Pjazza Magazine December Fashion Shoot

Photography / processing: Mark Warner
Models: Marthese and Leslie at SO Management
Styling: Isabel Warrington
Make up: Justin Brincat
Hair: Antonio Patane'

The new EOS C300 'digital cine' camera

This looks interesting, the C300 camera. It looks like it'll be a challenger to the Red Scarlet  and the Arri Alexa. The design has been tailored to the needs of professional cinematographers (it was revealed at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios in front of journalists and the film industry elite – including Martin Scorsese apparently). The camera is due to be released in the first half of 2012 in two options, an EF mount or a PL mount.

Here is some info from the manufacturer:

The large Super 35mm Canon CMOS Sensor allows very shallow depth of field. Combined with the new Canon EF Cinema Primes, cinematographers can balance beautiful out of focus areas with stunningly sharp details for the exact desired effect, under almost any lighting condition.

The 8.3 megapixel, single CMOS sensor captures full bandwidth, individual RGB channels for each Full HD 1920x1080 frame without the need for debayering algorithms. The single CMOS chip produces color on par with conventional three chip designs.

The Canon CMOS sensor's dynamic range gives up to 12 stops of exposure latitude, capturing more detail in each frame. This range compares to that of far–more expensive cameras.

It goes without saying that a great lens goes a long way to getting a great result. And Canon has a reputation of well-regarded optics. Canon Cinema EOS is compatible with a big family of Canon lenses - over 60 Canon EF and EF-S lenses, the all new Cinema Zoom Lenses (for EF- and PL-mount) and Cinema Prime Lenses (EF mount body only).

The DiG!C DV III processor works hand in hand with the new 8.3 megapixel Super 35 CMOS sensor. DiG!C DV III provides the power to process the information from the large 8.3 megapixel single sensor into four 2.0 megapixel channels (2xG; RGB). This design allows the single chip design of the EOS C300 to maintain high color fidelity, optimal signal-to-noise balance and smooth gradations usually found only on three-chip sensor designs – making it particularly good for green screen VFX and virtual set applications. The CMOS sensor offers stunning low light performance and incredibly clean images, even at ISO settings as high as 20,000.

It is expected to cost around $20,000 / £15,000.


Below are 2 films shot on the C300, 'MOBIUS' and 'XXIT', and the behinbd-the-scenes videos to to each of them showing the C300 in use.

Mobius from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Mobius :: Behind The Scenes from Blake Whitman on Vimeo.

XXIT from Stargate Studios on Vimeo.

XXIT Behind The Scenes from Stargate Studios on Vimeo.

Sources:

www.studentfilmmakers.com

www.cinemaeos.usa.canon.com

www.slashgear.com

Mdina Glass Open Week TV commercial

TV commercial produced by agency Media Consulta Malta to promote the annual open week even held by Maltese glassware manufacturer Mdina Glass.

Mdina Glass Open Week TVC from Media Consulta Malta on Vimeo.

This was the first production shot by Legwork Productions on their new Sony FS100 HD camera.

Arrested development: the importance of having the right producers onboard

It has been a long time since I had the time, focus and energy to write a proper blog update. The summer has flown by with busy ‘summer fun stuff’, a busy workload at the agency, selling our house and looking for a new home... and the developments (!) of my feature project, ‘Shadows’. This blog is about the trials and tribulations, the hopes and the disappointments and the false dawns and frustrations of film development.

Sometimes I get the
feeling  I've been here before!

Rendez-vous

Fashion shoot for Pjazza magazine October 2011.


Photography / processing: Mark Warner
Models: Macram and Malin at SO Management
Styling: Isabel Warrington
Make up: Justin Brincat
Hair: Lara Pace Brincau
Location: The George Urban Boutique Hotel, Malta

As the summer winds down, is 3D doing the same?

Here's an excellent article about the trends for 2D vs 3D. Well worth a read.

Rio and Leli - a winning combination!

I recently submitted my picture 'Rio and Leli' (below) to a an exhibition and awareness project called No Exclusions, here in Malta and I was delighted to learn that the image won in the in the 'Overall Winner' category. The winner was chosen by a panel of judges.

This is what the project is about in the words of it's organisers:

Pictures can be as powerful as words, and sometimes even more so. This action is intended to raise awareness about poverty and social inclusion through images.

We invite you to take photos that speak about understanding others, overcoming isolation and creating inclusion.

We are looking for pictures highlighting objects, stories, people and situations that represent symbolic ‘bridges’ – links that could create connections between people in order to reduce the isolation of those living on the utskirts of society.

These pictures will contribute to building the biggest collaborative mosaic for inclusion.

I thought that the picture was relevant because at face value it shows a connection between the very young and the elderly but also, Rio is the son of an English man (me) and the relationships are a result of racial inclusion; the grandparents are Maltese and adopted a mixed-race Brazilian girl who married a caucasian man.

I guess, if that isn't inclusion, what is!

The exhibition was held in Malta's capital city, Valletta between 10th and 11th June, 2011.

Waiting for Godard

French New Wave meets Waiting for Godot inspired Fashion shoot for June 2011 issue of Pjazza magazine.

Photography / processing: Mark Warner

Models: Jovana and Orsika at SO Management

Styling: Isabel Warrington

Make up: Justin Brincat

Hair: Antonio Patane'

Life in a Day and Senna

It's that time of year where nearly every square inch of silver screen space is taken up by the huge, money guzzling juggernauts  known as the summer blockbusters (or is it now 'franchises'?). There are exceptions, but, on the whole, they offer little in the way of originality or creativity... and even less in real soul or human drama. I guess that's not what their aim is. Their aim is to generate as much bounty as possible and maybe pave the way for vapid sequels. The onset of 3D has just made them all the more unappealing to me.

With this said, I am really pleased to see two smaller films... and documentaries at that... doing so well upon their recent releases. They are 'Life in a Day' and 'Senna'.

Easisave TV commercial

This TV commercial was produced as part of a major national launch campaign for FIMBank's Easisave online savings product. The campaign also included radio, billboards, bus shelters, newspaper and magazine advertising and PR.

The campaign was entrusted to the integrated communications agency, Media Consulta, with whom Mark Warner is head of creative.

FIMBank is an international trade finance bank with its headquarters in Malta.

FIMBank easisave from Carmel Bruno on Vimeo.

Credits:


Agency: Media Consulta, Malta Ltd.
Concept / Director: Mark Warner
Production Company: Legwork Productions
DoP / Editor: Carmel Bruno
After Effects: Paul Camilleri


This video can also be viewed on YouTube.

Resonance film project

Resonance is the vision of SR Partners, a London-based motion graphics studio. It is a collaborative project in which over 30 independent visual and audio designers / studios are taking part. The aim was to explore the relationship between geometry and audio in unique ways.

The result is something varied, captivating and inspirational.

RESONANCE from Resonance on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoy it.

Shockwave-Sound.Com - Copyrights in Public Domain music and Classical music

I had a conversation with somebody a couple of days ago whereby I explained why, even though a composer passed away hundreds of years ago, they still had to get licensing sorted out for the 'recording' interpretation.

Then I found this article that really clears up the issue:

Shockwave-Sound.Com - Copyrights in Public Domain music and Classical music

Latest Pjazza shoot

On June 5 the regular Pjazza fashion shoot team was back together, along with two lovely models, Orsika and Jovana.

The concept this time around was inspired by two sources... the theme was losely derived from a famous play by a certain Samuel Beckett and the aesthetic style was a reference to French New Wave cinema.

I called the story 'Waiting for Godard' and recently finished processing the final 10 images and delivered them to the happy editor.

The magazine comes out on June 26 with the Malta Independent on Sunday.

In the meantime, here are some behind-the-scenes pics.

Great architecture photography by Sven Fennema

Happened upon this feature on Bloodyloud.com and had to share it.

Architecture & Abandoned Places - Photographer - Sven Fennema

Microbudget film

I recently read an article about microbudget filmmaking on the excellent website Filmmaker Magazine.

The piece was very pertinent to how I work and spoke, in part, to the aesthetics I aspire to and am drawn to.

I'm not one for written manifestos like the Dogma movement, but I do believe that microbudget filmmaking can be a choice and an ethos. It allows for a voice to be heard rather than be drowned by the big bucks and interfering execs.

Now more than ever, with the advent of affordable HD technology, desk top post-production and avenues of online promotion and (maybe soon) distribution, there is more of a reason -- and more of an avenue -- for independent filmmakers to get out there and create a sea change.

As I develop my project, Shadows, I have my eyes focusing more and more on this option of filmmaking with levels of creative freedom and democratic production we have maybe never seen before.

To read the article by Scott Macaulay, just click here.

Can you guess what this is an advert for?

This advert is so good, I just had to post it on here. I wish one of my clients would go for this kind of concept (and budget!) instead of getting shot down for the normal kind of approach.

Not only did it make me laugh, but it is really beautifully lit and shot as well.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

Dirt Devil-The Exorcist from MrPrice2U on Vimeo.

New design to website

Check out my official website... I just re-launched it with a new cleaner and leaner look.

A quick photography demo reel thanks to Animoto

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Where has the week gone?

A week working with my four and half year old son... a new found love with Playmobil...  and storyboarding against the clock...

Making Ugly - indie Brit-flick

Making Ugly is a British independent thriller reportedly shot in London and Edinburgh on a micro budget of just £7,000 over a period of 74 days.

This kind of spirited, determined and dedicated film-making is something that fills me with hope and encouragement in a business dominated by major studios, ridiculous budgets, 3D sideshows,  distributors that have little faith in smaller movies with heart and multiplexes that would rather show the same film on 2 or 3 screens rather than give a screen to those smaller movies.

All the best to Squarebox Yellow, cast, crew and backers.

Now, let me get back to my screenplay!!!

Making Ugly Official Trailer from Squarebox Yellow on Vimeo.

Sony NEX-FS100 Super 35mm Camcorder

This looks pretty damn good going by what I have seen and read so far... Sony’s new NEX-FS100 camcorder, due out early summer 2011.

It boasts an Exmor Super 35 CMOS Sensor and shoots 1080p60 at up to 28Mbps. It is an interchangeable lens camera (which is really important to me) and is fitted with an E-mount (but the short flange back distance – the distance between the surface of the lens mount and the sensor surface – means that it will also take A-mount lenses with an adaptor).

Pricing in the US is expected to be around $5,850 for the body plus another $700 for a kit version to include the 18-200mm F3.5 – 6.3 lens, viewfinder tube and shotgun microphone. Of course, I'm showing some rather 'sexed up' images of the camera kitted up for serious use...

Any thoughts? Opinions?

To me it looks like a very interesting addition to the growing list of low-cost HD camera options out there.

Video courtesy of My Sony Professional.

This is the music video shot as a test on the FS100...

Cozi: 'Vertigo' Music Video from Den & James on Vimeo.

hypersmash.com

Urban Chic photo shoot

Tear sheets from the fashion shoot for Pjazza magazine, March 2011:

Photographer - Erik Almas

Erik Almas is a brilliant photographer I recently stumbled upon thanks to a tweet I was lucky enough to see. I have been busy writing, finishing off a TV commercial and planning a photo shot to blog properly, so I just wanted to share this find with others...

Thanks to the excellent Bloody Loud for introducing me to Almas' work.

DreamHost codes

Miriam Christine publicity shoot

Publicity shoot for singer / songwriter (and my wife) Miriam Christine. I called these 'The Red Session'.

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