How much do you remember from your history lessons in school? Do you think you would remember more if the professor had been drunk and adding their own insights and opinions? Welcome to your adult survey course Drunk History.
Originating as a web short project on FunnyOrDie.com, creators Derek Waters and Jeremy Konner came up with the comical premise after a friend recounted a story at a bar. They expected a few laughs with friends and at each other but ended up with an internet sensation. When Comedy Central picked up Drunk History for a full season in 2013, Blake McClure (ASC) joined the team as Director of Photography (DP). McClure and crew shoot Drunk History on RED's versatile 5K EPIC MYSTERIUM-X.
In an interview with HDVideoPro, McClure describes how he and his team take full advantage of the RED EPIC's wide range of compatible lenses, hand-picking glass to capture a unique look and feel for each story. With interchangeable lens mounts and an arsenal of supporting products, RED Digital Still and Motion Cameras (DSMC) are nearly glass "agnostic."
"On the 'Washington, D.C.' episode about Watergate, I used these old Super Baltars because I heard the coating was a little off and they flare in a certain way, particularly under fluorescent light, which is how we lit that episode."
In 'The Alamo' episode, McClure and his team searched high and low for an old Anamorphic Lomo 40-120mm zoom lens to get the perfect shot.
"We had to call 30 or 40 camera houses all over L.A. to find this one particular lens I was looking for. It was in terrible shape, but it worked enough to get what we needed, and it ended up being a gorgeous look, with all these incredible flaws adding to the feel of that story... if a lens is flawed, we use it to our advantage."
These results, or "happy accidents" as he calls them, are some of the most memorable aspects of the job. McClure also says,
"It's really like low-budget experimentation... There's a little bit of unease over whether or not it's going to work, if it's going to be focused on the wrong area, or something. But then you see it, and it's beautiful, and you get to act like you planned for that all along. I love my job."
In February, McClure and team were recognized for their hard work, creativity, and resourcefulness earning Blake the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Half-Hour Episodic Series.
Congratulations to Blake McClure (ASC) and his team! Be sure to check out Seasons 1 and 2 of Drunk History on Comedy Central and look for the third season, scheduled to debut in 2015.