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Welcome to Spud Gun Films — taking pocket video to the next level.

Talk to Me – Stills Gallery

Various screengrabs from the Camstick footage, some of them a fair height above the Neutra VDL house (our Silverlake location)

Video for The Frequency

Here’s our new video (“Talk to Me,” shot in May 2009) for outstanding LA band, the Frequency (Marc Cazorla & Alex Stiff). This time we downsized from cell phone cameras and used a PI Camstick, which was no bigger than a pack of gum and had no viewfinder . . . but the occasional accidents of off-skew framing worked out really well. We opted for the “one shot” format, and placed two almost identitcal takes side-by-side. The sunset-orange filter was stuck on with putty, and the location is the modernist Neutra VDL house in Silverlake, Los Angeles (designed and built by Richard Neutra — many thanks to resident curators Sarah & David). High winds created the kaleidoscopic effect at the end — we velcro’d the camera to a helium zeppelin for what was supposed to be a smooth and majestic aerial finale, but the breeze got the better of us hence the somewhat manic-looking ending. Thanks also to Sadie and Erin, Chuck, editor Nick Rucka, & Nadav at The Post Office.

Helium

It’s been a while since the last post — more coming soon, promise. In the mean time, here’s a gallery of helium balloon-related pics: left-to-right — the Nokia balloon cam we invented for Rob Dickinson’s “Oceans” video; a still from an excellent Australian balloon car illusion we found on YouTube; and the balloon house from Disney/Pixar’s Up, which reminded us of the 2006 “Oceans” shoot. And just for good measure, here’s a link to Goldfrapp’s “Clowns,” in which Alison G sings of balloons in a clever, often gobble-de-gook-like way.

Car Mount Test #1 – stills

Video post below

Car Mount Test #1

Here’s a test, shot on and around the Sunset Strip. We wanted to take the wobble out of shooting from a moving car, and it worked out really well. We used an Arkon cell phone mount and a Nokia Nseries N93 (the footage of the set-up was shot on an N93i). For the best viewing experience, check the “Watch in High Quality” box on YouTube, or the HQ tab on the pop-up.

Filter Test #1

We shot this footage in Pioneertown, near Joshua Tree, California, using an opaque filter over the lens of a Nokia N93. The  music at the beginning was “found sound” — someone unseen was playing a piano in one of the old wooden movie set buildings — then we’ve added a loop from Garage Band.

Quantum of Oceans?

Nice to see we inspired the Bond machine. Well, allegedly — in that we’re alleging it. Judge for yourself with these YouTube stills. The video for “Oceans” by Rob Dickinson was shot on a Nokia N93 cell phone in the Mojave Desert; June 2006; budget — the cost of lunch at Denny’s. Quantum of Solace was shot in the Atacama Desert; March 2008; budget — $224.87 million. The question is this: would Rob Dickinson beat Daniel Craig in hand-to-hand combat?

The making of “Oceans”

How we shot Rob Dickinson’s “Oceans” over two days in Palm Springs and Hermosa Beach. The “mermaid” is Liz Constantine, who has her own band — Dizzy X — with Dante Marchi, who filmed this behind-the-scenes video. You can see the final cut below.

“Oceans”

Shot on the Nokia N93 in 2006, “Oceans” by former Catherine Wheel frontman Rob Dickinson was the first music video filmed on Nseries devices, the first cellphone music video to feature C.G.I. (check out the mermaid’s tail) and the first cellphone music video to feature underwater and aerial shots. Hope you like it.

Stills gallery… “Surfing at 32ºF”

More screen-grabs from the Eskimohunter video – the vivid colors come from home made filters (one of which was a Quality Street chocolate wrapper). There was absolutely no computer coloring involved. Watch the final cut a couple of posts below.