Desperately Seeking Cate Blanchett - Sydney Film Festival 2011

What really* happens during a Red Carpet film launch...



























I can't believe it has been a whole year since I last helped out my mate (we will call him Bob for this post) shooting the red carpet for the Sydney Film Festival. This year he could not make it at all and sent me along in his place. Yes its true; you need to be there at least an hour before the scheduled *start* of the whole shebang and then probably a good two odd hours before its all over.

Seasoned Pros just zone-out and check their phones from time to time but what is interesting is that there really is a bit of talking going on between the celebrities on 'the carpet' and the media in the corral! And of course the big celebrity of the night was Cate Blanchett and she was the main reason about a good half of the media where there for.

Of course I did not get there early because I am VERY tall and can shoot over the top of even the very LARGE photographer I did choose to stand behind. But this did make it tricky to get a shot off of Cate when she did come at a somewhat different pace and rhythm to all who had come before-and the photographers pit did go crazy!

No one actually said the things I have 'speech ballooned' them with but... everyone in the pit was very much wondering about Cate, when, if; have you got a good shot before; Cate, Cate, Cate... So I have had a bit of fun with that! Some fabulous frocks and the men by and large were very well turned out fashion wise as well; so many more shots I could have shown. Oh and April; so sorry, I just couldn't resist, and your dress was so lovely too.

Enjoy; and till next time...

Sydney Film Festival - Red Carpet Fashion

Last Tuesday night I commented to my friend Nyk that I really should get out more often and do more 'Photographer' things, not just fashion.. Maybe..
Lo and behold the very next afternoon I get a call from Nyk asking me if I would #2 for him shooting the Red Carpet at the 57th Sydney Film Festival. Of course I just happened to already be in the city but the equipment was split between the studio in Glebe and my house in Marrickville. Off I rushed to grab all the bits I needed (Old School Style : 2 Bodies, Fixed focal length lenses; no zooms)! What with the atrocious weather we have been having in Sydney I only just made the cut-off for being locked in/out of the media pit, not such a bad thing, everyone else had already been standing around checking their equipment, comparing folios on their iPhones etc forever!

Although I had started having mixed feelings about helping out as I was reminded I was running too late; I surprised my self and ended up having a great time. And since I arrived a little late I was at the back of the narrow pit, no worries there at 6'6" in my Cuban Heels. There was great fashion on both sides of the Red Carpet. My 'proper' shots have been sent off to the USA but the Street Fashion Sydney (yes I called that name out proud) shots from the other side delivered some lovely outfits and my fav the man in the check suit. Fantastic. Not to mention some shots of my friend Yianni working the mike for his show Yianni's City Life on TVS. Yes its just a little further down the dial.


















Yianni's interview with Miranda Otto.



And by the way, last week I heard that Blogging is Dead! Well that very well may be true though I rather get the feeling that it is the bloggers are dead tired of writing every day for free... Makes me happy that I only ever post when I think I have something to say and some original 'content' to share. After all it takes time to make, collect and collate good content. As a matter of fact I think thats what the Sydney Film Festival is all about; collecting, collating and sharing. It's on until the 14th so go get yourself some filmic goodness and don't forget to dress up, you never know who's watching.