TECH This Out!

There are alot of tech people from Castle who tweet really cool technical stuff about how the show is made: shot design, lighting tricks etc. For those who are unabashedly members of the Geek club, ( ) I thought it would be cool to have that stuff in it's once thread. Sort of as a reference list as to how things were done, as they really do end up giving some neat tips!

RT @Castle_PA: Ep 406: Epic night shoot. The electricians change the bulbs in the police cruisers to get the desired lighting effect. http://t.co/sw28LU5S

RT @Castlegrip: Some action around the camera. http://t.co/g2gSrLS1

@Castlegrip: Here's a couple of pictures of our last setup. This is the diffusion side of the light. http://t.co/4Ao6QZfl

@Castlegrip: These are the lights in the back. They are called "Blondes". http://t.co/fzkkD44l

@Castlegrip: This is a Mole. http://t.co/y4DkIUoe

@Castlegrip: @CastlesOldHaunt it's a type of movie light.

@Castlegrip: First shot of the day is a giant dance floor move. We. used every piece of plywood I've got. http://t.co/q1tIq3If

@Castlegrip: Here's the plastic going down. http://t.co/fwXIF9KK

@Castlegrip: The final product. All 272 sq ft. p://t.co/jlBWVEak

@Castlegrip: Dance floor is for the dolly. It gives me a nice smooth surface to move on. You might say I dance with the dolly.

@Castlegrip: Yesterday was the first day of 410.

RT @Castlegrip: We are all dressed in black because of reflections. And look, more dance floor. http://t.co/9k0LUSOm

(So, yeah, lots of speculation that this was a dance floor for the Ryan's Wedding episode, but as you can read, Castlegrip was was very noncommital on the topic. @Castlegrip: First shot of the day is a giant dance floor move. We. used every piece of plywood I've got. http://t.co/q1tIq3If

@Castlegrip: Here's the plastic going down. http://t.co/fwXIF9KK

@Castlegrip: The final product. All 272 sq ft. p://t.co/jlBWVEak

@Castlegrip: Dance floor is for the dolly. It gives me a nice smooth surface to move on. You might say I dance with the dolly.

@Castlegrip: Yesterday was the first day of 410.

RT @Castlegrip: We are all dressed in black because of reflections. And look, more dance floor. http://t.co/9k0LUSOm

(So, yeah, lots of speculation that this was a dance floor for the Ryan's Wedding episode, but as you can read, Castlegrip was was very noncommital on the topic.

@Castlegrip Christopher Brow
@Lentemorgen the dolly is what the camera is mounted on. It gives a stable platform to move the camera. http://twitter.com/#!/Castlegrip/status/129261537255886848/photo/1

@Castlegrip what lens(es) do you guys generally use?
@Maclane79 primarily we usa and 11:1 (24-275mm) or a 4:1 (17-75mm) both Panavision Primo zooms.
http://t.co/Qn8AgjXt

@Castlegrip Are you always shooting dual coverage, or do you have a B-unit too?
@phemiusthebard we generally shoot two cameras. As far as second unit we do inserts occasionally.

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
Body mount with camera. http://twitter.com/#!/Castlegrip/status/128622889107849216/photo/1/large

@Castlegrip does the actor that u are trying to film wear the camera or does the camera guy wear it to film the actor? #confused

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
@cmsugrad this rig is worn by the actor. Not yet named.

@Castlegrip why is it called a "single-camera" show if you use 2 cameras? Always wondered that...

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
@Caskett91911 it's the style of filmmaking. Much like a feature film where primarily one camera is used. Four camera is sitcom tv.

@Castlegrip how many people make up the troupe of cameramen to shoot Castle?

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
@CristinaCasadio each camera has an operator, 1st asst, 2nd asst and a dolly grip. We have 2 cameras( A and B )

@Castlegrip Christopher Brow
Here's a picture from Monday's show. His is how we looked down on Castle when he was looking at the tv sculpture. http://twitter.com/#!/Castlegrip/status/126867811392954368/photo/1

[note: the show is "Eye of the Beholder]

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
This is the rig we built to look down onto Becket in the hallway of the hospital. http://twitter.com/#!/Castlegrip/status/129342686355398656/photo/1/large

@Castlegrip How many people operated that rig?
@myrtlegroggins I pushed the dolly and two paramedics pushed the gurney.

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
Video of the gurney rig. http://yfrog.com/0hzc2z

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
In this one we are leading the gurney at full speed. Petey is pushing and I'm walking backwards as fast as we can go. http://yfrog.com/0rgvnz

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
Another version. This is bringing back memories. I got a workout that day! http://yfrog.com/ehzvlz

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
This last one is my favorite. It really show the excitement of the shot. http://yfrog.com/i3q4bz

Castlegrip Christopher Brow
Toy of the day: squishy lens http://hyfrog.com/nqjsjz

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/