[Dan Coplan]

I should add that we’re shooting at Alexa’s “base ASA” of 800, hence the need for ND’s to shoot wide open in lieu of less lighting. I assume it could also be a matter of it being easier to drop an ND in front of the lens rather than throwing a ton of wire in front of the numerous sources.

Is there a downside to using a hot mirror? In other words, why not use one if you have it?

Cinematographer / Steadicam / DIT
http://www.dancoplan.com

[Dan Coplan]

The call for ND filters is not up to me. I’m the DIT on this particular gig, not the DP. We shot part of the scene outdoors in full sunlight and then moved inside to shoot matching scenes. I can only guess that the DP attempted to match the intensity of light. In theory, however, it shouldn’t matter, right? So long as the stop is the same? Is there any quality difference between shooting wide open outside with a stack of filters and wide open inside with no filters? Unless, of course, the goal is to match IR infiltration!

Here’s an interesting article/test done by Art Adams with the Alexa:

https://provideocoalition.com/index.php/aadams/story/arri_alexa_and_far_red_a_problem_thats_already_been_solved/

Cinematographer / Steadicam / DIT
http://www.dancoplan.com

[Dan Coplan]

Thanks for the feedback. I wish I had time to test! As it is I’m barely given enough time to swap cards and reformat them, but that’s a very good suggestion.

My understanding is that IR issues relate to certain black or dark fabrics. Is that correct or can it show up in other materials as well?

Cinematographer / Steadicam / DIT
http://www.dancoplan.com

[Dan Coplan]

I’m prepping an Alexa right now and having all sorts of file transfer weirdness. The data on the cards (5 of ’em) appears to be sound. I’m transferring the data both ‘manually’ through the Finder as well as through AL3XA Data Manager. Getting very inconsistent results.

Most of the time, the files transferring through AL3XA are fine, though I’ve had some transfer errors during the process as well as some of the movie files not playing back properly even when the transfer is verified as OK.

Most of the time, the files being transferred through the Finder are not fine, though some of them are.

??!!?!?!??!??

I’m getting two separate errors: “The file is not a movie file.” and “An invalid public movie atom was found in the movie.”

Resetting my computer seemed to improve success, but has not resulted in 100% success. The gig is tomorrow, it’s for a big client, and needless to say, I’m freaking out just a bit.

I may be crazy, and I can’t confirm because I wasn’t expecting it, but I think at least one of the files changed errors from “The file is not a movie file” to the other error sometime during the process of working on this.

Any input/feedback/help ASAP would be tremendously appreciated.

Assuming the cards are fine, could it be the card reader? It could certainly be the computer or the media but I haven’t had problems with this computer before (it’s mine). Media is easy enough to check, I suppose, but I won’t get the client drives until tomorrow so I can’t check that until the day of.