Smyth vs. Ripper
The West gets bloody: a Western mystery trailer.
Director of Photography · Camera Operator
- My role
- Director of Photography · Camera Operator
- Based on
- Jonathan Smyth: Cowboy Sleuth, by Frank F. Fiore
- Version
- Version 7, graded
- Post
- Colour grade rounds and visual effects shots
The film.
Smyth vs. Ripper is a Western mystery trailer, with the tagline "The West gets bloody." It is based on the book Jonathan Smyth: Cowboy Sleuth, The Case of the Prescott Tunnels, by Frank F. Fiore. I was the director of photography and camera operator.
It opens in black and white, in a brick alley at night, and moves through saloons, tunnels, cavalry officers and a fiery finish before the title card. The credits thank The Palace Saloon in Prescott, Arizona and the Prescott Area Filmmakers Alliance.
The cut went through rounds of colour grading and a visual-effects pass, and the graded Version 7 is the one on file.
- Director of PhotographyLevi Elizaga
- Camera OperatorLevi Elizaga
- DirectorAbdu Dandridge
- ProducersGreg Paul, Abdu Dandridge
- Screenwriter, Executive ProducerFrank F. Fiore
- EditorJulian Negrete
- GafferKenny Hernandez
- 1st Assistant CameraSly Camisi
- A production ofStory Works LLC, Pressure Entertainment Films LLC, Nuvine Visuals, No Brainz Productions
Directed by Abdu Dandridge. A watch link will go here when the trailer is placed online.
The look.
A period look, built in camera and finished in the grade.
Black and white to colour
A monochrome night alley opens the trailer, then the picture warms into saloon amber and open-country light.
Camera and light
I was both director of photography and camera operator, working with a gaffer and key grip on the lighting and rigging.
Visual effects
A blood-on-the-ground shot was built from still frames in a visual-effects pass.
Colour grade
Several grade rounds led to the final Version 7.
Frames from the trailer.
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