Cinematographer / Camera Operator
Location: Bucharest, Romania
#ThrowbackThursday #TBT Do you remember our Community Spotlight with cinematographer Luchian, Ciobanu?
“I have filmed a few short films mostly on 5mm and 1 mm, both black-and-white and color negative film. But I have also used digital cameras. I am currently working on a documentary for which I am using an HD camera. I have filmed a commercial and a few TV shows, but I like documentaries and commercials [the best].
“I have filmed a few short films mostly on 5mm and 1 mm, both black-and-white and color negative film. But I have also used digital cameras. I am currently working on a documentary for which I am using an HD camera. I have filmed a commercial and a few TV shows, but I like documentaries and commercials [the best].
Inspiration:
“Real life offers you a lot of great places and light situations that you can learn from. You only have to be a fine observer, and you can find in any situation a beautiful way nature lit a character or a landscape, a building or a room interior. It’s like the Impressionist paintings: once you see something like this it remains in your memory for the rest of your life, and you can use it any time you need it. “I think one should only take a look around to find a lighting situation nature created. I like to study people’s faces in our old subway where the contrast ratio is always greater than :1. I’m always watching people going to work early in the morning, or going out in the evening. I think this is the best way to study faces in all sort of lighting situations. “But I am searching old and great films created by our predecessors and new films to see how they have managed to solve each situation they were facing. I go to museums every time I get the chance, and I read about everything that refers to art: paintings, sculptures, music, choreography, drama, architecture.”
Biggest Challenge:
“My biggest challenge was three nights shooting a scene for a short film which was low budget, and I only had my first AC in my team. I had no gaffer, no second AC, no grip, not even a single electrician at all.”
Solution for Challenge:
“I had two friends that helped me carry the lights, move and adjust them during filming. The solution was to come 4 hours earlier in location and start rigging some home-made lights. It was really hard to do everything, but it was great to see the result.”
Favorite Technique:
“When I am creating my lighting setup, I start placing the lights by eye and only after that I measure for exposure and contrast ratio. I am trying to ‘educate’ my eyes and trust them. It works! I rarely have to make small adjustments for contrast ratio.”
Favorite Tool:
“I found a great tool two years ago when I filmed a 5mm handheld film on Moviecam Superamerica: it is the Easyrig. It allows me to distribute the camera weight on both shoulders and hips and to use it in any position otherwise not possible.”
Filmography Includes:
Life in Squares (documentary – in progress) – 2009
Afterparty (fiction, 1 min) – 2009
Honda Civic Commercial (commercial, 40 seconds) – 200
Pizza Love (fiction, 1 min) – 200
Radio 40 C (fiction, 7 min) – 2007
Milkyway (documentary, 10 min) – 2007
Paperboats (fiction, 7 min) – 200
Waiting for the Weekend (fiction, 9 min)– 2005
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