Making a Documentary in Europe | Sony FX3

[@davidmorefield]

Dude I’m so stoked for you! Congrats on the long standing relationship that led to this opportunity and for taking the time to vlog this. It’s not easy on these run n gun shoots. Cant wait to here more of how this job develops now that you have a better understanding of what is needed. You sound exhausted 😂

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Yeah, this was a fun trip but it definitely took a lot out of me. I'll definitely share more details about the shoot in future videos! Thanks for watching bro!!!

[@JulioBHJ]

Oh boy, I remember shoots that started out like this and led to me saying "Never again". A whole week across the UK, of course the airline lost my camera gear bag so I was stuck with just a camera, scratch audio and one lens, we were expected to shoot like 14 hours a day and then spend the night in the cheapest hotel that was literally right above a disco playing techno music until 6 a.m., and while we worked our asses off to make it a halfway usable film, the production guys back home sat in their comfy chairs and denied our request to get expenses paid for dinner, because it wasn't in the budget...

[@jamespowellfilms]

Love this, looks like an amazing project. I worked on international missions trips through my 20's, more in the third world countries than Europe. But our benefactor was very wealthy and we traveled with him, documenting. Everything you're talking about reminded me about those years. Smallest kit you can get away with always. My first trip we went to Egypt with shoulder cams in 2008, never again. Too big, too much attention. Lots of years walking through airports with a heavy backpack full of batteries and 2 cameras, hard drives, etc. Trying not to knock people in the head with it getting in the airplane bins. Air India was one of the only ones I ran into that weighed carry ons, that was frustrating. I got tried of people telling me they were so jealous I got to go on all these trips, not realizing how much work it was and how much it wore me out. Or how you kind of miss some of the magic cause you're seeing it all through the camera. (Still awesome though) Always need a bit of local currency because yeah, if you stay in weathlier places and you can't carry your bag and then you've got to pay someone else to do it... Can't bring large bags into places so you have to strip the kit down even more and you're left wondering why I even bothered bringing the DSLR shoulder rig, etc.

[@GeorgeGuillory]

Thanks for sharing! Looks like a great experience to be on a project like that.

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Thanks for watching! It was a blast!

[@KarenFoote]

Rome footage looks great!

[@ty-k6708]

This is really cool man! I would love to know more about the audio kit for the Tentacle sync system.

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Yeah I'm really loving the Tentacle system! The batteries last forever! My one regret is not syncing timecode with FX3. Originally, they just wanted to have 2 lav mics. I was planning bringing 4. 1 for backup and 1 for timecode for the FX3. As soon as we got there the producer wanted to mic up 4 people so I had to ditch timecode. The tentacle syncs are really great. The App is so easy to use and that's what makes it the best option for me.

[@THEGLORY1993]

An amazing project and inspiring shots 🙌🏻 Would have been great to bump into you, I’m in Cambridge! Do you use your own lut for monitoring?

[@JoATTech]

Very interesting. I bet it was nice experience. How many batteries do you have for FX3 for such shoots? And for the tentacle sync. Have you used the timecode also to sync it in post?

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Thanks for watching! I had 6 Sony batteries with me. I only ended up using 2-3 per days. They were listing anywhere from 2-3 hrs each battery. I did not run timecode to the FX3 unfortunately! Next time I need to bring a few more tentacle syncs.

[@robinprobyn1971]

Did you use IBIS for all the hand held , if so just standard ? yeah having to change hotels a lot is really a killer physically and also mentally , so much better when you can set up "home " in one room , and start downloading straight away , and all your stuff set up . Tipping money you should get from production , I had to do this all the time as an AC , also in the US. In NY they wouldn't even let me use the trolly ,just to load up the van when we had to leave on time , they were chained up ! and you had to wait from some one to be available ! very aggressive bell guys ! if a coach came in they would go for the bigger pay off, and leave me stranded .

[@DarkWaterCreatives]

I just picked up the 20-40 and love it. For me its more useful then a 16-35!

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Yeah! The zoom range is awesome! I agree!

[@lazorkophotography]

I’m glad you made a vlog of the trip! I went to Italy this summer for vacation and I know what you mean about security being really tight at all the sights. Even with extra access through a tour guide I would have had so much anxiety at each location if I had been you bringing in gear. Did you find the ibis in the Fx3 to be enough for handholding during those on the spot talking segments?

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Absolutely! Thanks so much for watching bro! I definitely had some anxiety. The IBIS on the FX3 works really well. It does crop the image a little bit but I think it's worth it for the steady footage. I was using my bag as a makeshift "Cinesaddle" and that worked really well for the handheld shots.

[@lazorkophotography]

@ I think a job like this is where that 12,800 ISO shines. I think it’s great you were able to get away with not setting up any lighting

[@allen_bernardo_jr]

What a job opportunity man 🫨 Its unfortunate that you didn't get to experience it fully beyond work but still a cool experience nonetheless! Btw do you think they'd allow you to use one of those quick-setup monopods instead of a tripod? Maybe the ones even with the small three feet to support, not sure if that would then be considered a tripod as well 🤔 lol I've wondered for these types of on the move shots if a heavy duty quick-setup monopod and a quick release plate could help with stability and being able to quickly move.

[@JoelGabrielsen]

I thought about that as well! Some places you might be able to. Some places with security I don't think they would let you. I have a tiny portable tripod that folds up really small. They wouldn't let me through security with it. Thanks so much for watching!!

[@allen_bernardo_jr]

@@JoelGabrielsen That's a good point, very true. I think a nice shoulder bag type of thing to rest it on like those cine saddles I think that you showed in previous videos could also help out too in a pinch 🎬👏👏

[@ScottfromCalifornia]

What kind of back pack was that? Pretty slick.

[@GeorgeGuillory]

It looks like the Pgytech Onemo 2 35L backpack. I have the 25L and the styling and logo are the same, as well as the included small bag.

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Correct!

[@JoelGabrielsen]

It's a great bag! This is the one I'm using - amzn.to/3ZMbj48

[@HakonBroderLund]

At the end I see a massive brick on your desk that you are charging stuff on. What is that? 6 port high power usb charger?

[@wap1111]

Thanks for sharing this, Do you need to obtain a shooting permission to this locations?

[@pbellajr]

How did you manage wrangling data? I know you mentioned that you brought extra SD cards, however, were you backing up data throughout the trip to a server, or just backing data up each night locally, or something different?

[@pbellajr]

Oh never mind, lol, I made it to that part of the video 😂

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Pete! Check this thing out. It made it easy to transfer footage on the go. At night I was able to transfer it to a SSD drive. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1790744-REG/clouzen_cl_tn0015_2tb_tainer_portable_all_in_one_backup.html

[@parzival8397]

4 hours till flight leaves and still home my german ass is furious (we are always like 4-5 Hours before our flight leaves at the airport)

[@benarnoux]

The first full minute of this video gave me anxiety…$$$$🫠 Great video, though. I never considered the cons of traveling.

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Thanks for watching! This is definitely from the perspective of someone who is more introverted. I enjoy traveling with family on vacation but not so much for work!