Filmmaker: Mike Peters (www.mikepeters.com)

Pro or Amateur: Professional still photographer at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ (www.montclair.edu)

Synopsis: Homburg is about the making of a play at Montclair State University.  I was curious as to why the play was chosen by the director, and how he saw it.  I was also interested in the thoughts of the dramaturg who was writing a journal and doing research into the time period and history surrounding the play

Equipment Used: Canon 5D2, 24-105 4.0L + 50 1.2L + 70-200 2.8L + 16-35 2.8L + 24 1.4L lenses, Sony ECM MS908C mic, Rode Video mic, Hoodman 3.0 Loupe with custom strap to hold to the screen, Manfrotto Shoulder Brace for Monopod (#3248), Gitzo G2380 Video Fluid Head, Aratech Level Base, Manfrotto Tripod 3210, Sandisk Extreme 3 CF card

Editing Software: iMovie HD for video, Soundtrack Pro for audio

Editing Hardware: Power Mac 2x 3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon w/ 8 GB ram

Editing Workflow: H.264 output to full qualtiy .mov file, compressed to 640 .flv file for use on University website, and to Vimeo standards for Vimeo, and a desktop file .m4v and .mov file to post on my website

Favorite shot or clip in this film:

Tips for 5D2 filmmakers: The Hoodman loupe bungeed to the back of your camera will allow you to follow focus and really see what the heck is going on the in the frame.  In picture styles: make sure your contrast is set all the way down so your blacks don’t get crushed and your highlights don’t get blown out, I figured this out too late.  Under tungsten light: don’t trust AWB, choose the tungsten preset, however in mixed lights, AWB is a god send.  Set Live View to exposure simulation mode, and be prepared to use exposure compensation all the time.  Don’t zoom all the time, pick a focal length and stick with it.  Move slowly when filming to avoid frame jumping especially if you are using lens stabilization.  Use a good mic on the camera, pay attention to sound and use it as an element that sets the tone of the film.  When editing, use transitions for a reason, and use them sparingly