i got what you need

Thursday was a studio day and on the show we were featuring DeeDee's lacquer tour, you remember that long day? That's the one :) Well my jobs for that day including: being the elevator boy, wrapping everything used in DeeDee's segment, helping the boys load everything to be returned into the van, and after the show was finished taping, it was time to do some camera testing.

We're looking to redesign the set a little but it's a lot more work than you think, its not just "this looks bad, take it out... this looks good, put it in" You have to satisfy everyones wants and once you agree on something you have to put it on the set and move the camera around to the different camera positions to make sure it comes across as nicely on camera as it does in person. For example, you may really like a lamp, and it may work for certain segments but as soon as you go to one camera position, that lamp may be appear to be growing out of your talents head... you don't want that. So I was down on set to help take out and put in set dec pieces, including lamps, tables, armoires, chairs, tables, everything. But the best part was being one of the only camera savvy people on set... so who do you think got to move the camera to the different positions? And take direction from the director as to what they want the shot to look like? Thats right :)

Maybe a studio camera operator is in my future :)

So I was down on set for a few hours doing that and by the time we had made some decisions it was time to head home.

Enter FRIDAY Stage Left.

Yesterday was supposed to be an outdoor shoot with Carson Arthur but in case you were in oblivion all day yesterday.... it was kinda pouring rain. Like excess of 35mm of rain, pouring. Well Denise and I got to location, met up with Carson, unloaded the car, got everything set up, got the intro done, and started doing his first stand-up.... And then it was Niagara Falls from the sky. We all ran for cover and tried to wait it out, but Carson pulled up the radar on his phone and sure enough we were just at the tip of the storm. We waited and waited and talked and waited some more, finally it was time to call it quits and head back to the office.

That is, after going to The Source Shop and picking up some much needed things, like some BNC connectors, tape, grease pencils, and a brand new slate :) Once we got back to the office it was time to get to work. I put my new purchases to work and started tearing tape for marks, it was as exciting as it sounds, but its a necessary task if you want to be a true AC.

Essentials :) (this is a VERY small portion of the gack I have now :) exciting stuff)

There is a reason for doing this prep (other than Steven and Chris, of course) and here's that reason.

After I finished work yesterday, I made my way over to Joe Sutherland's Rentals to pick up a Sony HDV-Z5U and 2 lav mics. Why would I need all this? Well this weekend I was supposed to be working on a pilot that Melissa Coghlan is producing/directing. So I went to pick up the camera and get a quick walkthrough of everything, then I took everything home and played with it some more to get even more comfortable with it. However, when I woke up this morning there was a text message on my phone saying that the shoot has been postponed until a later date. Downside: I didn't get to do what I was hoping to this weekend. Upside: my step-sister, Jaclynn is visiting for the weekend so LOTS of family time together, my friend Matt is coming tonight, and tomorrow we're going to Kensington Market for "Pedestrian Sunday"...I've never been, but it sounds awesome! 

Anyway, I feel that this post has gone on long enough and it's time for me to not be sitting in front of a computer screen. BYE!  

YTV The Next Star!

So! Remember those YTV Music Video's I worked on? If not, click here.

Well, here's a behind the scenes and the actual music video. Check it out, keep an eye out for me and most importantly, enjoy!

Behind the Scenes!

Actual Music Video!

Take what the water gave me

Well today was pretty awesome! And I could tell it was going to be awesome from the beginning, my coffee was perfect, I crossed the road right as the bus was pulling up to the stop, I got my favourite seat (don't ask me why its my favourite haha) AND I finally finished reading Siddartha! Its an amazing book by Herman Hesse and I've been reading it on my morning bus ride since I started on the show. I highly recommend it to anyone. Time for a new book.

This morning started with helping Denise load some of our gear into the office because we were shooting auditions for the new Parenting segment on the show. But these weren't to be done until the afternoon so what was I going to do for the morning?

Set up the studio, thats what. When I got down to the studio Dave, Xico, Nicole, and Liz were already there unloading boxes and unwrapping. So I gave them a hand with that and with all 5 of us working hard on it..the studio is pretty much set up. Crazy to think that a full studio set can be built in a matter of days. And I mean going from this.....

To pretty much a full set. Watch the show, any segment, and just look at the difference.

http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/videos.html

Pretty wild if I do say so myself. All that's left to be done in the studio now is set up the lighting grid and speaker system... I think. Don't quote me on that. But anyway, after unwrapping, putting in the right place, and cleaning up it was time to shoot the auditions. They went really well and I'm looking forward to seeing some of the parenting segments..... not for the advice.... stop freaking out, family.

After we wrapped from the auditions it was off to Trinity-Bellwoods Park to shoot a segment with Carson. If you like gardening at all, watch this segment (or wait till I link to it on here). It was a pretty sweet afternoon cuz again, we got to be outside and it was stinking hot! I really need to stop wearing jeans when we shoot with Carson haha. After we wrapped from this shoot Denise dropped me off at Queen and Bathurst where this store with no sign and only funky office chairs out front caught my eye. So of course I went in and had a look around to see what else they had.... a lot of sweet "vintage" stuff (Erin....go check this place out :D) including clocks, typewriters, and other random stuff. Usually I'm pretty good at going in to somewhere, looking around and coming out empty handed. Not this place. I bought a sweet little desk clock (analog...) which oddly enough, they hadn't even "received" yet. The clerk had to put it in the system before I could buy it haha. But I will definitely be going back to this place. If you want to go check it out for yourself its on Queen, right at Queen and Bathurst, black storefront with funky chairs out front. It's called Morba. So yeah, that pretty much sums up my day. Time to do laundry :)

Also, after I posted last night I decided it was time to purge some of my stuff...turns out I have a lot of unnecessary clothing. Well not anymore :) I have so much more space, and everything's pretty organized...now I just need to keep it this way..... (yeah right!)

Endings/Beginnings and Everything in Between

Alright so, lets see, what's new? LOTS!

This past week I had my final day at Image Gear which was such an amazing experience. Not leaving, but actually working there and it definitely helped me out these past two days. Friday was up at 5am, out the door by 5:30 and on set for 6. But really funny story about it, I went to the wrong set.... We were shooting at the Sunnyside Pavilion on Lakeshore and when I got there, no one was there yet...so I assumed this wasn't the right spot so I walked further down and saw the tent city and all the hustle and bustle that happens on a film set first thing in the morning. Got there, looked around, didn't recognize or know anyone, but finally ran into Katherine Wilson who I worked on the Grynd short film with. So she put me to work and loaded some boxes into the truck for props. But after that she pulled me aside and asked me why I was 2 hours late.... My reply "This is for The Next Star, right?" NOPE! Definitely not...

Well thankfully by the time I walked back to Sunnyside Pavilion, there was more people there and the day was JUST getting started so I knew I was in the right place. Signed the necessary paperwork and on with the day we went. Now before I get started with my picture story, I worked as a PA on YTV's The Next Star music videos. The final 6 contestants all get to shoot a music video, and so thats what most people have been doing all week (7 videos, 7 days) but because I was working I could only come out for 2 of 7. Alright enough of my rambling, I'm going to take a break from typing and just let the pictures tell the story :)

Minor sidetrack: This picture is evidence of the T-bone collision I was like 20 feet away from.... Lets just say the side of that van isn't very flat anymore. Don't worry, everyone (including myself) was fine (I think) But crazy way to end my time at Image Gear.

Alright.... Back on track:

So the day started as any other: unload the truck, set up the tents, put all the camera gear here, etc. etc.

Just like I said, set up the tents... And then the worst thing possible happened to me....

I got put on playback. Now it's really not a hard job, at all. But you do get yelled at a lot, and it takes you away from actually being able to help out on set....which is what I love about being on set. Working. Now I'm not saying playback isn't "working" but still.... Also, thats our portable playback cart...it's like a 2000s version of the boombox, and man can this thing pump.

Yup, we were on a bridge. And because it's a reality TV show, there was a second camera crew there shooting BTS (behind the scenes) footage.

Dolly Moves! Also.....this is when I got taken off playback and took on the role of "CAMERA PA!" That's right everyone! For the rest of the day I worked strictly with the camera department :D Doing anything that the 2nd AC Dan "Grease" White told me to do. Doing anything that the 1st AC Rob Tagliaferri told me to do. Doing anything that the DP Simon Shohet told me to do. And of course doing anything that the AD Jason Bourke told me to do. Just doing anything I was told really. Thats what a good PA does.  

Coolest part of the day...CRANE shots!!

And then it was time to move to the beach!

Dan is in the headband, Rob is holding the coffee on the right.

Beauty beach scene, and thats a WRAP on day 6 (day 1).

Now enter day 2. Day 2 was a house party and I was put as camera PA for the entire day! From call to wrap I worked strictly with the camera department!

1st AC Michael Bailey and AD Jason Bourke.

Ever wonder how they get those car shots?

Now you know :)

And then it's time for a pool party! You have no idea how badly I wanted to jump in...how badly we ALL wanted to jump in.

Steadicam Op Michael Heathcote. 

Overall a very cool 2 days working with the camera department. Now I know I've worked with cameras before and been an AC and done all that, but finally I got to do what I want to do on a shoot for The Field Inc. Every shoot I've been on with them I've just been a regular PA doing anything from cooking/serving to sitting by the truck all day. I'm just thankful that Jason Bourke knows what I want to do and I can tell he's trying to help me get to that goal. How I got put on as a camera PA is all because of him. The camera department on the first day was looking for a PA and Jason knew I'd be a perfect fit for it. And I was :) I got talking to Dan about how I want to break into the camera department and everything like that so whenever he got a chance he would teach me a few important things an AC should know and do. It was really awesome working with him both days and Rob and Mike for a day.

Right after Steven and Chris ended last season Denise told me about the IATSE camera trainee program and basically what it is is a program where you go from set to set to set working with the camera department. Well Dan also told me about this program and he told me that you need some letters of reference for it...and he would be glad to write one of those letters for me :) Hard work is definitely paying off! 

Speaking of Steven and Chris and hard work paying off..... IT STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!

Thats right, tomorrow is the big day where I walk through the CBC front doors as an official CBC employee. During my internship I had a brown stripe at the top of my security pass....this year...that sucker will be green :D And I'll get a paycheque for it, and that paycheque will go to savings and buying more gack to further my career! As if I'm starting my career...or have started my career :)

Now it's time for me to go back to sleep!