On Location- "Unbearable Prospect" Performance

Teamed up to shoot the Gadfly dance crew on their acclaimed performance of Unbearable Prospect. It's an amazing showcase of the crew's versatility and combination of street dance styles. This was a special sold out one night only comeback performance after the show's success last year.

We shot the dress rehearsal on our SI2k Mini with our EZFX jib arm. The allowed me to be right in front of the stage without any restrictions on blocking viewers. Stuck to the 5.9mm wide Angenieux lens and drifted around the front of the stage capturing some really gorgeous movement.

I love shooting dance movement and working the flow of the camera movements to speak with the choreography. I was a operating the remote head while jib operator Tony Del Rio guided movement of the jib up/down/left/right. Another awesome time for the FD crew!

Project: "Unbearable Prospect"
Camera: SI2K Mini
Format: 2048x856 Cineform Raw, 23.98
Cinematographer: Justin Lovell

Transfer Samples - super 8 / super 16

Montage of footage from Kelly + Maya's visit to Toronto. The super 8 footage has a soft glow and diffused effect to it. Shot at 18 fps super 8, transferred at 15fps for a slight slo-mo feel. 16mm was shot at 24fps, transferred at 18fps to also have slight slo-mo. Nice for a 'memory feeling'.

I rate the 3374 b/w high contrast at 150 ASA for best results. If I want it a little more contrasty (blow out the highlights a little more, bleaching the skin tones, I'll rate it at 100-125).

Camera: Beaulieu 4008 ZMII 6-66 schneider zoom, Bolex super 16 - 16-100 Switar zoom
Stock: Ektachrome 64T, 250d V3 (7207), 3374 high con
Processing: Exclusive Film and Video, Niagara Custom Lab
Transfer: Frame Discreet - colourist Justin Lovell
Cinematographer: Justin Lovell

Transfer Samples - super 8 64t

Pass the Cart II
A project put together by the members of the filmshooting.com forum.

Consists of 5 E64t Cartridges that have toured the world. I was fortunate enough to be involved, and this is CART #2. I shot the last film with 2 fellas in Toronto.

Had big goals for the project, but ran out of time... In the end I bucked down, set a date and convinced myself I was going to shoot it that day, make or break, no matter what. We had it all planned out, storyboarded on DSLR, and last minute the actress had to pull out as we ran out of time to shoot.

In comes plan B, shot rehearsal tests on a sony EX-1, 6 times for timing review; then rolls in the beaulieu 4008 to shoot it for real. We cut out a lot of shots which would have rounded out the toronto landscape a little better, but I was worried about it being at the end of the cart and losing a shot because I might not have the full 10'.

Ours is the last film of the 4.

On Location- "This Movie is Broken" Short Film - Bruce McDonald

A few more behind the scenes shots from Bruce Mcdonald's latest film. I was loading the 35mm Konvas for fellow Frame Discreet Cinematographer John Price. Micheal Leblanc came in to operate 2nd camera on a few days and Misha Petrenko even made it out as a key electric. Always a pleasure working with the FD crew.

Photos courtesy of Leah Barley- thanks :)

On Location- "ZEN STRETCH" Fitness Video

Got a call looking for a Jib Operator/Owner to help shoot a fitness video on ZEN STRETCHING a technique shown by Chris "Bodhi" Batista. I had no idea what I was getting into when I got the gig. Check the link, it's pretty impressive how this technique can really affect your body.

We shot with 2 cameras covering 10, 20 and 40 minute versions of the video. One camera on our dolly on a longer lens, the other camera our Jib arm with 10' extension and Remote Head. I monitored the camera movements with the joystick control and video goggles while Tony Del Rio operated the jib arm movements. Constant communication between all three of us was important to ensure that we weren't shooting similar frames and more importantly so that we weren't overlapping our zooms to change framing (makes for a happy editor).

Got a great tan hangin' out on the beach, and got a free instructional from Chris (using Tony as an example) on how to stop an attacker coming at you. Hillarious and scary watching that little demonstration.

Fitness Video: "Zen Stretch"
Cameras: Sony HD XDCAM
Format: 1080p, 29.97
Cinematographer: Justin Lovell / Chris Langenzarde

On Location- "GADFLY" Short Film

Another great project that we're pitching for funding. Collaborating with the super talented dance group Gadfly. The short delves into the minds of each dancer in their rehearsal space 30 floors up from the city core. Covers a mix of street dance, breaking, house, hip hop, and contemporary. Dance style changes are hidden by strongly motivated by camera movement and sound design. I love collaborating with dancers. The creative possibilities choreographing dance and camera movement together gets my heart thumpin'.

Short Film: "Gadfly"
Camera: SI2K Mini
Format: 2048x856 Cineform Raw, 23.98
Director: Justin Lovell/Mikkel Zall
Cinematographer: Justin Lovell

SI2K Camera Package for Rental

Justin Lovell's new SI2k mini Setup at Frame Discreet (same camera used to shoot Slumdog, and inserts on Ironman 2, Sherlock Holmes.. etc..) Alternative solution to shooting RED cam.

Rental Packages start at $400-$1000 depending on your needs.
Package only rents with a Frame Discreet Cinematographer on set (insures no technical issues).

Arri Matte box, Petroff DV cameras Universal Support, Dv Multirig, Cinearm Noga arm, Xenarc LCD Touchscreen 702TSV.
Records to a solidstate 12" touch screen Toshiba Laptop. 40gig = 1 hour of 2k in cineform RAW QT or AVI.
Not bad, lightweight. :)
Backpack with lenses and batteries for ultra portability in 2k.
Currently supporting cmount lenses 5.9mm t1.8, 25mm t-0.95, 50mm t-0.95, 16-100 t-1.9 Zoom + others... Nikon or PL Lenses can be adapted.

Sound- H4N Zoom recorder -separate system SD OR straight to Hard Drive married to video file.

Contact us for info. info@framediscreet.com 416.803.1101

Enjoying another sunny day...

On Location- "Unity Charity"

Helping to create a new introduction video for Unity Charity. An awesome group that travels to high schools promoting 'hip hop against violence'... which is all about striving to create positive influences for kids who might otherwise end of drifting along, or stuck in the wrong crowd.

Shot all documentary style handheld, we followed around TK - 2008 Funk Fo Yo Feet popping champion and 30 second rubex cube master. He can also be seen on last year's "So You Think You Can Dance Canada."

Thanks to The Fantastic Poppers for letting us in to light the jam and film the battles!
Got some really sexy shots inside of the venue, which was the old Trinity Church on Bloor. Hard natural sunlight was shining through the giant windows as the sun was setting, giving off a beautiful warm glow. Got some amazing flares and sillhouette shots off my 5.9mm wide angle angenieux lens as two dancers battled it out... gorgeous!


Promotional Video: "Unity Charity"
Camera: SI2K Mini
Format: 1920x1080 Cineform Raw, 23.98
Director: Mike Prosserman/Justin Lovell
Cinematographer: Justin Lovell

On Location- "Josh Reichman- Our Whole Life" - Music Video

Very cool concept video by Frame Discreet Cinematographer Michael Leblanc. Based on the painterly, poetic photography by Edward Steichen, Leblanc is compositing Josh into his still photographs. In some cases, his head will be replacing the heads in the photographs. Also to be inserted is a dancer, some walking shots and some recreated images to have slight 3d drifts. A very interesting bit of textural work involved to pull it all off, however we have an excellent VFX artist on board to give it some real life. FD cinematograper Guy Godfree was gaffing this job, helping out tremendously in matching the lighting from the photos to our live set. This SI2k not only does live reference keying, but it also allows you to 'onion skin' or 'overlay images' so we could match the exact framing with the reference images... super handy!

Music Video: "Josh Reichman"
Camera: SI2K Mini
Format: 1920x1080 Cineform Raw, 23.98
Director: Michael Leblanc
Cinematographer: Michael Leblanc

On Location- "Nokia" - Commercial

Fun little Nokia commercial spot directed by the talented Rob Pilichowski - soon to be known for his "all out war" bboy documentary. We shot the spot all on green screen with the SI2k mini. Having the spot meter on the camera interface is awesome for keeping a constant even exposure on the green screen. Also nice to have this feature when you're playing with variable frame rates and shutter speeds because it allows you to keep the exposure bang on no matter what variable you change. It tells you the exact IRE level wherever you tap on the screen. Post guys and colorists will love ya for that one.

Managed to get in a fun little game of footy after the shoot when fellow Frame Discreet cinematographer, Barry Cheong, dropped by to say hello.

Commercial: "Nokia"
Camera: SI2K Mini
Stock: 1920x1080 Cineform Raw, 29.97
Director: Robert Pilichowski
Cinematographer: John Price

On Location- "This Movie is Broken" Short Film - Bruce McDonald

Ever been onstage at the Harbourfront in Toronto for Broken Social Scene with 6 red cameras filming the event? I have.. and it was awwweesoommee! Grateful for the experience to work again with Bruce and a very talented group of cinematographers and focus pullers. FD crew Mikhail Petrenko, John Price, Michael Leblanc and myself were all on hand lighting the after party and rockin out on the main cameras on the main stage. Afterparty was all rigged with china balls with 60W bulbs which barely gave enough exposure. They were immediately swapped out to 40W bulbs as soon as we wrapped shooting to maintain a darker enviroment for the guests. We also had a few 1k lights bouncing light around off walls and heavily diffused, to bring up the ambient light.


Video: "This Movie is Broken" - Short Film
Camera: 6 Red Cameras, 35mm Konvas, Canon 814XLS Super 8 & HVX-200 (for the afterparty)
Format: Red Raw 4k 23.98
Director: Bruce McDonald
Cinematographers: Mike Leblanc & John Price