On Location

I've moved

2010-09-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

For those who are following and wish to continue as I take off on my next adventure, a feature film that I will shoot in Mexico City, Guanajuato and Veracruz, Mexico - I am moving my blog to:
http://chrischomyn.wordpress.com/

I hope I will find something interesting to share -

Please check it out.

Thanks.
Chris

Mexico City

2010-01-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

Home from Mexico now. Two fast trips - first to scout and prep - then a day and a half home before returning to Mexico City to shoot.

The video has turned out well. We got quite a lot done on a short schedule and a tight budget. Protasio came across with a charismatic presence and the song moves the video along. At some point I'll have some images to post, but for now - only memories of a unique location, a wonderful crew, a limited budget and a great experience.

Panasonic GH-1 - HDSLR

2010-01-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

So there seems to be a new SLR camera with HD capabilities every month. It's hard to keep up.

In the past few months I've had the opportunity to shoot on the Canon 5d Mark II, the 7d Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix GH-1. All work. I suppose to say that one is better than the others would have to be qualified according to the criteria used - the specific needs of the project being shot. All have their place, their strengths and shortcomings. But one thing is for sure. As long as there is a camera that will record motion video, it will be used to make a film. This seems even more true when that image is HD.

One thing that makes HDSLRs workable in a production environment is the growing list of third party accessories that are becoming available? There are brackets, and mounts, and mixers and a wide variety of quality accessories that add flexibility and reliability to these camera systems.

On this video for Swiss recording artist Patje - the accessories that most served us were the HOTRODS PL ADAPTER which allowed us to mount standard motion picture PL mount lenses on the camera. Of course, then the lenses themselves. A Novoflex Nikon to micro 4/3 adapter (Later this year HotRodCameras may have their own Nikon to micro 4/3s adapter out, but until then, the Novoflex is the best I have tried.) This allowed me to use a range of Nikon series E and series G still lenses. I also used the lens baby composer, and the two zoom lenses provided by Panasonic for their camera.

Another accessory that became invaluable was a second Panasonic Lumix camera - the DMC - LX2. When we mounted the GH1 on the steadicam, a limitation in the design became problematic - the camera does not output a video signal to an external monitor while recording. So the challenge became "how does one operate a steadicam without the monitor" By mounting the LX2 on a flex arm behind the GH -1 and using the manual macro focus function, we were able to shoot full frame, the LCD on the back of the GH1. Then using the video out from the LX2 - we sent that video signal to the steadicam monitor and were able to both shoot HD as well as record the SD video on the LX2 of the LCD - to give an alternative image for use in editing.

Admittedly it was a work around, but it worked and put our problem solving skills to the test.

In the end, the video turned out well. The images are for the most part quite good. There is some banding in non detailed backgrounds and also in atmospheric smoke effects - due to the large degree of compression. A 16gb class 6 SD card hold about 2 hours of HD video - If they reduced the compression - or offered a choice to a lesser degree of compression - I recommend 1 minute per gb - then perhaps some of the banding and compression artifacts that are present could be minimized considerably.

But even with these artifacts - the GH-1 is remarkable at the price of $1600 with 14-140mm zoom - and with consideration given to production design, lighting and the compression characteristics of the camera, many of the artifacts can be limited through careful shot design and execution.

In fairness I should say that compression always has challenges with smoke and dark uniform backgrounds with little detail. So this challenge and these shortcomings are not unique to the GH1.

Universal

2009-09-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Okay - so it wasn't a distant location per se. It was more of an office on the lot at Universal, which explains why I didn't take any photographs of it. It was unremarkable from all points of view; but, it was our location for the interactive music video I shot recently - "GHOST MAGIC".

Ghost Magic is a promotional music video for singer songwriter Keaton Simons as well as for the CBS series "Ghost Whisperer".

www.gwghostmagic.com (when the dancing hands glow you can click on them to see more)

The technical execution of the concept required that we shoot against black draperies, and that the subjects be draped in black as well. One of our biggest challenges was the lack of space where we shot. We found ourselves fighting low ceilings and close walls.

Still we managed to divide the available space (two rooms) into two sets which enabled us to leap frog back and forth between set ups - allowing us to move quickly and to reduce our wait time. All in all this allowed us to make our schedule in the very brief time allotted.

The video turned out well - I think the interactive component will become more and more popular as more people turn to their computers and away from their televisions to watch and interact with content. In time, as popularity grows, the level of interactivity will also grow - allowing the audience more opportunity to determine the content on their screen.

Given more time in both production and in post, the number of interactive buttons and the variety of options available could increase exponentially. For each click of a link, there could be another camera angle (or sequence of shots) perhaps even another song verse - one that was not included in the traditional linear music video format for time considerations, but which could be easily included in an interactive format that is not limited by timed programming.

I am looking forward to seeing how interactive programming changes what we shoot, how we shoot it and how we watch media. Will we become more involved with fewer programs? Will each of us in essence watch or "program" our "own network". Will this be the ultimateego centric expression of the me generation. Not content to watch media created for us - but rather only content to create our own media entertainment.

Exploring Singapore

2008-12-20T02:45:00.000-08:00

So much of what we have seen in Singapore is sterile, organized and controlled. Though there are ethnic neighborhoods that have a bit of a more organic feeling to them. Today we walked through China Town, Little India and Arab Street.

It's funny that in a city/country that is so regulated by law, we have not seen any police yet. Though we have noticed a great many video cameras mounted high at intersections and on buildings.

We found this sign outside a mosque.

The population here, we have heard is 72% Chinese, 18% Malay Indian and 10% other - which includes a large population of Indians who come predominantly on work permits. Their is a tolerance and broad acceptance of people of all cultures and religions, as long as they honor and obey Singaporean law and customs.

There is some interesting architecture.

But only a few small streets and back alleys that actually have texture and an organic feeling to them. For the most part, the city feels planned.

There seems to be thousands of construction cranes at work, building the city in a constant hum.

Though I imagine it is slow going. I don't know if it's the heat, or the humidity or some other cultural phenomenon, but everything moves slowly here. It takes much longer than it should to order a meal, or to be served, to wait in line for a cashier, or to receive an order from Starbucks. Everyone and everything moves at a different pace and rhythm than they do at home, or in Egypt, or in Istanbul. In general we found most service in Sweden to be slow too - it lacked any urgency, but to my memory, it was faster and with more purpose than in Singapore.

As we look around at the buildings, most are new, and many are quite interesting.

There seems to be a vital night life, consisting mostly of restaurants and clubs and shopping. There are many malls, and several open air markets. But none of it seems terribly exciting. None of it strikes any of us as unique. It seems that Singapore is mostly a business center and a port, that receives goods from around the world, but does not make any exports. There are beaches and sights to see on this small island city state - but it feels very sterile.

Most everyone here speaks English, which makes life easier for us, but also makes it a bit less interesting. The prices here seem reasonable, but not spectacularly low. From what we have heard, it is a very safe country in which to live and work, but at the same time is much more expensive than it's northern neighbor, Malaysia.

Singapore

2008-12-18T07:32:00.000-08:00

The night we left Cairo was the clearest we were there. The lights were bright and the contrast was high.

Our shoot in Cairo went very well. There were a few hitches, there always are. But in the end, everything worked out very well.

I forgot to include this photo earlier, but I really like the juxtaposition of the old with the new that is evident all over the city.

Our travel details continued to change up until the final hour; in the end a few of our group were able to fly direct, a few flew through Abu Dhabi, and Richard and I flew through Frankfurt. When we landed it was zero degrees - a sharp contrast to Cairo, and a reminder of our cold dark days in Sweden. Flying through Germany was a very long route. In the end we are all made it to Singapore, with all of our equipment. So amazingly it all worked out.

I can't imagine two countries that are more different than Egypt and Singapore. In Egypt seems a bit like the wild west. Where people do what they have to do to survive, and even when they don't they do what they want. Singapore on the other hand is a country of rules and regulations, strict government oversight and control. In some ways it feels too clean, too orderly - in that way it's a bit like disneyland.

There is not much traffic, and what traffic there is, seems to move pretty well. There are some delays, but nothing like Egypt.

The view from my hotel shows this amazing floating soccer field. They say it stays level, though we won't get to see it firsthand as there are no tournaments while we are here. They are preparing for New Year's Eve - they are planning a big party and fireworks show.

Our hotel pool is beautiful.

They have something here I have never before seen - Fish Spas. I have seen two so far.

I'm sure there are many more.

I could explain it, but I think the spa concept with this photo explains it all. It seems to be popular.

We stopped into a Starbucks today for a coffee, but found it difficult to decide which pastry would be better.

So we passed, and only had the coffee.

In order to avoid more laundry issues on this trip we walked over to the mall and bought some essential clothing, to last us through the remainder of our shoot.

Today my friend and former student, Joel (who is living in Saigon) came to Singapore to buy some electronics. We had dinner. It was great to see him.

Tomorrow, after the pre-pro meeting, assuming everything goes well, we plan to go to the beach to swim. (unless I can find a boat to rent to go sailing.)

Laundry On The Road

2008-12-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest challenges of this shoot was planning and packing for four such different climates. Although we shot in two very different areas of Sweden, both were cold, wet and dark - and even though one was colder, wetter and darker than the other, I am counting them as one.

When packing light for a 23 day production schedule in four countries, one must count on doing laundry. As I wrote in a previous post, we took our laundry to a laundromat in Turkey which became a ridiculous comedy of errors. But in the end, our clothes were clean, and eventually they dried.

In Cairo, we have had two more laundry incidents which bear revealing. One only is only indirectly related to us. When we were scouting locations the other day we felt large drops of water - rain from above. It was rain on a dry day. In looking up we noticed that two floors above us, right over our heads, a woman was hanging her soaking laundry to dry. And so it was drip drying on us.

Yesterday Peter bought some laundry detergent to wash a few of his clothes in his room by hand, which he did this morning. He then hung them over the furniture and railing to his balcony. Later today his jeans were missing.

Apparently, in the strong breeze his pants had blown over the side and fallen 18 stories onto a balcony below. After a good hard laugh, they turned up. The inhabitant of the room called someone from the hotel to report the pants appearance on his balcony. Meanwhile, Peter had called to report what had happened.

Earlier this evening, the jeans were returned to him, clean and folded.

Given our early call tomorrow and our long day ahead, I will hold off on doing laundry again until I get to Singapore. There is still a question regarding my departing flight. Due to an overbooked flight, it looks like Doug, Richard and I may have to fly on a different flight from that of Peter and Melanie. They are confirmed on a direct flight to Singapore; we may have a short layover and a plane change in Abu Dhabi. We will know more tomorrow.

If we do have to fly through Abu Dhabi, we will have a very early departure from Cairo - I think it's something like 3am, instead of the more civilized 10am departure for the direct flight. A 3am flight will make for a very long tomorrow.

Some More Impressions of Cairo

2008-12-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

In front of one of the locations we scouted was this older woman who was walking back and forth speaking to herself. Even in the midst of terrible traffic and given questionable mental stability, she never faltered and was able keep this basket balanced on her head.

Apparently McDonalds delivers 24/7.

This photograph doesn't do justice to the atmosphere at this Lebanese restaurant near our hotel. The air was thick with smoke. Many patrons were smoking from water pipes while they ate. This man would alternately take a bite of food, then a drag on his cigarette. The food was delicious, in spite of the smoke that numbed our taste buds and made our eyes water.

In scouting Cairo, we have had the opportunity to see areas and details of the city, that often go unseen by outsiders. We have been on rooftops, and in small back alleys, we have left the well trod tourist routes, and entered into the world of the inhabitants. We have been to shops and restaurants that tourists wouldn't find. I am struck by all the television antenae and satellite dishes that abound on the rooftops. I am also surprised by the large quantities of rubble - lumber, brick, metal and building materials that lie on the rooftops. Of course, the random chair or shelf unit that sits among the rooftop rubble is also quite astounding.

Today the air cleared a bit and through the dust and smog I was able to see the shadowy outline of two pyramids from the balcony of my hotel room.

They become a bit more clear on closer inspection.

Which of course brings me back to yesterday's excursion across the desert.

Doug

Richard

Peter

Melanie

and me.

Ride to the Pyramids

2008-12-14T23:28:00.001-08:00

We traded off riding horses and camels across the desert.

Peter of Arabia

Chris, Doug, Richard, Melanie, Linda, Jack, Peter and Ray

Doug and Me

Horses, Camels, Pyramids and Sphinx

2008-12-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

We couldn't come to Cairo and miss seeing the pyramids.

After our scout and follow up meetings, we drove about 45 minutes to the pyramids. There, our driver knew a guide who provided us with camels and horses for our ride across the Sahara to the pyramids.

From the moment on the freeway when we noticed the pyramids looming over the local buildings our excitement was palpable.

Our guides were pleasant and charming, though we collectively dispute some of what they told us, it was an experience to remember.

All the wonderful memories aside for a moment, there was a moment when Richard's horse decided to lie down and roll over. Unfortunately, he was on it at the time. He somehow managed to step off as the horse dropped and get out of its way. Then he started yelling at the horse. The whole scene was pretty funny, in light of the fact that he was not hurt.

So we rode up to the pyramid and touched the ancient rocks. Then rode back, to the Sphinx and finally home.

I have not yet processed it all and so am not sure I can write more about it at this time, perhaps I will add more later. But for now - here are some photos.

Cairo Location Scout

2008-12-14T22:57:00.000-08:00

We learned some good lessons in Istanbul. One of them is to keep our locations close. When the traffic gets heavy, getting from one to the other location can take valuable time. Even when they are close, it takes time.

As we scouted for the locations that would serve us for the Cairo part of our shoot, we wanted perfect locations, in relatively close proximity. The more opportunities any location could provide was a bonus. We found them relatively quickly. Our location manager knows the city well, and understood what we needed.

After our scout, we had a meeting over lunch to confirm our production needs. I met with my local gaffer, and Peter and Doug met with the client.

Everything is in place for our shoot on Tuesday.

Arriving in Cairo

2008-12-14T22:36:00.001-08:00

The airport in Cairo was quite an experience. It was crowded and moving at a hurried pace. It was also 4:30am after a long day of shooting and traveling, so we we all exhausted. We were met by a driver who helped usher us through customs and immigration and out into a sea of people. It was a crazy almost overwhelming and surreal experience. The place, the language, the customs so alien to me.

After making our way to the curb and to the two vans that were there to take us and our equipment to our hotel, several people started "helping" load gear - but then wanted money for their troubles. It was quite a whirlwind of activity. We convinced them to leave us, and we managed to load our gear safely and to be on our way to our hotel.

After check in we collapsed and slept for a few hours. I awoke to a view that looks across the Nile toward the pyramids. Although the smog and dust are too thick to see them, knowing they are there is pretty amazing.

Richard and I went out to explore the area and to grab lunch. We walked pretty far, across the Nile and ate on the 65th floor of the Cairo Tower, with a view of the entire city. From there, we could see the faint outline of the Great Pyramid.

We returned to the hotel briefly before heading out to the production office. While Doug conducted his call backs, and Peter went over production details with the local production coordinator, Richard, Melanie and I explored another neighborhood.

Cairo is a sprawling city, with lots of activity. It seems to wake a bit late, and continue late into the night. There are no crosswalks or traffic lights; it's a bit of a free for all with pedestrians and drivers caught in a perpetual game of chicken. It's intense, and fascinating. Wonderful in its own way. The drivers keep one hand on the wheel and the other on their horn - and the city is filled with a honking symphony of horns. Somehow this works. Though we have had a few near misses as we drove around - it is intense.

Leaving Istanbul and Arriving in Cairo

2008-12-14T22:28:00.001-08:00

Istanbul has an amazing mix of the old with the new. In this one photo there is the new city in the background, the old byzantine fortress in the middle and a modern tanker in the foreground.

Our Shoot in Istanbul was a challenge. We needed traffic, but it became difficult to get around the city and to stage shots. In the end, we managed to get what we needed, and we learned many lessons to bring with us to Cairo.

As we wrapped and said goodbye to our local crew, we packed our gear carefully so that everything would be in order when we passed through customs. Upon leaving our hotel our production coordinator and location manager appeared to see us off.

On our car ride to the airport we realized that we drove to Asia to begin our shoot, then returned to Europe to finish our shoot and now were about to fly to Africa. Three continents all on the same day.

At the airport we had to show our carnet to customs and open our cases for an inventory. All cleared, we went to our gate only to wait for our delayed flight. On board the two and a half hour flight went quickly.

A few hours later we arrived in Cairo.

Final day before our shoot in Istanbul

2008-12-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

This morning we had some time to explore more of the city. The morning is interesting because there is so little activity. Everything starts to come to life after 2pm. And by the evening it is teaming. But in the morning, the streets are relatively empty.

We walked from Taksim Square to Galata Tower, then rode the tram back to near our hotel, and walked up the hill past the football stadium.

Later in the day we went out again, to see inside Hagia Sofia and some of the other local sites that we missed in our rush the other day.

Hagia Sophia is remarkable in that what is now a museum was previously a Mosque, and prior to that a Patriarchal Basilica. The historical significance of the site of the great cathedral was appreciated enough that they preserved the Christian iconography even after converting the great cathedral to the great mosque. This is a unique and interesting juxtaposition.

After leaving the mosque, we watched a woman make a rug at a loom in a store front. She was amazing at her craft.

Although we are only in Istanbul for a few days, I have seen more of it than I often see of locations when I shoot a film. Sometimes I can be in a place for months without seeing more than my hotel room and the specific locations we shoot. But thankfully, this shoot has provided the opportunity to see a bit more and to soak up some of the local culture and history.

To anyone who has not been to Turkey, I have to recommend it highly - and we have only just scratched the surface. I haven't been to Sweden in the Summer, but if I were to go back on vacation, I would definitely give summer a chance.

Tomorrow after our shoot, we fly to Cairo.

Istanbul Location Scout

2008-12-10T07:23:00.000-08:00

We had a successful location scout today. We drove all over Istanbul from the European side, to the Asian side, and back again. We were looking for locations that were distinctly Istanbul, while at the same time were not typical tourism marketing photos. We were in search of the “real Istanbul”

Along the way we found neighborhoods, mosques, roadways, and signposts. Some are perfect for our purposes; and some, while interesting, are not appropriate for the spots we are creating.

We had a delicious lunch at Vira Vira Balik Restaurant (at a fish restaurant) overlooking the Bosphorus Sea. There we mapped out our production day, and in the process determined the areas where will will shoot, and the areas that we simply won’t have time to shoot. Our time here is limited, in many ways as much as it was in Sweden. There we were limited by the short daylight hours. Here, although the sun is up for longer, there is not the volume of traffic that we want during this holiday until later in the day.

We will begin on Friday shooting an interview, followed by an interview while driving. After that, we will shoot two cameras for most of the rest of the day. In a few locations we will shoot together, but at other times Doug and I will split up to cover different action simultaneously. Then we will join together again at the end of our day to finish our shoot of our hero driving at a snails pace making his way through the heavy traffic at a weekly occurring bazaar.

Tomorrow we will finalize the production details, and with luck, do a bit more exploring of the city, before our whirlwind Friday. Friday we will shoot, then get to the airport to fly to Cairo.

First Day in Istanbul

2008-12-09T13:25:00.000-08:00

We finished our shoot in Sweden and made it to the airport with time to spare. We are now in Istanbul prepping for our shoot on Friday.

The first thing that struck me when I stepped out of the terminal last night was the cosmopolitan feeling of the city. It is reminiscent of New York or Paris.

This morning we walked from our hotel to find a place for breakfast, but made a wrong turn and ended up eating at a place that was not great.

The rain has come and gone all day, between bursts of sunlight. With only one day to shoot, we are all hoping the weather cooperates.

This afternoon we went sightseeing and then to lunch. There is so much to see, and it is all very different from what we are used to. The architecture is very unique and the terrain is also striking, which adds to the overall feeling of this gorgeous city. Although we don’t actually scout locations until tomorrow, we were all struck by the enormous visual potential, especially in stark contrast to what we recently left behind in Sweden.

We ate lunch at Zinhan Kabap House, and the food was fantastic, as was the view. The ever changing light provided countless opportunities for interesting photos in every direction.

After lunch we walked to The Basilica Cistern, the 1600 year old underground water storage facility built by Byzantine Emporer Justinianus.

From there we walked past the Hagia Sophia to the Blue Mosque.

After the Blue Mosque we went to watch the Whirling Dervishes. They were amazing. The music was hypnotic, and the whirling was mesmerizing. The setting was not the best, but it was something to experience.

After which we picked up the laundry that we dropped off earlier in the day. This proved one of the most unusual experiences. (9 of us dropped off our laundry, and they didn’t separate it, so we then had to dig through the still damp clothes to find our own. They then weighed it and charged us accordingly. They weighed it still damp, and in our bags – very strange.) It took a long time, but we finally sorted it all out and now have clean clothes which will be drying in our rooms for the next few hours.

Tomorrow we will scout our locations and create our shot list. After that, time permitting we’ll try to see a bit more of the city, including the inside of Hagia Sophia. With any luck we’ll get to Topkapi Palace too.

Finishing up in Sweden

2008-12-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday’s shoot and race to the airport to get back to Stockholm was a bit crazy. We shot a full day’s work in less than 3 hours of daylight. The air was dry and cold, the snow was waist deep and the light changed quickly and constantly throughout the day. In spite of all the hustle and bustle, or maybe because of it, the results were terrific. The footage looks great, the client is happy and we are off to a strong start.

Today was a day to prepare for the next two, which in some ways will be more challenging than the last. We won’t be in the snow, instead we will be in the mud. And instead of shooting material for one spot, we will be shooting for two with two different cars and two different drivers. The days here in Stockholm are a bit longer than they were up north, we should have close to 4 hours of light each day, but on Monday, we check out of our hotel in the morning, drive 40 minutes to our location in the forest to shoot, then have to wrap to the airport. Clean our gear, clean ourselves, change into dry clothes and board our flight to Istanbul. I expect I’ll sleep from the moment I fasten my seat belt.

After organizing our equipment and ensuring that everything is still intact, we had some time today to explore a bit, and to relax. There were a few production issues to discuss, but most of the details have already been decided. It was rainy and cold today, but not icy, and not snowy, so it wasn’t too bad.

This morning on our way to the train station for coffee, we passed an interesting McDonalds – it was still early and almost empty, but much nicer looking that most. So I took a photo of it.

Later we went to the Royal Palace to see the changing of the guards; and then continued into the older part of the city for lunch. It was nice to see a bit of Stockholm in the daylight.

After taking care of some production and equipment issues, we went out again this evening. We walked through an area that was full of people out to do their Christmas shopping. There were food and craft vendors, retailers and tourists, all crowded into a long shopping boulevard. The city is quite pretty with colorful lights, and an interesting and eclectic mix of old and modern architecture. Like much of Europe, they have found a way to progress while honoring their past.

The people here are very friendly, though not particularly polite. They seem to simply go about their business, if you are in their path, they keep on moving. The cars don’t slow for j walkers, and people do not hold doors, nor say excuse me – they simply do what they do. I presume they are anxious to get where they are going, to get out of the rain and cold, to survive in a sometimes challenging and harsh environment.

The food is rich, and deceptively filling. Even dishes that are not particularly large can fill you up quickly. Today was the best of our meals – I had Thai for lunch and boulliabase for dinner. This is a great city in which to walk, it seems to be constructed on a series of islands, interconnected by bridges. In many ways it is reminiscent of Amsterdam with its canals. It is easy to get turned around or to meander down a road that curves around depositing you someplace different from where you anticipated. But it is small enough and manageable enough to quickly become reoriented and to find one’s way back on track.

There is very little graffitti, but what I did see was unique. Here is a a bit of stucco that chipped off a wall, and within its boundaries, the shape has been labeled.

Traditional Dinner in Lappland

2008-12-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

Tonight we drove about 40km to eat a traditional local dinner. We dined in a tee pee of sorts. Apparently, the indigenous population lived in tee pee style tents, until they eventually replaced them with similarly designed wooden structures. Inside we were served thinly sliced reindeer cooked in cream with leaks. Potatoes and vegetables - all warmed over an open fire.

There was also Lingenberry jelly and juice, bread, coffee, beer, wine, cookies, a full spread

with something for everyone. Outside the weather started snowing and was chilly, but inside the large fire was hot, but not smokey.

After our hosts explained the meal to us, we served ourselves and ate sitting on reindeer pelts on long wooden benches. Instead of using the more traditional wooden shingles for plates, we used paper plates.

Now it's time to get organized for tomorrow and get some sleep - we have a lot to shoot in only a few hours of day light. After we wrap at our location, we have to race back to our hotel, change into dry clothes, gather our personal gear and head to the airport to return to Stockholm. It took a long time to get here, and it's certain to take as long to get back.

In Arjeplog: Lappland: Sweden

2008-12-04T05:52:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we scouted locations about 50 km northwest of Stockholm, and found a beautiful area with little snow and lots of trees and mud, perfect for the "off road" sequence w

e want to shoot there.

We then headed north to our current location in Arjeplog. (to see a live webcam click here).

In total it took 8 hours for us to drive to the airport in Stockholm, check in, board, fly, land in Lycksele where a few people got off before we took off again flew for another 20 minutes

landed in Arvidsjaur, gathered our luggage, met

our drivers and drove to our hotel. We are in a rather remote area just about 10 miles south of the arctic circle.

Today at noon, the sun was just below the horizon. It last set two weeks ago, and will

not make it above the horizon for another two months.

Today we scouted

our locations for tomorrow. Nothing can go wrong, as we have less than four hours of dim daylight. After our shoot, we will return to our

hotel to change into dry clothes, re-pack our gear and make the trek back to the airport (over an hour away) to return to Stockholm. Our hope was to shoot snow here (of which we have plenty) and to not shoot snow in Stockholm, but the word is that it's been snowing since we left, so we may have to make a few adjustments to our plans once we see the conditions there. Still with all we have to do, given a very tight schedule - there are beautiful locations.

A few things we have learned over the past few days is that there are no Starbucks anywhere in Sweden, but there are many, many 7-11s. It's an expensive country, especially in Stockholm. Gas is about 1.50 per litre - which is just under $6.00/gallon.

2008-12-02T02:34:00.001-08:00

The flight here was long, first to London then our change to Stockholm. Everyone's sleep is off a few hours, and I suspect we will just be adjusting as it's time to move East to our next location. Fortunately, Istanbul is only one time zone away so we should adjust more quickly to that change, but that's several days away.

It's raining here which is good news. It's not snowing. Today we are checking all our equipment to make sure it made it safely and that all is working. While Richard and I do that, there is a casting session. Tomorrow we scout locations here, then fly 2.5 hours north to our first location. We expect to have snow there. We will shoot in the 3.5 hours of daylight, then return to Stockholm where we will shoot the following day. The days are short and there is no time to waste. As we move East, we will also move south, so our days will grow longer which will ease some of the pressure.

I will try to post some photos soon, though I haven't had the time to do so yet.

The city is beautiful. We are staying near the old center of the city where there is interesting architecture. Our hotel is fine, though nothing special - a typical large chain, much the same as any other hotel. Has no character. It would be more interesting to stay in an older hotel with more of the local flavor. We are here because the client wanted the familiarity that this modern hotel chain offers.

Last night for dinner we had a sampler of many ways herring is prepared; all were delicious. Time to run for now - to return to my prep. First camera is fine and time to test the second.

Equipment Prep

2008-11-25T20:51:00.001-08:00

Today we finalized the gear we are bringing, and we consolidated everything into as few cases as possible (8) - each under 50 lbs for travel. Our travel arrangements are mostly set, and our itinerary is pretty much locked. Although we originally planned to bring all our equipment with us, due to weight and luggage restrictions, we have decided to rent our grip and lighting gear in each country. So now we are trying to finalize those plans. Travel around the holidays is always a challenge, but international travel with camera equipment this time of the year is particularly restrictive.

Still, our journey will bring us to some amazing locations and I am looking forward to shooting all of them.

Getting Ready

2008-11-23T22:12:00.000-08:00

I leave one week from today, and there remains a lot to do. Still trying to figure out the best way to pack light and yet bring appropriate clothes for locations that range from near the arctic circle to near the equator. Our first stop is Sweeden, then onto Turkey, then Egypt and finally Singapore before returning home to Los Angeles. We should have all our equipment squared away by Tuesday. Then a few days to enjoy the holiday and to get some rest before taking off.