GRILLVILLE
photo credit: Griff Wigley So I was just sitting here, trying to think of other productions our film fam has done - oh, almost forgot. We shot a feature film. There’s a write-up and more pictures in the Northfield news. Last summer, everyone in our house worked on the independent film Girl Meets Bike, written and directed by Eric Tretbar. Max Silver was 1st Assistant Director, Jameson Siegert and Sam Scherf were Directors of Photography, Rachel Sklar was Script Supervisor, and Hannah Watson was 2nd AC/1st AC pinch hitter. Sam also acted! The film is about a high school shop teacher (Ruth Menard) who uses her wedding dress money to buy a motorcycle. It also features Dave Engler, Melissa Pizarro and Ralf Schirg. The 6-week shoot had so many challenges I can’t explain how much we all learned, but by the end I was spoiled by how good everyone was at their jobs. Max oversaw very full shooting days, Sam lit like a photon king, Jameson pulled off great framing with our finicky spider dolly and jib, Rachel was a wonderful scripty and also a hell of a grip. We all did more than our share of grip work, as Sam and Jameson were also gaffing. It was fun living together on location, making friends with the cast and sound man Tom Colvin. I’ll post a trailer when it’s ready.

photo credit: Griff Wigley

So I was just sitting here, trying to think of other productions our film fam has done - oh, almost forgot. We shot a feature film.

There’s a write-up and more pictures in the Northfield news.

Last summer, everyone in our house worked on the independent film Girl Meets Bike, written and directed by Eric Tretbar. Max Silver was 1st Assistant Director, Jameson Siegert and Sam Scherf were Directors of Photography, Rachel Sklar was Script Supervisor, and Hannah Watson was 2nd AC/1st AC pinch hitter. Sam also acted!

The film is about a high school shop teacher (Ruth Menard) who uses her wedding dress money to buy a motorcycle. It also features Dave Engler, Melissa Pizarro and Ralf Schirg.

The 6-week shoot had so many challenges I can’t explain how much we all learned, but by the end I was spoiled by how good everyone was at their jobs. Max oversaw very full shooting days, Sam lit like a photon king, Jameson pulled off great framing with our finicky spider dolly and jib, Rachel was a wonderful scripty and also a hell of a grip. We all did more than our share of grip work, as Sam and Jameson were also gaffing.

It was fun living together on location, making friends with the cast and sound man Tom Colvin.

I’ll post a trailer when it’s ready.

Posted 4 months ago
Jesus Ain’t Coming Back (music video) I love music videos. I want to direct music videos. So in October it was cool to be 2nd AC/DIT on the shoot of a catchy techno song, “Jesus Ain’t Coming Back,” shot on RED by Andrew Creighton and directed by Nathan Bayne. It was a pleasure to work with 1st AC Frank Mobilio. This was one of the most efficient sets I’ve been on, mostly thanks to some awesome grips and 1st AD. Camera department is always perfect, obviously. Good challenges: Fast lens changes in the desert, keeping camera reports and dumping CF cards from the RED every 10 minutes. -Hannah

Jesus Ain’t Coming Back (music video)

I love music videos. I want to direct music videos. So in October it was cool to be 2nd AC/DIT on the shoot of a catchy techno song, “Jesus Ain’t Coming Back,” shot on RED by Andrew Creighton and directed by Nathan Bayne. It was a pleasure to work with 1st AC Frank Mobilio. This was one of the most efficient sets I’ve been on, mostly thanks to some awesome grips and 1st AD. Camera department is always perfect, obviously.

Good challenges: Fast lens changes in the desert, keeping camera reports and dumping CF cards from the RED every 10 minutes.

-Hannah

Posted 5 months ago
Step One (short) In November I was 1st AC on a delightful 2-night shoot. Yes, back-to-back overnights and still delightful. Why? Because 1. Director of Photography Dan Gold was a privilege to work with. He lit so precisely I couldn’t learn fast enough. It was good having Edwin Kim as our gaffer. 2. Wonderful script and casting. Props to director Max Gold, producer Ben Kuller, and writer Allison Burnett. 3. 5D + 85mm prime = sensual creamy-shallow coffeeshop inserts (they used CineStyle). -Hannah

Step One (short)

In November I was 1st AC on a delightful 2-night shoot. Yes, back-to-back overnights and still delightful. Why? Because

1. Director of Photography Dan Gold was a privilege to work with. He lit so precisely I couldn’t learn fast enough. It was good having Edwin Kim as our gaffer.

2. Wonderful script and casting. Props to director Max Gold, producer Ben Kuller, and writer Allison Burnett.

3. 5D + 85mm prime = sensual creamy-shallow coffeeshop inserts (they used CineStyle).

-Hannah

Posted 5 months ago

In November I dayplayed as a 2nd AC for LA Superheroes, a feature shot on 7D. Cynthia Hatfield was 1st AC and great to work with. Here we have a fun example of slating for mirrors, and an accidentally badass still from a 12mm fisheye.

-Hannah

Posted 5 months ago

Commercial (GRILLVILLE ORIGINAL)

How have I not posted this? Back in October we made a commercial for Emerson Defense Solutions. Max wrote and directed, Jameson and Sam and I shot it, all in Hollywood/downtown LA.

Posted 5 months ago

The Wrong Guys For the Job (webisode)

BUT THE RIGHT GUYS FOR THE CAMERA DEPT!

This project was great for 3 reasons:

1) Director of Photography Bruce Logan

2) Sam/Hannah dream team

3) Good script, good actors

1. Bruce Logan is a boss. Sam described him with a quote from Rocknrolla: “There’s no school like the old school, and I’m the fucking headmaster.” It was a privilege to work with him.

2. Sam stepped in as 2nd AC for me when I had a job interview and ended up as camera operator by the end of the shoot! I also 1st ACed, and got some excellent practice pulling focus without follow focus on long lenses (70-200mm). Sam one-man camera operated and pulled focus on an epic handheld night shot (f/2.8, sharp as a tack).

3. Funny stuff. That always makes it worthwhile. Brian Dobski and Ryan McCarthy are hilarious, and directors Sutton McKee and Matt Tibbenham brought it together. I’ll post a link when it goes up.

-Hannah

Posted 5 months ago
Time Capsule (short) PRECIOUS. In early December I 1st ACed a senior thesis film for Vivian Chen of CalArts. We had some extra time, so a little actress learned how to pull focus. She had it good, too - DP Sean Carroll’s RED MX with Arri follow focus (there’s a reason it’s $2K) and Zeiss compact primes. I got some good experience cowgirl-pulling focus (without marks) and operating the RED. RED cameras are heavy. I’m strong for a girl, but even if you’re Shaq there are smart ways and stupid ways to handle heavy equipment. I look forward to learning all the smart ways. Vivian and Sean are awesome. -Hannah

Time Capsule (short)

PRECIOUS. In early December I 1st ACed a senior thesis film for Vivian Chen of CalArts. We had some extra time, so a little actress learned how to pull focus. She had it good, too - DP Sean Carroll’s RED MX with Arri follow focus (there’s a reason it’s $2K) and Zeiss compact primes. I got some good experience cowgirl-pulling focus (without marks) and operating the RED.

RED cameras are heavy. I’m strong for a girl, but even if you’re Shaq there are smart ways and stupid ways to handle heavy equipment. I look forward to learning all the smart ways.

Vivian and Sean are awesome.

-Hannah

Posted 5 months ago

Mr. Sam Scherf’s cinematographer’s reel. Edited by Mr. Max Silver. Sick music, amirite?

Posted 5 months ago
Autographed Christmas reading! The Camera Assistant, a book I’ve wanted for a while now, was gifted to me by a dear Assistant Director/UPM who happens to be related to the author, Douglas Hart. It’s perfect. I can’t wait. I love learning. I hate swiss cheese. -Hannah

Autographed Christmas reading! The Camera Assistant, a book I’ve wanted for a while now, was gifted to me by a dear Assistant Director/UPM who happens to be related to the author, Douglas Hart. It’s perfect. I can’t wait. I love learning. I hate swiss cheese.

-Hannah

Posted 5 months ago
Happy holidays from grillville! Today we were treated to a visit from VIP filmmaker/griller Megan Hafner. Jameson also landed a job working for Anheuser-Busch, which will bring in much future meat. But watch out: I (HANNAH) have been working on his cinematographer’s reel, and it’s lookin sooo good. I have decided to wear men’s clothing in this photograph because I had a catering job shortly after press time. I’m also a 1st and 2nd AC for many short films/films/music videos/webisodes in the neighborhood, learning to pull focus like a boss and use cool cameras and meet cool people and get cool parking tickets. More pictures to come!

Happy holidays from grillville! Today we were treated to a visit from VIP filmmaker/griller Megan Hafner. Jameson also landed a job working for Anheuser-Busch, which will bring in much future meat. But watch out: I (HANNAH) have been working on his cinematographer’s reel, and it’s lookin sooo good.

I have decided to wear men’s clothing in this photograph because I had a catering job shortly after press time. I’m also a 1st and 2nd AC for many short films/films/music videos/webisodes in the neighborhood, learning to pull focus like a boss and use cool cameras and meet cool people and get cool parking tickets. More pictures to come!

Posted 5 months ago