REFUGE // A Moonlit Short Film from Sam Shapson on Vimeo.
Sam Shapson sent me this mail to share his first narrative film shoot in moonlight with the Sony A7s:
My name is Sam Shapson, and I’m a young director with a new project I’m really excited to share online this Tuesday. I saw your article for Carbon Studios “Moonlight” on your website, and I’m thinking my project might just be up your alley.
Its a short film called Refuge, and its the first narrative film ever to be exclusively lit by moonlight.
My team and I shot it over two nights deep in the mountains in the dead of night. With the Sony A7s set to 51,200 ISO, I was able to capture a 6 minute Scifi Thriller set against the ethereal misty mountains of the Angeles National Forest.
I was blown away by what the guys at Carbon Studios pulled off with their “Moonlight | Sony A7s” video and I felt compelled to apply what they’d accomplished to narrative. Working with my good friend and AFI Grad, Derek Stuckert, we developed a story that called for a visceral, otherworldly experience that I believe made the most of the technology. Meanwhile my DP — Barry Elmore, a fellow Columbia College Chicago alumn — went out with me for test after test to see how far the technology could be pushed while staying pure to our goal. After concluding that we would bring no lights, we found that large bounce cards would be absolutely key. This allowed us to literally bounce moonlight to fill in the deep shadows cast on the talents faces.
So then, after tracking the moon and weather for several months, it finally came time for production. Lemme just say that while producing a low-budget, two night shoot in a remote location is one thing, doing so without allowing ANY light spill whatsoever is something completely different. Miraculously, my team and I managed to get everything we needed while avoiding any light from astronomical twilight, city spill, or our flashlights — which we generally discouraged using to keep our eyes dilated. It was seriously an incredibly thrilling experience that I’ll never forget.
I’m hitting you up because I’m looking for journalists whose reader base might dig this kind of thing. If you’re at all curious, I’d be willing to share a private pre-release link with you to take a look for yourself!
Let me know what you think. And either way, I appreciate your time!
Sony A7s store links:
Sony A7s in USA/CA at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony USA, Sony Canada.
Sony A7s in Eu at Sony DE, UK, ES, FR, IT, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, NO, FI, PL. And Wex UK.
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13 Responses
What lens was used?
Canon Cine Primes — 24, 35, 50, 85 — at T1.3/1.5 with Metabones Speedbooster 🙂
Thank you. Wonderful work by a wonderful filmmaker behind a wonderful camera!
Seriously so glad you enjoyed it!
Sam – that was great, really good story telling. Enjoyed your Treehouse short as well, nicely done!
Dude. Thank you, There_Is_No_Spoon. In moonlight there is no spoon. Well, there is but, like…its harder to find.
That is incredibly awesome. The camera and its capabilities are one thing, but even your plot and storyline are great. A proper SciFi film, keeping you on edge. This could so easily be used as a pilot or trailer for a series based on this concept. This makes me wish i was back home in the states and working with you guys haha. Congrats, awesome.
Honestly don’t know what to say. You, friend, are awesome. Hit me up if you’re ever in LA!
Just remember me when your famous 😉
sent you a message via vimeo
A7S 2 go go
OK, so what is meant by its one of ours, then it uses humans as a resource. Is this an engineered adaptive life form that has self awareness and then turns on its own creators? Thanks.
“One of ours” means its not alien, its something unexpected thats emerged within the manmade biosynthetic ecosystem. Its less that the organism itself is self aware, but moreso hijacks its hosts existing limbic system. Much like what we see in nature already ei. when a jewel wasp’s larva will hijack a cockroach’s mind.