Tailslate: A Cinematography Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ed Moore & Benedict Spence, Cinematographers
Professional cinematographers Ed and Ben discuss the life and challenges of being DPs working in narrative and commercials, and where cinematography and filmmaking look in a digital age.
We're back and we're terribly sorry. Ed's been shooting Doctor Who and Britannia, and Ben's done four thousand commercials and a little known show called End of the Fucking World. Which seems strangely relevant tbh.
We’re back! Only coming up with a description is between me and this getting posted so… this is the end of the description.
We're back with a bumper episode of over two hours of DP waffling. The boys are joined by Catherine Goldschmidt and the wine-fuelled topics include
what we've been shooting how to get into dramas (again) the Sony Venice large format lenses and sensors gender politics on set
Ben talks bout being super tired from his first 2 weeks on Witless 3, and some secret relationship gossip too.
Ed loves flame bars.
Ben doesn’t mind an easyrig (but only for eyelines http://easyrig.se/).
Ben does love a Litegear Litemat (http://www.litegear.com/).
Ed talks about prepping for Vera and spending long hours in a recce bus.
Ed talks about moving away from movi work for this series a bit.
Ed discusses his lens choice for Vera.
Ed talks about his camera choice, he likes Arri cameras but has a secret love for the Sony F65.
Ben really likes the Alexa sensor because it means he can be lazy with protecting this highlights.
Ed is very diplomatic about all cameras (but he likes Alexa most).
Ben and Ed reminisce about Canon Xl1s and XLH1’S and their funny lenses.
Ed talks about his Canon 5d and how much he loved it.
Ben tells a couple of possibly alternative fact about old school tv cameras and VCT14 tripod plates (https://www.sony.co.uk/pro/product/broadcast-products-camcorders-tripods-supports/vct-14/overview/).
Ed and Ben realise they are becoming THOSE old dp’s talking about old cameras and things.
The podcast gets interrupted by a call from Bens, previously mentioned, girlfriend.
How many working DPs are there in the UK? (Ed knows!)
Ben and Ed talk about the new Sony Venice camera and what they think it might be like (https://www.sony.co.uk/pro/product/broadcast-products-camcorders-digital-motion-picture-camera/venice/specifications/)
Ed really really likes a mirrored shutter.
Ed talks about shooting on film with DP Dale McCready (http://www.dalemccready.com/) and a few beginners film faux pars.
Ben and Ed finally solve digital vs film (they don’t).
Ben finally relishes that having and iPad and Shot Designer might infact be a useful tool (https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/shot-designer.html).
Ed thinks someone should update the lighting designer app and talks about Omnigraffle (https://www.omnigroup.com/omnigraffle/ios) and Airtable (https://airtable.com/)
Ben shows off about his Tesla, again.
Ed and Ben gush about the sci fi books of Ian m banks (https://www.iain-banks.net/books/#sf).
- What Ed and Ben have been up to in the past couple of weeks.
- Ben’s been shooting pack shots, with white trainers.
- Ed’s been working in Bucharest and staying in nice hotels.
- Ed talks a lot about his cat flap security setup.
- Talk about keeping lighting simple, stupid.
- Lighting fashion shoots and what your favourite Briese light size.
- Plus how do you pronounce Briese?
- Ben and Ed talk about lighting people. Should you be giving women different treatment to men?
- Ed and Ben talk about studying actors faces while lighting them (and freaking them out in the process).
- Funny Stories about light meters from Ed.
- Funny stories about Naomi Campbell and Masterattis from Ben.
- Ed and Ben both talk about how they behave on set, first day set etiquette and dodging being bullied (lets call it what it is) by John Cleese.
- Ben channels his inner David Brent and talks about Fun Games. Including Set Assassin and The Camera Name Game.
- Ordering custom clapperboards from English Stix http://www.englishstix.com/
- The current medical assessment of Ed’s cat, Deakins.
- And both share embarrassing knowledge of the songs from Aladdin (1992).
Ed and Ben talk about the launch of the podcast Ed’s been grading his big sexy drama and did a whole LUT thing Ben’s been shooting tons of fashion with his shiny trainers and lots of Briese light We decide to discuss lighting and solve everything once and for all Whether a gaffer is a robot or a creative collaborator How a DP hiring a gaffer is like a director hiring a DP How to describe what you’re after to a gaffer Ed’s number 1 thing that’s annoying about some gaffers Ed’s still looking for his dream gaffer The two ways to be a member of crew (and one’s bad) Ben makes a confession about diffusion Ed and Stephen Murphy’s textile test - http://content.edmooredop.com/ragstest/ Ed shows off about Lee gel numbers LEDs and colour Ed hates burned out gel We both love Skypanels Gel numbers vs DMX values The light Ed wants someone to make Our favourite lights OF ALL TIME Thinking in terms of radiosity Lighting with high ISOs Ben loves tungsten Ed is skeptical about double bounces / book lights Ben describes the LED-Industrial Complex Where to start with a lighting kit list
Ed & Ben discuss what's in their kit bags; what equipment they own and whether as cinematographers owning your own tools is a good idea. Ed gives a very long and tedious description of how he uses an iPad as a DP.
To kick off the podcast, the boys talk about working on large narrative projects and how they differ from the commercial and "content" type work many of us get our start in.