Canadian Society of Cinematographers Magazine September 2012

Canadian Society of Cinematographers

$4 September 2012 www.csc.ca

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Q&A with Tony Costa • ProFusion 2012

Canadian Society of Cinematographers

Workshops & Courses

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By Professionals, For Professionals

CSC Basic Lighting Workshop

CSC Advanced Car Lighting Workshop

CSC Digital Camera Assistants Course

September 29 & 30, 2012 Toronto, Canada

November 3 & 4, 2012 Toronto, Canada

$550.00 CDN (plus HST)

$875.00 CDN (plus HST)

November 17 – 25, 2012, or February 9 – 17, 2013 Toronto, Canada

$450.00 CDN (plus HST) for CSC members

$700.00 CDN (plus HST) for CSC members

This two day hands-on lighting workshop offers the participants comprehensive knowledge on the fundamentals of practical lighting setups.

This two-day advanced car lighting workshop includes demonstrations by full CSC members that are actively engaged shooting high end commercials, features, TV movies and episodic television.

$1350.00 CDN (includes HST) The CSC believes that the best training comes from doing.

Participants in the CSC Digital Camera Assistants Course will have hands-on instruction on the latest digital cameras being used in the industry today and will experience “building the camera” from the ground up.

The course will be conducted by working professional camera assistants and cinematographers who will not only teach, but share their wealth of production know-how and technological knowledge gained from years of on-set experience.

For applications and detailed itinerary please visit the CSC website: www.csc.ca or telephone 416-266-0591

A publication of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers The Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) was founded in 1957 by a group of Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa cameramen.

Since then over 800 cinematographers and persons in associated occupations have joined the organization.

The purpose of the CSC is to promote the art and craft of cinematography in Canada and to provide tangible recognition of the common bonds that link film and video professionals, from the aspiring student and camera assistant to the news veteran and senior director of photography.

We facilitate the dissemination and exchange of technical information and endeavor to advance the knowledge and status of our members within the industry. As an organization dedicated to furthering technical assistance, we maintain contact with non-partisan groups in our industry but have no political or union affiliation.

CORPORATE SPONSORS All Axis Remote Camera Systems Applied Electronics Arri Canada Ltd. Canon Canada Inc. CinequipWhite Inc. Clairmont Camera Cooke Optics Ltd. Dazmo Digital Deluxe Toronto FUJIFILM North America Corporation FUJIFILM, Optical Devices Division Image Media Farm Kingsway Motion Picture Ltd. Kino Flo Kodak Canada Inc. Lee Filters Mole-Richardson Osram Sylvania Ltd./Ltée PS Production Services Panasonic Canada Panavision Canada REDLABdigital Rosco Canada Sharp’s Broadcast Sim Video Sony of Canada Ltd. Technicolor The Source Shop Vistek Camera Ltd. William F. White International Inc. ZGC Inc. ZTV

FEATURES – volume 4, No. 4 September 2012

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On the Set of Copper with Paul Sarossy csc, bsc

By Fanen Chiahemen

Reflections: An Interview with DOP Tony Costa

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By Roy Marques

ProFusion 2012

14

By Guido Kondruss

Columns & Departments

2 From the President

3 In the News

16 Tech Column

19 Camera Classified

20 Productions Notes / Calendar Cover: Franka Potente as Eva Heissen and Tom Weston-Jones

as Detective Kevin Corcoran in Copper Image courtesy of Shaw Media

Canadian Cinematographer September 2012 Vol. 4, No. 4 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joan Hutton csc EDITOR EMERITUS Donald Angus EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Susan Saranchuk admin@csc.ca EDITOR Fanen Chiahemen editor@csc.ca COPY EDITOR Karen Longland Editorial Intern

From The PRESIDENT Joan Hutton csc

T

here has been a change on the CSC executive over the summer. Nikos Evdemon csc, a long-time executive member, has decided to spend more time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and has stepped down from the board, resigning as the Society’s Publicity Chair and website guru.

Kayla-Jane Barrie ART DIRECTION Berkeley Stat House WEBSITE CONSULTANT Michael Jari Davidson www.csc.ca ADVERTISING SALES Guido Kondruss gkondruss@rogers.com CSC OFFICE / MEMBERSHIP 131–3007 Kingston Road Toronto, Canada M1M 1P1 Tel: 416-266-0591; Fax: 416-266-3996 Email: admin@csc.ca CSC Subscription Dept.

131–3007 Kingston Road Toronto, Canada M1M 1P1 Tel: 416-266-0591; Fax: 416-266-3996 Email: subscription@csc.ca

Canadian Cinematographer makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes; however, it cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the publisher.

The opinions expressed within the magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily of the publisher.

Upon publication, Canadian Cinematographer acquires Canadian Serial Rights; copyright reverts to the writer after publication.

Canadian Cinematographer is printed by Winnipeg Sun Commercial Print and is published 10 times a year.

One-year subscriptions are available in Canada for $40.00 for individuals and $80.00 for institutions, including HST. In U.S. rates are $45.00 and $90.00 for institutions in U.S. funds. International subscriptions are $50.00 for individuals and $100.00 for institutions.

Subscribe online at www.csc.ca.

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2 • Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012

Nikos’ contribution to the CSC has been immense. He’s been a member of our organization since 1971, becoming a full “csc” in 1981. For the past seven years as an executive board member, Nikos has used his vast computer knowledge and remarkable web building skills to redesign and maintain the Society’s website.

During his tenure, Nikos brought about a graceful look and functionality to our website, all the while saving the CSC thousands of dollars in website maintenance costs. His many web innovations and upgrades allowed CSC members to not only direct link to personal websites, but to also post demo reels within our website. Nikos brought into play a flip version of Canadian Cinematographer on our website and an online payment system. Through his nurturing, the CSC website now processes an average of 104,000 successful requests each and every month.

Nikos has volunteered countless hours to the CSC and has been very generous with his talents on many projects such as our 50th anniversary commemorative book. Nikos was recognized for his efforts and service to the CSC with the President’s Award in 2009.

Nikos’ career as a cinematographer spans four decades, and during that time he seems to have done it all. From dodging bullets and even being wounded by shrapnel during the Cambodian war in the ‘70s, Nikos became a top flight DOP in our industry, shooting dozens of features, movies of the week, documentaries and television series. Nikos spent 28 years at the CBC before calling it quits with the public broadcaster. While many people at that point would have sold off their cameras and retired, Nikos instead kick-started a very lucrative and prolific freelance career. For his love of cinematography and his skillful artistry, Nikos has been honoured on numerous occasions with awards that include two CSC “eyeballs,” four Geminis and seven Aniks, not to mention his many nominations.

Nikos brought a wealth of experience and inspiration to the executive table.

He was always there for us and the Society no matter what. His gentle manner and thoughtful insights will be difficult if not impossible to replace. The CSC Executive wishes Nikos all the best and we thank him for his dedication to the Society – he will be missed.

In The News

Member News

C

SC congratulates Michael Balfry csc for his Daytime Emmy nomination for R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour, a horror TV series for children that airs on Teletoon in Canada, in the Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Photography (Film or Electronic) category. In other Emmy news, Canadian editor Don Cassidy, C.C.E. was nominated in the category of Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or Movie for his work on Hatfields & McCoys, Part 2. The series also garnered a nomination for Canadian post house Urban Post in the sound editing category. Meanwhile, Ron Stannett csc just finished shooting the action adventure film Marine Home Front with director Scott Wiper.

WFW Chairman Paul Bronfman Joins ACCT Board The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Chairman Martin Katz in June announced the appointment of WFW Chairman/CEO Paul Bronfman to its Board of Directors.

“The Academy Board just grows stronger with the addition of the driving force of Paul Bronfman who has decades of experience helping to build Canada’s screen-based industry and infrastructure,” Katz said. In addition, Bronfman and WFW Executive Vice President/COO Paul Roscorla were recently honoured by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) with the prestigious Friend of the Industry Award. The award is presented to individuals or companies that have made significant contributions to facilitate and support Alberta’s film and television production industry.

Michael Balfry csc

ASC Names New President Stephen Lighthill asc has been elected to serve as president of the American Society of Cinematographers. Lighthill takes over the reins from outgoing President Michael Goi asc, who served a maximum three consecutive terms. This will be Lighthill’s first turn as ASC president. Lighthill currently is the chair of the cinematography program at the American Film Institute Conservatory.

New Shot Listing App Includes Multi-Camera Support

Photo by Douglas Kirkland

The new shot listing app, Shot Lister, released in June by Vancouver filmmaker Zach Lipovsky, can build, organize, schedule and share shot lists digitally. It can also assign shots to up to 11 cameras and group them together to be shot simultaneously.

Redlab Acquires Soho and Alchemy Redlab Digital in June announced its expansion of operations.

The acquisition of Soho’s postproduction services, and Alchemy’s design and animation division completes Redlab as a full service picture postproduction facility.

Stephen Lighthill asc

Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012 •

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I

n an old factory in north Toronto, cobblestone streets, tenement facades, and laundry lines hung with bloomers have replaced auto parts and machinery to portray the former New York neighbourhood known as Five Points, a crime-ridden slum that for decades was the scene of riots, gang fights and rampant prostitution.

It’s the set of BBC America’s first original scripted series, Copper, which follows a Civil War veteran turned detective struggling to maintain law and order within a corrupt and disorganized police system in mid-1800s Manhattan. Although it’s an era long revisited in feature films – Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York comes to mind – television is somewhat of a new territory for 19th century Gotham City.

For Paul Sarossy csc, bsc, who shot the first two seasons of the historical drama The Borgias, both the historical context and the unique lighting it required made Copper an attractive project.

“For a cinematographer, Copper is really interesting because you’re put in a situation where you have to invent a whole universe and you’re able to do that because you’re on a sound stage,” Sarossy says. “You have a whole neighbourhood that’s been built by necessity because it doesn’t exist anymore. Plus, because it’s a period project set in 1860s Manhattan, it’s actually a great education about the world at that time. It’s interesting visually right from the start.”

the lighting, in a way, has to reflect that. Artificial light has to be a flame or a candle or a lantern. And that very much aims you creatively in a very specific direction,” he says. “I think those limitations are wonderful. It channels you into a place that you must go. And you can divorce yourself from many false avenues as a result.”

Most of the first season of Copper was shot in the former auto parts factory within which the production had to find a way to simulate the urban light of the 1800s.

As with The Borgias, Sarossy rooted his approach to lighting Copper in the context of the world he was creating.

“We built an exterior town in an interior building. When you go in, it has zero light, so you have to create light,” says gaffer Frank Tata. “It was supposed to be a dark, un-sunny place. So we needed a large, very soft ambient light.”

“It obliges you to limit what you can do because the period is pre-photography, pre-electricity, pre-Industrial Revolution, so

To achieve a general ambient overhead, the crew painted over most of the existing skylights in the factory.

4 • Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012

Credit: Cineflix (Copper) Inc./BBC America/ Shaw Media

By Fanen Chiahemen Tom Weston-Jones as Detective Kevin Corcoran & Anastasia Griffith as Elizabeth Haverford in Copper.

Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012 •

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“In the beginning of the year, because the sun was so low it was actually ambient. But as the months went on, we actually started to get proper sunlight, and we started diffusing it,” Tata recalls.

“Sometimes it was a bit too bright in there, and we didn’t really have the lighting capacity to match what was there. And at the end of the day, the sun came round and shone onto our blue screen so we had to control that.”

To that end, crewmembers built an 18,000-square-foot lighting structure that they called “The Cloud,” essentially a controllable skylight of which entire sections or individual heads could be controlled for colour and intensity.

“In real life you stand on the streets, and you may be lit only by the ambience of the sky without being hit by the sun, and then you go round the corner and there’s a much harder light. We’re recreating that in a studio. The big difference is it stays there as long as you want instead of moving,” Sarossy says, laughing. “On location that’s a whole science onto itself. You can shoot a scene that takes place in three minutes, and you’re going to shoot it all day long, and the sun starts in one place in the morning, and you have to re-organize to keep a continuum.”

Images Credit: Cineflix (Copper) Inc./BBC America/ Shaw Media

The Cloud, which was fitted with large-bank fluorescents, was too big to run all the cabling to a central point, and had to be controlled manually with breakers throughout the set.

“It was very labour intensive,” Tata explains. “Six guys needed to go off and do that for about 10 minutes. “ On the other side of the factory, which had been designed to recreate uptown Manhattan, was the one skylight that had not been painted over, and at first the crew used natural daylight but then gradually began to diffuse it and then re-light it.

Above: Director Jeff Woolnough sets up a scene during the filming of Copper.

Below: Actors film a scene on the set of Copper.

“There’s a natural diffusion on the skylight,” Sarossy says. “We’ve put silks and whatnot on it to make it look nicer. Then the grips carried that further with adjustable/retractable grypholins.”

To replicate sunlight, Sarossy used 12-light Dinos and 20Ks either on lifts, towers or on pipes that were moved around with condors and scaffolding towers.

“We used Dinos or Maxi Brutes because they’re very powerful, but they’re tungsten and they can have 20 or 16 lights in them,” Sarossy says. “I find them much more versatile that using a big HMI light, which is one light and you can’t dim it. To me there are so many more tungsten lights in terms of shape and size, and they’re ultimately a lot smaller. They don’t have big ballasts and cables and stuff, so they’re kind of easier to use.

“So we mix the tungsten sun, which is warmer, with the available natural light, which is bluer, and find a happy balance.”

The dimmer board that controlled the lighting was tethered to an Asus slate, a PC-based tablet, operated by Nigel Draper, who could “very quickly isolate this light from that light, put this one on a cue of some sort, so it’s very articulate in that sense,” Sarossy says.

6 • Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012

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Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012 •

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Recreating the 1800s inevitably means devising candlelight or firelight for night scenes, something that Sarossy had lots of practice with.

“Now that HD has become so sensitive, you can light things with candles, and The Borgias was a great prep for this,” he says. “But whereas two years ago we had to electrify a lantern and put in a little bulb and hide it and that would be lighting pretending to be a candle, last year we just put a candle in and it worked very well.

“One of the main issues visually was not to create a period piece but in fact try to create a contemporary story much in the language of modern police dramas but set in this unusual context of 1864. In many ways, the attempt visually was to keep it alive and modern, even though the story is very old fashioned,” he continues.

“And after that we started building little rigs that had candles in them, where you can have a group of eight candles and position that.”

“So there were a lot of situations where we were handheld, and we were enhancing the grain in the contrast and whatnot to make the material not distant but very close to reality.”

But with these new possibilities came pitfalls that sometimes had Sarossy longing for the old style.

Copper was primarily a two-camera ARRI ALEXA shoot, but Go-Pro cameras were convenient for the action sequences that involved fast-moving carriages. “You can stick them all over the place; it allows all sorts of angles you wouldn’t normally have with the big cameras,” Sarossy says.

“Because of the movies, you always think of candlelight as very soft, warm light, and in fact it’s actually a very hard light, a not very flattering light, and if you have this little rig with eight candles, you have eight shadows, so you’re discovering that in many instances you want to go back to the old methods because they actually look better,” he says.

Image Credit: Cineflix (Copper) Inc./BBC America/ Shaw Media

On the other hand, the producers did not want a period piece in the traditional sense.

The Canon D5, with its good video mode, also came in handy in some instances. “It opens up all sorts of possibilities because the camera is very small and you can put it in places you couldn’t do before. The irony is To simulate lantern light, Sarossy hid lights that it’s a great set, but if you look too high, behind furniture – sometimes a tungsten light Paul Sarossy csc, bsc. you look off the set, so having this increased bounced into some white cloth or a small Kino freedom with these smaller cameras is ironiFlo. cally not always the best thing for us. But we were trying to use all those different tools.”

“They’re very convenient for putting behind a chair and other places. I tend to put them in a way that they’re at the edge of the Street scenes were more comfortable to shoot, at least in one frame. For the operator it’s a bit tricky,” he says, chuckling. sense, because of the space available for cameras and lighting.

The challenge was shooting in bedrooms and bordellos.

Another device Sarossy carried over from The Borgias was the use of smoke.

“The main character has a very small apartment in this decrepit tenement building. So every time we go into those places it takes “There’s multiple justifications for smoke,” he explains. “Film is a a lot of time. It’s complicated, and it’s harder to light because very flattering medium for the face and the production design and there’s very few options in there, and everyone’s sort of on top what not. HD is not. Smoke helps to knock the detail down a bit.” of each other, so I would say in a way the most challenging part for the cinematographer is dealing with those small locations,” But smoke can be tricky. “We’re not in a proper studio; we’re in Sarossy explains. an industrial space. The temperature changes from February to May,” Sarossy explains. “Smoke works better or worse depend- Aside from trying to fit all the lighting into a small space, he ing on the situation. It can be a time waster, as you’re waiting for continues, “the other parts of the room that are off camera, you smoke to be perfect. But definitely photographically it does cre- have to get rid of the furniture in order to work there. All the ate a look that makes it stylized but also more realistic.” furniture has to leave, and nobody can do their work setting up the lighting and the camera till the furniture is gone. So by the The time and location not only informed the lighting but also time you add up the process every time you move the camera, it’s the choices of composition and camera movement. hours in the day.”

“I think part of the thing that the producers were interested in achieving was to make it a kind of modern police story. It was the birth of police work and the whole notion of forensics and studying dead bodies to discover how people were killed. That kind of situation obliges the cameras to a certain degree,” the cinematographer explains.

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Still, Sarossy maintains that when it comes to lighting shows like this, “the biggest challenge is not taking too much advantage of all the toys you have. Something may be practical and time efficient, but is it better? I think the cinematographer is obliged to try to balance those things as much as possible and maintain a kind of discipline.”

Canadian Cinematographer - June 2012 •

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Reflections: An Interview with DOP

Tony Costa

By Roy Marques

What first attracted you to films?

I remember when I was eight years old imagining making films before falling asleep. I grew up watching TV at a very early age.

My parents moved back to Portugal when I was six years old, and there was no electricity or television in their village. I used to complain about not having a TV, so my mother arranged for a TV set that could be powered from a car battery. I was the happiest boy on Earth when my father and mother arrived from town with a small TV that I still keep in my loft. I wouldn’t miss one episode of Bonanza, Daniel Boone and classic movies of the ‘40’s. My first outing to the cinema was when I was five. My mother took me to see The Jungle Book in a cinema on James Street in Hamilton.

She says she has never seen me so happy as I was on that day.

Where did you study film and take workshops while you were in Canada?

I was 21 years old when I arrived in Toronto. I worked at Caledonian Labs while taking night courses at George Brown and Trinity Square Video. Later I knew of an opening at Medallion Film Labs in Toronto. I called, asked for an interview, and the following day I was hired. Later I found out about a Panavision workshop for camera assistants, applied and took the two or three weeks’ training. I got an invitation as a trainee loading magazines in music videos and commercials. Cinema was growing a lot in Toronto at the time, and with many American movies coming in, I knew I could have a bright future. In late 1988, I got a job in a feature film directed by Ken McMullen as a clapper loader. I haven’t stopped since.

What did you learn as a lab technician at Medallion in

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Toronto? How did it help with your role as a DOP? I didn’t really work as a colourist, but I was always after my colleagues, watching what they were doing. I witnessed the assembling of the very first TK machine. I used to watch the client rushes whenever I could; I was doing very well at Medallion Film Labs.

Your first feature length film was Sans Elle, directed by Anna Da Palma. How did you like using the semi pro Panasonic DVC Pro 50 format?

At first I didn’t. I was confronted with great budget limitations since it was Anna’s first feature film. François D’Artemare, a French producer based in Lisbon, convinced me to go ahead with the DVC Pro, which he had just acquired for the company. I took the camera with me, and over the following weeks I extensively tested the capacity of the camera. It was new for all of us; the lab didn’t have any experience dealing with the format. We knew that some colleagues had shot features with the same conditions in France, but there was no experience in Portugal of shooting features with this format. I tested the camera in different lighting situations until I grabbed one particular look that I thought would serve the film’s story. It was a great production after all, but some problems came after shooting. I had made a few mistakes that I could have avoided easily on set, like one bathroom scene where we shot a mother trying to get rid of the bloody clothing on her son. I didn’t like that shot along with other shots in the kitchen and in the bathroom. In both scenes the walls were covered with tiles that had very shiny surfaces, which gave me some trouble managing from the digital intermediate to 35 mm. The budget was already blown and I couldn’t manage to get another copy of the film. Fortunately, the film was selected for a film festival and the producer could make another copy. I managed to separate the three scenes that I wasn’t happy about and worked them between digital and scanning to 35 mm, and after a few tests I was happy with the result. The look of the film suited the story and Anna’s intentions very well.

How would you describe the merits or disadvantages of traditional film formats?

In comparison to the Sans Elle shoot in 2001, the differences today are amazing. Using an HDSLR in comparison to the Panasonic format is heaven. Despite the great evolution of digital formatting, I am still very fond of film. It is not just because I am conservative, but the look of the image is still magic to me. The grain, the subtle tones, the highlights, and most of all

Credit: Nuno Miguel Silva

Tony Costa is the founder of the Portuguese Society of Cinematographers (AIP). He was born to Portuguese immigrants in 1962 in Hamilton, Ontario, and relocated to his parents’ native country at the age of six. Although he returned briefly to Canada after high school, he developed his career as a cinematographer in Portugal. He has worked on dozens of films in various capacities including clapper loader, focus puller, camera operator and cinematographer, all the while being active in industry organizations (he was vice-president of IMAGO – the European Federation of Cinematographers – between 2004 and 2008), and promoting cinematographers’ authorship rights. He is also a professor at the University of Lusofona in Lisbon.

Costa talks with associate csc member Roy Marques about his career trajectory, his advocacy, and how changes in the industry have impacted the cinematographer.

Tony Costa shooting the short film Blue Pencil with actor Antรณnio Rama.

Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012 โ ข

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Tony Costa

the discipline that film has over crew and filmmakers in contrast with the indiscipline we experience while shooting in HD. The quality of the image we capture on film is so much more valuable to work on, giving us such a wide range of colour and tones that is not possible to get on digital even with the new digital cameras like RED or ALEXA. It is a false image, too sharp, too strong colours, mechanic, plastic and terrible on highlights. When you work on film you care for the direction of light and the mood to give to the scene. When you work on digital you worry about the highlight coming from the window, or from the sparkling cars, and that takes quite a lot of artistic thinking while on set. On the other hand, rehearsals being shot on digital are rare. A close-up of an actor is always tricky when shooting digital. The contrast is, in my experience, much more difficult than with film. The contrast separation between light and shadow is crucial on close-ups, and I always get a bit annoyed with the result in certain faces. In average digital shooting you are obliged to go to the flat solution of lighting the face. The Hollywood glamour light solution solves many of these cases. I have never used that technique shooting on film, but with digital I found myself obliged to use it.

You founded the Portuguese Society of Cinematographers (AIP) and have been involved with a lot of other organizations within the industry. What has been your experience with these societies?

From living in Canada I noticed the importance of social organizations and how important it is for a professional class.

When I got back to Portugal, I found myself involved with the Union. Much later, in 1998, I founded the Portuguese Society of Cinematographers while I was still working as a focus puller.

Cinematographers and camera assistants got together and we founded the AIP. I was president from 1998 to 2005, and recently I became president for two more years. In the meantime, I also helped originate the Film Workers’ Association (CPAV).

I was vice-president of IMAGO from 2004 to 2008. I recently founded the Portuguese Academy of Cinema where I bear the place of treasurer on the board. My career has some setbacks because of my associative activity. Producers do not particularly like such an active person around when speaking about the rights of people or about authorship rights for cinematographers, as I have been doing for a decade. The Portuguese cinematographers were recognized by our Collective Society due to the efforts of AIP while I was president the first time. In such a small industry where everyone knows each other, word travels very quickly. It is natural that a personality like mine would suffer some retaliation.

Surprisingly, I do not regret any of the paths that I have chosen.

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On the contrary, I feel really good and proud of all these efforts to gain prestige for my profession and for my colleagues.

What challenges do you think face DOPs in the Portuguese Society of Cinematographers?

There are very difficult times ahead for cinematographers and filmmakers in general. Despite the boom of digital means and easy distribution, it seems that the level of production hasn’t increased. Even with so many TV channels and the Internet, it seems distribution in the industry has gained very little. What we do have is a great diversity of products that have taken spectators from the theatre and kept them at home consuming contents of doubtful quality. The proliferation of digital means to capture has pushed the cinematographer into a secondary position due to lack of funding. These days the DOP’s challenge is not restricted to learning how to dominate the digital machine, but to adapt his way of working to the new fast tracking that the digital era has brought us. Before digital, the cinematographer was a kind of magician, only the DOP could make magic with the images.

Today you have a bunch of opinion-makers behind a screen directing your framing and lighting. It is not that bad, in fact this is the time when you share the composition and the mood immediately on set, but it is the position of the cinematographer that has been weakening. The challenge to overcome in the near future is to make all young filmmakers understand the importance of having the director of photography on a film and to take advantage of his experience and knowledge.

What strides are being made in securing the ownership rights during this era of evolving digital technologies?

IMAGO, the European Federation of Cinematographers, has for long worked on defending the recognition of authorship for cinematographers in Europe and abroad. It has been a difficult task to reach, with little or no success. The only exception was Poland where legislation was approved by recognizing the cinematographer co-authorship. In many other countries, like France and Spain, cinematographers don’t receive as much recognition. So IMAGO has promoted many conferences at the EU to make legislators understand the work and artistry of the cinematographer. Fortunately, in Portugal our Collective Rights Society (SPA) has recognized the cinematographer’s authorship, which enables us to receive secondary rights. However, [the cinematographer] is not recognized as being the co-author of a film. If all of Europe secures the recognition of co-authorship, we could regain the prestige cinematographers have lost to some extent with the digital age.

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ProFusion 2012 PRO VIDEO EXPO

Photos by Kayla-Jane Barrie

By Guido Kondruss

Clockwise: from above: Joan Hutton csc demonstrates interview lighting techniques. Trying out a SIGMA camera. A CSC prospect. Sarah Moffat leads a workshop on “Creating a Great Documentary.”

A

t times the crowd in front of the CSC booth at this year’s ProFusion pro imaging exposition was three people deep.

All were either inquiring about the society, looking over the roster of courses and workshops being offered in the coming months, or simply watching the large-screen Sony monitor with its continuous loop of film clips from the winners and nominees from the 55th Annual CSC Awards Gala.

The CSC was one of over 120 exhibitors at ProFusion 2012. While it was a hectic two days in June, it was ultimately a very rewarding venture for the CSC. Hundreds of copies of Canadian Cinematographer were handed out, and through one-on-one discussions, scores of people who were not familiar with the CSC, became acquainted with the Society’s offerings and initiatives. So much so that several people signed up and became new CSC members on the spot. By the end of ProFusion, it seemed like everyone of the 4,000 registered tradeshow attendees inside the Toronto Congress Centre had stopped by the CSC booth to chat and ask questions. This was a great feeling!

14 • Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012

Manning the CSC booth at various times during ProFusion was President Joan Hutton csc, executive members Carlos Esteves csc, Sarah Moffat and Ernie Kestler, CSC Executive Director Susan Saranchuk, her assistant Karen Longland and myself, Guido Kondruss, CSC Advertising Manager.

ProFusion, which began just three short years ago, is rapidly rising to become the standard for professional imaging tradeshows in Canada. Vistek, which originated and produces ProFusion, says it was an idea waiting to happen.“Every year we attended tradeshows around the world, and after every show, we’d come back and say to ourselves, why isn’t there anything like that in this country?” says Christopher Huchenski, Vistek Creative Director. “We were already well established in the pro photography arena. Besides, the fusion of photography and video with the popularity of HDDSLRs was well under way. We followed up with a combined pro video/photography tradeshow, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

According to Esteves, it should be a stop on every cinematographer’s agenda. “There are not many tradeshows like the ProFusion in Canada,” says Esteves. “For any cinematographer, staying on top of the industry is important. Attending a trade show such as ProFusion helps you to do that, to become aware of what’s out there. It’s a good thing to meet with equipment suppliers, to talk with them, to touch and try out new equipment. It can keep you ahead of the game.”

An important element that helps drive ProFusion’s growing reputation as a must-attend event is its full slate of workshops and seminars by professionals on a wide array of topics. Two of the workshops that played to capacity audiences were conducted by Hutton – who demonstrated “Interview Lighting” techniques – and Sarah Moffat, who outlined the path for “Creating a Great Documentary.” Both workshops were very well received by their participants.

Ross Grasse, IKAN International Sales Manager, travels the globe promoting IKAN products and says that ProFusion has a distinct advantage over the super-sized trade shows: “NAB can be a little daunting, so can CINEC, they’re giant shows,” says Grasse. “ProFusion is great, to get the job done quickly and efficiently. It’s an easy show to attend and focus on for a day or two.”

And keeping ahead of the game in the highly competitive film and television industry is what it’s all about. We’ll see everyone at ProFusion 2013.

VANCOUVER

VANCOUVER

CALGARY

CALGARY

604-527-7262 403-246-7267 So, is ProFusion a must for Canadian cinematographers?

604-527-7262 403-246-7267

TORONTO

416-444-7000 TORONTO

HALIFAX

HALIFAX

902-404-3630

416-444-7000

Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012 •

902-404-3630

15

Tech Column

Litepad Loop from Rosco

Rosco’s LitePad Loop.

By Sarah Moffat

Rosco has made Loop Masks, which make a perfect light shape of whatever is on the mask and are amazingly sharp in eye reflection enlargements.

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Camera photo by Sarah Moffat

osco is known for its great filters, gels, silks, and the excellent Rosco View. But in recent years, the company has progressed into the market of LED light panels called Litepads. At this year’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual technology exhibition, Rosco launched something called the LitePad Loop, an LED ring light. Jeff Armstrong, Sales Consultant, sent over a brand new Pro kit to test out.

I had the Litepad Loop for a week on a corporate destination web series I shoot in HD. The location lighting is consistently overhead ceiling pot-lights found in most hotels and conferencing rooms. I tend to use a mix of what is available, plus a small light kit, and I also tried out the Rosco Loop for some fill on close-ups.

It proved to be a quick and easy fix to cancel out shadows cast from ceiling lights without creating others. And it offered a nice even softness to interviews. For correction, Rosco includes a precut gel kit of magentas, CTOs, and cosmetics that attach utilizing a magnetic accessory collar. What surprised me was the gels are hard – made of Rosco’s E-colour filter technology backed onto 15 mm plastic, obviously lasting longer than standard pliable gels.

For fun, Rosco has made Loop Masks, which make a perfect light shape of whatever is on the mask. (See the image of the eye close up!) They are amazingly sharp in eye reflection enlargements, and very cool when reflected on sunglasses. Could be interesting on

16 • Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012

any reflective surface close-ups including product shots, as well as in shot practical set lights for sci-fi/action stuff!

The Loop has LEDs on both the inside and outside perimeters of the “O” shape, allowing for maximum brightness. Rosco is very clear on its function as a close-up light, and suggests, “The fall off is considerable and is best used in close proximity to the subject.” I used it on the lens with an EX3 and also on a separate stand at about 4 to 5 feet from subjects. The magenta and cosmetic filters together allowed for a fast solution when dealing with two different skin tones in one frame, as the fairer tone picked up some green. The cosmetic filter gave a professional pink-like hue, while magenta cancelled the green. The Loop is daylight-balanced, approximately 5800K. Rosco has clearly put thought into the design of the whole system. At just over 9 inches in diameter with a 4.4 inch centre hole, the housing is a durable, shatter-resistant plastic, and has a slim profile with a thickness of only 1.3 inches. The Mounting Assembly, which holds the Loop to camera or stand is built from aluminum, with threading for tripod quick release plates in 3/8s, and ¼-20” inch options. From there, 15 mm rods go between the tripod plate and the Loop bracket creating a sled. The camera mounts onto the tripod plate of the assembly via ¼-20 bolt, and the Loop then snaps onto the bracket at the length of the lens.

It literally snaps into place using high-powered magnets that attach to the metal bracket. You can move the sled backwards and forwards on the rods and adjust the Loop up and down simply by pulling it off the magnetic bracket to reposition. It’s a snap!

Power can go AC and DC. Rosco developed two cheese-plate adapters - one that allows you to attach Anton Bauer batteries,

Š Kodak, 2012. Kodak is a trademark.

Film Matters. Tell the world why at www.kodak.com/go/filmm atters Film. No Compromise.

CSC_Ad_Outlines.pdf

1

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and another to attach V-Mount batteries. Eight AA batteries can also power the light using the AA box attachment. I used the AC connector with the Loop dimmer, quick and easy!

A well-made ring light casts practically no shadows on the closeup subject, and when on axis can greatly reduce wrinkles and blemishes. The shadowless light output of the Loop looks very smooth, and it is easier on the eyes of a subject than direct LEDs, causing less blinking and strain over time, thus allowing for vibrant glow in the eyes to really stand out.

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Attributes of a good ring light are: lightweight with a slim profile, soft light output, battery powered, and attaches to camera easily.

Rosco’s Litepad Loop meets all of these specs successfully.

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The fancy Pro kit comes in its own carrying case with these extras: a dimmer, 8-inch rods for longer camera bodies, 4-inch LBracket that allows greater vertical positioning, and a light-stand plate that allows you to quickly attach the Loop magnetically to an off-axis stand.

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I enjoyed using the Loop as easy smooth fill on close-ups, and also playing with the Loop Masks to create effects in reflections.

Try this out for your next rock star CU! Sarah Moffat’s camera experience includes motion picture and still photography. She has worked in narrative, documentary/factual and live broadcast.

18 • Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012

Used Leica Geo System Disto Laser Measurement Devices Attention crew technicians interested in selling used Leica Disto Laser Measurement devices for cash to upgrade to newer models. Contact: Alan J. Crimi, Panavision Canada Corp. at 416-2587239, shipping, receiving and client services at 416-444-7000 or alan.crimi@panavision.com. www.panavision.com.

Wanted: 35mm and 16mm prints. I have recently acquired a 35mm projector and would like to have a print library on hand. If you have or know of any film prints gathering dust and in need of a caring home, contact Christopher at 902 644 3604 or cbifilms@eastlink.ca Short-Term Accommodation for Rent Visiting Vancouver for a shoot? One-bedroom condo in Kitsilano on English Bay with secure underground parking, $350 per week. Contact: Peter Benison at 604-229-0861, 604-229-0861or peter@peterbenison.com.

Liberty Village Office Space Approximately 1,250 sq ft of fully furnished, turn-key office space in prime Liberty Village location available to established television or new media production company in shared office setting. Features include glassed boardroom, 2 closed door offices, internet access, alarm system and shared kitchen. Please reply by email to john@hlp.tv or call John at 647.891.4027 Equipment for Sale Equipment for sale!! All equipment in excellent shape!!

Panasonic AJHDX900P High Definition Camera, Panasonic Stereo Microphone, Canon Zoom Lens 8x160 (J20a x 8B4 IRS), Dionic 90 Anton Bauer Batteries & charger, Anton Bauer mini fill light 12 V, Marshall 7” HD-SDI LCD Monitor & accessories, 2 x Porta Brace camera bags, Sony Digital Betacam (DVW700) and accessories, Sachtler fluid head VIDEO 20 III & Sachtler tripod legs fibre & fibre case.

Call 613-255-3200, Total $ 25,000.- Item for sale: Meerkat Jib Arm, made by FILMAIR INTERNATIONAL. This is a mini jib for full compliment 35mm camera, lens and mattebox combination. It is a fixed length jib, very easy and fast set-up. Can be used on any dolly or tripod.

Jib arm is in very good condition. Comes with four weights and case. Full specs are on website: http://www.filmairinternational.com/camera_mounts.asp#MEERKATJIB Price $ 2,400.

Contact: Milan Podsedly csc milan.podsedly@gmail.com cell: 416 409-5758 Super 16 Bolex H 16 conversion, Switar 10mm, Macro Switar 26mm, Macro Switar 75mm Pistol grip, filter holders, Nikon to C mount adapter $2900.00 Call Antonin 647 999 7172 PL mount prime lens set (Sony) 35mm, 50mm 85mm all T2.0. Mint condition.

Used briefly for one shoot $5200.00 John Banovich, csc 604-726-5646 JohnBanovich@gmail.com Panasonic BT-S950P 16:9 / 4:3 SD Field Monitor for Sale (Excellent Condition) - $100. Portabrace included Please contact Christian at (416) 459-4895 or email cbielz@gmail.com OWN A PIECE OF CINEMA HISTORY: selling a vintage Bell & Howell 2709 camera with mags. THE film camera of the 1920s and ‘30s; assorted other goodies.

Contact: dkoch198@hotmail.com.

VIDEO & AUDIO GEAR FOR SALE: (2) HVX-200 Panasonic P2 Camcorders $1,500 each; (1) DSR-1500 Sony DVCAM recorder, $1,500; (1) Sony DSR-1 DVCAM dockable recorder $1,000; (3) Sony PVV-3 Betacam recorders $500 each; (3) Mitsubishi XL25U video projectors $500 each; (1) Mackie 1604VLZ audio mixer $500; (1) Glidecam PRO2000 camera stabilizer $200; (1) Glidecam DVPRO RIG camera stabilizer $300; (1) Yamaha P2075 amplifier 75W stereo/150W mono

$500; (3) HVR-Z1U Sony HDV camcorders $1,000 each; (1) Sony DSR-300 DVCAM camcorder $1,500; (1) For-A VPS-400D 8 input SDI switcher $2,700; (2) Sony WRT822/WRR861 wireless transmitter/receiver – no mic - $750 each; (2) Sony BRC-300 remote control P/T/Z cameras $1,990 each. Call Ted Mitchener at ZTV Broadcast Services 905-290-4430 or email ted@ztvbroadcast.com.

Portable Gel Bin great for studio or location use, holds 24 Rosco or Lee colour correction, diffusion, reflective, scrim, etc., rolls outer dimensions measure 17.5x24x 63 inches, not including wheels and sturdy wooden construction, painted black, bottom and back wheels, side handles hinged front & top, locks for added safety, handy reference chart, $250 obo; Darkroom Safety Lights popular Model D type, accepts 10x12 inches safelight filters (possibly included, depending which kind you’re looking for), takes 7½-, 15- or 25-watt bulb, excellent condition, $50 each. Contact: Andrew at dp@andrewwatt.com.

Beta SP DXC-D30WSP/PVV3P, PAL, 262 hours drum time, $ 1,000; Sony Beta SP DXC-D30WS/PVV3, NTSC, 251 hours drum time,$1,000; Sony BetaCam SX DNW-7, NTSC, 257 hours drum time, $1,000; and IKEGAMI DV-CAM HL-DV7AW, NTSC, mint condition, as new, 61 hours drum time, $1,500. All cameras with porta-brace covers. All owned by me and serviced by Sony Hong Kong.

Sony Beta SP/SX player/recorders, DNW-A25P X2, PAL & NTSC, 500 & 644 hours drum time, $1,500; Satchler 575 HMI, open-face, mint condition with spare bulb, $1,500 & case. The lot for $4,000. Contact: Francois Bisson atblitzvideo@mac.com.

Sony BVW-400a Betacam SP Camcorder camera used by professional cinematographer (one owner), never rented out. Comes complete with Fujinon A15x8BEVM-28 lens, Petroff matte box with 4x4 and 4x5.6 filter holders, remote zoom and focus control for lens, six Cadnica NP-1 batteries, Sony BC-1WD battery charger, Porta-Brace fitted cover with rain jacket (like new) and Sony factory hard shipping case and manuals. Lens and camera professionally maintained by factory technicians. Usage hours are: A – 1,918 hours; B – 1,489 hours; C – 4,286 hours, $10,000.00 obo. Contact: Craig Wrobleski csc at 403-995-4202.

Aaton XTR Super 16 package including body, video relay optics, extension eyepiece, three magazines, Cooke 10.5-mm¬–60-mm S-16 zoom lens, Zeiss 9.5 prime lens, 4x4 matte box, 4x4 filters (85,85N6, polarizer, ND6, clear), follow focus and cases $12,000. Nikon 50–300-mm F4-5 E.D. lens with support, $1,000.

Kinoptik 9–8-mm 35-mm format lens c/with sunshade. Contact: stringercam@ shaw.ca or mike@imagegearinc.com.

New Video Camera Rain Covers. Custom rain covers for sale. New design that fits and protects most Sony PMW EX3, Canon XHHDV, Panasonic VX200 cameras with the viewfinder extending toward the rear of the camera, $200. Noiseless rain cover for the external camera microphone, $30. Onboard Monitor rain cover, camera assistants can see the focus during the shot. No more hassles in the rain, $60. Custom Red One camera covers available upon request. Also can sew various types of heavy-duty material. Repairs and zipper replacement on equipment and ditty bags. Contact: Lori Longstaff at 416-452-9247 or llong@ rogers.com.

For Sale 28-Foot Black Camera Trailer with new brakes and tires, 20-foot awning, dark room, viewing lounge, two countertops with lots of storage space, heating and air conditioned, side windows and three access doors. Contact: jwestenbrink@rogers.com.

Services Need your reel updated? Looking for an editor? I am a CSC associate member who is also an editor with my own FCP suite. I am willing to trade my edit suite time in exchange for rental of your gear, or shooting advice, or both. Please send email to miurabucho@gmail.com.

Camera Classified is a free service provided for CSC members.

For all others, there is a one-time $25 (plus GST) insertion fee. Your ad will appear here and on the CSC’s website, www.csc.ca. If you have items you would like to buy, sell or rent, please email your information to editor@csc.ca.

Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012 •

19

CLassifieds

Equipment Wanted

PRODUCTIONS & CALENDAR

Production Notes Beauty and the Beast (series); DOP D. Gregor Hagey csc; OP Sean Jensen; to December 20, Toronto Christmas With Holly (TV movie); DOP Charles Minsky; OP Forbes MacDonald Jr; to September 5, Halifax Covert Affairs III (series); DOP Colin Hoult csc & Jamie Barber; OP Michael Carella; to October 31, Toronto Cracked (series); DOP Norayr Kasper csc; OP Dino Laurenza; to December 4, Etobicoke Defiance (series); DOP Thomas Burstyn csc, frsa, nzcs; OP Jim Van Dijk; to November 9, Toronto The Good Witch's Fate (TV movie); DOP John Berrie csc; OP Paula Tymchuk; to September 12, Toronto Haven III (series); DOP Barry A. Donlevy; OP Christopher Ball csc; to September 6, Chester Hemlock Grove (series); Steven B. Poster ASC & Fernando Arguelles; OP Kevin Jewison; to December 14, Toronto The LA Complex II (series); DOP Alwyn Kumst csc; OP Jeremy Lyall; to August 31, Toronto Lost Girl III (series); DOP David Greene csc; OP Dave Sheridan; to September 7, Toronto Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones (series); DOP Geir Andreassen; OP Robert Stecko; to November 6, Toronto Murdoch Mysteries VI (series); DOP James E. Jeffrey csc; OP Michael Fylyshtan; to September 28, Toronto The Next Step (series); DOP Kim Derko csc; OP Brad Hruboska; to September 6, Mississauga Red II (feature); DOP Enrique Chediak; to October 12, Montreal Republic of Doyle IV (series); DOP Malcolm Cross; OP Tony Guerin; to December 14, St. John’s Suits II (series); DOP John Aronson; OP Michael Soos; to October 19, Toronto Wolves (feature); DOP Scott Kevan; to October 25, Toronto

Calendar of Events September

October

Aug. 31-9, Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, vlaff.org

10-14, Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival, Toronto, planetinfocus.org

6-16, Toronto International Film Festival, tiff.net 13-20, Atlantic Film Festival, Halifax, atlanticfilm.com 15-13, Cinéfest International Film Festival, Sudbury, ON, cinefest.com 19-23, Ottawa International Animation Festival, animationfestival.ca 20-30, Calgary International Film Festival, calgaryfilm.com

10-21, Festival du nouveau cinéma, Montreal, nouveaucinema.ca 12-20, Antimatter: Underground Film Festival, Victoria, B.C., antimatter.ws 16-20, St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, St. John’s, NL, womensfilmfestival.com

27-Oct. 12, Vancouver International Film Festival, viff.org

17-21, imagineNATIVE Film Festival, Toronto, imaginenative.org

28-Oct. 6, Edmonton International Film Festival, edmontonfilmfest.com

18-26, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, torontoafterdark.com

29-30, CSC Basic Lighting Course, Toronto, csc.ca

Sept. 27-Oct. 12, Vancouver International Film Festival, viff.org Sept. 28-Oct. 6, Edmonton International Film Festival, edmontonfilmfest.com

Subscribe to Canadian Cinematographer online www.csc.ca

20 • Canadian Cinematographer - September 2012

One-year subscriptions are available in Canada for $40.00 for individuals and $80.00 for institutions, including HST. In U.S. rates are $45.00 and $90.00 for institutions in U.S. funds. International subscriptions are $50.00 for individuals and $100.00 for institutions. Subscribe online at www.csc.ca.

CUT. SHAPE. FOCUS. TUNE. ARRI introduces the first LED-based lights to truly match the versatility and homogeneity of conventional tungsten Fresnels: a new generation of focusable, tuneable lights that offers complete control, combining breakthrough performance with incredible efficiency.

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PMW-200 Blockbuster performance for Indie budgets!

As the only professional handheld camcorder with three 1/2 inch Exmor CMOS Sensors and Full HD (1920x1080) with broadcast accepted MPEG 4:2:2 50 Mbps recording as MXF files, the PMW-200 is poised to set a new benchmark in portable affordable production.

and a wide dynamic range, the PDW-200 is an ideal new recording star for television production.

Expand your imagination. Come see for yourself the power of the PDW-200. Speak to a member of our Professional Video Solutions Group, today at Vistek.

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