Seriously, this is the last one. DP's.

As he is one of the best known cinematographers, I have to tip my proverbial hat to Shane Hurlbut, ASC, for his role in the advancement of the DSLR for use in film. The first time "The Last Three Minutes" was right after the 5d gained the ability to shoot 24p, and from then until last week, it was my goal to get my hands on a DSLR. Just seeing how he was able to achieve so much more with this camera...

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Oops, one more.

I have been learning a great deal of techniques in this semester that I will take with me, and in the next few moments, we will discuss some of the facets of production which I have improved and look upon those which I need to work more. While I could ramble on for days about the theories I have been learning about since my first class in film, it is the practice that makes a filmmaker more than just...

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TCF 312 Signing off

Boys and girls, it has been a blast. As this semester and class comes to an end, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on more than just the technical skills that I will take with me as a result of this experience. One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about all that I have learned in this class is how to problem solve in a group. When everyone works within his or her roles on set,...

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$$$ SHOTS!!!

To me, a "money shot" does not have to be a timelapse of the Grand Canyon or a long exposure of the aurora borealis, but it has to show style and convey a mood. Granted I enjoy shooting timelapses for the experience surrounding their capture, however, I believe that there are many more shots out there that would take the cake over your typical sunrise. In this reel for camera operator and colorist...

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The Composition of a Solid Reel

While I could not say before this week with absolute certainty what makes a real solid, I feel that after class this week, it is far clearer to me. To have a solid reel, you don't have to have loud music with your video cut to every bass drum or snare tap- it is more about showing that you can tell a story visually while demonstrating your technical skill in other areas. For example, Henry was able...

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Camera movement

I find camera movement to be an interesting way to bring dynamic emotion to otherwise static scenes. After this semester, I have found several forms of camera movement to be effective in achieving this feat. While some camera movement is more difficult to pull off without expensive equipment, there are usually cheap alternatives to gliding a JL Fisher down a 40 yard track once you've got your scene...

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Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras

Oh, the DLSR. There are so many reasons to buy one, yet so many reasons to wait until you can afford a "real camera." Or is DSLR filmmaking the progressive frontier that will lead filmmaking into the next epoch? The answer is "probably not." Its time has most likely passed with the release of inexpensive Sony and Panasonic prosumer camcorders released this month with APS-C sensors that don't succumb...

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Lighting

Lighting inspiration can come to me in many forms. I love to flip through photography books to find interesting and aesthetically pleasing ways to light for scenes, however, my scanner has decided to take a little vacation, therefore we will be utilizing...

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Shot by Shot

The “Green Line Bus” scene of “The Royal Tenenbaums” is one of the most aesthetically pleasing scenes of any film I have ever seen. Aside from its technical aspects, there are dramatic levels of organization present throughout the scene that are present in many of Wes Anderson’s films. For example, as Richie Tenenbaum (played by Luke Wilson) enters the frame with his bags, there is a group of naval...

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Artist Statement

As a filmmaker, I believe that everyone can be irreversibly affected by witnessing the visual storytelling of a powerful film. It is not my goal to make every project revolutionary, though I take pride in finding the nuanced intricacies in everyday occurrences to expose to the viewer. As an artist, a filmmaker has the ability to cover such a great expanse of ground from abstract creation to brilliantly...

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Cinematography Reel

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Portrait of a Place

This past weekend, I photographed the University of Alabama campus over fall break. During the fall, football brings hundreds of thousands of people to the campus, however, when football is removed from the equation, the campus becomes a ghost town. I found this particularly interesting, and after shooting my portrait of a place, I took a great deal from seeing this massive campus literally abandoned...

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SONY HVR-V1U HDV vs. JVC HM100U

When working with these two cameras, I have learned that there are advantages and disadvantages to working with every camera. Aside from menu navigation, there are many differences between the JVC HM-100U and the Sony HVR-V1U HDV. Workflow, size, media format, chip size, chip type, and camera specifications are examples of differences in these two cameras. With regard...

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Goals... and stuff.

As a filmmaker, I have made several improvements in the last couple of years, however, I have many goals that I have yet to reach yet. In the next few moments, I will be discussing my goals as a filmmaker, and in light of what I want to learn, my goals for this course. My first goal as a filmmaker is to become a proficient storyteller. I aim to use light and digital media to paint a vivid picture...

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Visual Style

Though I have yet to develop a concrete visual style, I have determined a concrete aesthetic that I will likely strive to achieve in the future. When I watch films, one of the first things I notice is the production design. For as long as I can remember,...

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The List

1. I enjoy traveling. This summer,  I was fortunate enough to attend the Cannes Film Festival as a student filmmaker, work in production on a feature-length documentary that shot in New York, Los Angeles, Alabama, South Carolina, and the Ukraine,...

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