Jake Fruia
Shooting a feature is hard, no doubt about it. So when you have gear that makes the process not only easier, but even fun, then all the better. Such is the case with our very own Clint Milby, who had the opportunity to run the Blackmagic URSA as B-camera on the feature film ‘Weaponized’. What made the experience truly special was his chance to try out the Zeiss Planar T 1,4/50, the Distagon T 1,4/35 and the Distagon T 3,5/18 lenses. Zeiss recently interviewed him about the shoot and his use of their lenses for their new Lenspire site.
From Zeiss’ Lenspire team:
Lots of movement in front of the lens
Clint Milby, the ‘HDSLR shooter’, appreciates how the technology of DSLR cameras has advanced in recent years, in particular the cine capabilities of DSLR cameras. The fact that he also uses still photo lenses is a given for him. In the action film “Weaponized,” in which he operated B camera, Clint used ZEISS lenses from the Classic family. We asked him about the project and his experiences.
What is “Weaponized“ about?
Weaponized, starring Mickey Rourke, Tom Sizemore and Johnny Messner is about a damaged homicide detective who must prevent a grieving father from unleashing a “robotic virus” that he believes will destroy the terrorist cell that murdered his son, but at an unimaginable cost. It is directed by Timothy Woodward Jr.
What was your role in making the movie?
I was brought on to operate “B” camera, which means I would capture a second angle of some of the intense action, which included car crashes, explosions, gun battles and mortar rounds. I was also brought in to provide an additional camera coverage on the celebrities Tom Sizemore and Mickey Rourke.
Which camera did you use for Weaponized and why?
I used the Blackmagic URSA with the EF Mount. This was the camera of choice because the A camera, the cinematographer’s camera, was also an URSA, however, his was a PL mount. It was a condition of the director and the cinematographer that any additional cameras be the same so all of the shots matched.
What were the demands regarding your shooting of the B Camera?
The demands of B Camera for this production were quite rigorous and sometimes dangerous. The first day was all action, and the first shot of the first day was of a soldier running through a desert with mortar rounds going off all around him, culminating in the soldier jumping off an eight foot drop onto a crash pad while being engulfed in an explosion. I have to say, I was not prepared for how loud and how close the blasts would be. In order to capture the action, my tripod had to be extended to maximum height, and elevated using apple boxes. It was stable, but not as stable as being on the ground. Once the shot was completed, I was covered in mulch and debris which was used for the explosions.
You can find out more about Clint Milby’s work on Weaponized at Lenspire.Zeiss.com
