blade runner 2049 (2017) roger deakins, asc, bsc future of

FUTURE OF ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

ASC FUTURE PRACTICESBlade Runner 2049 (2017) Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC

FUTURE OF ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS FOR FILMMAKERS JULY 2020

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- Dave Perkal, ASC and Mark Doering-Powell, ASC

FUTURE OF ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS FOR FILMMAKERS

ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS IN CINEMA

▸ Atmosphere has been part of cinema for nearly a century and used in photography and painting for much longer.

The Exorcist (1973), Owen Roizman, ASC Citizen Kane (1941), Gregg Toland, ASC


BACKGROUND

▸ ICG Local 600 Guidelines: “curtail the use of atmospheric effects”

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC


BACKGROUND


▸ Cinematographers: “Is there more detailed guidance ?”

Paul (2011), Lawrence Sher, ASC


BACKGROUND


▸ Cinematographers: “Is there more detailed guidance ?”

▸ ICG Local 600 on June 9th: curtail the use of atmospheric effects, until…

▸ …we know it doesn’t increase Covid-19 transmission

▸ …we know more about how we implement ventilation

▸ …we can guarantee nobody loses work due to Covid-like symptoms.


BACKGROUND


▸ DGA-SAG-IA-399 The Safe Way Forward:

▸ “Use atmospheric effects under HSS supervision” (TSWF p12, section 2h)

▸ “crew will have access to top-level gear, like fogging systems” for sanitation. (TSWF p13 section 4)

Blade Runner (1982), Jordan Cronenweth, ASC


BACKGROUND


▸ AMPTP / Industry-Wide Labor Management Safety Committee Task Force

▸ No specific limits set to use of atmospheric effects

▸ Ventilation recommended, not exclusive to atmospheric effects

Apocalypse Now (1979), Vittorio Storaro, ASC


BACKGROUND

▸ ICG Local 600 recommended that ASC Future Practices hold a meeting.

E.T. (1982), Allen Daviau, ASC


JUNE 17TH MEETING

▸ ASC Future Practices panel:

▸ Monona Rossol, Industrial Hygienist and ICG / IATSE Safety Consultant

▸ Dr. William Esposito, Dr. of Public Health, CIH, Columbia University, NY

▸ William Jordan, former Deputy Director of Programs at the EPA

▸ Etienne Grignard, Managing Director at Grignard, maker of fog & haze fluids

▸ Grishma Desai, ASQ PMI Lead Chemist, Quality Control Manager at Grignard


TYPES OF ATMOSPHERE

▸ Smoke from burning & combustion

There Will Be Blood (2007), Robert Elswit, ASC


TYPES OF ATMOSPHERE ▸ Smoke from burning & combustion

▸ Not covered by CSATF Safety Bulletin #10

▸ Emits pollution and carcinogens

▸ Natural gas is the exception for fuel combustion

Run Lola Run (1998), Frank Griebe,


TYPES OF ATMOSPHERE ▸ Fog & Haze materials used by Special Effects Technicians:

▸ Highly Refined Mineral Oil per CSATF Safety Bulletin 10A, addendum

▸ Glycerin aka glycerol

▸ Glycols water-based

La La Land (2016), Linus Sandgren, ASC


GLYCOLS: SAFE VS NOT SAFE

▸ DO NOT USE as per OSHA & CSATF Safety Bulletin 10 & 10A:


GLYCOLS: SAFE ▸ As per OSHA & CSATF Safety Bulletin 10A:

▸ Propylene glycol “PG” innovated by Rosco Labs in early 80’s

▸ Triethylene glycol “TEG”

▸ Dipropylene glycol “DPG”

▸ Polyethylene glycol

▸ Butylene glycol (1,2 & 1,3)

Empire of the Sun (1987), Allen Daviau, ASC


GLYCOLS: SAFEST & MOST COMMON▸ As per EPA as well as FDA, FAA, NIOSH, ANSI:

▸ Propylene glycol “PG”

▸ Triethylene glycol “TEG”

▸ Dipropylene glycol “DPG”

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Janusz Kaminski


PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS▸ Symptoms vary between materials:

▸ Glycols are hygroscopic, meaning they easily combine with water

▸ Dry eyes, dry mouth - usually remedied by hydrating

▸ Rare instances a person cannot tolerate it

▸ Mineral Oils will leave a thin, oily layer behind - some people report gastro-intestinal symptoms

▸ Symptoms usually involve heavy / chronic use


“ STUDIES SHOW FOG & HAZE TO BE A HEALTH HAZARD ”

▸ Most studies are from the 1990’s to 2005 - the end of “wild west”

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC


“ STUDIES SHOW FOG & HAZE TO BE A HEALTH HAZARD ”

▸ Most studies are from the 1990’s to 2005 - the end of “wild west”

▸ Most studies conflate glycols & mineral oils (entire panel agrees)

▸ Some studies also include pyrotechnic emissions

▸ Mineral oils were often not highly refined, so they had many impurities, and sometimes used past PELs (Permissible Exposure Limits)

▸ Some use of prohibited glycols such as ethylene glycol (NIOSH study)

▸ The Moline Letter of 2015 (re: Mt. Sinai / Environ “Moline Study” of 2000)


RECENT REPORTS

▸ FAA Study in 2009 for disinfecting airline cabins:

▸ Title: Inactivating Influenza Viruses on Surfaces using Hydrogen Peroxide or Triethylene Glycol at Low Vapor Concentrations

▸ Approved hydrogen peroxide (10ppm) and TEG (at 2ppm)

▸ Report for CSATF in Dec 2017: “Theatrical Fog Exposure Assessment Methods, Exposure Limits, and Health Effects – Literature Review” (Colden-Phylmar)

▸ a thorough review of all previous studies


OUR SUMMARY

▸ Fog & haze effects do not promote the transmission of viruses - in fact some glycols like TEG deactivate viruses

▸ Ventilation is necessary whether we use atmosphere or not

▸ Covid-like symptoms will show up whether we use atmosphere or not


ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE

▸ Education & outreach

▸ Ventilation, even aside from atmospheric use

▸ Work with Special Effects Technicians on choice of material

▸ Official Log of Ingredients & DatabaseInside Llewyn Davis (2013), Bruno Delbonnel, ASC


THE REPORT

▸ Footnoted to transcript of June 17th Meeting

▸ Sourced to all relevant studies

▸ Definitions & useful links - super helpful !

▸ At very least, a reference tool on atmospheric effects

FUTURE OF ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

ASC FUTURE PRACTICES

Thanks to Lawrence Sher, ASC and ShotDeck for the images.

Citizen Kane (1941), Gregg Toland, ASC

blade runner 2049 (2017) roger deakins, asc, bsc future of

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