Run N Gun

This summer I will be producing approximately 60 videos per month.

Only 3 minute videos you would say but then again each clip is shot in a different location.

Editing won't be a problem on AVID MC5 with its great file organization, combined with my super fast MacPro.

My concern was with the amount of time I've been using to set up for a shoot.

Since I started shooting in HD using 35mm lenses, external monitor, external recorder, matte box, filters, and extra power on a V-Battery... set-up just seems to take forever!

It's clear to me that I need something light and small without loosing that great image quality and depth of field I have grown to love.

My rig needs to be fully assembled in my carrying case so I can start shooting as soon as I get to the location.

I need to be able to switch from my shoulder mount to my dolly or tripod in seconds.

Using gear I already had (aside from a RedRock Micro Clamp and a Small HD thin battery), I was able to put together... the perfect Run N Gun rig!!!!

Here it is...

Panasonic Lumix GH2 DSLR

I found that the GH2 offered the best video quality (no Aliasing and little Moiré) with the most built-in tools (Histogram, Focus Assist, etc...) and you can run it for hours without over heating.

Novoflex FD Mount Adapter

Zeiss 25mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm

Lumix 14-140 Zoom

I've had my Zeiss prime lens kit for about 5 years now and I LOVE them.

I can quickly select the right lens and adjust the amount of depth of field for the shot.

Tiffen and Hoyas 72mm Filters

I have a huge collection of 72mm filters from a old film camera I use to have.

To achieve a lesser "video" look, I use a 1/2 ProMist ALL THE TIME.

To keep control of my Depth-of-Field I must have another control to the amount of light coming into the camera without using my Aperture or Shutter speed - (Because I'm shooting at 24fps, I want my shutter to be at 1/50 which is very close to the 35mm film 180˚ shutter angle)

I use ND filters to achieve this.

My favourite one is a HOYAS fader ND, which can be dialled to the exact required setting.

So I have the ProMist and Fader ND mounted permanently on a 72mm hood.

I've fitted my lenses with a 72mm step up rings.

Changing a lens is now very quick: unscrew the hood (filters), change lens and screw the hood back on.

REDROCK MICRO Follow Focus

This is a must to pull and push focus effectively.

To speed up the set-up, I have focus rings attached to all my lenses.

REDROCK MICRO Hand grip, Clamp, Rail and Base Plate

I already owned these except for the clamp, so it was an easy choice.

I must say that the DSLR Clamp is GREAT. Removing the camera from the rig to change the battery is very fast and easy.

SMALL HD Monitor and Hood

An external monitor is essential to properly focus on a rig like this.

The great thing about this monitor is that it's light and can be mounted on any sides.

I chose to mount it on the camera's hot shoe.

The thin battery mounted on the back of the monitor will run for 4 hours.

DV RIG PRO Shoulder Mount

I've owned this for over 10 years but the shoulder pad is great so I changed a few screws to make it fit on this rig and the result is perfect.

MANFROTTO Small Tripod

Because the rig is small, I am able to use a very light tripod and head

GLIDETRACK Hybrid HD 2M Slider

Mounted with the same head as the tripod I can quickly move the rig from one to the other using the same plate.

The most awesome feature of this rig is that it fits in my Kata bag... fully assembled!

There you have it, THE PERFECT RUN N GUN RIG

Sweet Suite

Here it is...

Scattered Seeds 3

It finally feels like summer. And with the welcomed warm weather, we’re diving right into pre-production of Scattered Seeds!

We’ve just finished our initial interviews with the four candidates, and we’re in the process of constructing the storylines for each vignette.

It’s been inspiring to hear stories of people leaving everything familiar and giving their lives to a new community. What stuck out most to me is that the four candidates truly live out this idea of contribution; this idea of sowing. It is part of who they are.

We’re so excited about the people who are involved in the project! So excited, we want to introduce them to you.

Kitti and Jamjit Karunyaspon were born in Thailand and came to Canada in 2000. They came here hoping for better education and more opportunity for their two young boys. They didn’t speak a word of English.

Struggling to communicate was one of the hardest parts of immigrating, says Jamjit. The family was isolated because of the communication barrier, but when they joined Project Literacy things started the change. Kitti and Jamjit are now advocates and promoters of Project Literacy.

In 2007 the couple opened a Thai restaurant in downtown Kelowna called Bai Thong. That same year they became Canadian citizens.

Karnail Singh Sidhu grew up in Kalala, a small agricultural town in India. Karnail along with his parents and siblings moved to Canada in 1993 because of the aftermath of the 1984 assassination of India’s president.

Karnail’s initial life in Canada was all about survival. Him and his brothers and father worked odd jobs doing anything they could, from picking brussel sprouts in the dead of winter, to doing people’s taxes.

When Karnail got a job at Summerhill winery, he knew this was the kind of work he wanted to do. Agricutlure was in his blood, he says.

Today Karnail owns Kalala Winery in West Kelowna, an organic vineyard that is recognized across the world.

Olga Osipova is originally from Russia, but studied music in Germany before she immigrated to Canada in 2003.

Olga grew up in a musical family, and since she was young she was trained in classical piano. She knew she had a future in Russia, playing in the huge music halls and touring as a classical musician.

But she always wanted something different.

Since she’s been in Canada Olga has dedicated herself to her art, playing across British Columbia and Canada. She says to move a person through art is the greatest thing she can do. Olga also teaches essential skills at the West Bank First Nation.

Prenesh Govender has a unique heritage. He’s of East Indian descent, but was born and grew up in South Africa. Him and his wife Charmaine both grew up in the midst of apartheid, and have stories that many Canadians can’t even imagine.

Prenesh said his father instilled in him a love of learning, something he’s in turn teaching his
three kids. After beginning his neurosurgical study in South Africa Prenesh came to Toronto for a year of extra training.

That year has turned into 8.

Prenesh works at the Kelowna hospital as a neurosurgeon, and dedicates his time to teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.

Prenesh’s two daughters say when they grow up they want to be neurosurgeons too. His four year old son, Tejan, wants to be Sidney Crosby.



-Emma Smith

Sweet Suite

I love new projects, but this one is beyond exciting!

Last week we started to build our new AVID editing suite.

The space design includes a 40" monitor, isolated gear room and a sound booth.

It's gonna look sweet!

Adding an AVID system to my workflow is more than just getting the system, it requires me to learn this great platform. So far I find it similar to Finalcut Pro but it's way faster and has a superior media management system.

It feels like the right tool for film editing and I can't wait to get going on our documentary project "Scattered Seeds".

I will post more pictures when it's completed.

Cheers

Martin

Scattered Seeds 2

Scattered Seeds is beginning to feel a bit less scattered.

Last week we met with Kelowna Community Resources to throw around ideas about possible interview subjects for the vignettes. Finding our candidates is the first step in the process of creating the four vignettes and eventually the one-hour documentary.

Scattered Seeds is about delving into the lives of Okanagan immigrants and exploring the effects they have on their new communities, either economically or socially. In order to accurately tell this story we need to find four people who fully express the ideas of contribution and growth.

It’s more than just finding people who have exciting and interesting journeys; we need to encapsulate the many layers of the immigrant story. During our meeting with KCR’s Advisory Committee we set up some criteria that would help us sort through all the great stories and find four that truly resonate.

These are the criteria we decided to base our pick on:

1) Interesting background story and willingness to share journey
2) Reputation within community
3) Impact (economically or socially) on Okanagan communities.

Immediately we realized that every one of us at the meeting knew someone who had an amazing story. The Okanagan is rich with immigrants who have sown deep into their new homes. And so the prospect of picking out only four stories is proving a little daunting.

Right now we’re in the process of finding and choosing our four candidates. We’re scouring the Okanagan in search of four stories that stand out, and we need your help! Let us know who comes to mind.


-Emma Smith

Scattered Seeds

East2West has a new summer project underway!

Working with Kelowna Community Resources we're producing four ten minute vignettes based on the stories of four immigrants. Each vignette will focus on one person’s personal journey to Kelowna, and the struggles and successes that come along with shoving your life into a suitcase and hopping across the Atlantic.

We basically want to get to the heart of the immigrant story and explore how immigrants influence and shape this city.

I’ve been doing some research on the history of immigration in Canada, and it’s full of racism and assimilation. Only in the last few decades have we, as a country, truly began to appreciate the traditions and diversity that immigrants bring to Canada. Through the four vignettes we want to look at the innovative ideas that immigrants sow into their new communities.

But the immigrant story is often one of struggle. Unlike the larger cities in Canada, Kelowna is a community that is largely homogenous. Along with themes of integration and identity, we’ll also be looking at racism and how it plays out here at home.

As we continue the journey of creating these four vignettes we will also begin producing a one hour documentary. The four stories will be woven together to create a film that echoes the larger issue of immigration in Canada.

We’re still in the beginning process of figuring out our interviewees and constructing the storyline. Right now we’d just love to hear some feedback or input.


- Emma Smith

Creative VS Productive Project 02

According to Wikipedia there is no certainty as to the origin of the expression "Graveyard Shift".
I think I know where it comes from: One day, a guy was trying to be creative and produce some images just for fun. But by the time all his work and family duties where completed it was always past midnight. :) ... just kidding, it's not that bad.
Hopefully project 3 will have some daylight in it.
Thanks for watching

Here is project 2

Project: 32 seconds short
Client: None
Objective: Fun
Production time: 1.5 hours
Tools: Nikon D5000, Zeiss Distagon 25, Zeiss Planar 85
Music: Soundtrack pro