The independent feature film “FIRST,” recently premiered at the Academy Awards qualifying Pan African Film Festival, was captured on set using a variety of Blackmagic Design cameras. The production team, led by codirectors Jahmela Yarbrough and Brandon Yarbrough, also used DaVinci Resolve Studio for editing, visual effects, and color grading.
“FIRST” follows Charles (Will Catlett), an aspiring documentarian who rekindles his passion when he reconnects with his childhood friend Robin (Jahmela B. Yarbrough). The film documents their journey as they navigate a new relationship filled with both excitement and uncertainty.
Background of the Project
The project originated as a digital series on Issa Rae’s YouTube channel, HOORAE Media, garnering over 7 million views. Jahmela Yarbrough wrote the concept to fill a gap in representation for Black characters in love stories. Producer Lynneise Joseph noted that “FIRST” was one of the first web series to positively portray Black people.
Brandon and Jahmela decided to produce and direct the feature film themselves through their company Yarbrough Studios, choosing Blackmagic Design cameras for their flexibility and quality.
Cameras and Workflow
Director Brandon Yarbrough highlighted his long-standing preference for Blackmagic cameras. “I’ve always loved Blackmagic cameras,” he stated. The team used a Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, a Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro, and an URSA Mini Pro 12K. The Pocket cameras were predominantly used due to their portability and performance.
Cinematographer Will Novy echoed Brandon’s sentiments, appreciating the reliability of Blackmagic equipment in fast-paced environments. “We had a scene where the actors jumped into a swimming pool, and we needed to shoot it quickly,” he shared. “The cameras handled everything beautifully.”
Post-Production Process
The team selected Blackmagic RAW as their codec for its balance of high quality and manageable storage requirements. Brandon Yarbrough praised DaVinci Resolve Studio, noting that it provided a seamless editing experience without the stability issues he had encountered with other software.
Colorist Sarah Sebring handled the grading process, ensuring consistent transitions between different eras in the film. Jahmela Yarbrough commended the color accuracy and dynamic range of Blackmagic cameras, particularly their ability to capture skin tones accurately.
The integration of DaVinci Resolve Studio allowed for both editing and VFX creation within a single platform, streamlining the post-production process. Brandon emphasized the importance of learning Fusion within Resolve, highlighting its powerful capabilities.