American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 59

Top: A view of
Canada's
northeast, the
United States
and beyond as
seen from the
ISS. Bottom, left:
Onboard the ISS,
Wilmore
prepares for a
shoot. Bottom,
right: Wilmore
enjoys zero
gravity.

That was often done via email, but I'd
sometimes get a phone call. I have to say,
it's fun to get a call when the caller ID
comes up as 'International Space
Station.'"
With the retirement of NASA's
Space Shuttle program in 2011,
transportation to and from the ISS
became extremely limited, impacting the
choice of shooting format for A Beautiful
Planet. "The Space Shuttle was a 'space
truck,'" says Neihouse. "It would ferry
things back and forth as needed, but it's
not flying anymore. Now, you can get
things up to the Station - you just can't
get stuff back [on a regular schedule].
That was one of the key reasons we went
digital.
"Digital gave us other advantages,
too," Neihouse continues. "When we
were shooting film, three minutes' worth
of [15-perf 65mm Imax] film weighed 10
pounds - that's a lot of volume to bring

back. When we went digital, we were
bringing back Codex data packs the size
of a cell phone with 30 minutes of
footage. We also increased our low-light
capture substantially; we never would
have gotten some of the shots [in A
Beautiful Planet] with film. We were able
to shoot clean audio without hearing the
roaring sound of the camera - which
sounded like a pissed-off sewing
machine on steroids permeating every
shot - so we can actually use audio from
the astronauts and get real moments.
And we were able to shoot a lot more
footage, especially inside the Station, and
capture some really wonderful, candid,
interpersonal moments that we never
could have imagined getting with film."
The cinematographer tested
several digital cameras for A Beautiful
Planet, beginning with a Red Epic
Mysterium-X,
Vision
Research
Phantom 65, Sony F65, Arri Alexa M
www.theasc.com

and Canon Cinema EOS C300. "We
shot side-by-side tests against [15-perf
65mm] Imax, then compared each
camera," Neihouse explains. "We went
away from the F65 because of the size,
power consumption and complex menu
selections. Although these astronauts are
geniuses, they can get 'space brain' and
become unable to perform relatively
simple tasks because they have so much
to focus on every day - they just get
overloaded. So we try to keep things as
simple in orbit as possible. We also want
to keep it simple so that it doesn't take
much time for them to execute the shots.
"The Phantom 65 had the same
issue - it was just too complex and
menu-intensive," Neihouse continues.
"We rejected the Alexa M because, at the
time, it was a two-piece system with a
cable from the camera down to the
recorder. Power was another issue - the
camera is power-hungry. That left us with
June 2016

59



http://www.theasc.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - June 2016

Contents
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - Intro
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - Cover1
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 1
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 2
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - Contents
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 4
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 5
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 6
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 7
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 8
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 9
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 10
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 11
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 12
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 13
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 14
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 15
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 16
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 17
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 18
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 19
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 20
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 21
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 22
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 23
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 24
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 25
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 26
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 27
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 28
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 29
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 30
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 31
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 32
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 33
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 34
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 35
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 36
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 37
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 38
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 39
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 40
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 41
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 42
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 43
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 44
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 45
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 46
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 47
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 48
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 49
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 50
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 51
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 52
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 53
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 54
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 55
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 56
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 57
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 58
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 59
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 60
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 61
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 62
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 63
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 64
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 65
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 66
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 67
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 68
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 69
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 70
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 71
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 72
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 73
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 74
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 75
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 76
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 77
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 78
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 79
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 80
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 81
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 82
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 83
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 84
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 85
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 86
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 87
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 88
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 89
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 90
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 91
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 92
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 93
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 94
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 95
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 96
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 97
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 98
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 99
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 100
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 101
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 102
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 103
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 104
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 105
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 106
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 107
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 108
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 109
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 110
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 111
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 112
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 113
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 114
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 115
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 116
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 117
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 118
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 119
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - 120
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - June 2016 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0524
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0424
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0324
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0224
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0124
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1223
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1123
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0923
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0823
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0723
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0623
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0523
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0423
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0323
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0223
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0123
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1222
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1122
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0922
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0822
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0722
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0622
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0522
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0422
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0322
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0222
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0122
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1221
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1121
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0921
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0821
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0721
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0621
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0521
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0421
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0321
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0221
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0121
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0920
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0720
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0520
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0320
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0919
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0719
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0519
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0319
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0219_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0119_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com