Gotta get me one a 'dees!

Well I'm sold.  I was convinced to purchase the 7D as soon as I saw its ability to cut light as well as seemingly create it.  With its use of light magnification, it can pull gradual light from anywhere within the frame and use it if it needs to, just like night vision.  Now THAT'S COOL! I haven't gotten it yet but will within the next couple weeks.  I have already made the decision. I can't wait to have a reel at the end of next semester.  The best thing about the DSLRs though, in my mind, is their portability.  I want to travel the world and film it. I can't be totin' around an EX3 the whole time if I'm packing through some jungle somewhere, or hangin off a cliff with climbing gear.  It's also amazing at still shots and even the cinema look that everyone is always talking about.  I'll want to use other cameras in the future, but until its proven differently, I will come to love my DSLRs I think.

Good DP'n reel

I feel like the most important, and maybe it's just me, part of a DP Reel is the music.  Music does more for feeling than sight ever could.  It's technically a true vibration within your body. Now, grant it, your shot style has to match your music a little bit but more the most part you can edit anything to any tempo.

Which brings us to our next point, editing is important.  Whether you have good shots or bad shots, you can make them look better with timing to the music and general matches in tempo.  The tempo of the shots should basically match the tempo of the music.  Even when you slow and action sequence down and have a light song playing.  If done correctly and with the right timing, it can be rather fascinating. Tarantino has a talent for this.  I love the music in his film but regardless, it's a DP reel.  It's harder to do that without much time but can be done if juxtaposed with the right images.

REEL and Artist Statement and Final Course Reflection

Sorry to say that I couldn't get my reel to work and imbed so I will simply send you where you can find it or you can look me up on facebook. It is posted on my wall.(Rachel, I emailed it to you.) I will continue to try and still post it if I can.


THANK YOU GUYS FOR AN AWESOME SEMESTER!


Here goes... final statement from a Day in the Life of David Cordell.

Wow, how far have I come since the beginning of class?  It's quite obvious considering I didn't even use any of my footage from my first portrait of a place assignment. I liked what Clayton said in class today when he referred to his interests in film making.  He said he was always interested in film, but it wasn't until this class did he truly get addicted and build an obsession for the art.  I could completely agree with that.  Three things that I learned and gained from the class were, first and foremost, relationships with my fellow peers, a huge jump in technical abilities and ideas, and a solid start.

I was most impressed by learning and gaining a working relationship with my classmates.  By gaining an understanding and trust in each individuals unique talents, a beautiful thing called collaboration is created, and through that, we can't paint some beautiful pictures.  I liked that no one had the same style and that I could easily tell who I worked well with and would like to again in the future.

As far as technical abilities go, I was just finally able to get my hands on a good camera.  I honestly want to buy a good camera but have never been familiar enough with the technology to convince myself to purchase a good camera.  I would just get mad that I didn't know how to work it. Luckily I was already decent at lighting so I was able to concentrate on other things.  I've become obsessed with nature. well, always have been i guess, just one film this time.  

Lastly, I feel like I jumped into this department knowing no one at the beginning of this semester, head first, without having a clue what a c-stand was or ever having any kind of cool footage I could call my own.  I just feel like I got a really good start.  I'm excited about what my reel will look like at the end of next semester, or that I even have on in the first place.  I feel like I already have a good resume going and that's great.  Overall, I enjoyed the class.  It was one of my favorites for sure.

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OH the money shot.  Ha.  I never thought I would use the term so much.  I guess a good money shot are those in films that make you feel rather than think. It’s those shots that leave you with something more than just furthering the plot.  I think a good money shot is one that expresses the true artistic touch of the Director and DP.  It doesn’t show the actor’s skills.  It can make anyone or anything look good given the right conditions.  With nature we often have conditions like weather and time of day.  Any option within these boundaries gives plenty to work with.  There are 4 seasons and transitions from each.  Also 24 hours of different light in a day. THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS!  With interior designs and shoots, its more about framing and placement of objects.  Getting frames within frames and finding a purpose to inanimate object and adding things like personification and symbolism. The colors have to be right.  The light has to be right.  The framing has to be right.  All these things make us feel more than anyone really notices.  That’s why I used to love lighting in theatre. Because in the end, they did come to “watch” a play or movie.  So why not play with their eyes? Make people believe something, but only for a moment.  Bring them into this wonderful and exciting world of illusion. Or maybe show them something that actually exists and they still don’t believe.  Any way you want to look at it, I’m obsessed with film now.

Favorite Short Film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4WkB8i8D4c

Sink or Swim, a mocumentary about a male synchronized swimmer, is not my favorite but is certainly a good example of the feel I would like out of my mocumentary that I want to shoot in the spring.  All the shots have a good contrast of light and a great feel to the depth of feel.  I think that there is a great relationship to take the documentary style to a made up comedic story.   Like I said, its not my favorite I don’t guess but the feel of it is great. Quick shots to keep the energy up and great edits and conversations made the film.  I love finding a spot to set up for and interview.  In a mocumentary you can do a lot with the set behind the character being interviewed and make subtle hints about the plot line or whatever. I just love the idea of having the ability to control what interviewees say, not by asking the right question to get the right answers but rather writing their answers in order to set yourself up for a better question, more in depth, maybe crazier and funnier. 

Camera Movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmILOL55xP0

I really like these takes from Full Metal Jacket because of the smoothness of the handheld camera.  Its almost as if a dolly was set up imperfectly for a reason to give it a somewhat smooth feel while you are behind the troop, but still choppy. This gives you the effect that you are walking along behind everyone and getting a view from the back.  When our main character realizes he is in charge and has rounded as a character at this point from the experience of “takin out the sniper.” This time the dolly was set correctly and level to give a smooth and controlled feel as we follow along our main character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UwJtDRQkoE

I really like this example from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  I am mainly talking about the camera movement during the sequence/montage of him collecting anything that reminded him of her.  Its all extremely rough, BUT NOT TOO F’N “CLOVERFIELD” rough, but rustic and hasty.  I feel like it shows the frustration of our main character and does well showing his franticness in each individual item, from ripping things out of his journal to grabbing the coffee cup with her picture on it.  A lot of the movie happens in Carrey’s character’s mind therefore it gives room for a lot of experimental lighting and camera movement. 

Another thing that I like in the area of camera movement is the use of extraordinarily long shots or takes.  I love when a lot of things happen all in one take.  It takes a lot of artistic planning and vision to plan a lengthy shot out and still make it perfect.  Conversation is not used enough anymore in film.  People want explosions now, not witty conversation. I don’t understand that.  I don’t have any good clips but one example of a film maker, that uses this talent and method, that I really like is Quinton Tarantino.  There are several AWESOME and extremely long takes in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, scenes also full of good conversation and/or action.  Maybe its my theatre background but I feel like this is not done enough anymore.