When we think about indie filmmaking, we imagine a shooter with a DSLR or mirrorless with a still lens on a gimbal, not because they are cheaper, but mainly because the operation is simpler. However, in this epic Black Friday commercial which is an independent project, one of the most complicated (and expensive) camera was used, which is the Phantom Flex4K together with a Cooke S4/i glass on it. The director, DP, and editor is Marcel Little, a young filmmaker. Let’s read his brave insights.
Indie filmmaking: One man band
The indie (independent) filmmakers are the main factor that drives the film industry forward. There is a broad range of definitions regarding the meaning of indie filmmaking. Nevertheless, we’ll focus on those heavy calibers that have a vast knowledge regarding the filmmaking process as a whole, which allows them to direct, shoot, and edit the entire project. A valid inspiration for that is the young Hungarian filmmaker, Marcel Little, which is a freelance filmmaker based in Budapest. “I’ve been making videos since I was 12. I’ve always been amazed by how films are made and how big of an impact it could have on the audience” he says. Marcel specializes in shooting, directing, and editing commercials. For instance, let’s take his last epic Black Friday store-fight commercial. According to Marcel, he had only one week to write the script, plan the schedule, shoot, and edit the video.
I’m really not satisfied with the outcome of this project and I’m kind of depressed about it. But when I try to view things from a third-person perspective, it’s even a miracle that I was able to finish everything on time, and considering that I wrote, directed, edited, and shot the whole thing, it’s really not that bad.
Marcel Little
Phantom Flex4K + Cooke S4/i
The Phantom Flex4K (Flex4K) produces highly detailed 4K imaging at 1,000 fps and has been designed specifically for professional cinema applications. The operation of the camera demands vast knowledge since it’s not the simplest camera to use, especially on tight projects. However, Marcel chose the Flex4K paired with the Cooke S4/i lenses, to get those cinematic ultra-high-speed shots for the commercial. That decision has caused some challenges during the production and the post. However, the results speak for themselves. As for the lenses, it’s not a secret that the Cooke S4/i series is one of the best glass for Super 35 mm. Indeed, this setup is far from being defined as “Indie”.
t was definitely a new experience to shoot a commercial in super slow motion with the mighty Phantom Flex4K, but also a really nerve-racking experience because half of the time I was just thinking about how freaking expensive this camera really is.
Marcel Little
The power of independent filmmaking
As explained, indie shooters must be armed with deep knowledge that circulates around camera operation, editing, directing, and even cool grading and VFX-ing. This knowledge grants a lot of power to execute complex projects, and the Black Friday commercial is a good case study for that. In the BTS video below, Marcel teaches and demonstrates how he carried out this “Crazy” commercial. “It was definitely a new experience to shoot a commercial in super slow motion with the mighty Phantom Flex4K, but also a really nerve-racking experience because half of the time I was just thinking about how freaking expensive this camera really is” he adds.
Watch his insights below:
Final thoughts
We truly recommend watching Marcel’s video, since he bravely describes its honest opinion on the final result.“I’m really not satisfied with the outcome of this project and I’m kind of depressed about it” Marcel explains. “But when I try to view things from a third-person perspective, it’s even a miracle that I was able to finish everything on time, and considering that I wrote, directed, edited, and shot the whole thing, it’s really not that bad” he adds. In the end, Marcel finalizes with his own smart tip: “Expect the unexpected and really try to prepare for every situation”.
Have you watched this epic Black Friday store-fight commercial? Would you use the Phantom Flex4K on an indie project? What do you think about the final result? Let’s know your insights in the comments section below.
