TECH This Out!

Castlegrip Christopher Brow

@phemiusthebard we tend to use Stedicam as a last resort. Most of our shots a on the dolly. Sometimes we mount stedi on the dolly.

RT @RT @Castle_PA @Castlegrip takes the dance show to new heights with the giant technocrane in Ep 418! http://twitter.com/Castle_PA/status/183395045653741569/photo/1

RT @Castlegrip: Check out our dueling rickshaws. This was really exciting. http://p.twimg.com/AqUE12YCQAA3q27.jpg

@Castlegrip First shot of the week http://t.co/ZZLJBanC



@Castlegrip This track is nowhere near level. http://t.co/ncEikKXS



@Castlegrip Now we're getting up there! http://t.co/j2i5z6Lj




@Castlegrip Who loves stairs http://t.co/5FflHjBx




@Castlegrip Color chart time. http://t.co/bgfS5TWx

@Castlegrip This is how we turn day into night http://t.co/pilQohcB





@Castlegrip Color chart time http://t.co/0uCbaMA0

Filming at Castle's loft


@Castlegrip Trying out a new under slung camera setup http://t.co/T7E5LiLF

@AndrewBikichky Good morning! Up on a crane from a previous season. A produce stand below. See if you can guess which episode... http://t.co/1mZetxhQ

@Castlegrip A directors view of video village http://t.co/S5CIeBcd

@Castlegrip Steph awaiting a camera http://t.co/4pnjE64l



That is a rickshaw dolly used to pull the camera (and viewer) through the action.

@Castlegrip Steph getting ready to break in a brand new Pro steadicam rig http://instagr.am/p/Ny8MtYBtto/

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@AndrewBikichky @UxueRazkin The script is written before shooting. The actors rehearse
and the director blocks the scene, which becomes a plan for the shots

‏@AndrewBikichky “@DDZeny: @AndrewBikichky How many cameras are working on Castle this season? Great Job Andrew! Xx from Spain” 2 cameras at least every day

@AndrewBikichky “@CourtOsen: @AndrewBikichky How long do the actors have to rehearse a scene?” perhaps a few times, depending on the scene

‏@AndrewBikichky “@betsyang: @AndrewBikichky is shooting in film less expensive than digital? which do you prefer?” most of us prefer film. Digital has many$

‏@AndrewBikichky “@IreneB92: @AndrewBikichky How much footage is filmed on average for each episode?” around 100,000 feet

@AndrewBikichky “on scenes where we can see their feet and floor, how do they know were 2 stand without the colored marks” its a part of their craft to know

@AndrewBikichky “@avand669:Is it awkward filming love scenes or nude scenes?" extra care is taken to protect the actors from 2 many eyes during those times

‏@AndrewBikichky “@betsyang: 4x23 rooftop fight camera from afar, u in a helicopter or another building?” separate unit shot that part, #xfiles pilot tho

‏@AndrewBikichky “@Pillina30: @AndrewBikichky what episode filming now? is too long a day of shooting?” ep 5x3. Crew generally work between 60-70 hours/week

@AndrewBikichky “@Mylouze2712: Do you have a part of creativity?” everyone follows the directors vision, but our individual contributions can be creative.

@AndrewBikichky “@jeremiahjw: @AndrewBikichky Are the background plates used in the driving shots digital or film?” digital


‏@AndrewBikichky Regarding digital vs. film queries: let me answer in parts and examples. It's a huge topic and hard to sum up in 128 characters. Gimme time

@AndrewBikichky Dvs.F: an electronic eyepiece is beaming a partial resolution image with square pixels into my eye at a very close distance with small delay

@AndrewBikichky Dvs.F: an optical eyepiece is like looking thru a widely variable telescope, illuminated only by the light coming in thru the lens. Organic

@AndrewBikichky Dvs.F: optical eyepiece has no delay, I see everything only thru glass, no digitization and degraded reproduction. Looking at real life.

@AndrewBikichky “@Experiment_627: @AndrewBikichky What happens to the films of unused footage? Like after editing, where do they go?” to the vault

‏@AndrewBikichky “@Ninangel567: @experiment_627 do they ever release any of it's contents” not likely. It would be like a band releasing every song outtake.

‏@venice4change Rarely. Mostly I just watch dailies MT @CindyRrrrck If U edit an ep does that mean u observe actual filming as it happens to get ideas?

@venice4change I'm one of 3 editors MT @Ninangel567: @venice4change are you the only one who edits or do several of you do the editing?

‏@venice4change @AnneCe72 3 editors on rotation. Each cuts every 3rd ep. I'm cutting ep 501, so I'll cut 504, 507, 510 etc.Usually only work on 1 at a time

@AndrewBikichky “@SnguvuM: how many scenes do you guys a day on average?” page count is a better indicator: average 6-9 pages range

@AndrewBikichky “@betsyang: do you have a Castle unit that shoots inserts of NYC or do you guys just get them from a vendor?” believe it's a bit of both

@AndrewBikichky “@betsyang: on closed sets who are allowed on the set? average # of people?”ALWAYS a minimum. Depends on scene and cameras used. 3 - 9 range

@AndrewBikichky “@AussieJam1: do you guys shoot at Paramount often?”every once and a while.

@AndrewBikichky “@mama_fillion: When do you guys film? Referring to times of the year.” mid-July thru april

@AndrewBikichky “@AlwaysCastleFan: Director and cinematographer discuss the blocking and coverage angles and work it out with the operators.


@AndrewBikichky “@Mylouze2712: inserts are usually saved for later to maximize time with actors on 1st unit and sometimes they find they want more in editng

@CastleArtDept For the next couple days we are posting your most requested set pics! Let's start with my favorite: The CIA building! http://t.co/NwdYSLk7





@CastleArtDept “@itskatianicole: @CastleArtDept how long did it take to finish that? It's so detailed!” Only 2 weeks! That's how fast things move for TV!!


@CastleArtDept Before we leave for the day I give you another look inside our world. Another highly requested set; the haunted house. http://t.co/bI3uSC9Z

Castle Art Department give us a closer look at some of last seasons sets...


@CastleArtDept For the next couple days we are posting your most requested set pics! Let's start with my favorite: The CIA building! http://pic.twitter.com/NwdYSLk7




@CastleArtDept Does anyone remember this set from last season? Gosh, what a mess!
We had to make every little piece! A lot of work! pic.twitter.com/0iBUhAf6





@CastleArtDeptCastle Happy Monday you amazing people!! Here's to get you started: We hand made ALL of those chandeliers. One set for one day pic.twitter.com/ZXOZquzm





CastleArtDeptCastle A little bit science & a lot imagination went into this set. I love when we don't have to make a ceiling! Brrr is cold! pic.twitter.com/hhE5945a

More BTS set pictures from the Castle Art Department

(This one is my favorite!)

@CastleArtDept A small but intricate set we built. Let's just say we had a lot of Dim Sum 'research' the week we designed it. #castle http://pic.twitter.com/EjkBn0Gn

@Castlegrip Working Wally boards http://instagr.am/p/OmPVgKBtoz/

@Castlegrip Rickshaw can be used with a Stedicam or hand held camera. This one has disc brakes and is really light for fast moves.

@AndrewBikichky Been a few questions regarding colors on #Castle. As far as photography goes, we color the lights more than color the image at the camera.

@AndrewBikichky The Gaffer Jono gels the lights to correct color and to ad specific colors. At the camera we only correct the light to match the film type

@AndrewBikichky Final look of ep is done by a colorist at post production house. Tony Smith works with Rob & Bill on the final color timing. There is more..

@AndrewBikichky But before the shooting, color is addressed by @CastleArtDept and @RedCarpetLuke in how the sets are designed and by wardrobe selection.

@AndrewBikichky So the striking colors of #Castle are the result of a range of individual dept head contributions under the guidance of Rob & Andrew.

More Castle Art Department sets...

@CastleArtDept A camera sees 2D so it's our job to provide as much dimension & texture as possible! Key to a successful set: Texture!! pic.twitter.com/5ll2wiaO

@venice4change All the time. RT @evilapprentice: Is it ever hard to do cuts? Like, something needs to go for time/story but it's just too good?

@venice4change Can't think of any RT @nevyn_r: @venice4change is there any particular ep you'd like to see released as an extended, director's cut on dvd?