cinematography

Bilingual

Camera Chase Vehicle
2 months ago
- The project involves building a cinematic chase camera rover using a large 1/5 scale RC chassis found at an industrial auction.
- Key components include a Movi M10 3-axis gimbal for stabilization, a VESC motor controller, and a Connex Amimon wireless HD video system for low-latency transmission.
- Custom parts like TPU fenders, a structural gimbal mount, and battery mounts were 3D printed or CNC machined to fit the chassis and improve durability.
- Power is supplied by two DeWalt 20V battery packs in series for the chassis and a separate ~14V DTAP battery for the gimbal and camera.
- Initial testing revealed gimbal balancing issues and mechanical failures, leading to upgrades like stiffer springs and flexible TPU parts to absorb impacts.
- The rover was successfully tested in ice racing conditions, capturing stabilized footage of vehicles like karts, and survived abuse including a tumble at speed.
- Camera upgrades from a Panasonic GH4 to a GH5s improved image quality, and remote lens control was implemented using a digi-pot and microcontroller.
- CAD files and 3D print designs for custom parts are shared for replication.
The Decline of Sumptuousness in Cinema
2 months ago
- Sumptuousness in cinema refers to high-density information, where a signal informs based on its unpredictability, contrasting modern high-information capture with less on-screen content.
- Natural fibers like silk create volumetric scattering and complex light interactions due to organic irregularities, while synthetic fibers like polyester produce uniform, harsh specular highlights, reducing visual information.
- Silk-based velvet absorbs light effectively for deep blacks, whereas synthetic velvet reflects light, resulting in inferior blacks and a loss of cinematic control over lighting.
- Printed patterns on fabric lack the physical structure of woven patterns, representing a loss of information and complexity compared to traditional textile techniques.
- The shift from natural to synthetic dyes and fabrics leads to duller colors, spatially narrow light, and reduced luminance range, impacting visual richness.
- Mass-produced props, like IKEA items, lack uniqueness and location-specific details, reducing surprise and information density in film sets.
- Smartphones conglomerate functions, replacing diverse objects and reducing visual detail and character-revealing interactions, impacting storytelling and actor engagement.
- The author connects these losses to predictive processing and information theory, emphasizing the beauty of high-information density and the opportunity to reclaim it despite modern conveniences.
- In pre-production for a short film, the author aims to maximize visual impact using natural fabrics and tungsten lighting on a limited budget, as a step toward a feature film.
The Decline of Sumptuousness in Cinema
2 months ago
- The author argues that the democratization of filmmaking through digital technology has led to a loss of visual sumptuousness and information on screen.
- Analog film stock produces organic, chaotic grain and unique frames due to its chemical emulsion, while digital sensors offer uniformity and better shadow detail but make achieving chiaroscuro lighting harder.
- Historical film processes like Technicolor dye-transfer and tungsten lighting provided vibrant color, continuous light spectra, and hard shadows, which are largely lost with modern digital and LED alternatives.
- The finite nature of film stock enforced discipline and careful decision-making before shooting, whereas digital's unlimited takes can lead to less preparation and fragmented post-production workflows.
- The shift to digital has reduced costs and improved safety but at the expense of organic aesthetics, inter-departmental collaboration, and the overall cohesion of film as a Gesamtkunstwerk (all-together-artwork).

cinematography

Camera Chase Vehicle

The Decline of Sumptuousness in Cinema

The Decline of Sumptuousness in Cinema