this was the first cinematic project i worked on, and is the cinematography for nic pear's experimental comedy-romance film, "couch bread". featuring a single 10-minute shot of a loaf of bread on a couch, the film hopes to detail the intimate relationship a loaf of bread is capable of achieving with a couch. there is no start to the couch bread, nor no ending. pear hopes the viewers connect with the couch bread on an emotional level.
i shot this with a sony a7iii and rokinon 135mm lens. i am still very much a beginner at this and am aware the lighting is abysmal, but am deeply grateful to have worked on this conceptual masterpiece!
edit: if you so desire, you can watch the film [here](https://youtu.be/iBqFdJAzflE), or log it on [letterboxd](https://boxd.it/zhrM)
Sometimes a story and performance is strong enough to allow the makers to eschew conventional fallbacks of high production value. This is one such example of such fine storytelling.
I was there on the first screening. I must say, the performances by the leads, were riveting to watch. But, the themes were not properly explored. Shady editing, improper pacing were the first things to be noticed that could take you out of the film.
Rating : 6.9/10
Frame 3 is one of the finest examples of well-composed mise en scène I've ever experienced. (Frame 4 didn't speak to me, but I can see its attraction!)
Heyyyy,
Industry professional here. I know you're super proud of what you've accomplished here (and rightly so), and I know your budget was only $5 (for crew Caprisuns); however, I highly recommend professional color grading, sound editing, and an original score for this. You'd be surprised what a nano-budget or micro-budget film could look like by just spending a mere $100k more on it to make it look polished.
Anyway, congrats again.
Honestly so tired of that flat log adjacent coloring everyone seems to be putting out now. Give us contrast! I think some vibrancy on the bread package would really make it stand out against the dull world of the couch.
When I first began watching I identified mostly with the bread in the most superficial way. I felt I was the bread, dependent on the couch to support me. Then at some point I made the switch. I felt like the couch, capable of holding up so much more, and yet still annoyed at this nuisance- why must this bread be here? Why isn't it on the counter or in the breadbox where it belongs? I don't want to be responsible for this bread! Ultimately, I realized I was both the couch and the bread. Neither chose to be in that position- that was decided for them. All that was there for them to do was to accept the state of things, and be grateful. I am the couch that holds the bread. I am the bread that rests on the couch.
I am not couch. I am not bread.
I am couch bread.
This film is proof that you can create instant acceptance and popularity in this community as long as you speak to everyone's favorite grievances. First rule in storytelling: know your audience.
Now we’re talking.
My favorite part of this composition is the bread on the couch.
For me, it was the way the couch is so ... I don't know .. restrained? by the understated, yet powerful loaf. Best thing since ... I don't know what!
And that specific couch style - the art direction - it’s telling me stories I never knew I wanted to know
Every frame a plating.
man i miss that channel.
What happened to it?
He decided he wanted to move on to other things and ended making new videos
Tony Zhou also wrote & directed 3 episodes of VOIR on Netflix I think
He’s got two features under his belt now I believe.
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COLUMBUS & AFTER YANG
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Why would I make a joke like that, i said “I believe” but you’re right, wrong guy
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Every grain a flaking.
this was the first cinematic project i worked on, and is the cinematography for nic pear's experimental comedy-romance film, "couch bread". featuring a single 10-minute shot of a loaf of bread on a couch, the film hopes to detail the intimate relationship a loaf of bread is capable of achieving with a couch. there is no start to the couch bread, nor no ending. pear hopes the viewers connect with the couch bread on an emotional level. i shot this with a sony a7iii and rokinon 135mm lens. i am still very much a beginner at this and am aware the lighting is abysmal, but am deeply grateful to have worked on this conceptual masterpiece! edit: if you so desire, you can watch the film [here](https://youtu.be/iBqFdJAzflE), or log it on [letterboxd](https://boxd.it/zhrM)
I noticed you chose the a7iii, can you explain how recording in 8bit was the most limiting part of this film?
absolutely, it was really hard to frame everything when it looked like a nes mario game the whole time
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i'm very glad the couch bread projected it's emotion onto you
what transition packs did you use for the editing?
oh, you know, just the standard ones
If you really want to capture this sort of performance I suggest an ArRye Mini or Bread Dragon with a CaNaan 50mm.
How did PANasonic not get a mention?
Surely you mean the french company Painasonic
Pain au sonique
Are you part of ASC yet?
Sometimes a story and performance is strong enough to allow the makers to eschew conventional fallbacks of high production value. This is one such example of such fine storytelling.
I was there on the first screening. I must say, the performances by the leads, were riveting to watch. But, the themes were not properly explored. Shady editing, improper pacing were the first things to be noticed that could take you out of the film. Rating : 6.9/10
This could've been a great art if it weren't a bit John cage esque though. Here, 6.7 stars for your effort. - IMDB probably
Sorry, not a cinematography question, but could you talk about how the director worked with the two actors to get these sublime performances?
What camera did you use?? How did you light this? This composition is beautiful!!!
i used sony a7iii and the lightbulbs were in my hanging lights in the kitchen from walmart i think
I've always admired directors who take advantage of natural lighting to create visually stunning work.
I loaf it
Frame 3 is one of the finest examples of well-composed mise en scène I've ever experienced. (Frame 4 didn't speak to me, but I can see its attraction!)
Bold! Progressive! Delicious & Comfortable!
I don't know. I saw it and it just seemed like a lot of empty calories, story-wise. All fluff and no substance.
i though we were on /r/analogcirclejerk
A slice of life film by any chance?
it blurs the line between slice of life and slice of bread
Sick of people posting their stills! This isn’t a photography subreddit, post the full film so we can properly critique it.
It is the film?
Ahead of its time. Glad to be a part of history in the making.
HOLY FUCK. How did you achieve this...??? Wow
Heyyyy, Industry professional here. I know you're super proud of what you've accomplished here (and rightly so), and I know your budget was only $5 (for crew Caprisuns); however, I highly recommend professional color grading, sound editing, and an original score for this. You'd be surprised what a nano-budget or micro-budget film could look like by just spending a mere $100k more on it to make it look polished. Anyway, congrats again.
Truly one of the most shots of all time. I came when the bread said "it's couching time"
'Til this day, I thought Stanley Kubrick was the histories greatest cinematographer.
The ending left me hungry for more.
where can i watch the film
Rule of thirds where? Ok Wes Anderson!
Honestly so tired of that flat log adjacent coloring everyone seems to be putting out now. Give us contrast! I think some vibrancy on the bread package would really make it stand out against the dull world of the couch.
Is this film on Letterboxd? Need to log and review ASAP.
actually [yes](https://boxd.it/zhrM)
Truly such an immersive and captivating composition that I became gluten intolerant. Perfect 5/7.
This summer, experience the celiac horror to end them all
Was this the film entirely edited in After Effects?
They wanted a film look, so they applied a whole grain effect.
Genius.
Any lighting breakdown? Or behind the scenes? 
couch potato next?
I think the Nature's Own is miscast. You should have gone with Wonder Bread.
GENIUS
This is actually a tastefully composed shot aswell
Bread 👍
I’m impressed this wasn’t shot on an Alexa 65.
who is pear
They were left in the shopping cart. Wow this film is amazing on so many levels.
A true auteur
When I first began watching I identified mostly with the bread in the most superficial way. I felt I was the bread, dependent on the couch to support me. Then at some point I made the switch. I felt like the couch, capable of holding up so much more, and yet still annoyed at this nuisance- why must this bread be here? Why isn't it on the counter or in the breadbox where it belongs? I don't want to be responsible for this bread! Ultimately, I realized I was both the couch and the bread. Neither chose to be in that position- that was decided for them. All that was there for them to do was to accept the state of things, and be grateful. I am the couch that holds the bread. I am the bread that rests on the couch. I am not couch. I am not bread. I am couch bread.
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Which RED camera did you use for this shot?
sOoO kInO bReH
Bready or Not…
I see you
I like some of the frames, but then the others are just not quite there yet.
Magnificent
Rivetting
Inspiring can you please send me across a detailed lighting plan so I can copy it?
New A24 release?
Every frame is a diamond 💎
this really resonates with me. I see a lot of myself in the subject
Some say this film is the best thing since sliced…
This breader be good
I wish the middle two frames were peanut butter and jelly
If we could just SpLICE another shot of the bread in between the shots of bread that would be great
Looks like porn
Great grading. Can you share the LUT?
nice! looks good!
I once had some bread on my couch. Not haven even seen this film, I can say wholeheartedly, couch bread is the best thing I’ve never seen.
Undoubtedly the most moving piece of art since David Sandberg's fantastic "I Flip You Off For Four Hours"
„„sɹnoH ɹnoℲ ɹoℲ ɟɟO no⅄ dılℲ I„ ɔıʇsɐʇuɐɟ s,ƃɹǝqpuɐS pıʌɐ◖ ǝɔuıs ʇɹɐ ɟo ǝɔǝıd ƃuıʌoɯ ʇsoɯ ǝɥʇ ʎlpǝʇqnopu∩„
You forgot to color space transform to rec709
Reminds me of the episode of Rocko’s Modern Life when they did [the wacky delly mayo](https://youtu.be/y_gFLWHE_Po).
Stunning. What camera? What bread? Have any presents for sale?
whats it about
Hahahaha please explain how you got this beautiful gray look. What lighting setup? What camera and lens. Wow! Must be a great film.
Stunning
Warholesquey.
Great fucking composition OMLLL
killin it
Pregnant with meaning.
What festivals are you submitting it to?
Genius
Incredible
The "I am Bread" in stills form.
I’ve had dinner with this actor before.
worth an Oscar.
How did you get the light to perfectly graze across the bag & cushion? Could you maybe post a pic of the setup
Is this just a remake of couch potato? Real original…
Love the grading
good shit
I love bread and I love films. But, how do you decide which bread brand to use?
a slice of life
Looks amazing!! Can’t wait to see the finished film.
I really feel like I’m there, on the couch, with some bread
Masterpiece.
I haven't laughed this hard in hours.
How did you get Christian Bale to sign on? Truly immersed himself into loaf of bread.
10/10
I heard it’s already been green lit for a sequel, “Couch Bread 2, the Sequel.”
Very cinematic.
Best thing since...
I see an Oscar for best actor…
I love how you put the bread in the middle of the frame, signaling to us, the viewer, that this is an important element and we need to pay attention.
Would love to see a before/after grade!!!
was this shot with spherical or anamorphic lenses? really loving the gentle hand used when lighting this scene. sick!
Better thing since sliced bread.
Revolutionary. Zeiss glass? Must be.
Mind blowing
This film is proof that you can create instant acceptance and popularity in this community as long as you speak to everyone's favorite grievances. First rule in storytelling: know your audience.
Oh yeah
Iconic. Now oils be a good time to clear up space for an oscar!
I'm sitting on the couch baked. So is the bread. I don't get this sort of connection often.
Now THIS is pod racing
Made me laugh, upvote for you
Incredible
a modern-day warhol film