Extreme Condition. Extreme Talent! Featured Filmmaker John Major is not your ordinary filmmaker. From extreme heat to extreme cold, John braves the elements to deliver breathtaking views and along the way, captures the human spirit. In his upcoming documentary, "Condition One" John reveals the social pressures of teens living in two parts of the world: Detroit and Antarctica. "For me, it wasnʼt just cold I was dealing with," says John, "it was Antarctica and the south pole: the coldest place on earth! And most importantly, it was about a feature length documentary that looks at the human spirit and how it can overcome extreme environments to succeed."
A breathtaking view around McMurdo near Cape Evens. McMurdo is situated along the coast with summer temperatures that range from -10 to +30. Photo by John Major.
John's Take on "Shooting in the Extremes" ~ the cameras, the rigs, the fog!
Our shooting began in Antarctica at the U.S. run McMurdo Station; which is the largest research base on the continent, 800 miles north of the South Pole. Anytime youʼre filming in extreme environments, either hot or cold, gear is a concern. Choosing equipment that was light, compact and dependable was an absolute necessity. After much debate and discussion, I decided to make a switch in cameras and go with DSLRs. Canon became the obvious choice and by going with both 5Dm2 and 7D bodies, I could also get more versatility from the limited amount of lens we could bring when you factor the smaller 7D sensor.
My plan was to keep one camera cold all the time and simply swap out batteries as needed. Couple this with fogging concerns and I knew this was an area I needed to spend some time on. Zacuto was launching their updated Z-Finder Pro with a key sales feature: an anti-fog coating. Now as much as Iʼve come to love the Z-Finder and would never want to be without it…the biggest surprise of all, It didn't fog up at all…and I couldnʼt risk such an important piece of gear to anything less."
John Major films the ice cold plunge of the divers.
"We were out on the ice runway today filming when a C-117 Cargo Jet landed. We had a pretty good view only 200 feet from the edge of the runway." Photo by John Major.
John Major at the South Pole with Zacuto's Z-Finder Pro. Brave John!!
Based in Michigan, John Major specializes in commercials, documentaries, short films, and image content for use across all media formats. The powerful visuals for which he is best known are derived from a background of graphic design, photography and lighting. John continues to raise the creative bar with each new project by combining his elegant photographic style with powerful editing skills that result in work that is unmatched in creativity and technical superiority. His work has appeared across the nation, including networks such as CNN, ESPN, FOX and MTV.
To learn more about John Major, visit his website at www.themediabox.com. John can be reached for comments or questions at john@themediabox.com.
About John Major's Documentary ~ "Condition One"
Condition One: Extremes and the Human Spirit will reveal the social pressures and inequities of urban life through the contrast of the seemingly disparate lives of teens in Detroit and the residents of Antarctica. In these extreme conditions, what makes people rise up? What makes their spirits soar? To learn more about the Documentary "Condition One Film" visit www.conditiononefilm.com
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