Dion Beebe, ASC & Ford tap the Red Ninjas for theatrical commercial [Archive]

Evin Grant

11-18-2007, 05:19 PM

Client: Ford Motor CO.
Project: Theatrical commercial (Shown in theaters ahead of the movie)
Prod. Co.: Spy Films
Market: Canada & France
Director: Javier Aguilera
Director of Photography: Dion Beebe, ASC
Second Unit DP/B Cam Op.: Evin Grant
Redninjas: Blair S. Paulsen & Brook Willard

This has (and still is) an amazing shoot, the hours have been brutal but Dion is a genius. He deserves all the praise and it's obvious why he has an Oscar. I'm truly in awe. I can't reveal much about the actual commercial or show footy yet but here are some stills from the shoot.

http://www.4kninjas.net/OLD STUFF/ford2.jpg
I was operating the Wescam gyro helicopter mount from Pictorvision the first day. I used a cheap air bulb powered still camera release to run the camera.

http://www.4kninjas.net/OLD STUFF/ford1.jpg
The top rails came in very handy mounting the rain deflector upside down for use on the Scorpio head.

http://www.4kninjas.net/OLD STUFF/ford4.jpg
This is the Pursuit Arm (Porsche), not to be confused with the Ultimate Arm (Mecedes). Bitchen rig with the 1st AC & Driver in the front, Dion and Javier (Director) in the back and the Crane Op in the cargo area.

http://www.4kninjas.net/OLD STUFF/ford3.jpg
Top: Dion operating A Cam and myself on B Cam.
Middle left: The gentelman on the left is Key Grip Steve Cardellini, you might have used some of his great clamps.
Right: Blair S. Paulsen checking exposure.
Bottom:Even Dion's filter case is impressive.

Tomorrows the last shoot day, I'll give a final account then.
E.

Brook Willard

11-18-2007, 05:25 PM

For those that were wishing to see the camera in a "real" situation - well - this is about as "real" as it gets.

This footage is just beautiful...

Alexander Nikishin

11-18-2007, 05:25 PM

Complete jealousy over here.

Nice work man.

Michael Schrengohst

11-18-2007, 06:00 PM

Man, those are some great toys. Was that Ultimate Arm the
same one used in "Wanted"?
Kind of ironic to use a Porsche and Mercedes to shoot a Ford spot!!

Adrian T.

11-18-2007, 06:27 PM

Is it legal to have so much fun? :shifty:

Thanks for reporting!

Matt Workman

11-18-2007, 06:39 PM

Good lord that is cool. I'm interested how the RED got chosen for this spot over 35mm. Or how the Agency was convinced, rather.

Can you shed any light on what filters were being used from that case and for what end? :shiftyph34r:

I know Conrad Hall used lots of ND grads on the car commercials he shot.

Set photos are king. :w00t:

Mark L. Pederson

11-18-2007, 07:01 PM

AWESOME!

Shooting RED in the commercial world is a slam dunk.

Casey Pegram

11-18-2007, 07:45 PM

Very cool! It would be interesting to hear Beebe's thoughts on the RED having shot Miami Vice on the Viper... Of course I think we all know what the gist of it would be. :)

Mike Prevette

11-18-2007, 08:53 PM

UMMM that remote start is INSANE!!!! Your a ballsy man to trust that in a copter shoot. How'd it work? Didn't feel like soldering up a cable?

M.Halsell

11-18-2007, 09:02 PM

Very nice!

Evin Grant

11-18-2007, 09:42 PM

UMMM that remote start is INSANE!!!! Your a ballsy man to trust that in a copter shoot. How'd it work? Didn't feel like soldering up a cable?

There are exactly 7 of those cables in existance, Lemo would take over a week to get me the correct pins and Jarred warned me about messsing up the soldering, if I did, by by Red one and it's NOT covered under warranty.

That being said the photo bulb solution works so well and so reliably I'm going to keep one in the kit from now on incase something gets screwed up and I can't get the electronics to fire. BTW we are using it on the pusuit arm as well:bleh:

Tonaci Tran

11-18-2007, 09:56 PM

Very cool! It would be interesting to hear Beebe's thoughts on the RED having shot Miami Vice on the Viper... Of course I think we all know what the gist of it would be. :)

Better yet, I would love to see another future collab between Michael Mann and Dion Bebe doing a feature shot on RED.

Evin Grant

11-18-2007, 10:20 PM

Better yet, I would love to see another future collab between Michael Mann and Dion Beebe doing a feature shot on RED.

Provided by the Red Ninjas of course.:ninja:

Tonaci Tran

11-18-2007, 10:52 PM

Provided by the Red Ninjas of course.:ninja:

Most definitely. :biggrin:

Upon further lookup on imdb, I see that they do possibly have a future collab in the works:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490242/fullcredits#cast

Justin O'Neill

11-18-2007, 10:52 PM

I'm interested how the RED got chosen for this spot over 35mm. Or how the Agency was convinced, rather.

When the producer for this project contacted me it seemed like he was already pretty much set on using RED. I gave him the basics on workflow and format options, but we brought Evin in to do the detailed explanation.

I think they wanted something that would look amazing when transfered to 35mm.

Brook Willard

11-18-2007, 10:58 PM

The bulb release start/stop cable is freakin' sweet. As silly as it seems at first, it definitely works. Even after cables become more widely available, it'll definitely still be something to keep in the kit "just in case".

Sanjin Jukic

11-19-2007, 01:26 AM

Amazing!!!

zak forrest

11-19-2007, 03:34 AM

how do you rig that bulb cable over the record button

Greg Greene

11-19-2007, 04:26 AM

looks great

whos doing the post, is it these guys ?

http://www.hatchstudios.net

Matt Uhry

11-19-2007, 07:23 AM

Nice Going Red Ninja's !!! Can't wait to see the finished spot.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com

Babu Kantamneni

11-19-2007, 07:40 AM

how do you rig that bulb cable over the record button

Tell us how?

Blair S. Paulsen

11-19-2007, 08:02 AM

Evin used a Noga (Isreali) arm to hold the plunger in place. The 1st AC Vance and I just kept shaking our heads at how reliable it was. The Pursuit Arm rig can run up to 60 mph (almost 100kph) so there is quite a bit of slipstream but it never bothered Evin's rig.

imthatguy

11-19-2007, 08:40 AM

Editor chiming in. Footage does look amazing. Now if only I could get the damn REDCODE codec working for easy drag and drop into FCP!

Nick Shaw

11-19-2007, 08:44 AM

Editor chiming in. Footage does look amazing. Now if only I could get the damn REDCODE codec working for easy drag and drop into FCP!

What's the problem? You should be able to do exactly that.

Babu Kantamneni

11-19-2007, 09:11 AM

Jarred Land

11-19-2007, 09:18 AM

brilliant work guys.. Love the bulb idea. Rear GPI triggering should be coming soon.

imthatguy

11-19-2007, 09:52 AM

What's the problem? You should be able to do exactly that.

Needed a re-install. Fine now... except for the damn gamma shift. Looks freaking awesome though.

SF Geek

11-19-2007, 09:56 AM

You guys look like you're in my neck of the woods.

Brook Willard

11-19-2007, 09:16 PM

What a day... pictures coming as soon as I find a USB cable or something.

Brook Willard

11-19-2007, 10:09 PM

Here we are...

http://www.reduser.net/forum/uploaded/5_1195538844.jpg

Here's Blair's #19 with the BFL/Hubble Telescope.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/uploaded/5_1195538901.jpg

Here's a look at one of our locations... nice, eh?

http://www.reduser.net/forum/uploaded/5_1195538927.jpg

And another... it sure was pretty.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/uploaded/5_1195538948.jpg

And here's Evin's truck with more toys than we know what to do with.

Finner

11-19-2007, 10:15 PM

Where is the dark room in that camera truck of Evin's?

Nice shots Brook, looks like fun.

Mike Prevette

11-20-2007, 12:22 AM

What are you powering the microforce/lensmotor with? are you using a B4 lens cable with the microforce for start/stop?

thats no BFL, thats an Optimo ;)

Brook Willard

11-20-2007, 07:39 AM

What are you powering the microforce/lensmotor with? are you using a B4 lens cable with the microforce for start/stop?

Nope, we powered the microforce from an external block battery. We controlled start/stop operations by pushing the run buttons on the camera and confirming by looking at the LED on the back.

The RED really needs a loud start/stop/rollout "beep" a la BL-4. It also needs a tally light on the smart side of the camera.

Jarred Land

11-20-2007, 07:48 AM

lol.. no beeps please.

Moir

11-20-2007, 08:51 AM

lol.. no beeps please.

Maybe it could just fart...more organic than a beep.

Finner

11-20-2007, 09:23 AM

The RED really needs a loud start/stop/rollout "beep" a la BL-4. It also needs a tally light on the smart side of the camera.

Matt Uhry and I felt the exact same thing about the camera. A beep is a highly needed feature. In fact I have listened for when the cameras fan goes off to judge when it is running but it is hard to hear and that system of telling when the camera starts runing is poor at best. One beep for run and two beeps for stop just like a sound stage bell would be perfect with the ability to control its volume and mute it. The crew has found itself making beep noises to alert each other when it is running as a bit of a joke but also to reinforce how badly it is needed. If the red start/stop button on the side would flash a couple of times and then light up when running would make for a great smart side tally light (A brightness control for it would be good.).

imthatguy

11-20-2007, 10:16 AM

http://www.reduser.net/forum/uploaded/5_1195538948.jpg

And here's Evin's truck with more toys than we know what to do with.

Looks like the last of my G-Drives in the back, ready for shipping! Footage looks great guys. Shooting ratio is off the charts. :biggrin:

sanction23

11-20-2007, 10:37 AM

Tom Hallman

11-20-2007, 11:23 AM

Has anyone else used the Red in an aerial shoot, or is this the first time?
If you have, what stabilization system did you use?

SF Geek

11-20-2007, 11:34 AM

Now I'm feeling pretty dumb, but it finally clicked while I was getting coffee a minute ago...

Steve Cardellini + Bunker Hill Tunnel + SFPD bike....

... gee, you aren't in the Bay Area are you?

We get so many car commercials up here that I tend to ignore them more than other shows. I can't wait to see how that weather and terrain looks through the lens of the Redcam (and of course the eyes of Beebe & Co).

You couldn't tell from the photo of Utterbach?

Brook, did you guys use those drives for storage or to record to. I heard that you were using them for recording, which I thought wasn't an option yet.

Justin O'Neill

11-20-2007, 11:50 AM

If you have, what stabilization system did you use?

Evin spent a day integrating the RED with the Wescam aerial stabilization unit.

Peter Jackson put the RED on a helicopter so I guess this wasn't the first.

Finner

11-20-2007, 11:56 AM

Evin spent a day integrating the RED with the Wescam aerial stabilization unit.

Those days can be very frustrating. Nice to see Evin came out on top.

imthatguy

11-20-2007, 12:03 PM

Might be the first commercial though...

Peter Jackson put the RED on a helicopter so I guess this wasn't the first.

Brook Willard

11-20-2007, 01:18 PM

We were shooting to CF, just like everyone else. The thing in the drive cradle is an AJA downconverter we bought from our buddies at ProMax.

Alexander Nikishin

11-20-2007, 02:33 PM

Might be the first commercial though...

Nope, shot a commercial for Yamaha on Saturday. :shiftyph34r:

Brook Willard

11-20-2007, 05:23 PM

lol.. no beeps please.

It could be software controlled! Pleaaaaase? :wink:

Finner

11-20-2007, 05:31 PM

It could be software controlled! Pleaaaaase? :wink:

Heck Brook I tried to convince Jarred of how badly it was needed on the phone and still he would not budge. I think someone needs to take him out to the back alley and rough him up for a bit until he concedes. Any takers for that job? I would be more then willing but the old shoulder has been acting up a bit. I heard Blair use to compete in the UFC octagon back in the days of tank abbot so maybe we can get him step up.

What were we talking about again? Oh ya beep's, need beep's.

Sanjin Jukic

11-20-2007, 05:36 PM

Funner,

http://www.reduser.net/forum/customavatars/avatar285_6.gif

take it easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brook Willard

11-20-2007, 05:48 PM

I think someone needs to take him out to the back alley and rough him up for a bit until he concedes.

Hmm... Jarred's bigger than me. I stand down.

It'll get easier to tell when the camera's running one the EVF ships - if memory serves, it has a tally light on the front. Since the AC can't see the light on the back, having some visual cue may make it easier.

I usually just listen for the fan or look at the monitor if I'm shooting, but on a shoot like ours it became tricky.

I'm sure that somebody will make a little USB beeper dongle when the ports are enabled [or - if they are enabled - the information about the ports is made public].

The cameras performed fantastically on set, by the way. A few bugs here and there, but nothing that couldn't be fixed before the crew knew there was a problem.

Finner

11-20-2007, 06:03 PM

Hmm... Jarred's bigger than me. I stand down.

Hell Jarreds bigger then a mercedes smart car.

I usually just listen for the fan or look at the monitor if I'm shooting, but on a shoot like ours it became tricky.

I did the same but a beep would be so much better.

I'm sure that somebody will make a little USB beeper dongle when the ports are enabled [or - if they are enabled - the information about the ports is made public].

That would work but in camera would be better.

The cameras performed fantastically on set, by the way. A few bugs here and there, but nothing that couldn't be fixed before the crew knew there was a problem.

Fixing bugs and issues before anyone else knows is the key to a good camera crew. It is done all the time with every camera system. Looks like you guys are starting to get real good as a team, congrats.

Sanjin Jukic

11-20-2007, 06:08 PM

Hell Jarreds bigger then a mercedes smart car.

I did the same but a beep would be so much better.

That would work but in camera would be better.

Fixing bugs and issues before anyone else knows is the key to a good camera crew. It is done all the time with every camera system. Looks like you guys are starting to get real good as a team, congrats.

Ha, ha ,he ,he, heh, our F(u)inner is dancing in the air!:devil: :biggrin: :watsup: :shiftyph34r:

Dane Brehm

11-20-2007, 08:06 PM

The Porshe looks like the same on we used on the Sony Bravia Balls Commercial back in 06 on Kearney St.

Thanks for the pics guys. I'll be looking out for the Commercial.....

Evin Grant

11-20-2007, 08:19 PM

John my 1st AC worked on that commercial, he still had one of the balls in his AKS bag.

Mark Pedersen

11-20-2007, 08:52 PM

Excellent idea! Beeps please!

M

Brook Willard

11-20-2007, 09:27 PM

The Porshe looks like the same on we used on the Sony Bravia Balls Commercial back in 06 on Kearney St.

Thanks for the pics guys. I'll be looking out for the Commercial.....
You'll have to look pretty hard... I don't know if it's an American ad.

I Bloom

11-20-2007, 09:33 PM

Excellent idea! Beeps please!

M

It sounds like the beeps controller is a USB Host application (the camera has no way to emit sound, no). I miss the beeps on the BL4. I think they are mostly really helpful on set. It would be great if the beeps were kind of squeeky, just slightly out of tune on the attack.

IBloom

redcinematographer

11-20-2007, 09:51 PM

Wow, it's great to see you've been able to use Red One in so many ways!

imthatguy

11-21-2007, 11:59 AM

You'll have to look pretty hard... I don't know if it's an American ad.

AFAIK it's Canada only for now.

zak forrest

12-03-2007, 08:35 PM

brilliant work guys.. Love the bulb idea. Rear GPI triggering should be coming soon.

what is GPI triggering

zak forrest

12-03-2007, 08:38 PM

I guess red not being able to produce sound is a good reason why it cant beep without some usb thing. BUT:

I'd love it if Jarred said WHY he isn't into the beep idea. Can we get a reason..?

Jarred Land

12-03-2007, 08:40 PM

I guess red not being able to produce sound is a good reason why it cant beep without some usb thing. BUT:

I'd love it if Jarred said WHY he isn't into the beep idea. Can we get a reason..?

because we dont have a speaker :)

zak forrest

12-03-2007, 08:44 PM

because we dont have a speaker :)

oh so if it had the capability you would be into it then? i thought you werent into the idea no matter what...

Spy Films

04-03-2008, 11:50 AM

Here is a link to a shorter version of the spot

http://www.spyfilms.com/#illegal_artists/ford-ice

Tom Lowe

04-03-2008, 12:48 PM

Wow. Awesome. Beebe is a stud.

Michael Schrengohst

04-03-2008, 05:09 PM

Here is a link to a shorter version of the spot

http://www.spyfilms.com/#illegal_artists/ford-ice

How many different versions did you do? Those actors are different than the ones in the longer spot. What were they speaking? I like the other actors.
But the talent budget alone in this spot is probably more than I bill in a whole year!! LOL