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Behind the Scenes – Reflections of the past
Whatever your experience in this line of work, being behind the scenes of a broadcast, film, or any type of production environment is a unique blend of controlled chaos and intense focus. There is a constant hum of activity as various teams work together under tight deadlines. You can hear the low murmur of producers, technicians, and crew communicating over headsets, coordinating every detail of the show. The atmosphere is a bit like an orchestra, where each department plays its part—camera operators adjusting angles, audio techs fine-tuning sound, and directors calling the shots to ensure everything flows seamlessly.
There are unwritten rules, do’s and dont’s that either you are wise enough to learn from colleagues or smart enough to reflect from your own mistakes. For the most part, there is an military-like sense of camaraderie, as everyone knows their role and the stakes involved in delivering the perfect broadcast, segment, interview, commercial, or whatever the job entails for that day. There is a great sense of purpose, a rush of adrenaline especially when every second counts.
When I transitioned my career into the world of production, thankfully it was also parallel to the technological transition from analog to digital. Although I had already started shooting on tape, later as a professional, I only had to deal with “wrappers” and “codecs” that just needed transcoding. Although technology promised advancements, we were still trapped in time delving between what every manufacturer had decided to use for their recording media. In the end, the time spent processing to log footage for editing proved to be even longer than just logging tape.
In current times, there are AI tools, CGI software, grip and electrical solutions, high-quality lighting, audio capturing devices, and cameras that fit in the palm of your hand that can allow for anyone to use these tools and create content that can match tools used for even bigger “Hollywood-type” stories, that sometimes can produce unimaginably better characters and stories. Have we flooded the public with all these tools, and yet running out of good stories left to tell? History will decide.
What about the everyday common stories, the ones that have a short-lived demand and just need to documented and record an event, a hero that may just simply walk among us every day. It can be our neighbor, our teacher, our healer, our professor, a grocer, a business owner, a homeless person, it can even be a programmer or a local musician. Heroes don’t always wear capes, and their stories can affect us more than fiction can.
In this page, I am just sharing stills and frames from projects. Memories, tiny moments from my journey.
“Do Not Feed the Wildlife” – When academic content becomes dangerously interesting (May 2019)
While I do enjoy and learn from all types of filming, this was by far one of the most memorable experiences. Walking though alligator pits and examining dangerous and poisonous species of plants and animals, Ichthyologist Dr. Jesse Blanchard was in my frame, and as I expressed to him back then, the students from his class were receiving images and information that is far more valuable than just reading it from a piece of paper.
Miami – Where the rich and famous (and the …”way beyond rich”) go to party. (Sep 2013)
Working with the legendary journalist Daisy Olivera, I learned what fashion, luxury and lifestyle producing really means! Daisy was always ahead of her time, an “influencer” of great reach, with connections to places and people that few can only dream of. With her royal charisma and talent full of class, she taught me how to maneuver and adapt in situations that are key to “getting the story”. I miss her dearly, and our mutual jesting.
What is time?
Every time I do a timelapse I also take the time to just sit there and meditate. It does not matter how long, how far into it, how loud, or even how hot or cold it may be. I just sit, and meditate. I do not allow for any distractions to enter my mind, and believe me there are plenty. “Did I want to use 1/8th sec?” or “Should I lower ISO back down and try a Holy Grail?” and most often “Will I have enough shots?” The truth is, it doesn’t matter in the end. I like timelapses because they allow me to learn so much from the light, and from my mistakes, and they always prove to be beneficial. I have shot so many timelapses from different cameras and have also deleted just as much. They are a great way to practice and hone in the skill for when a client surprises you with the request of that “extra-something”, or even add to the hunt for interesting B-roll.
Sad but true (May 2022)
There are so many overworked and underpaid crew folks in this field. So many productions that may start great, but sadly end with a declining moral and the ultimate abysmal crash because the crew cannot handle weeks and months of 14-hour shifts with 4 hours of sleep. Is it bad management, or revised scripts? Strange requests from executives? Is it loss of interest? Is it poor working conditions? Is it all of the above? You tell me…
Big budget lights, expensive lenses, and Arri cameras cannot save a film. In the end, something that is large theater or even Netflix-worthy, gets buried like another “straight to DVD” story.
Can Chroma Keying be fun?
The answer is: “NOT IF YOU HAVE SPILLS!!!”
Well, there are a couple more factors involved. Chroma sub-sampling, evenly lit backgrounds, proper attire, etc. I have probably keyed over 200 subjects, of all skin-tone and hair characteristics, while I was working for the station and for the university. Spills are the worst, and they can make great content look like it was sent to earth from another planet quite easily if you do not know what you are doing.
Is Solar energy the future?
You can purchase solar panels that can charge all of your “small-production” tools and rig them on top of you vehicle. No need to rush back to the hotel and plug everything in. No need to hurl noisy generators. I do believe that when there will be a solution for high-wattage transfers to light panels and cameras, the industry will change dramatically to the worst. It will not be cost-efficient for anyone to buy them.
In this little shoot I went over to help a friend and was literally FRYING on the top of the roof. I wondered how birds must feel when flying on top of these, and how it may alter the wind currents for the surrounding area.
Do you need a Focus Puller?
This is the only time I have ever pulled focus for someone else. I found it extremely awkward, but I still remember all the laughs with my friend Vincent DeVries here. A wonderful personality that always solved problems with a smile. In fact, I don’t think that I have ever seen or heard him not being positive.
BMW Nostalgia R7 project
As a BMW owner since 2011, it was a real treat to see this concept kit being developed for Nmoto. I remember when we were shooting a clip to show how they had to form a fishtail exhaust, and basically had to build the mold from scratch. What an adventure to meet the fabricator at the time, Stan the Man!
Keep the flame going
I had the luck to be referred to the Temes Group for this fun gig. The Olympic Torch relay going through the grounds of Costa Navarino, and also grabbing some marketing content for their properties. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. The client requested for the edited footage right away, thankfully I had my laptop. Sometimes, you just don’t get all the details from clients and you are hit with a big surprise, which entails to either looking unprofessional or a bad rep. First lesson I learned long time ago: Be Prepared for ANYTHING!
A great Director can make a great difference!
One of the most organized shoots I have ever been in was a Buzzfeed Tasty “Couples Edition” competition. Production crew flew in with half of the gear from L.A., and the rest of the crew was local. Wow, what a fantastic job organizing this was. Some moving car shots, just a few lights, 9 cameras, 2 floaters on gimbal, timed segments, and a live audience. After wrapping, I went to congratulate our fantastic 24-year old Director on her excellent skills and eye for details. She was indeed born to do this. She hadn’t cracked a single smile all day, until that compliment. You have to give credit when you see it.
Do you need a big Studio for a show?
The answer is NO! You can produce and shoot a segmented 60-90min show anywhere! The always-joyful and multi-talented Dean Miuccio that wrote, produced and co-hosted this one will tell you the same.
Hey Dimitris, do you always shoot & edit?
The answer is NO! In fact, I have taken various roles in production in the past. From grip and lighting to even handling sound boards. From tedious producing tons of paperwork for segments, to just being a simple production assistant. The stills here are from a 1000km+ location scouting drive for a “reality game-show”. In fact, I had the pleasure to work for this local producer/fixer a few times here in Greece, as just a driver for her.
Sometimes people can be “snobs” with different types of roles, but in fact the more roles and POV’s from inside a production you work on, the better your vision becomes. Sure, some people are born to be “just editors” or “just DOP’s”, but if you study the truly great storytellers of our time you will discover that they participated one way or another in different roles to be able to raise their level of expression.
How do you tackle backlight?
The answer is WITH MORE LIGHT! You will need all the light you can get to match that backlight, so don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t shoot with a strong backlight. That’s why you bought the damn things, just light them up!
Hey Dimitris, what do you think of shooting & editing music videos?
Well, prior to coming to back to Greece, I had only edited music videos. Then I somehow found myself “helping a brother out” and saying yes to another adventure. I had some great fun watching a young kid getting into his groove, and admired his will to “enter the stage”. I expect great things from him, and I hope that he will live his journey.
The truth is with today’s technology you can make some great things happen. The problem is when the technology is not the obstacle, but the talent itself. A great music producer once told me: “Dimitris, music artists can never articulate or express to you what they really want, or are they are just too messed up to tell you”.
For obvious reasons, he will remain anonymous.
Seek Purposeful Community Projects and Get Rewarded
The more involved you get with your community, the more fulfilling your reach and your reputation. You don’t always have to get paid “big money” to justify a project. It will pay you back long-term. The people you meet along this path will remain within your memories as a positive reinforcement, and pull you towards an ethical and healthy purpose.
Hey Dimitris, have you ever shot weddings?
Sure. In fact, when I was starting out as an operator I was working 2 part-time jobs and I was splitting cans of tuna in half, just so I could save money and put more fuel in my car to drive to work. I was shooting weddings for almost 2 years. I received great lessons about lighting and “spur-of-the-moment” decisions on what to record and what to hide. There are things you don’t want the couple to be reminded of when they watch it 30 years later. Yes, we are there to document everything “as-is”, the drunk uncle, the awkward mother-in-law, the friends that want to say dirty things, but we have to decide on the spot whether something is even worth editing in, or out!
Will I ever do it again? The short answer is: Nope.-
Hey Dimitris, what do you do in your time off?
The answer is: I GO SHOOTING!
From landscapes in the middle of nowhere, to busy streets and protests, or even birds and animals. I just shoot. And when I don’t shoot, I am isolated from all kinds of images and sound. That’s just how I am wired.