on space but the camera had to travel the length of the classroom and hover just above the desks.
The grips built a goalpost rig that we then attached the movi to and we were able to use some ropes and pulleys to wheel the camera across the room.
VFX removed the stands and voila.
The Lighting
This was all Astera Titan Tubes attached to the goal post set up and then a sky panel in a octobox for the professor..
The Result
Today on the podcast we are taking a last look at our series of commercials set in locker rooms, light with all LED lights, and shot on the Alexa LF with Arri Signature Primes. I know many of you will be happy to see this series of breakdowns come to an end so let’s go out with a bang.
The brief for this ad was a smokey back alley poker game style with a bit of humor thrown in for good mix. Let’s take a look at what went in to making this look a reality.
Enjoy the episode!
Patreon: Extensive Breakdowns of Your Work
If you enjoy these breakdown episodes and want more of them then Patreon is the place for you. We are breaking down listener submitted projects and talking about all things lighting and camera.
This week we extend our look at a recent Spec ad shot by one of our Patreon members and go over the good and the bad.
To get your work featured on the show simply leave a link with a description in the comments section over on the Patreon home page.
You can find this week’s Patreon content by clicking the link below:
The Wandering DP Patreon Group
If you are a fan of the podcast and want more video content the patreon group is the place to be. Each and every week I release an exclusive podcast, video, or live stream just for the Patreon members.
Patreon members also get access to the Private Facebook community for the show. The podcast couldn’t exist without the Patreon support and I do my best to take care of the supporters.
Full Frame + LED Lighting – Don’t Fight the Funk
This commercial was all about the gear. A relatively straight forward comedy spot but we tried to lift the level of the images by going with the Alexa LF and the Signature Primes.
Camera Gear:
Check out the gear I use on all of my commercial shoots by clicking the link below:
Wandering DP Commercial Cinematography Gear
The only kit not listed on that page is the set of Signature Primes and the Alexa LF.
For lighting we went all Kino LED.
The Spot – VFX Friendly
Set Up #1 – The Moving Master
The Shots
The spot opens on 4 rugby players at a poker table in a dimly lit locker room..
The Lighting
The wide sets up our entire lighting approach for this spot. The location dictated the fixtures we ended up using because of the lack of space as well as the layout of the locker room.
We needed low profile fixtures that were easily color tuneable. Enter the Kino Flo LEDs. Light(ish) fixtures with enough output to get us to where we needed to be.
We used one Kino 850 over the top as our main light for the table then in the background we used some generic LED tubes as in shot practicals. It would have been way easier to use the Astera Titan tubes but we shot this before those were out.
For the foreground element we added a smaller 450 Kino to help bring out the table.
Add a bunch of haze and that was it for the wides.
The Result
Behind the Scenes
Set Up #2 – The 4 Shot
The Shots
We swap sides and punch in for a tighter 4 shot.
The Lighting
The overall lighting is the same with the addition of some smaller Kino 450 LEDs to edge out the players and create some depth plus some flags to keep the practical LEDs from ruining our contrast levels.
The Result
Behind the Scenes
Video
Set Up #3 – In Tight
The Shot
The singles is where the DOF on the Alexa LF really starts to stand out.
The Lighting
We adjusted the existing fixtures from the previous set up and added another LED to act as a ctach light in the eyes.
The Result
Behind the Scenes – Video
Alexa Open Gate – 3.2k to 1080
Set Up #4 – Another Single
The Shots
Matching the previous set up.
The Lighting
Same fixtures as above adjusted for the new camera position.
The Result
Alexa LF – Full Frame
Set Up #5 – The Last Single
The Shots
Matching the previous set up.
The Lighting
Same fixtures as above adjusted for the new camera position.
The Result
Shot #6 – The Coach Enters
The Shots
Matching the previous set up.
The Lighting
Same fixtures as above adjusted for the new camera position.
The Result
Shot #7 – In Close
Shot #8 – The Table
Shot #9 – The Hand
Shot #10 – The FAMOCO