HOW-TO

Check out this article in the print edition of StudentFilmmakers Magazine, April 2008. More photos and gaffer sidebar included in print edition. Click here to get a copy and to subscribe >>

Lighting Period War Film, Shades of Hope
Separating Worlds through Color

by Kevin Zanit

....Continued from Previous Page

To achieve this, the grip department had to get a special �walk around� platform for our crane. I stood on the platform wearing a safety harness that was attached to the crane. Another grip went up in the crane with me to help safety me and help with the camera before we started rolling. When the crane lowered to the ground, several grips had to step onto the crane to make up for the lost counterweight when I stepped off (to make sure the crane arm did not shoot back up into the air). They also had to unfasten me from the crane. All of this had to happen very fast; it was absolutely crucial that I did not step off early.

Standing on the crane with a mask to protect me from the dust.

Once off the crane, I still had to run forward into the camp with our very skilled pyro technicians making sure I was always safe from the explosions. My team did a great job pulling off this very difficult shot.

An ambush scene involving a gun battle with about 20 guns firing made me wish the sun never went down! This scene followed our main actors on a patrol that was ambushed. The scene took place along a manmade creek in an area with very heavy tree cover. I knew that I would never have time to light these scenes and knew that dappled sunlight moving around through the day did not really pose a big continuity problem because little squares of sunlight on the ground all look the same, and between the massive explosions, frenetic camera movement and people falling, no one would notice the subtle changes. I just exposed for the shadows and let the highlights go very hot.

Shooting this film was a great experience for me. It was one of the most challenging projects I have ever been involved with, and I have to thank my amazing crew for really jumping into this challenge with me: Gaffer Frank DiPaola and his crew, Key Grip Bobby Woo and his crew and 1st AC and additional operator Ken Bender, 2nd AC Collin Cates and everyone else in the camera department. Without all of them, we could never have accomplished the numerous challenges of this film.

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Check out this article in the April 2008 print edition of StudentFilmmakers magazine, page 12. More photos and gaffer sidebar included in print edition. Click here to get a copy of the April 2008 Edition, so you can read and enjoy all of the excellent articles inside.

About the Author:

Kevin Zanit is a California-based cinematographer who has worked on numerous commercials and music videos. His filmography includes Room Service (2006), These Days (2006), Inner Prison (2005), and Passing Moments (2003). Kevin and his partner, Elhanan Matos, recently launched a production and consulting company specializing in high-speed photography (www.studiobattlerattle.com).

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