Updated Demo Reel

I just updated my demo reel with a few new clips - nothing major but I felt it was necessary to update with all the shooting I've done since the last revision back in February. There's some new stuff from "A Short Film", "Lost Sock", some odd random stuff and a slightly new title card treatment.

Click here to view new demo

Enjoy!

Festivals! (TIFF and DOC U Post Mortem)

I just received news that 3 projects I shot are being considered for the Toronto International Film Festival Student Showcase. Broken Lines, Teacher and "Lost Sock" (commercial) are all being considered for submissions. Decisions should be made by mid May.

Doc U finished yesterday. I can't believe it's only been a week since I started. It's been a great week seeing some really great films and meeting some really great people neither of which I will soon forget. My favourite films I saw were "Super Amigo's", "Lovable", "The Body Builder and I" and "Garbage Warrior"

Doc U

Today I started a program called Doc U in conjunction with the Hot Docs festival here in Toronto. Doc U is offered to graduating students interested in learning more about the Hot Docs festival and the documentary industry as a whole. There's a broad range of experiences and background in the other group of delegates and it's been great meeting everyone so far.

It should be an interesting week of workshopping and watching films...

Stacey Kaniuk - "Teacher" Music Video Coming Soon!

"Teacher" screened at the Royal Theatre in Toronto last night to a receptive audience. Thanks to everyone for their kind words. The video will be posted online very shortly. I'm just trying to figure out how to post it for a decent sized download without too much quality loss.

In the meantime check out Stacey's myspace site at www.myspace.com/staceykaniuk

Check back soon!

Broken Lines

A few updates on "Broken Lines" - a WWII period drama I shot back in November.

- The website and trailer are up at www.brokenlinesmovie.com.

- The film premieres April 19, 2007 at Royal Cinema, 608 College St. W, Toronto at 7pm. A small amount of tickets are available at the door.

"Murdoch's Other Eye" - Post Mortem

So the job was a little crazy to say the least and subsequently I have next to zero pictures of the setup and production - don't you hate when that happens! Since I don't have any photo support there's no real point in detailing my setups.

Here a few after thoughts about the job though:

- P+S Technik Mini35 adapter: Don't like it. It's really nice to have the depth of field control and have the ability to change lenses and to think of focal length in a conventional manner but I think it's too much of a compromise for what you gain. The rig requires heavier support gear, more people to maintain it, it's terrible for handheld, and you lose a good amount of light - I'm not really sure if it actually was 2 stops or not - I never had a chance to test it out. I think if you're going to shoot video, just shoot video for what it is and make the best of what the format is on its own. This hybrid mix of film gear and video backs doesn't work for me. Though there most certainly is a place for systems like these I would seriously reconsider using it again. It would really have to be the right project under the right conditions.

- Linear Bed/Camera Slider: Sort of fan of this, I just need more practice. The linear bed was generally great to have. It was more useful when I needed a quick reposition of the camera. Using it for actual dolly shots took some practice. When starting to move the camera from a cold stationary position it tended to stick and I'd get bumpy moves. We also were trying to get really slow creeping push-ins which didn't help because you'd be going so slow that sometimes you'd lose momentum and it would stick again. I tried tilting the sticks slightly in the direction of the move to use gravity which sort of helped. Near the end of the shoot I would get the movement going and then call frame which helped also. I hope to use it again but not without more practice. Does anyone have any tips?

- 90' Tight track: Doesn't work with Matthew's hot buttons. Hard lesson learnt.

- 6pt star filter: Really cool!

- Must buy T8 high CRI tubes - maybe 10-12 total.

- Really missed having 2' Kino's on this job - they could have been really handy. Have been spoilt on the last few jobs by having them. Gotta see if I can get a 2' 2bank.

- More thorough gearlists: I've been losing more stuff on shoots. Gotta compile, carry and use more thorough lists right down to the smallest items. Nothing lost on this job as far as I can tell but I left a sound blanket at a location and didn't even realize it- luckily i got it back.

- Crew: Really great crew on this one especially from two of the newest guys - Grant Wood and Rob Walsh who 1st AC'd and Grip/Sparked respetively. Really great hustle from both and can't say enough great things. The remaining crew did a great job also.

Overall I feel kind of disappointed in myself on this job. There was a lot of compromise that had to happen - which happens on every job - but it seemed to be more so on this particular project - it's never fun to tell a director you don't think a shot is going to work out. Katherine was really great in adapting to the situations.

On to the next one!

"Murdoch's Other Eye" - Night Before

Tomorrow I start production on "Murdoch's Other Eye". You can read the general storyline in my previous post below. The film is being directed by Katherine Fitzgerald.

We're shooting over the next 3 days (12 hour days schedule) with locations mainly at Humber College. Tomorrow we're in a house in Toronto shooting a small sequence in a bedroom.

The project is being shot on a DVX100A with a mini35 adapter. This is the first time I've used this system.

My equipment package is as followed.

Camera
- Panasonic DVX100A
- P+S Technik Mini35 adapter c/w PL mount
- Zeiss Hi-speed primes (18, 25, 35, 50, 85)
- O'Connor 2575 head
- Ronford 2-stage combo legs
- Mitchell Hi-hat
- Linear bed/Camera slider (first time using this also!)
- Follow Focus 4
- 2-stage clip on mattebox
- Filters: ND 3/6, Black Frosts 1/2, 1, White Frosts 1/4, 1/2, Polarizer
- 5" On-board monitor
- 9" Directors monitor

Lighting
(1) 1.2K HMI fresnel
(3) 650 Arri fresnels
(3) 300 Strand fresnels
(3) Dedo DLH4 heads
(1) 4' 4bank Kino flo
(1) Source 4 Leko
(1) 1K Red-head/Chimera
(3) 1K Dimmers
(10) AC 25'
(10) AC 50'

Grip
(2) Sky-hi's
(8) C-stands c/w head and arm
(1) 2K combo stand
(6) Cardellini
(4) Mafers c/w 750 pins
(5) Small Pony's
(5) Med Pony's
(4) Full Apple boxes
(4) 1/2 Apple boxes
(4) 1/4 Apple boxes
(4) Pancakes
(2) Box of wedges
(1) Large polecat
(1) Med polecat
(4) Scissor clamps
(2) 2K baseplates c/w 750 adapters
(10) Safety cables
(1) 6x6 kit complete
(1) 24x36 flags/net kit complete
(1) 18x24 flags/net kit complete
(1) 20x24 reflector kit
(20) Sandbags

DOLLY
(1) Matthew's Doorway Dolly
(2) 8' Straight
(1) 4' Straight
(2) 90' tight track

JIB
(1) EZ jib

Tomorrow's bedroom sequence will be taking place at night as our main character Stewart lies restless in bed. I'm planning on shining the 1.2K HMI through the window as moonlight and then some small fill with the kino. I'm used to lighting for a straight DVX or HVX and have come to know what to expect out of my lights. It's going to be interesting to see how much the adapter sucks up in a real-world environment and how I'm going to compensate.

We have a lot of coverage/setups planned on all the scenes but many shots will probably be combined on the day of as there will be tweaks with the blocking. Luckily I have a great crew on this job including a lot of my regular people - Angie Bailey (Gaffer), Harry Ycaza (Dolly Grip/Key Grip) and Rachel Punwassie (2nd AC). There's also some new faces including my 1st AC, Grant Wood, who was a great help today with camera prep. I'm excited to work with them all...

Camera equipment is coming from Panavision (with generous help from our 1st AD, Dave, who works there), Kingsway Camera, Complete Rentals and Image Gear. Lighting/Grip is mainly from Humber College rounded out with a few items from me.

Will post daily setups at the end of each day.

Happy Easter everyone!