Happy Mother's Day!

What a busy few months it's been! Sadly I can't share some of the things I've been up to since it's still very hush-hush but as soon as I can spill the beans, I will do so.

The good news is I've been shooting lots of video lately and have even gotten back out there and snapped a bunch of photos. As soon I've had time to go through them and pick out the best ones I'll be happy to share them here.

In the meantime, if you've got 4 minutes to spare, check out this comedy short I directed with my fabulous friends Dan, Chad and Kim of BackIn4 Productions which was put together very quickly in time for Mother's Day (North American Mother's Day that is, British Mother's Day was back in March). As I write this, our little video has already passed 500 views on youtube which is a lot more than we were expecting for our first project out of the gate.

The BackIn4 crew are Dan Heinz, Chad Coleman and Kim Nachtigal all of whom are recent graduates of the Vancouver Acting School and this video will hopefully be the first of many. This short was shot in about 5 hours using my Canon 60D and took a day to edit. It could have taken a lot less time to edit but I had a few new things to learn including how to sync dailies with separately recorded audio.

Since my last shoot I've acquired a few more important pieces of gear rounding out my camera package including the SmallHD DP4 EVF and (finally!) a decent tripod in the form of the FC-04H. Both of these items were on special and although not that cheap they were significantly cheaper than anything else out there offering the same great features.

Of course, at the end of the day it all comes down to how well the gear performs and all I can say is "Wow! What a difference!" I can finally see what I'm shooting clearly, with no sun glare and I can judge exposure and focus accurately. As the for the tripod, I'm kind of a snob when it comes to these things having been spoiled with the top-of-the-line gear back in my camera assistant days but the FC-04H is pretty damn impressive. Best of all, with the tripod legs made of carbon fiber it is super light to carry around. Audio was recorded using the Roland R-26 digital field recorder and a RODE NTG-2 shotgun mic. For my first time using this, I was pretty surprised at how clean the audio turned out - certainly a lot better than that nasty, noise-filled, tinny sounding onboard mic that the Canon 60D has!

In the next few days I'll be busy editing a short behind-the-scenes piece I shot for the awesome folks at Descriptive Video Works then there'll be another comedy shoot with the BackIn4 crew the following week so look out for that.

I'll also try and put up some of the photos I've taken in the last few weeks - My parents have been visiting Vancouver so I've had a good excuse to get to know my inner tourist.

To my mom and to all amazing moms out there, thank you for everything that you do!

Mulieris Futura: Behind-the-Scenes Part II

With several shots of Melanie's melancholic ambling along the lakeshore now in the bag as well as some random 60fps slo-mo swing-set action we still didn't really have any clue what the story of Mulieris Futura was going to be...

So we packed up the Glidecam HD 2000 and headed over to the small dock jutting out across the water. A truly beautiful location but unfortunately it was so bright and sunny I could barely see the LCD viewfinder of the camera. Winging it and hoping for the best (thank goodness for those great focus marks on the Takumar lenses!), Melanie sat down on the edge of the dock and gazed wistfully out across the water while I fiddled around in the background like a good ole camera geek.

This was the first time I was able to really put my new DSLR rig through it's paces. This goes back to what I was talking about in the last post about the need for stability when shooting and how one needs to expand the camera into something closer to the form factor of a traditional video/film camera.

I used to have one of these Cowboy Rigs available on Amazon for practically nothing...

This is what I used to shoot Twinkle, Twinkle with and it was okay but just wasn't adjustable enough and didn't feel strong enough (those creaking plastic sounds are terrifying when you have $1,500 worth of camera relying on it's grip!). Also, being a former IATSE camera assistant I've been spoiled with the high-end gear and the idea of running around with a cheap plastic rig named after a cowhand just wasn't appealing to me...

Time for an upgrade!

This is my new filmmaking toy and it comes from a company called Lanparte.

So why is this so much better than the poor old Cowboy who's been forced to hang up his creaky, plastic boots? Well, for one thing it's very strong and made completely out of machined metal parts so no more unsettling flexes or rattled nerves when bolting the camera to it. Secondly, it is highly adjustable into many different configurations depending on the needs of the shot whether it's mounted on a tripod or being used hand-held. Finally, it's based off of a standardized 15mm rod system meaning there are many, many other accessories that I can expand the rig with such as a follow focus, matte box, onboard monitor, microphone, etc.

I've attached a second Giottos quick release plate to the rig so switching the camera from the Glidecam to the Lanparte rig can be done quicker than you can say, "Time is money". The baseplate assembly is height adjustable and built like a tank.

The shoulder pad assembly is surprisingly comfortable, is also adjustable and can be expanded to take a  battery accessory pack should you require power for additional accessories. A big problem with DSLRs when shooting video with rigs like this is they tend to be a little front heavy so I may eventually pick up a counterweight that I can attach to the back of the shoulder pad. This is probably the cheapest option available.

The top-handle is a must in my opinion. It makes carrying the camera around so much easier and is strong enough and comfortable enough to make for some very cool low-angle running shots. The top handle connects to a C-bracket that unscrews and can hinge open giving the user easier access to the camera to adjust settings etc., has numerous 1/4" screw holes for additional accessories as well as a hotshoe mount for attaching a microphone, video light or digital sound recorder.

Completing the rig is this great set of handgrips that, like the rest of the rig, is also highly configurable, sturdy and very well made. It's also super comfortable to hold and unlike the cheap handgrips that are available, doesn't leave your hands stained or covered in little flecks of rubber.

I did a lot of research before ordering this rig - there are a staggering amount of choices out there in price ranges from a couple of hundred dollars to literally thousands. Manufacturing quality varies as does expandability, compatibility and general usefulness (such as allowing the user to still access camera menu buttons, switch out batteries and SD cards etc.). Overall I am extremely happy with the Lanparte rig and it made a huge difference in the shots I was able to achieve for Mulieris Futura which we shot in only 4 hours. Hopefully it will last me a very long time.

Photography and filmmaking can be expensive hobbies never mind if you actually intend to make a living at it so do your research and don't go crazy buying gear you don't need. Now that I have the rig I'm much happier and creatively inspired to try new things but that's already tempered with thoughts of "Hmm... I really need a better tripod..." Given the problems I had trying to see what I was shooting on the Canon's tiny, blown-out-by-the-sun LCD screen I think what I really need is an onboard monitor. Time to start saving the pennies...!

Until next time, thanks for reading. I'll wrap up these behind-the-scenes posts in the next few days with some details on the Post-Production side of Mulieris Futura.

Mulieris Futura: Behind-the-Scenes Part I

I hope those of you who took the time to check out the short film Mulieris Futura enjoyed it. We certainly had fun making it and this is how we did it...

My main goal going into this shoot was to test out some newly acquired gear. Do you need this gear to shoot video on a DSLR like the Canon 60D? Absolutely not. Does it make a big difference to the shots you can capture? Hell yes!

Arriving at the location I decided to get the "heavy lifting" out of the way first by getting a bunch of steadicam-like shots. For this I used the awesome Glidecam HD 2000 which is a poor man's version of the $8,000+ pro steadicam rigs used for those smooth-moving, floating shots we see in Hollywood movies.

I love experimenting with camera movement as a director but like smooth, STEADY movement even more. On any kind of a camera this can be challenging never mind on a DSLR. The advantage of shooting video on a DSLR (among other things) is it's small size and weight to image quality ratio. These cameras can capture amazing images if used properly. However, the small size and weight is also one of their big disadvantages too because 99% of the stability of every shot is dependent on how steady your hand and wrist are as opposed to using your arms, shoulders and upper torso to help stabilize as is the case with larger, shoulder-mounted cameras. Adding to the image capture problems are things like moire and aliasing but that's a whole other issue!

The Glidecam is a low-budget solution for taking the shake out of your steps by using a gimbal mechanism that allows the camera to "float". The key to it is a) Balance and b) Operation. There are many Glidecam type stabilizers available on the market (like the Flycam for example) but very few allow micro adjustments for balancing which is crucial in finding that perfect center of gravity.

For a great video tutorial on balancing a Glidecam go here.

In terms of operation it's a very tricky piece of gear and like any instrument requires a LOT of practice! As you can see from my first real attempt shooting with it in Mulieris Futura I have a long, long way to go with it - Standing still I'm fine; Walking backwards or forwards I'm fine (providing I don't have to suddenly stop then move again); Walking sideways and tracking the subject as well as tilting up or down is a whole other challenge... The key is in a very subtle finger-touch of the gimbal - Grab it firmly and you defeat the object of the delicate balance, too light a touch and the rig wants to pendulum on its axis. A lot of the moving/tracking shots in the film I'm not very happy with - the horizon should NOT be swaying from side to side like we're at sea! I have a steep learning curve ahead...

Finally, when loaded up with the camera, battery and lens (in this case the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5) the rig can be quite heavy. All together it weighs around 5.5 lbs/2.5 Kgs which is a lot of stress on one's wrist. I found a cheap forearm brace (its the pad/velcro thing beside the rig in the picture above) on eBay that makes a huge difference in spreading the weight and allows me to shoot longer shots without grimacing in pain!

To reduce time screwing bolts in and out of my camera between Glidecam and tripod etc. I have a Giottos quick release plate system. The plate's tightening knob didn't quite clear the side of the Glidecam so I added a couple of layers of fabric tape to the bottom which also stops things from loosening and/or spinning off axis.

Mulieris Futura was shot on 3 lenses: The Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 on all the Glidecam shots and the wide shot that closes the film, the Super Takumar 28mm f/3.5 and the SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4. I've blogged before about the old Pentax Takumar M42 lenses and every time I use them I like them a little more! They are especially good when shooting video because they have a good amount of turn to their focus rings making it much easier to follow the subject and adjust during the shot.

Take a bow fellas - you too trusty fotodiox M42 to Canon-EF lens adaptor!

If you have any questions, fire away, I'd be happy to help!

Until next time folks, I hope I was able to share some useful info here. I'll cover another important new rig element next time as well as touch upon the Post Production side of making Mulieris Futura.

Mulieris Futura

As promised, here's the resulting short film from what was essentially a fun four hours of shooting on the shores of Deer Lake in Sasquatch Provincial Park. Located about a 20 minute drive from Harrison Hot Springs, it's a beautiful place especially this time of year. We were the only people there the entire time we were shooting!

Mulieris Futura from Neil Every on Vimeo.

"So what was that all about Neil?"


Well, that's entirely up to you. It's one of those, "make what you want of it" short films. The title is a Latin translation of Her Future and my interpretation is that the dreamy segments are actually flash forwards to an eventual or possible future the woman may or may not experience.

The story and indeed the shooting style itself came mostly from us arriving at the location and thinking "Wow! We have to film here!" I had some new camera gear I wanted to test out (I'll do a separate post on that next week) and we literally just started shooting at the edge of the lake with zero concept of a story beyond doing something moody and evocative. I'll leave you to decide as to whether or not that was achieved.

Huge thanks to Melanie for just going with the flow. Maybe next time (when it's warmer!) we'll go with your original suggestion of covering yourself in mud and twigs etc. and playing a wild woman in the wilds!

The music is all royalty free and is from a composer by the name of Kevin MacLeod who has lots of free to use music available here.

Until next time folks, I hope you enjoyed the film and I look forward to sharing more soon.

Hey 2012, What's up?

Already 2 weeks into the year that is 2012!

The weekly photo blog is behind me now so what's next? Well, for the time being I'll be continuing with my writing work for Capcom Games (it's all very hush-hush but once it's official I promise I'll give a little more detail), I'm working on my feature project The Death of Alec Gray which I'll reveal more about soon, the webseries which is approaching its launch and of course there'll be more adventures afoot with my trusty Canon 60D camera.

As you know, even really basic little point-and-shoot cameras these days can capture video as well as pictures and in 2012 I'm hoping to do a LOT more on the video/movie-making side of things. The Canon 60D has already proven itself in my eyes with the quick and dirty short film I threw together early last year but I'm keen to do a lot more with it in this area.

I don't fully know what shape or form these experiments will take yet or how feasible they will be (i.e. paid work commitments) but I have a ton of ideas!

Of course, I'll still be snapping good old-fashioned pictures too. Speaking of which...

The above shots were taken just West of Lost Lagoon and in addition the wide angle fun, I also got a much better chance to play around with the new Tamron 90mm Macro lens.

Though it's designed for super-close work, it handles pretty well as a telephoto lens too. The below is not a leper's foot but is in fact an oddly shaped piece of drift wood.

And here's a macro of the splinters jutting out from the bottom of the "foot"...

The lens renders the out of focus detail (the bokeh) in a very pleasing manner don't you think?

And it handles flare pretty well too.

This final shot turned out to be my personal favourite though...

Until next time folks.

Happy Valentines's Day Week!

As a recently married man who's still very much in the "honeymoon phase" (altogether now, "Awwww!"),  I thought I'd divert from the weekly Canon 60D project and share something from the vaults. Think of this as a tip of the hat to all of those who still fly the flag for good old-fashioned romance and love.

And to those of you who are bitter, cynical and single due to broken hearts or a stubborn refusal to embrace the love of another human being... Well, hopefully 2011 brings a chinook to your chilly romantic life!

Either way, hope you enjoy the film. I had a ton of fun making it all the way back in 2005. The film was awarded the B.C. Directors Guild of Canada "Kickstart" Award and received its world premiere at the Montreal Film Festival in September of 2006. Sadly, finances, life complications and procrastination meant the film never really received a ton of exposure... So feel free to share it!

It took a LOT of people to make this film happen and I'm still immensely proud of it. I'm glad I was able to experience shooting something on 35mm film which in todays world is becoming progressively more quaint by the day.

Happy Valentine's and may your week be filled with warmth, love, lust and passion!


Say Yes from Neil Every on Vimeo.

WEEK 2: Twinkle Twinkle

Twinkle Twinkle from Neil Every on Vimeo.

The Creative:

It's been awhile since I directed so what better way to do a test of the new camera's video capabilities than making a short film?


"Twinkle Twinkle" sure helped blow out the cobwebs of my rusty director muscles. We had no script, just an idea to go into the parkade of our apartment building and shoot a suspense piece with minimal dialogue (mostly because the onboard mic of the camera isn't exactly up to snuff).


Five hours of shooting and seven hours of editing later, this was the result! Huge kudos to Mel who has zero on-camera acting experience and who hasn't performed since she did a dinner theater show many, many years ago in Alberta.

We sure had fun making it. Hope you enjoy it!


The Geeky:


This was shot entirely using natural lighting with no colour grading after the fact except for bumping up the exposure on two shots in Final Cut Pro. Lenses used were the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and the Pentax SMC Takumar 135mm f/3.5