FiveSix Productions Goes East to Head West
Last week, FiveSix Productions linked up with one of our favorite, jet-setting clients and headed over to St. Louis, Missouri. Yes, from the shadow of the grand "Gateway Arch" and iconic old courthouse, through Forrest Park, and out in the quaint suburbs, we crisscrossed and explored the city. We even made time to catch a baseball game at Busch Stadium! The show-me state certainly showed us a good time, and it was hard to say goodbye, but we can't wait for the next shoot in the next city.
FiveSix Productions Enjoys America's Pastime!
Recently, FiveSix Productions had the opportunity to get out to the ol' ball game here in Las Vegas! Our crew followed one of the Las Vegas 51's outfielders from the time he left his house, and all the way through the game, documenting "a day in the life". We were able to interview a couple of his fellow big-league teammates, and film them as they put the smack down on a team from Texas. There was some good hitting, running, and catches as we created what most certainly will be an awesome bit of baseball magic, hopefully, worthy of "Field of Dreams". After some hard work, we were even able to enjoy some hotdogs, peanuts and cracker-jacks, just for good measure. We are keeping our fingers crossed that come next spring, we'll be back at it on the diamond. On to our next Las Vegas video production!
What We Learned
Last week FiveSix Productions had the opportunity to work with some of our friends and associates on a short film; reference last weeks' blog. All joking and silliness aside, here's what we learned from a very cool and fun experience.
It's hot as fresh pancakes and sausage here in Vegas during the summer... I mean, c'mon!
Don't let the film Training Day fool you, it's not that easy to shoot inside of a vehicle, especially when it's moving. The lighting was one of the trickiest aspects, as our run-n-gun, guerilla style shooting kept us on our toes both during the day, and at night.
Audio inside a vehicle was easier than expected; I posted a video a long time ago in a blog that showed how to do audio in a car, and it was pretty spot on. I was pretty nervous about capturing quality audio early on, but it really wasn't as tough as I thought. (All due respect to our pro-audio friends.)
C.R.E.A.M.: All hail Wu Tang Clan, those guys are spot on, cash rules everything around me.... When you're talent is working for free, sometimes they don't show up. We only had a couple actors who weren't able to make it; but fortunately we had a lot of very eager, talented folks who came though and did a great job.
Scheduling and shot lists are crucial! Even on a short film, time is so valuable, and it's very easy to fall behind. Make sure to storyboard! There's no such thing as over-prepared.
Now, I can't speak for the director/star of the film, but I'm sure stepping out of his comfort zone to direct a short narrative was a great learning experience, as I'm sure was staring as talent. He'll basically be the Robert Rodriguez of this film as he'll also be the editor. All in all, it was a cool experience that took us from hot Vegas streets, to neon lights, and even left some of us pant-less in a dingy motel room on the Strip... So, while we eagerly await the final cut, we'll proceed on to the next project... With pants on, this time.
The Future is Upon Us!
Houston, we have a problem... and problem of too much awesome sauce dripping all over the place. So, check this out: in a couple days, we're essentially going to become junior astrophysicists, and by junior, I mean full-blown, certified, degree from Harvard, astrophysicists! For real. I can't tell you what we're doing or where we're going (that's actually how I feel about all the shoots I'm sent on... would be nice for some information!), all I can tell you is that it's basically Top-Secret, NASA/CIA/FBI/NSA/NFL/Chef-Boyardee level stuff. We've got a pretty sick lineup of RED cameras and a C300 Mark II with some fresh lenses to basically knock this out of the stratosphere. Perhaps, just perhaps, we'll share a couple photos when we get back- but I doubt it, as they'll probably have to terminate us- if you know what I mean. We'll see. So, check back Monday for potential updates- if we make it back alive.... Las Vegas video production sure can be exciting.
Note: I'm actually not going on this shoot, I'm getting a tattoo worked on and going to a baseball game- the other suckers can risk their lives.
Out.
Well, that was quicker than I expected.
Well, I feel pretty sheepish, I was trying to update my MySpace music list from my rotary phone, when I realized I hadn't paid my Pacific Bell phone bill for the month. I guess that's what I get for prioritizing my student loans from Full Sail (smart) before my phone, studio apartment, and ramen noodle funds. Well, no worries, I can do all my internet-ing from my place of employment (I'm sure temporary, the more blogs I write). Turns out, ol' Mike Bay of Transformers and the short: "Vanilla Ice: I Love You" has had a special, RED Epic with an 8K Super 35mm sensor built just for him. Yeah, impressive. It even has a fancy, neon green housing! Well, long story made short: this is just the beginning. The folks at RED have already sold a handful of RED 8K Helium Weapons, and there will be more where that came from in October.
Now, I can't begin to tell you how I know absolutely nothing about any of the specs, partly because they're not posted, and partly because I have no idea what I'm talking about outside of using a disposable camera; but, I'm sure you can figure something out using Google. If you want a little bit of a head start, go here, or here. Either way, I'm pumped, and the wonderful folks over at F11 Rentals have a RED Epic Dragon for rent that's pretty righteous if you want to get your hands on a piece of the action.
Really Long Lenses!
FiveSix Productions (the Las Vegas video production company of choice) has a nice set of lenses, but occasionally we have need for lenses that don't fit into our normal repertoire, enter a 200-400mm L-Series with a 1.4X zoom. This puppy has been just what the doctor ordered. We got to take it out on a rare-short film we're shooting right now (refreshing change of pace), and the fellas are taking it out, deep into the Nevada desert to shoot something so exciting, my trembling fingers can't complete the words.... So, while we pride ourselves on owning the best of the best, we certainly know when and where to get supplementary gear to make sure we deliver on time, in budget, and beyond what's expected!
When You Wish Upon A Star...
Today is a big day for FiveSix Productions! Not only did we get to dust off the ol' steady cam and give it a go for a while, we got to do something that enriches the life of a very deserving and adorable person. Let me start by saying that many years ago I had the pleasure of working for the Walt Disney Company, and was therefore afforded the chance to be a part of making many a young-person's dream(s) come true in whatever way they imagined. Meet Mickey? Of course! Play basketball with Dwight Howard? You got it! View fireworks from the princess castle at Disney World? Not a problem! So, in that spirit, we're making more dreams come true right here in Las Vegas! Now, it's not quite for the deserving children that "Make-A-Wish" selflessly helps, but we did our best. We are currently shooting a short film for a very deserving and special old man who's only dream is to avenge a sad time in his life. While I won't desecrate the noble and honorable mission of "Make-A-Wish" by making any more comparisons, I will say that we're busting our bums to make a dream come true for someone who otherwise, wouldn't have said chance. Well, it's on to the next location- until next time.
FiveSix Productions on: Smashing Trucks
So, here's the thing, most of the time, those little signs on the bottom of overpasses, tunnels, bridges, parking garage entrances, etc. can be ignored... but sometimes they shouldn't be. For instance, if you're in a tall truck, if you play in the NBA, or maybe you're on a pogo stick, you'd probably want to proceed with caution. When you're in a vehicle that's tall, make sure to know just how tall it is, so that you know if it's safe to proceed past low hanging obstacles and barriers. We saw this truck recently that did not check all the stats before proceeding...
For your convenience, here is our most up-to-date list of clearance levels for some of the properties on Vegas Blvd.
Wynn: 8'2"
Caesars: 6'8"
Mandalay Bay: 7'2"
Rio: 7'6"
Cosmopolitan: 8'2"
MGM Conference Center: 8'8"
Aria: 7'6"
Bellagio 7'6"
Venetian: 6'8" (Easy access oversized lot adjacent)
Palazzo: 7"
Mirage: 6'10"
Best of luck.
FiveSix Productions On the Construction Site
Last week, FiveSix Productions had the opportunity to record at the Riviera Hotel right here in Las Vegas. As you may or may not know, the Riviera is one of the most famous and historic properties left on The Strip, but not for long. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority purchased the declining property not long ago to expand the already gigantic Las Vegas Convention Center in an attempt to stay at the forefront of the American Convention scene. The LVCVA set in motion the deconstruction of the hotel earlier this year, and we got to get right in the thick of it. Most of the raw materials such as the steel, iron, and other metals that are included in wiring and the like, can be recycled and used again, so a small army of men and machines are busy getting that task completed. By this time a couple years from now, the north end of the iconic Las Vegas Strip will look a whole lot different with Resorts World, Alon, and of course, the expanded Convention Center joining the Wynn complex, Trump, and SLS (oh, and Circus Circus, if it can survive). We love getting the opportunity to explore new subjects and locations, and this exciting Las Vegas video production experience has us stoked to get out on our next project.
