Cane Toads - Should they be Gassed?

Interesting recent article in the news about outlawing the use of CO2 gas to kill cane toads - along with many comments from readers. People really get fired up about these toads. A scene featuring the 'humane' gassing of toads by the 'Kimberley Toads Busters' volunteer group is part of 'Cane Toads - The Conquest 3D' film due to be released in 2010.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/31/2783184.htm

Rigs used on 'Cane Toads - the Conquest 3D'

Left is the main rig we used with two SI2K cameras in the P+S Technik mirror box with Canon zoom lenses and a separate (non 3D) monitor, shooting at Fogg Dam in the Northern Territory; right is the 300mm side-by-side rig for a long shot of approaching vehicle down a dusty road shot near Kununurra in the Kimberley.

'Cane Toads - The Conquest 3D' to Premiere at Sundance 2010

The comic-doco 'Cane Toads - the Conquest', the first Australian feature film shot entirely in digital 3D has been selected to screen in the Premieres section of the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010, the most prestigious festival in the US. Click here for Sundance page.

The shoot was spread over a 4 to 5 month period from late 2008. I was cinematographer on the film for prep period and the Northern Territory block, alongside the other cinematographers Kathryn Millis (QLD block) and Paul Nichola (Studio and VFX shoots and Stereographer).

Written and directed by Mark Lewis, the film is the follow up to his hit 1988 documentary 'Cane Toads - An Unnatural History' and brings the story of the toad up to the present day with it's almost total conquest of Northern Australia, told with trademark quirky humour and presented in stunning 3D.

The film was shot on the Silicon Imaging SI2K digital camera system with a variety of custom made 3D rigs designed by Paul Nichola, to allow 3D shooting in all sorts of situations from macro tadpoles, to close up toads at ground level, to interviews and majestic landscapes.

http://www.canetoadstheconquest.com

'The Combination' Wins Silver

Last night at the 2009 NSW Australian Cinematography Society Awards ceremony, 'The Combination' picked up a Silver ACS Award in the Features - Cinema category. With a large number of feature film entries in this, a bumper year for Australian cinema, it was especially pleasing to see peer recognition for my work on this powerful story about a Lebanese family set in Sydney's west.

As detailed in my earlier posts, 'The Combination' was shot on an early build of the RED camera, and was the first RED shot feature to hit cinema screens in Australia.

For a full list of ACS winners click here.

A Miracle in the Storm

I recently finished up shooting the Dramatised doco 'Miracle in the Storm' for Essential Media's Nial Fulton - we had to simulate in the studio scenes of a paraglider who gets sucked up into a deadly storm and somehow survives drifting at an altitude of 30,000 feet... the sequences were shot on greenscreen with the Varicam HD camera on a remote head and our stunt actor in a special wire rig setup directed by Guy Norris - seen here with me working the wheels.

Beneath Hill 60 Wraps

The WWI war movie wrapped a few weeks ago in Townsville - life is returning to normal back here in Sydney although of course the picture is now well into an exhaustive post production period. The shoot was an amazing experience full of exciting challenges and I am looking forward to getting into the DI suite to grade the picture, but probably not before Jan 2010 at the earliest.

Shooting on super 35mm (3-perf) on the Arricam LT was a pleasure (and a privilege, they tell me) and no doubt a necessity given the very demanding conditions of the shoot with dust, dirt, rain and mud constant companions....

My brother Dan Oliver was SFX Supervisor on the show, and his expert team included my other brother Taj - it was a bit of a family affair, kind of comforting when they are blowing things up nearby!

Photo by Wendy McDougall

Beneath Hill 60 to shoot on 35mm

After much discussion we have decided to shoot the WW1 tunneling epic on film instead of the digital options, namely RED and Sony's F35. Naturally there was some impact on the budget but because of the nature of the picture with so much low-light material in tunnels and difficult conditions likely, 35mm could be relied upon to give us the best image in our circumstances.

It is actually a welcome change back to film as I haven't shot a feature on sprockets since 2004 in China on 'Waiting Alone', which feels like aeons ago. We will be using Arricams with my Cooke Lenses, and I will be doing some low-light force processing tests with 500ASA stock shortly.

Beneath Hill 60 in early pre-production

'Beneath Hill 60', an ambitious new war drama about the Australian tunnelers fighting under the trenches of the Western Front in WW1 has been greenlit for production and will start shooting in July 2009 in Townsville, QLD. I will DOP the picture for director Jeremy Sims following our previous collaboration on 'Last Train to Freo'(2005).

For more information on the project from the official film site click here.

Article on shooting 'The Combination' on RED

This full length article was published in the February issue of Digital Media World Magazine,  click here to download the .pdf from www.tobyoliver.com.au

I AM CUBA interview on Radio National website

I was on Radio National's Movietime show the other day with Jason Di Rosso, talking about the amazing 1964 Soviet-Cuban film 'I Am Cuba' on the 'Trash or Treasure' segment.

Please click here for internet download from the ABC website.

The Combination continues...

from Inside Film....

"For the second week in a row, The Combination topped the limited release charts, beating new releases The Secret Life of Bees ($121,677) and Dean Spanley ($78,565) which opened on 44 and 34 screens respectively. Both films had held sneaks the week before.

Distributed by the Australian Film Syndicate, The Combination took an average $4,483 on 34 screens, for a total second week taking of $152,406.

If the film had been released in 2008, its $420,724 total would already place it among the top 10 highest grossing Australian feature films of the year."

Segment on ABC Radio National this Friday

I will be featuring in Radio National's Movietime show with Jason Di Rosso, talking about the amazing 1964 Soviet-Cuban film 'I Am Cuba' on the 'Trash or Treasure' segment. It goes to air this Friday 13th from 8.30am.

RN is on 576AM in Sydney or click here for internet download.

'The Combination' releases to Good Reviews and Media Frenzy

The Combination was released last Thursday into Australian cinemas nationwide with great press reviews particularly from the ABC's David Stratton with a rating of 4 and a half stars. But by Saturday night the film had been pulled from Greater Union's four Sydney screens due to two incidents at the company's Parramatta cinema complex. The Police say that the violence was not related to the film and no arrests or charges were made, but the filmmakers including myself are very disappointed at the GU decision to pull the film, preventing up to 60% of the likely Sydney audience having access to screenings.

However, GU say the suspension could be temporary and screenings may resume if they feel staff and patrons will be 'safe'. I hope as many people as possible will be able to see this exciting Australian film in cinemas over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

www.thecombination.com.au

The 'Cooke Look' arrives at Open Aperture

Open Aperture,  founded by myself and focus puller/cinematographer André Deubel, is proud to announce the arrival of our brand new set of Cooke S4i PL mount Lenses. A set of six of state of the art highest quality prime lens optics built in the UK, the set includes the 18mm, 25mm, 32mm, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm, all a true T2.

The lenses will be available on projects working with Toby or Andre, and also for 'dry hire' rental to other productions. Open Aperture is based in Sydney, Australia. The website will be online shortly - www.openaperture.com.au

'Bargain Coast' pilot now shooting

Currently i am shooting the pilot episode for a new Channel 7 comedy series 'Bargain Coast'. Based on the hit UK series 'Benidorm', the show  features a motley bunch of characters who are regular visitors to an 'el cheapo all-inclusive' coastal resort somewhere in Australia. For the first time I am shooting on the Sony PDW-700 XDCAM HD 2/3" optical disk camera which is providing some pretty nice pictures. Not to mention the non-linear instant playback of clips on set which is a boon compared to tape-based shooting.

'The Combination' poster

The new poster image for 'The Combination' is out. See www.thecombination.com.au