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MICRO short films (around a minute or so)


LegendaryCanon FD80mm F1.2 “L” lens image samples (including rack focus) and improvisedshort films





I optedto go showing what kind of image you can create with this lens,
rather than showing the lens itself and talking about the specs and history.


First short film (just about 60 second) is “one-cut, one location, one lens” style.This lens is PERFECT for this type of filmmaking, in my very biased and personal opinion.

2ndshort film was shot at my motorcycle garage, on the way back home right after purchasing this lens.

It ismulti-cut film, but shot on one lens, in one location.


Both of them were totally improvised, shot with minimal amount of gear, just by myself,and, most importantly, IMAGINATION.


As you can most probably tell, I’m a big, BIG fan of film noir, 1950s and 60s PI stories. (Okay, Raymond Chandler’s stories were technically late 1940s, so let’s include 40s, too.)


I’m really happy with this purchase.


[Note]

The camera is Fuji X-T4, all my FD lenses are used with Metabones Speed Booster.(So 80mm is an 80mm, not 80 x 1.5.)

In both films, no lights were used, other than candle light.

It’s all done by carefully placing myself (subject) and camera, thinking which way the light is coming from.



[Backstory]


DSCF2536by T K, on Flickr


So, I’ve been trying NOT to buy things I don’t really need for my day to day life.

And, to be honest, I’ve been doing pretty good.

(After March 31st, I’ve spent a whole lot less than befor…)


“Create,rather than consume”, someone on Youtube said that.

I don’t remember who it was… (could be Peter McKinnon, but not sure…)


But this one, I couldn’t resist.

The last day of my “2-month time off”, I was drinking my first cup of coffee in the morning, while casually browsing through Craigslist ads.

And, Isaw the title,

“CanonFD 80mm F1.2 L $695”


That particular ad was from Seawood photo in San Rafael, which is “kind of” my go to camera store. (Have been their customer for roughly 20 years or so…)

Five out of six FD lenses I own, I purchased from them, over the period of longtime. (I’m not a vintage lens collector, I’m a vintage lens shooter, so normally don’t actively look for some particular lenses on eBay, etc.)

I did some still photo test, too. I'll post it on photography thread.
 
How to switch between Arca-Swiss and Manfrotto, quickly and seamlessly(without swapping the plate)


How I use one camera for both still photos and videos, on multiple tripods, without swapping mounting plates every time I change tripod.

Basically, I just mounted Small Rig 2280 Arca-Swiss quick release clamp on Manfrotto place (Genuine Manfrotto plate), with universal cheese plate in between.

Somethings are so obvious when I look back, but didn't (couldn't) really see when I started this small project were ...

Some quick release clamps, such as SIURI QC-38, the "drop-in, lever lock" type clamps, are only compatible with provided Arca-Swiss plate.

800q-02_125170.png


This clamp looks nice in the photos, feels and works nice in your hand, but ...

It'll work ONLY with this plate. (That comes with the clamp.)
800q-07_125170.png


It is adjustable, but the range of adjustment is so narrow.
I tired Peak Design, Small Rig, Neewer, K&F, and some unknown plates.
Non of them would fit.

So I returned it.

Bought Small Rig 2280. Not the most elegant looking clamp, but it does what it needs to do.
61ZKgIAmZIL.jpg


Mounted on Manfrotto plate that came with 501HDV head.
Only to realize, when tighten down the mounting screw, the clamp jaw will not move freely.
Found cheese plate in the parts box, sandwiched it in between.

Talking about "Manfrotto" plates, I found that...

Anything that comes from Manfrotto will fit onto their head AND other brands' "compatible heads".

The plates that come with "other brands' Manfrotto compatible head" WILL NOT always work on Manfrotto head.
 
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Fuji X-H2 & Vintage Canon FD85mmf1.2L test short film] "The Outsider"






Totally unscripted.
It just happened while testing the camera and the lens.

Shot on Fuji X-H2 (Yes, H2. NOT H2S.) with vintage Canon FD85mm f1.2 L lens.
(And the camera is on also vintage Manfrotto 055XB PRO legs + 501HDV head.)

Shot in F-Log2

And because of that (shooting in F-Log2), I had to have VND PLUS 6-stop fixed # ND most of the time while shooting the video.

The camera is new to me. I purchased this as my "Photography camera".
But when I saw this bunch of goats on the hill, I had to shoot some videos.

Overall, I'm very happy with the camera.

If you are particularly interested in X-H2 (over X-H2S), look at the part the camera is panning. Can you tell the rolling shutter effect?
To me personally, this is perfectly fine.

(I really don't move the camera most of the time, actually. Let alone doing whip pan like "Whiplash", "La La Land".)
 
So, I regularly watch Luc Forsyth channel.
This film was mentioned in many of his previous videos, and it finally came out.

HIGHLINE (Short documentary film by Luc Forsyth)


Shot on very tight schedule, with very minimal gears and crew.
The reason I love his channel.
It's not about gear talk for its own sake.
It's all about the story.
 
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Best fanny pack for Fuji X100V , Anti-trend short film (first one minute)


I also hate EDC videos, and so-called “cross body sling style” wear of fanny pack.
It’s a coward way. I really don’t think it (cross-body sling style) is more functional than normal way.

Call it a man purse if you want.
This is as manly as it can get.
It holds full size 1911 or Glock, with room for two extra magazines.
Or, Fuji X100V with square lens hood and a few extra batteries, with quick deploy capability.
 
I’m working on the next project.
Teaser by T K, on Flickr

So,… I pulled a trigger, eventually.
After asking myself, again and again. “Do I really want to do this?” .
I was telling myself this is the last time, fully knowing that it won’t be.
There will be others.
There always will be….

Against my own better judgement, I decided to make this as a “short film”, instead of (more common) “How to(tutorial)” video.
But, just look at the screenshot above.
The lighting, prop blocking (it's out of focus, but a bag of Black Rifle Coffee "Silencer Smooth" in the background, and AeroPress Go), everything but the blade is underexposed (on purpose) ... this is not going to be tutorial video.
What I had in my mind was the opening scene of “Terminal List”.

Screw the YouTube popularity.
What I want to do is telling a story.)
 
Recreating “Blade Runner (1980)” scene, on ultra low budget


Disclaimer:
In compliance with the Code of Best Practices
in Fair Use for Online Videos,
this video comments on,
and shows copyrighted material for educational
and research purposes.


I made this about a year ago. But I took it down for copyright reason.
Warner-Tamerlane Publ Co. owns the copyright to Vangelis's Blade Runner music.
And they are really AGGRESSIVE.
“Fair use of copyrighted material” disclaimer won’t help.
Even though the music is so faint, it’s almost inaudible, the video still gets blocked.

I removed the original sound, and put different music.
See how it works.
 
Pro Sushi Chef’s life “The Dark Knight”


(Kind of) really short, 3-minute documentary, if you will.
Shot on GoPro Hero10 and 1st Gen. Sony ZV1, at work.
(The reason? I knew there would be no time to operate the cameras.
All I could do was to set the camera where they don’t interfere with other workers, and just keep it running until either the battery dies or SD card get full.)

It was a real nightmare to bring the colors closer to each other.
(They are still off, but, in the original footages, they were WAY off.)

Usually I’m all alone, filming myself without anybody around me.
So, this was totally different. NO control over anything, at all.


So, I decided to be “The Dark Knight”.
Even though, I was fully aware of all the disadvantages of this outfit.

I can’t see well.
The cowl cuts down the peripheral view.

I can’t hear well.
Tight fit cowl is completely covering my ears.

I can’t turn my head well.
Because the cowl is attached to the neck piece.

And the cape…
It gets snagged on the corner of the cutting board,
it gets trapped between the refrigerators door.
Still, I managed to work throughout the night wearing them.

Also, to be looking proper BATMAN, you actually need face paint, to make around your eyes black.
I know I have the face paint somewhere, but couldn’t find it.


With all these negatives…
Why “The Dark Knight”, then?

Because I like the characters that live in the shadow.
Dark, complexed internals.

It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do, that’s what defines me.
 
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Midnight Sushi Chef - Surreal Short Film


(You can’t live… like a character in the film)


Shot entirely in one location (in my kitchen), with one lens (vintage Canon FD85mmf1.2L), one camera (Fuji X-H2).
Using only Aputure MC and MT pro as the light sources.
Why was it possible? Because...
I shot entire film with 1/13 shutter speed (24fps), at f1.2 (except for the last scene.) plus I’m using Metabones speedbooster.
 
The last Day of Pro Sushi Chef (“Burning Bridges”)



Friends all tried to warn me
But I held my head up high
All the time they warned me
But I only passed them by

They all tried to tell me
But I guess I didn't care
I turned my back and
Left them standing there

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Joey tried to help me find a job
A while ago
When I finally got it I didn't want to go
The party Mary gave for me
When I just walked away
Now there's nothing left for me to say

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Years have passed and I keep thinking
What a fool I've been
I look back into the past and
Think of way back then
I know that I lost everything I thought I that could win
I guess I should have listened to my friends

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Burning bridges lost forevermore

By Lalo Schifrin, Mike Curb
“Burning Bridges”, Kelly’s Heroes, 1970 film
 
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[One lens, One camera, One location Short film] The Long Goodbye
(“A prayer for the dying”)


Shot entirely on one location
With one lens (vintage Canon FD 50mm f1.4 s.s.c.) + Metabones Speed booster
With one camera (Fujifilm XH2)

Audio recorded separately,
With Zoom F3, and RODE video mic NTG

All natural lighting

Drawing by me

[Disclaimer]
There are no firearms in this video.

Music
Artist name: Big Trees
Song Name:Jarvis Island (Instrumental)
License # : 7315258512
 
Teaching “How to cut Snapper”, Pro Sushi Chef’s sketchbook


Short (self)documentary, sort of.
Trying to teach someone always teach me something, that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
(I’m NOT talking about online stuff. )

Music
Artist Name: Cemetery Men
Song Name: Crooked Tree (Version II)(Instrumental)
License#: 2527888498

Artist Name: Lance Conrad
Song Name: Breaking Dawn (Instrumental)
License#: 1277710918

Artist Name: Cemetery Men
Song Name: Crooked Tree (Instrumental)
License#: 4776095282
 
The text message came in about a week, maybe 10 days ago.
A simple and short message, asking for help (that is, if I could.)

Self-Scan10003 by T K, on Flickr

One thing I never do, is, refusing when a girl asks for help, regardless the situation.
Perhaps, I’ve read Raymond Chandler’s books and watched movies like Casablanca too many times.
My brain doesn’t understand that one (really) can’t live like Philip Marlowe or Rick Blaine.

So, “the help” actually doesn’t require Franchi SPAS-12, fortunately.
(Good old 80s and 90s …)
I only need to bring my Yanagiba, Deba, and Sujihiki.
(That sketch was drawn when someone asked me for a help … long time ago.)

Yup. I’m working again, pretty regularly.
That’s why my video upload schedule is so erratic.
(But I’m still filming.)

[Short Story] Don't know if I can make it into a film or not...
 
The Last Samurai Breakfast



Pro Sushi Chef preparing breakfast before leaving for work.
Shot entirely on Fuji XT4, with vintage Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 + Comlite speed booster

It’s been a while since I made a video with XT4. (These days, I’ve been mostly using XH2 and GoPro (Hero10) for my videos.)
This one, I wanted to do a quick, guerrilla style filming, with minimal set up.
One camera, one lens, no external monitor, no rigging up the camera, with Peak Design travel tripod.
(This set up allows me to shoot / move very quickly. The downside is that I have greater chance of screwing up something that I wouldn’t realize until later, in the editing stage.)
 
The Last Samurai Dinner (Pro Sushi Chef’s experimental short film)


Pro Sushi Chef making Red Snapper Head dinner.
I wanted to capture “the flame”, in the scene I’m burning alcohol in Sake and Mirin.
So, I decided to film outside, picking up around sunset time.
(As you can see, the sun went down before I could finish cooking. Roughly 1/2 of the footage I ended up shooting in the dark.)

[Disclaimer] There are no firearms in the video.
 
Shot entirely on SAKK camera saddle, Pro Sushi Chef’s cinéma vérité


One lens, One camera, all on SAKK camera saddle. (Except for the first few seconds)
Let’s take a quick look at “behind the scenes” of professional chefs and the local fish company in San Francisco.
A Japanese chef visiting “A LaRocca”, local sea food company, at Pier 45 San Francisco.

Special Thanks to
A. LaROCCA Seafood, Pier 45 Box2, San Francisco, CA 94133

Shot entirely on Fuji XH2, with vintage Canon FD50mmf1.4 + Metabones Speed booster
(Opening scene by GoPro Hero10)
All handheld (Using SAKK camera saddle. I'm going t make a separate video about this.)
 
Is there a life after death? [short film, Leica SL2-S video test]



Shot entirely on Leica SL2-S, with vintage Canon FD 50mm f1.4 (both still photos and video)
No rigging. I wanted a truly minimalist set up.
By far, the most efficient still photo / video hybrid camera I’ve used.
(Switching from video to photo and switching back to video, this camera’s system is the quickest, simplest, and most intuitive.)
 
Leica SL2-S short film “24fps”


I see the world at 24 frames per second.
Everything looks pretty in 24fps, especially when they are spinning / rotating.

DISCLAIMER ; There are NO FIREARMS in this video!


I just bought a cheap black out curtain on Amazon, used it as "negative fill"
(trying to create more "dramatic shadow". Well, I need to do some more practice.


The entire film is shot on Leica SL2-S, with vintage Canon FD 50mmf1.4.

For the record, I’ve been crazy busy in the last 2 1/2 month. Haven’t touched any of these props for months. So I’m a bit rusty.
 
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I like the idea of owning an 1.2 lens but I don’t really need it and probably wouldn’t be able to make up my mind what focal length to purchase.
 
I tried “street photos” in my town, this is what I got (Shot with Leica SL2-S)


1956 Chevrolet 150 (non running), a couple of horses, and a duck family. That’s what I found.
Leica SL2-S is, in my very personal and biased opinion, the best “hybrid camera for this type of shooting. (Quickly and randomly switching between still photos and videos.)
It is the easiest (most intuitive), fastest (most efficient), even someone like myself who’s one of the most clumsy photo / video hybrid shooter, can do it without screwing things up.
 
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