WW2 Short Film shot on a V1 at DVinfo.net

Logan McMillan · December 19th, 2009, 09:50 PM

Hey all,

Just recently shot this short film for a TV competition....

YouTube - The Battle For Crete (ep 1) || New Zealand WW2 Series

Let me know what you think!

Cheers

Logan

Leslie Wand · December 19th, 2009, 10:24 PM

excellent - in fact, i'd say it's one of the best short's i've ever seen (and i'm 35+ years in tv).

well handled, beautifully executed.

very well done!!!

Marty Welk · December 20th, 2009, 01:25 AM

that is awesome , of course i like the action war flick stuff too.

but V1? V1 and What? how do you get human hairs flipping on frames with a video camera?
is that an effect you added or does the telecine guy need a hair net?

John McCully · December 20th, 2009, 01:43 AM

Nice one Logan; congrats. War is not my thing but hats off for production values. If you don't mind me asking what was the budget and how many hours, roughly, from go to DVD?

Cheers

John

Logan McMillan · December 20th, 2009, 11:32 PM

"very well done!!!"

Thanks!

"but V1? V1 and What? how do you get human hairs flipping on frames with a video camera?
is that an effect you added or does the telecine guy need a hair net? "

Yes - V1 with a free FCP 'old film' filter in post.

"If you don't mind me asking what was the budget and how many hours, roughly, from go to DVD?"

The budget was $200 - this just covered the hiring of guns, blanks and uniforms.

Mostly had a crew of just me - had a little help for the grenade hits etc.

Took about 3 days to shoot and edit together. Am working towards shooting a kiwi WW2 feature in 2012 - so this was just a short test. Will be doing a few more shorts next year.

Andrew Smith · December 21st, 2009, 08:56 AM

Logan,

You make me very proud to be a fellow V1 owner. :-)

Andrew

Paul Inglis · December 22nd, 2009, 08:23 AM

Brilliant! Loved it!

Greg Laves · December 25th, 2009, 11:57 AM

Man, that was awesome work.

Jordan Brindle · December 25th, 2009, 12:16 PM

Well done Logan, very nicely done, the best part was the opening. Very nice warm look and feel to it. Question - did you use a jib or something for the opening shot?

Also, anything other than the free post filter? Thats impressive.

Logan McMillan · December 25th, 2009, 05:36 PM

Yeah - used a home made jib. It's a real piece of junk and is quite wobbly - but I added 'Smoothcam' in FCP to the shot and it came out ok.

Just added a little colour corrector in FCP to the shots - nothing else.

I have the sharpness and contrast in the camera set to minimum - I find that gives it a nice soft look and gives you room to play with the blacks in post.

Ron Little · December 26th, 2009, 10:02 AM

Did you record to tape, or some other device?

Did you use an intermediary codec, or edit HDV?

Logan McMillan · December 27th, 2009, 02:09 AM

"Did you record to tape, or some other device?

Did you use an intermediary codec, or edit HDV?"

I recorded to the Sony Flash recorder. Only because my camera has water damage and can't record to tape.

I edited it in HDV.

Due to the water damage the camera can't record audio in HD mode either so for the dialog I do the scene in HD then switch to SD, get the cameras boom mic in close and get the actors to redo the lines.

It's a bit of a hack and pretty rough - but worked for what I needed.

Andrew Smith · December 27th, 2009, 03:05 AM

Colour me "impressed".

Andrew

Jordan Brindle · December 27th, 2009, 05:51 AM

Heh, well done Logan! Your poor camera though! Water damage, not nice. I take it warranty's out the question?

How about some pictures of that home made jib? You did a great job considering its a 'piece of junk', i know you used smoothcam but i never would have guessed it was a wobbly home-made job. :)

Ron Little · December 27th, 2009, 08:45 AM

Logan, did you also write and direct this short?

December 19th, 2009, 09:50 PM	#1
Logan McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 85	WW2 Short Film shot on a V1 Hey all, Just recently shot this short film for a TV competition.... YouTube - The Battle For Crete (ep 1) \|\| New Zealand WW2 Series Let me know what you think! Cheers Logan

December 20th, 2009, 01:25 AM	#3
Marty Welk Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: East Bay Cali Posts: 563	that is awesome , of course i like the action war flick stuff too. but V1? V1 and What? how do you get human hairs flipping on frames with a video camera? is that an effect you added or does the telecine guy need a hair net? __________________ ----------------sig----------------- Re-learning everything all over again, one more time.

December 19th, 2009, 10:24 PM	#2
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	excellent - in fact, i'd say it's one of the best short's i've ever seen (and i'm 35+ years in tv). well handled, beautifully executed. very well done!!!

December 20th, 2009, 01:43 AM	#4
John McCully Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Island, New Zealand Posts: 609 Images: 2	Nice one Logan; congrats. War is not my thing but hats off for production values. If you don't mind me asking what was the budget and how many hours, roughly, from go to DVD? Cheers John

December 20th, 2009, 11:32 PM	#5
Logan McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 85	"very well done!!!" Thanks! "but V1? V1 and What? how do you get human hairs flipping on frames with a video camera? is that an effect you added or does the telecine guy need a hair net? " Yes - V1 with a free FCP 'old film' filter in post. "If you don't mind me asking what was the budget and how many hours, roughly, from go to DVD?" The budget was $200 - this just covered the hiring of guns, blanks and uniforms. Mostly had a crew of just me - had a little help for the grenade hits etc. Took about 3 days to shoot and edit together. Am working towards shooting a kiwi WW2 feature in 2012 - so this was just a short test. Will be doing a few more shorts next year.

December 21st, 2009, 08:56 AM	#6
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,085	Logan, You make me very proud to be a fellow V1 owner. :-) Andrew

December 22nd, 2009, 08:23 AM	#7
Paul Inglis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: British Isles Posts: 415	Brilliant! Loved it!

December 25th, 2009, 11:57 AM	#8
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	Man, that was awesome work.

December 25th, 2009, 12:16 PM	#9
Jordan Brindle Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK Posts: 249	Well done Logan, very nicely done, the best part was the opening. Very nice warm look and feel to it. Question - did you use a jib or something for the opening shot? Also, anything other than the free post filter? Thats impressive.

December 25th, 2009, 05:36 PM	#10
Logan McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 85	Yeah - used a home made jib. It's a real piece of junk and is quite wobbly - but I added 'Smoothcam' in FCP to the shot and it came out ok. Just added a little colour corrector in FCP to the shots - nothing else. I have the sharpness and contrast in the camera set to minimum - I find that gives it a nice soft look and gives you room to play with the blacks in post.

December 26th, 2009, 10:02 AM	#11
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Did you record to tape, or some other device? Did you use an intermediary codec, or edit HDV?

December 27th, 2009, 02:09 AM	#12
Logan McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 85	"Did you record to tape, or some other device? Did you use an intermediary codec, or edit HDV?" I recorded to the Sony Flash recorder. Only because my camera has water damage and can't record to tape. I edited it in HDV. Due to the water damage the camera can't record audio in HD mode either so for the dialog I do the scene in HD then switch to SD, get the cameras boom mic in close and get the actors to redo the lines. It's a bit of a hack and pretty rough - but worked for what I needed.

December 27th, 2009, 03:05 AM	#13
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,085	Colour me "impressed". Andrew

December 27th, 2009, 05:51 AM	#14
Jordan Brindle Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK Posts: 249	Heh, well done Logan! Your poor camera though! Water damage, not nice. I take it warranty's out the question? How about some pictures of that home made jib? You did a great job considering its a 'piece of junk', i know you used smoothcam but i never would have guessed it was a wobbly home-made job. :)

December 27th, 2009, 08:45 AM	#15
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Logan, did you also write and direct this short?