Nightfall on Neptune (a narrative dance short)

[smulnik]

Hi ya’ll! Love your photos! Once again I must apologize for not logging in and commenting. I guess that I’m still kind of a “lurker”. Sorry! Please don’t hold that against me.

My movie-making friend, Elliott, has just recently shared one of his short art films on YouTube. It’s titled Nightfall on Neptune. It's a narrative dance short film (15 minutes). It was shot in 2012, and it was the first film with which I had helped him and his movie accomplice, Chris. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun too. I thought that I would share the YouTube link, along with some of the behind the scenes photos that I had taken. We learned a lot from this shoot, and we have made a lot of progress in our filming techniques since then.

The photos will probably make more sense once you watch the movie.

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP8NaIcRDcs

- Sig

[smulnik]

This is the poster from the movie. I had given the Elliott the photos that I had taken during the filming, and he decided to use a couple of the shots for the poster. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it, and impressed with his creativeness. I think that the image of the moon illuminating the barren, sandy terrain gives the impression of being on another planet (Neptune maybe?), however the title is in reference to the piece of music used in the film.

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Elliott wanted a shot of a full moon in his movie, but wasn’t sure which would look better, a still/matte shot, or a video. Since my cameras had the optical power to get in close to the moon, I went out to see what I could get. I tried various combinations of cameras and lenses: A99, NEX 7, 70-200mm G, 500mm F8, and various stacked 1.5x & 2x converters. Ultimately, Elliott liked the results of the A99 with the 500mm for the still shot (poster), and the NEX 7 with the 500mm for the video footage (in the film). I had spent about 6 hours outside in the cold Fall night getting the video footage, but there’s only about 2 seconds of it in the movie. It’s a relatively good shot though (if I may say so myself ). You can see the moon actually moving (along with some atmospheric wave distortions).
A99, Sony 500mm Reflex, F8, 1/125, ISO 250

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Erin was a good sport. She had to stand (and lay) around in various locations and positions while Elliott and Chris figured out which angles to use for each shot. When Erin was waiting for the decision on this scene, I thought that I might as well get a photo of her being patient. It ended up on the poster.
NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2, 1/200, ISO 1600

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[smulnik]

This scene was shot in St. Louis’ Forest Park. Elliott had to get a permit to film inside the park, and we had to be cleared out by 10:00 pm. Since this needed to be a night scene, it was shot in October when the Sun sets early, so we could have several hours of darkness before we had to leave. On the first night of the shoot, the temperature was about 45F/7C. The wind was strong, and blowing an icy mist from the water fountains onto the bridge. Erin wore her coat while Elliott and Chris set up the shot, but had to discard it (and everything else) for the filming. I don’t know how she was able to tolerate the cold. I was cringing and wincing for her with every gust of wind.

We used just one light with a blue gel in order to simulate the moon light.
NEX 7, Minolta 85mm 1.4, F1.4, 1/250, ISO 1600

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NEX 7, Minolta 85mm 1.4, F1.4, 1/250, ISO 1600

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Nerves of steel!
NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.5, 1/100, ISO 6400

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[smulnik]

A friend who was standing by, grabbed my camera and took this shot. The overhead light was catching the wind like a sail. That’s me holding onto the light stand to keep it from blowing over.
NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.2, 1/160, ISO 3200

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Setting up the next shot.
NEX 7, Minolta 24mm 2.8, F2.8, 1/125, ISO 6400

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NEX 7, Minolta 24mm 2.8, F2.8, 1/125, ISO 6400

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[sury]

Sig,
Will watch the video. Interim, the B&W set is very enjoyable, and the
4053 is my most favorite in the second set of photos.

Sury

[smulnik]

Thanks Sury!

4053 is my most favorite in the second set of photos.

It's mine too. Erin looks like a fashion model in that photo.
- Sig


Thankfully, the subsequent days and nights of shooting were much warmer.
A900, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.8, 1/400, ISO 1000

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Sizing up another shot.
NEX 7, Minolta 24mm 2.8, F2.8, 1/250, ISO 800

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Reviewing test footage.
NEX 7, Minolta 24mm 2.8, F3.2, 1/250, ISO 3200

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[smulnik]

NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.5, 1/100, ISO 3200

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NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.5, 1/125, ISO 6400

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NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.0, 1/160, ISO 3200

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[sury]

Keep them coming Sig. I am enjoying the sets tremendously.
Do you have the 4456 as captured by the camera in the shot?

Sury

[aster]

.

Very nice piece of diligent work, Sig.
I enjoyed the video and photo materials. Erin is a lovely, photogenic dancer who molds well into all roles she's ventured into. You all did a fine job despite the elements. It reminds me of the underlying story of Cinderella and her glass slippers a little…

The photo of the moon and Erin lying on the sandy ground dreamy and I love the music piece. Well done all. It's good production.

Thanks for sharing,
Yildiz

[smulnik]

Thanks Yildiz! Cinderella! It didn’t occur to me, but yes, there are similarities. Just substitute the hair brush for a slipper, and it’ll be very close.

Sury, glad to hear that you're enjoying the photos.

Do you have the 4456 as captured by the camera in the shot?

I don’t remember. The camera may have been rolling at the time, but if so, that shot was not used in the final edit of the film.


NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.0, 1/200, ISO 3200

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Getting close-ups, so there is no worrying about the shadows being in the frame.
NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.0, 1/200, ISO 3200

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Just a test shot for framing. If we were filming, that shadow on the left would have been a real problem. In fact, Chris and I doubled up on the same camera for these night dance scenes. One of us would pan the camera to follow the action, and the other would watch the monitor for stray shadows on the ground.
NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.0, 1/250, ISO 3200

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[smulnik]

NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F1.7, 1/200, ISO 3200

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Lens flare! J. J. Abrams eat your heart out.
NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.0, 1/250, ISO 6400

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NEX 7, Minolta 50mm 1.7, F2.5, 1/160, ISO 6400

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[jbtaylor]

Like all good stories, they get better as they go.
Great stuff.