Best Day at Mole!

Wow, so yesterday was the best day I have ever had at Mole-Richardson so far! Larry had asked me to come in and gaff a few interviews of some cinematographers and other hollywood people for a tribute to the president of Deluxe laberatories who recently passed away last week. Levie Isaacks ASC was shooting it and I had worked with him a few times when he has come in to Mole, he's always great to work with. So we get in and they had already done a pre-light on friday, so all i had to do was add a few different lights and make sure that the power was balanced.

So then, as we are starting to turn on some of the lights, Richard Crudo ASC all of a sudden appears behind the camera. He was supposed to come in the next day for an ASC demo but ended up hanging out the entire day and getting interviewed. I was really excited because I didn't know he was going to show up and he is one of my favorite cinematographers to talk to. He remembered me and we chatted a little bit about China and what we new with work, it was great.
Richard Crudo, ASC


Then, at the same time, Owen Roizman ASC and Allen Daviau ASC both come in and sit down. Owen remembered me, which was exciting, and the camera operator introduced me to Allen Daviau(I had met him a few times before) and we talked for about half an hour about both of our experiences in China. He was there last when he was shooting Spielberg's epic film "Empire of the Sun".
Owen Roizman, ASC
Allen Daviau, ASC



Then a few other ASC guys came in including the current ASC President Daryn Okada ASC, legendary cinematographer Bill Fraker ASC, former ASC President Woody Omens ASC and the current President of the camera union Steven Poster ASC. And then we had the biggest treat of them all, a legend walking into the stage at Mole...
Daryn Okada, ASC President
Bill Fraker, ASC and Larry Parker
Woody Omens, Former ASC President
Steven Poster, ASC and President of Local 600.

A man by the name of Abby Singer walks in, he is 80 years old but still sharp as a tack. Mr. Singer is a legend because he used to be a production manager and assistant director who was famous for calling out the martini shot(the last shot of the night) when it was really the 2nd to the last shot of the night. So from then on, the second to the last shot of the night has become known as the "Singer" or the"Abby Singer".
Mr. Abby Singer

And to make the day even better, we wrapped out in less then fifteen minutes and Levie turned to me and said that he was very happy with the lighting.

PhillM tip-of-the-day:
Your contrast will be enhanced if you have something in the frame that is blown out and something that is underexposed enough to be black.