Camera Tests

So after the less the optimal outcome of the 48 hour project as noted in the previous post, I decided we needed to recheck our findings on the Benito’s Camera. Mark, Benito and I met on Sunday to do just that.
First thing we had to do was establish the relative ASA value of the camera. We spent a bit more time on it this time around. We set up a Baby and lit a color chart mounted on a bounce card placed about 10 feet from the camera. The chart read about 65 Foot candles and then with a monitor, we adjusted the aperture until we could see the differences between the two white values without them bleeding over. This was a stop of 4.0. Then we did the math and came up with something between 200 and 220 ASA.
We then lit the room for a lighting test to and had the kid walk in to the scene, sit in the chair read for a bit and then get up and walk out of the shot. The look we were going for was that of the Beach house scenes in Reds. We found that these scenes had a natural feel to them where the DP lit the walls and if there were a practical used that for key. The actors would walk in and out of light. I really liked it and that is the look I am going for.
Se we set a Baby to light the far wall with a double net to add a bit of top shadow. In the practical we placed a 250 watt photo flood. Note the lame was way hot so we cut it down with two pieces of 251 diffusion and a piece of half straw. When we shoot I think we will use nd3 and trim it back so we get a bit of a rim off the spill from the practical. Finally we hung a China Ball with a 250 on a C stand just to the left of the camera to add a bit of volume to the room. She exits between the camera and the china ball. There is also a Bounce card to the right of the chair to fill her face.
We shot these using different Aperture settings from 2.8-8 as noted on the slate.
Here is the test footage. I think the focus is a bit soft, something Benito has to work on before we shoot, particularly in the wider shots. I prefer the look in the 5.6 take. The meters were reading about 2.8 on the Baby, and practical and about 2.0 for the fill