NYFA Alum Abhinay Pandit Discusses his Cinematography in the Viral Music Video 'Big Dawgs'

NYFA One Year Cinematography Alum, Abhinay Pandit is keeping busy. He is currently in Los Angeles working on his first feature film, "Angles Near Death". Before that, he was the DOP of the viral music video "Big Dawgs". Shot inside a well of death, "Big Dawgs" has received tremendous positive feedback worldwide, going viral on the internet, and reaching the top of the charts on Spotify. 

It was featured by EyeCandy, Noah Centino, DJ Akademiks, Project Pat, and many other international artists and pages. Moreover, photographer Joe Greer also expressed his admiration for the project.

Abinhay spoke to us about his work on the project and its challenges.

A.P: This music video was a challenging endeavor, especially shooting inside a well of death, but as a cinematographer, I have always been passionate about capturing the essence of different cultures, people, and cityscapes. This project holds a special place in my heart as I have been deeply connected to this culture since childhood.

NYFA Alumni Network: The video has some striking visuals, filmed inside a "well of death." How did you approach the cinematography for the project? What influenced your choice of camera and lighting?

A.P: We shot the music video on an Alexa Mini LF, using a variety of lenses including Zeiss Supreme primes, Laowa, and Angeniux Optimo 12x. The large-format sensor was key for capturing the depth of field and dynamic range we needed for the scenes. Its lightweight design allowed for flexibility and ease of movement, especially in low-light conditions. For lighting, we kept it simple. We utilized natural light for daylight scenes, and as the day progressed, we bounced 2 M40s off the tent to achieve proper exposure. These lights also served as backlight in a few scenes. The evening shots were lit using parcans and practical tube lights.

NYFA Alumni Network: What were some of the challenges you had shooting inside a well of death? 

A.P: One of the major challenges was the sound. The cars and bikes created such a strong echo inside the well that the audio from the speakers was barely audible. This made it difficult to predict camera movements and understand what Sooraj (Hanumankid) was lip-syncing. In some scenes, he wore an earpiece through which the assistant director played the song and gave him cues. 

Another challenge was communication. Coming from Mumbai, it was initially difficult to adapt to the local language and way of speaking in Kerala. It took some effort to explain things in a way that the locals could understand, but eventually, we found a way to communicate effectively. 

Thanks to my AC, Nithin, for bridging the communication gap for me.

NYFA Alumni Network: How did you shoot the close-up shots from the car's POV?

A.P: We rigged multiple cameras to the car and secured them tightly to prevent any mishaps. It was a challenging and risky process, but essential for the shots. We mostly stuck to wide angles, with few close-ups, to give the audience the feeling of being inside the circus. 

NYFA Alumni Network: What about the "bird's eye" shots?

A.P: We used an FPV drone operated by Nithin, one of the best drone operators in India. Kudos to him for capturing those shots. We used a GoPro, probably the latest or second-latest model, to get the bird’s eye view. 

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project?  

A.P: There are many things I could mention, but it’s hard to pinpoint one specific lesson. Whatever we learn through our experiences gets applied subconsciously in different situations. The core of every project is its story or subject; everything else is secondary.

NYFA Alumni Network: Are you currently working on any other projects? 

A.P: Yes, I’m currently working on a feature titled *"Angels Near Death"* here in Los Angeles. We are in pre-production and will move into production in the coming months. 

NYFA Alumni Network: Anything else you want to add to this conversation?

A.P:  Everyone involved in the music video is a true "Big Dawg." I appreciate everyone who was part of the project. Big thanks to my camera and lighting team for their support, to Bijoy Shetty for trusting me with this vision, and to Hanumankind for putting in the hard work. We're now topping global charts, and it wouldn't have been possible without my team.

NYFA Alumni Network congradulates Abhinay on all his success!

Watch the full video here: