Musket Teaser Shoot

House of Leo Productions brought me on board again to provide the Cinematography for another project: "MUSKET" a Canadian independent feature film.

It is written and directed by Shane Monahan, and will be produced by House of Leo Productions.

The following are some screen captures from the ungraded unedited footage from the teaser trailer shoot.

The actual teasers will be released at some time later.

Technical notes below.

This was an extremely low budget production for just the teaser trailer.  All the shots were taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Canon EOS 7D cameras.  For equipment, there was Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 Tripod, Glidetrack SD 1m, Lilliput 7" HDMI field monitor, LCDVF Viewfinder and Zoom H4n Recorder. These equipment were picked for agility as the shoots took place is multiple locations only accessible by feet (such as in the middle of the forest).  Zoom lenses were picked for this shoot for quicker set up.


Photo 1:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II with SMC Takumar 50mm F/1.4 lens

50mm, ISO 320, 1/50s, f/2.0, 1080 24p

Conveniently, we didn't actually have to go in the forest.  We found a nearby park, and were able to pick angles that avoided children playing in the background.


Photo 2:

Canon EOS 7D with Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 Lens

15mm, ISO 640, 1/125s, f/2.8, 720 60i

This was a part of a sequence done in slow motion.  A polarizer was attached to compensate for the sky and water.  There was heavy rain and wind the entire time this was being shot, and involved dolly truck out on the Glidetrack while maintaining focus (in the rain so I could barely see).  Conveniently, after attaching the LCDVF the camera could see better than I could.

Photo 3:

Canon EOS 7D with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens

100mm, ISO 640, 1/125s, f/4, 720 60i

Conveniently the rain had stopped when we started this shot.  The revolver was definitely not loaded (just pretend all the other shots were discharged and there's one under the hammer).

Photo 4:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens

100mm, ISO 320, 1/50s, f/4, 1080 24p

This was a dolly shot done at ground level.  Again there was seriously heavy rain and wind, and we had limited time to shoot before the make up dissolved.

Photo 5:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II with SMC Takumar 50mm F/1.4 lens

50mm, ISO 320, 1/50s, f/2.0, 1080 24p

A dolly track and pan with follow focus shot.  The best feeling you could get is when you say "one more take, I can nail it" and then nailing it.  Of course, if you fail after making such a statement, it would be extremely awkward.