t r e e b e n d s

Vintage Marshalls

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:38:00 -0500

50 watts of deliciousness straight from the 70s. Yep, hand-wired and all tube. Hendrix would appreciate. I have two of ‘em for sale. Plugins and apps can’t get this sound. Send me an email if interested.

If you want to hide a lav mic, give painter’s tape a try. As...

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:40:00 -0500

If you want to hide a lav mic, give painter’s tape a try. As long as the creature is 1) clothed and 2) isn’t moving around much, you can tape the mic underneath clothing (e.g., sweater - see pic), which also works like a pop filter of sorts. I used this technique extensively in my most recent film, NOISEFOLD.

Mic choice? I love Sennheiser G3s because they are omnidirectional, thus grabbing conversations without having to rely on a boom. That said, fabrics and the way people wear their clothes can be tricky, so be prepared to go another route (e.g., mic clip, shotgun mic, multiple mics, etc.).

Did you know that V’s dialogue (played by Hugo Weaving) in the film V for Vendetta was recorded live? Yep, the mic was hidden in the mask!

*Picture taken on the set of Born, directed by Andrew Keithly.

For the past 3 years, we’ve taken care of a company of cats here...

Sat, 11 May 2013 01:04:00 -0500

For the past 3 years, we’ve taken care of a company of cats here in Denton. Endless cat food, different personalities, tragic losses, and unexpected surprises (i.e., the birth of Little Baby Patrick aka LBP - pictured above), have underscored our short time here. Within a span of a week, most have been relocated due to an impending move, which feels like a heart collision with a semi truck.

12 hours ago, I was told that someone wanted Patty, so tonight we adopted him out to Mr. Papa Iggy, who made him feel right at home. It was nothing short of celebratory, as Patty Cake kept his tail high, exploring his new casa. After a difficult week of watching our precious friends go to different places, Pat’s epic reception finally gave us a reason to smile. Thank you Bibi. Thank you Iggy.

For those interested in helping out the gato nation, check out www.elgatomeow.com for more info. Remember, all album sales go directly into the pockets of our animal friends. For cat’s sake, go pick out yerself somethin’ nice!

No Moiré

Wed, 08 May 2013 22:48:00 -0500

I recently worked on a film at the Capitol building in Austin, TX and used the VAF-7D in my Canon 7D. Indeed, the perfect defense against moiré. No more digital tapeworms! It does soften the image a bit, but not enough to worry about (especially if you subscribe to Altman’s philosophy of image capture in filmmaking). That said, I don’t recommend for photos. For those skeptical about the installation, have no fear. It is as simple as it looks.

Staff Picked

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:49:00 -0500

CDBaby selected Gulliver’s EP as their official staff pick. All hail Brian.

A-Piel-ing

Sun, 05 May 2013 16:24:00 -0500

I was in LA shooting a video for That Noise last summer and was introduced to Piel (side project of singer/bass player, Jawnee Danger). This song stays on “repeat” in my head and I can’t get enough of the vid. Finally, a green screen put to good use.

Fred Wiseman

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:29:00 -0500

This pic is from Frederick Wiseman’s incredible documentary, Primate, which actually feels more like a horror movie when watching it. If you aren’t familiar with Wiseman, you need to be. A lawyer turned filmmaker, this guy has been directing from behind the boom (yes, he is also a sound recordist) for decades. His films are like a vitamin mallet to the brain, but I must warn you…you’ll probably regret watching shows like Parenthood. Let’s just say that women don’t tear up at the end of every scene, basking in the glory of whatever music is being sold at Starbucks. No offense, Peter Krause. You’re one of my faves.

What is it with people taking pictures of themselves? You see...

Sun, 05 May 2013 09:40:00 -0500

What is it with people taking pictures of themselves? You see this all the time these days, the phone is now an appendage, front and center.

Me? I do it as a way of keeping track of where I’ve been. For example, in this picture, I had been up for 22 hours on a shoot in OK and was gettin’ meta wit it, yo.

Pictures either reinforce or upset the narrative that we have of our ourselves, and the ones we don’t like are often deleted quickly for a do-over. Filmmaker/scholar Jay Ruby believes that the actual presence of an edit diminishes the value of true documentary, which should adhere to certain anthropological values.

The point of all this? I suppose we could think about the implications of bias and “truth” in the images that we create and seek out, but I am pinky typing this on my iPhone, so for now there isn’t one.

A picture taken by The Union Man himself at the 2013 DIFF. Earl...

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:00:00 -0500

A picture taken by The Union Man himself at the 2013 DIFF. Earl has taken self-reflexivity to another level.

IN THE MIGHTY WALLET

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:53:00 -0500

Since most of the music on In The EP was recorded on cassette, I figure that this wallet is the perfect way to celebrate the 5th year anniversary of its release.

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Chuy, my gato brother, also seems to think so per his paw on my keyboard.

Reconvergence

Fri, 03 May 2013 20:36:00 -0500

I had the pleasure of watching over 15 hours of interview footage for this film. Chronic glogging, the rebel yell, DMT, and the evils of a refrigerator. Geez, this film won’t leave my brain alone (thank goodness).

Kino-Eye, Altman, Fellini, Nils Frahm

Fri, 03 May 2013 19:53:00 -0500

Viewing life through a camera has a funny way of making your memories feel like a film. Fellini once said to Robert Altman that “the best film is all the dailies. It’s like seeing the mistakes. You see what’s going on in people’s minds. You haven’t yet distilled those thoughts.” Speaking of Altman, McCabe and Mrs. Miller (which is in MoMA) is easily the most beautiful film that I have ever seen. Optical snow, flashed film (much to the chagrin of studio execs), and overlapping dialogue…Altman was the best.

*Download Nil Frahm’s free EP and reap the benefits of his broken thumb.

Red Carpet

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:52:00 -0500

Walking the red carpet at the Dallas International Film Festival with Earl (aka The Union Man) was a great moment. Earl t-shirts anyone?

The little trailer that won't.

Fri, 03 May 2013 03:03:00 -0500

Have you ever seen a trailer about a film and the film turned out totally different? This is one of those trailers, which seems appropriate considering the topic matter. I know, I know. You have no idea what I’m talking about, which is fine because the actual film hasn’t been released. On a side note, the music is the little song that can, which will be released on my new EP, Mighty Was Your Light. In the meantime, enjoy the trailer that will never be.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:06:00 -0500

Chipped in on Freedom Fighters, a film directed by Jamie Meltzer. Check out the Kickstarter page here.

THE KITTY, LENI, ETC.

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:52:00 -0500

This is my current rig configuration (“The Kitty”), which utilizes Zacuto’s Target Shooter, EVF Flip, and Z-Finder Pro 3X. By hooking the butt of the Targer Shooter over my shoulder, I manage to keep the rig close to my body. Ergonomically, HDSLRs are a challenge…so you have to go with what works best for you and your body type. This rig is lightweight, stable, and is about as guerrilla as you can get in the HDSLR world. Keeping the EVF Flip mounted on top of the camera allows for a quick adjustment when going for those low angle “Hitler” type shots.

Don’t get the Hitler reference? Check out Leni Riefenstahl’s controversial film, Triumph of the Will, and get schooled. Leni managed to make sucky ole’ Hitler (who many Americans compared to non-threatening Charlie Chaplin) look epic and powerful. Mind you, this was before his film, The Great Dictator. I guess this comparison can probably be blamed on their choice of facial hair. Just think, if Hitler had opted for a beard, all hipsters would be forced to wear that stache. I digress…

Anyway, Riefenstahl’s shot compositions have been used in blockbusters like Star Wars, Gladiator, and probably stuff you’ve shot with your iPhone. You go girl.

Other Links:

Meet Philip Bloom, a talented guy with an excellent site for info on HDSLR, gear reviews, editing, etc.

Meet Shane Hurlbut, an amazing DP and HDSLR enthusiast.

Learn about Nikkor lenses along with many others that translate well to the 40 foot screen.

Here is a YouTube video on the Nikkor 35mm f/2 Non-Ai lens.

Want to maintain shallow depth of field in bright light? Here is an excellent article on ND filters and where to buy affordable ones.

Great sites for accessories:

Zacuto

Glidetrack