Here is the remainder of the interview with Ryan Alexander, director of a Short film being shown at the Grand River Film Festival next week.

Q. What is your favourite equipment to work with?

Ryan – This a tough question but I will tell you that I got my first video camera in grade 7, a Digital8 Sony Handycam.  Since I began studying at Sheridan I have had a growing admiration for shooting on film. It’s most definitely my most favourite format to shoot on, whether it be 8mm or 16mm. Sheridan is a big promoter of using film and I’m glad I was exposed to it. (No pun intended.)

As for film cameras, I really only have experience with a range of Arriflex 16mm cameras, Bolex H16 and a variety of regular 8mm cameras.

As for video cameras, I have a Panasonic DVX100A that I bought in grade 11 and still have today which I used during my last two years of high school and first year of college. It’s a great camera, I swear by it but it’s standard definition and high definition is where the technology has already moved. I owe a lot to that camera though, it was a great tool and allowed me to progress in making films.

Sheridan provides the students in the Media Arts program with a lot of great resource. I am particularly a fan of the Sony EX-1.

This past summer I had the opportunity to work with the prestigious Red One digital cinema camera. It’s an amazing camera, I enjoyed working with it a great deal but I won’t say too much about it because I don’t want to sound like an expert, because I’m certainly not that. (I’m working on it though.)

I just began learning lighting practices specifically this year but I enjoy Arri lighting kits and the ever so popular Kinoflow lighting systems.

As for editing systems, I use Final Cut Studio and beginning to use Avid Media Composer, which I was lucky enough to learn how to use while completing a Co-Op at Rogers Television in grade 12 and now relearning at Sheridan.

Q. In your Greg & Ron films, how did you go about approaching them about being filmed? And do you find that most people are okay about being on camera?

Ryan – I was at the newly constructed Waterloo Square filming some skateboarding during a jam that the local shop, Sanction Skate & Snow, hosted when I met Greg and Ron. I noticed Ron strumming away and Greg tuning his banjo. I thought it would be great to get a live recording of the two jamming. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I walked up to them and asked if I could film a song or two. It was more of an impulse. Ron was very enthusiastic and agreed. They finished to first song and asked me to film two more. Afterwards Ron and I had a great conversation then asked me to email him a YouTube link of the videos.

Since I began studying documentary in my second year at Sheridan the film I am working on right now has already started into production. The crew I am working with currently has found most people fairly comfortable around the camera.

Q. Can you describe your set up for your most recent skateboard video? Since lighting seems to play such an important role in the film, can you talk about the importance of lighting?

Ryan – For the Skate 60fps video my two roommates and I were just doing camera and lighting tests for a shoot the following day. (This sort of relates to my second previous answer about how filming skateboarding is very spontaneous and uninhibited.)

Technically speaking we had two 650-watt tungsten lights and the camera was a Sony EX-1 shooting at 60 frames per second.

For the film in the festival, Daily Routine, the main character/subject of the film, Ryan Carell was my roommate from last year, I was very fascinated by his insomnia so I chose him as my subject for a project at Sheridan. During production I relied fully on ambient light from available sources, I never set up lights, we just used what was already there. This was challenging because every shot in the film takes place at night. It was a good exercise in terms of utilizing the light available in a particular room or outside.

The importance of lighting is a question in itself. It’s such an important part of filmmaking, especially for someone like myself that is interested in cinematography. It’s really the starting point of any photograph. Theirs is so much I need to learn on the subject, I am just beginning to learn lighting practices but I can say that I appreciate the effort, time, creativity, innovation, etc.. dedicated to lighting for a film.

Q. I noticed that you split your films between “film” and “video”. Why?

Ryan – The simple answer as to why I have the two sections, film and video, would be that the work I shoot on film, either 16mm or 8mm are in the film section and any work shot on digital is under video.

The reason I have segregated the two is because I feel that they are two very different mediums. Film requires much more discipline and planning where as video you can shoot as much as you like. The two mediums entail very different production processes as well. While at least I have found that in my experiences. I enjoy using film much more than video, for reasons I could talk about for hours. I think it’s important for a filmmaker, especially someone interested in cinematography to understand film and know how to use it.

Q. What would you suggest to someone interested in starting to shoot video? What is one of the most important things to consider?

Ryan – I don’t feel like I am entitled to answer that question. I am still young and naïve, I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me. Even when someone thinks they know enough to be an expert there is always more to learn.

I suppose one of the most important things to consider is the story or idea you are trying to communicate with your audience. It’s hard to pinpoint the most important thing to consider when making a film because I have no idea.

Q. Are you interested in photography as well as film?

Ryan – I first started taking black and white photos in October 2008. I initially started because I wanted to learn more about film and the photographic process itself. It was also a good chance for me to practice image composition and lighting. At first I was sending film to a lab but later a friend introduced me to hand processing the film and printing the photos in a darkroom. After one session I was hooked. The reason why I decided to switch from 35mm to 120mm is simply because I was intrigued by the size of the film. I like the square frame and the size of the negative holds an enormous amount of resolution, something that digital will never replicate. I think the reason I still enjoy shooting black and white is because of how primitive it is. The process is very simple and it yields amazing results. The camera equipment isn’t hard to come across and the darkroom equipment is even easier to find. The initial setup is expensive but it’s well worth it. I share my bedroom with my darkroom at my place in Cambridge during the summer and use the facilities at Sheridan during the school year.

I was lucky enough to have my photos in the 2008 Waterloo Arts Festival during the summer and this past September one of my photos was accepted into the Photo-Op Photography Exhibition at the John B. Aird Gallery in Toronto. I also have some photos at Corner Stone Interiors in Cambridge. (Where the GRFF Closing Night Gala is taking place.)

-Ryan Alexander

Stay tuned for more interviews and news from the Grand River Film Festival’s Indie Lounge!

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