On set of 'Devotion' with 1AC Alex Scott - Technocrane with variable ND filter
Watch behind the scenes video
Feature film 'Devotion' shot by DP Erik Messerschmidt ASC used Technocranes, aerial camera mounts and cameras placed in inaccessible spots. Remote camera control was vital for the camera team and A-camera first assistant Alex Scott shares his experience working with the Cinefade VariND instead of traditional ND filters for the first time.
‘Devotion’, an aerial war epic tells the inspirational true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots who helped turn the tide in the most brutal battle in the Korean War: Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in Navy history and his fellow fighter pilot and friend, Tom Hudner. Their heroic sacrifices and enduring friendship would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.
a variable ND filter for cinematographers
The Cinefade VariND is the only professional variable ND filter for cinematographers that can be wirelessly controlled. It consists of two polarisers - one which is fixed and one which is motorised, allowing it to rotate and through cross-polarisation vary its light transmission. The two filters fit into a matte box and are controlled with a cmotion cPro lens control system - compatibility with ARRI's Hi-5 hand unit will be available in 2023.
Cinefade VariND hire kit
We shipped a carry-on sized Pelicase to Savannah in Georgia for Erik to use, which included the VariND filters, cPro hand unit, cPro camin (MDR), lens motors, cables and accessories.
AC Alex Scott was able to add the VariND function to the built Panavision DXL camera in under five minutes, as it only requires the filters to be placed into a matte box, power to be connected via D-tap and daisy-chained to the cPro camin via LBUS. There is no manual calibration necessary and once VariND mode is selected on the cPro hand unit the system is ready.
The OLED displays on the filters itself and on the hand unit provide a readout of the current ND value accurate to a third of a stop but more precise control over the value is possible when dialling in the exposure dynamically via the knob (slider, micro force pad or thumbwheel).
Benefits of a VariND with a Technocrane
Even though the VariND is used as a practical tool to speed up workflow on set of Devotion it is important to note that it enables Erik to tell the story the way he intended it and allows him not to make any compromises.
“Primarily on ‘Devotion’ we’re using the Cinefade VariND on the Technocrane so we can set a fixed exposure - whatever Erik wants to shoot at - and we don’t have to bring the crane down or close or open the iris at all to compensate for any exposure changes. So, if Erik wants to shoot it at a T2, no matter the light we can just shoot it at a T2. Choosing what aperture you shoot at is storytelling and I think the Cinefade allows you to keep the story the way you want it.”
When shooting outdoors with a Technorcane in varying lighting conditions under time pressure with a large cast and crew, it would be very time consuming to halt production, lower the crane, grab the filter box and exchange traditional ND filters every time the cloud coverage changes, only to have to do it all again once the sun comes out.
The Cinefade VariND allows that whole process to be reduced to a simple turn of a knob or push of a button on the hand unit from the comfort of video village or the DIT's station.
Moreover, the adjustments on the VariND are more precise than using traditional one-stop ND filters with the option of controlling the density in a third of a stop - via buttons on the hand unit or the filter itself - or dynamically via the knob, slider, micro force pad or thumbwheel. Dialling in the exact ND value allows Erik to maintain the same T-stop throughout the project resulting in a consistent look throughout the film and staying true to the story he wants to tell.
“I think on the crane the Cinefade VariND is a game-changer, because it keeps everyone in the scene. You don’t have to take the crane down, you can just change the ND value on-the-fly in the air and it saves a lot of setup time. With regular ND filters you can only go from stop to stop, you know - one stop, two stop... but with the Cinefade VariND you can actually control up to a tenth of a stop at a time, so you can really fine-tune it to your liking.”
Behind the scenes of Devotion
Go behind the scenes of 'Devotion' and watch Alex Scott sharing his experience with the Cinefade VariND
Learn about how DP Karim Hussain CSC is using the Cinefade VariND as a precision exposure tool and to speed up his workflow on set and find out how Erik Messerschmidt ASC used the Cinefade VariND in his Oscar-winning film 'Mank' not as a practical tool but as a storytelling device to vary depth of field.
The Cinefade VariND is available to hire direct in the UK, EU, US and worldwide though our rental partners. Get in touch with us.
