I got a last minute request from a friend to shoot some photos at the premiere and after-party of Charlotte Sometimes, an absorbing psycho-drama. Double kudos considering its shoe-string budget—$20,000. (definitely a labor of love for all involved) The writer-director, Eric Byler, spoke a bit in the QA that besides making it possible to shoot on that budget, shooting DV also affected the way the actor-character-scene interaction played out as you weren’t changing reels every 10 minutes. A good case of how changing the medium very dramatically influences the content and process.
As far as shooting the after-party event, that was pretty hectic. I don’t usually do that kind of stuff, so I was glad to get some usable shots at the end of the day. Still, rather uncomfortable dealing with lack of equipment (wrong lens, no speed-lite, difusser), and the whole ‘say cheese’ thing, especially when your camera isn’t cooperating.