This last winter, I built a doggycam-type wearable camera rig for Whitey McConnaughy’s production of Summer Cannibal’s music video for their song ‘Something New’. I think it turned out looking great. It wouldn’t be possible without the genius aluminum machining skills of Mike Weiss over at Gearhead Grip.
Sir Ridley Scott directed the film that made me want to make films. It started as a low-budget space monster movie, a throwback to the dubious 1950’s, and ended up being fresh and scrappy, yet so masterful that it completely redefined the genre. What is it that takes a script to such transcendent heights? Scott has been known to drop gems from time to time. Any department can appreciate his technique of storyboarding to be an element that can save production time and a bundle of money. As a cameraman, right away I appreciate his technique being focused on “the performance of light on objects”. Even superficially, this simple contrast and framing cue instantly informs my lighting and camera placement. Listening to him here, I get the feeling he’s giving up some of those insights that have allowed him to elevate his art above many other directors. Speak it Ridley: