Cinematographer Michael Filocamo on lensing the LGBTQ+ short film & music video hybrid "Johnny Barnes"
Lost folk song goes to queer utopia. Performed and directed by Alex Etchart and lensed by cinematographer Michael Filocamo, the Johnny Barnes music video captivates with cinematic storytelling inspired by one of the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ Irish folk songs.
For the week-long shoot, the production team chose to work with Pixipixel for the camera and grip equipment rental for the project. Cinematographer Michael Filocamo shot on an Arri Alexa Mini camera package with a set of TLS Cooke Speed Panchro’s and Zeiss Cinema Zoom 28-80.
Producer Syd Heather says: “It was a joy to work with Mike Henery and Pixipixel’s team on this production. We couldn't have done it without your amazing support and guidance from beginning to end.”
DOP Michael Filocamo continues: “Pixipixel’s support was pivotal for the making of this music video – from accommodating our kit requirements within the production’s budget to assistance with various technical questions and helping with the logistics.
In regard to setting the visual look for the video, it was a pleasure to work with first-time director Alex Etchart, who had amazing ideas and made the creative process very collaborative. We were designing the details of the visuals, blending folklore tale with modern styles” Filocamo adds.
“When it came to selecting the camera and lens combination, naturally my preferred choice was for shooting on an Alexa Mini and I almost immediately decided to team it up with vintage lenses. I love the Cooke Speed Panchro’s for their beautiful and unique look and found Pixipixel’s set to be very special with warm, a little yellowish tone which is not typical for all sets. The look is very flattering with a gentle focus roll-off and vignette.”
“We ran on a very tight schedule for a week on multiple locations, each with its own challenges. Thanks to the support from Pixipixel, we also had the Zeiss Cinema Zoom 28-80 which mainly came into use for some of the outdoor scenes”
Funded by The Arts Council, the music video is an educational post-modern gender-blending story focussing on LGBTQ+ values and acceptance in society. Watch it here: