5D mark II and 50mm 1.2 wide open

[mikekobal]

Hi Guys, it has been awhile since my last post. Excited to share my latest video clips and photos, shot with the 50mm, 1.2.
the video is shot wide open, def a pain to get the focus right, but doable, for photos at full resolution 1.2 is too soft and I went down to 1.6 or 2.
let me know what you think:
photos - click the middle button (only b/w one)
http://www.mikekobal.com
video - direct link here
http://www.mikekobal.com/blog/?p=756
probably my best combo shoot so far.
my first one-and in color- with the 50mm 1.2 wide open -is here
http://www.mikekobal.com/blog/?p=750
questions, please ask.
cheers,
Mike

[fredjeang]

Hi mike,

Beautifull. Really enjoyed the video but stayed a little bit frustrated because I would have liked more. It's rather short.

Model has personality, she's great. Music well appropriate.

I'm very much in your line about working with primes wide open.
It's a lenguage that has to be devellopped, and sure that in the future the MFD makers will join the video and will have even more narrow d.o.f

Congrats.

Fred

[mikekobal]

thanks a lot, Fred, glad you liked it. yeah, every time I put on a prime its like ....ahhhh, that's how its supposed to look at that focal length

[bradleygibson]

Damn, dude--nice video!  Great editing, soundtrack choice as well.  Someday, (in my copious free time), I'd like to learn how to put together impactful video like that--even a short demo reel would be cool.

Her coming across the bridge reminded me a bit of a John Woo scene.  Cool.

I don't know if you have any pointers for video n00bs, but I'd be grateful if you did.

[mikekobal]

thanks Bradly. hmmmm, lets see...shoot a lot, i mean, a lot! equipment control should be totally intuitive, exposure, focus etc...and it helps to choose one lens rather then zooming all over the place. even when i use zooms I use them like a prime.

[bradleygibson]

Thanks, Mike, but I didn't mean the mechanics of framing, shooting, focusing, etc., although those do take practice, of course. 

I was thinking about sequencing, storyboarding, pacing, choices for grading, etc.  Just wondering if you're aware of any good resources for those new to the art of video storytelling...

[PierreVandevenne]

I liked that book

Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know.

Can't say it has improved my film making abilities yet, but it has already changed the way I look at movies (knowing how things are done sometimes spoils the magic or gives the plot away).

I haven't found a good basic tutorial on stuff such as good scene lengths, best way to chain them, etc... though. I am also interested in pointers.
 

[fredjeang]

Is it a quite thik blue cover book with very simple b&W drawings inside?
I have a book in french called "la grammaire du language filmé" that I caught in a seminar in the actor studio years ago. A bible.
I wonder if it could be the same version in english.

[PierreVandevenne]

a vue de nez, non 

but that looks like an interesting book as well, thanks for the pointer.

[fredjeang]

It's this one: http://www.amazon.fr/grammaire-du-langage-film%C3%A9/dp/2859470468
They have another edition with a different cover (mine is blue minimalist) but it's from Daniel Arijon.
Very good reference book.

An english version exists: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grammar-Film-Language-Daniel-Arijon/dp/187950507X

but it seems that it might be a resumed edition. Not sure, maybe it's complete.

Worth to have it.

[mikekobal]

sorry for the late reply, Bradley, those clips/stories are totally improvised, I never know what styling I will get, don't really know the model or what she can do, build it as I go, remember the clips, and try to put it together as I shoot. Doesn't work all the time. Someone recommended "the writers journey" by Christopher Vogler, just started reading it..sounds interesting, but its just a book