Jan Pester

Canadian DoP under Co-Production Treaty

JanP — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:37:03 +0000

I recently established that as well as being a UK Citizen I qualify as a Canadian DoP for any work done under the Canadian Co-Production Treaty.This is because I hold a Canadian Permanent Resident Card

Eric Clapton’s first music video:Forever Man 1985

JanP — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:56:04 +0000

I thought I’d air this music promo again as it’s fascinating.It was lit by a young Roger Deakins before he became the greatest cinematographer in the world….and directed by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme of 10cc fame. There was alot of smoke on the set and it wasn’t all from the SFX department. I think there were about 8 camera crews including 2 Steadicam Operators (Pete Cavaciuti and myself). Other camera operators included Ray Andrew, Jeff Baynes, Dave Bridges, John Simmons and Nick Knowland. We are all featured in this elaborate “camera ballet” round a circular stage. Despite a day’s rehearsal we still managed to knock Roger’s Golden Panaflex off its dolly with the arm of the Titan Crane. At 2’44″ you can clearly see this as I captured it on Steadicam. The late James Ainslie (1st a/c) holds his head in horror…and Roger Deakins just makes a bolt for it!

Bearded Clams

JanP — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:12:23 +0000

Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland

Life of Pi 3D

JanP — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:35:31 +0000

Saw Ang Lee’s movie last night and its a brilliant interpretation of the book. Everything looks much the way I imagined it when I read it years ago. There’s also the added magic of superb visual effects. Stunningly beautiful.
Only a few years ago fur and water were the two things you had to try to avoid in CGI/Animation. And here’s a film featuring wild animals on the Pacific Ocean. The technology moves so fast….although it has to be said the movie did employ 14000 people…most of them get credited! The only disappointment is that for me it falls down at the end….I fell about laughing at this part of the book originally and did so again when I re-read it this morning to check. Perhaps thats the only part of the novel that really did turn out to be unfilmable….but I suspect other reasons……

Shooting in Tripoli

JanP — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:37:22 +0000

I just returned from Libya where I was doing some preliminary shooting for a feature length documentary about Colonel Gaddafi’s famous female bodyguards who were handpicked, young, beautiful and highly trained. Jubilation and high spirits in the city of Tripoli, many guns being fired….but all in the air, fortunately. Elsewhere in the country such as in Bani Walid chaotic fighting continues. The country is having to be rebuilt almost from scratch so the transitional government is struggling. Old tribal rivalries from before Gaddafi’s coup 43 years ago are rising to the surface again. We filmed in Gaddafi’s ruined compound in Tripoli, which is vast…also in Abo Salim prison, now closed, where Gaddafi once had 1200 people shot in 5 hrs….all in one small exercise yard. Both places had strong strong spirits. The Libyans are a friendly hospitable people but they seem to be quite fond of torturing each other. Many horrible stories….but I suppose that’s war for you

Hinterland

JanP — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:26:11 +0000

Just wrapped principal photography on Hinterland, a low budget independent feature film written and directed by Douglas M. Ray. Shot on extremely meagre resources the film stars Eva Birthistle (best known for her award-winning role in Ken Loach’s “Ae Fond Kiss”). I had previously worked with Eva on “Days of Flowers” which premiered at Edinburgh Film Festival this year. Other principal actors are Paul Hilton and Antonia Campbell-Hughes. There are also inspired improvised cameo appearances from comics Matt Berry and James Lance. Hinterland is a comedy thriller with a rather unusual tone.
The film was a challenge as it had to be approached in a “guerilla” style with a tiny and largely inexperienced unit, virtually no monitoring, no dolly, track or Steadicam, very few facilities and very little lighting. I photographed it using the lightweight Canon C300 and a set of Arri-Zeiss Ultraprimes. Much of it was shot in the woods of Black Park next door to Pinewood. The minimal equipment meant we were able to move extremely fast in rough terrain. Also the C300 provided excellent image quality often in extremely low light. Many interiors around London were shot with no lighting at all.
Its exciting how, with new cameras cinematography is changing so rapidly towards obtaining an attractive look without having to burn huge amounts of watts !

Toast

JanP — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:42:40 +0000

Toast

When she threw the toast and
much of it lodged in my right ear and
a crunchiness developed
in my hearing and
something dripped
from my nose
peanut butter perhaps
I resolved always
to avoid
this kind of thing
at breakfast

Wigwam Women

admin — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:47:20 +0000

Think I’ll go see the Wigwam Women
they feel what I feel,
covering ground on purple evenings
when there’s a mist
rolling.

I kayaked the love affair rapids
and out on the lake of forgotten pain
made camp on happenstance island
then came back again.

At the inconvenience store
I couldn’t get ammo, beans or meal
now I need to see the Wigwam Women
need to heal.

If I rode out now past the empty claims
and fossils and rusting bogies upturned
to the wildfire free valley
where no boats are ever burned
where the hunting’s still good
and the gathering is real
I’d see the Wigwam Women
They feel what I feel
They feel what I feel

Tart Tatin

JanP — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:02:19 +0000

Tart Tatin

This giant toenail under the bed at
Hotel Tatin, Lamotte-Beuvron, 1880, Room 9
is not mine
its immense
must be 3 centimetres wide
Common sense
tells me a mature orangutan
boned his rangy orange paramour
and opened up his heaving hairy heart
then decided on a pedicure
before his next Parisian tart
tatin
tatin
tatin
3 sisters
all into cooking
all tarts

Baftas

JanP — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:58:00 +0000

Going to the Baftas on Sunday as An Idiot Abroad 2 has been nominated for yet another award.