So I get a call from John Bourbanais who runs a Colorado Springs production house called Bourban Street Productions. He’s got a couple of projects going at once and he is kindly contacting me to come in to direct and shoot a commercial in his absence. I say yes and Doug Millington and I start a sprint to get a location scouted, crew and camera booked, permits pulled and to develop a plan. The first file here are some of my story boards for the first day and some of the behind the scenes images of us shooting. BSP was represented on the shoot by their producer LeAnne Carrouth who was a great person to work with, smart and concise!
The crew was top of the line with Chris Gerding, who is a great collaborator and knowledgeable lighting gaffer. We had Mitch and Matt Stelling and Jesse Jaco as our Grips and they are amazingly on task always thinking one step ahead and that makes a director/cameraman’s job that much easier. Our 1st AC was Doug O’Kane, he and his brother Mark are serious production people. You’ll see Doug pulling focus on all these shots. Doug is a pro who is unflappable and when you get behind the eye piece, you know he is going to be on the money focus wise. The Digi tech was a very capable fellow named Nathan Berry-Chaney who expertly managed our digital work flow and 2 Go-Pros. Our make-up person was the can-do Suzanne Blons who doubled as a set PA as well. This was a low budget commercial but we got the shots and had the camera moving to intensify the action just like the big boys do.
Thanks to Jason Hornbeck at ACamera for his continued amazing help in getting us one of his Arri Alexa cameras with the 11:1 Optimo zoom. We used it from 24mm to 600mm and it was steller!
Our budget was challenged on this shoot but necessity is the mother of invention and to get our car to bike shots Chris Gerding wielded a platform extension onto his Toyota that allowed for the camera, operator and AC to shoot. The Gerdocamcar! Chris and his boys strapped us in from all points and we were good to go. Chris drove drove the switchbacks and was able to communicate all the upcoming turns via his car comm system. The G’s on the turns and trying to hold onto the Alexa was a task and the grunts from O’Kane and I operating that rig was like a weight lifting session. Intense! The Boulder Sheriff was there to close the road and make it all safe. Doug Millington did his usual terrific job of bidding and producing. He also served as a very capable Assistant Director to move things along. Thanks to all, particularly John Bourbonais and BPS Productions and the USA Cycling Association for a fun two days.
Bob C.
Click the link below to see the shot list and previs/scout images of the first shoot day. It is the director’s job to have a plan.
Behind the scenes photography by Jason J. Hatfield – http://www.mountainskyphotography.com
USA National Team Riders at 6:30AM
First shots onto the SXS Cards.
Using the cross light, Flag Staff BG.
Ansel Adams is making a comeback because of video screens reflectivity.
Mitch Stelling finessing the slider dolly.
Confident with AC Doug O’Kane on the focus knob.
Using the same location just down the hill to a great reveal!
Now we are using telemetry to gauge the riders coming up the Morgul Bismark.
The GERDO camera car. Damn he’s good! and yes we are double strapped in.
Serious forces unleashed on those Flag Staff 180’s.
The Gerdo Camera Platform in the turn.
A group coming from the left and we are coming from the right. Compounding all the action.
