Filming Tips and Tricks

Ok, thought I'd kick this off with the no brainer that is

Tripods!

Please, please use tripods. If not, sit you camera atop something that will not move (table, chair, passed out granny etc etc). Unless you really want to go Blair Witch on us (see the Rubber heart Duo vids for ways of doing it well) the best way to film is from a static stand point. Panning looks good if working a large area but make sure you use a tripod or it wil look most amateur that even the amateurs will call you amateurs and then we won't have a name for you.

Bear in mind, whilst modern cameras will zoom, colour, negative image and all the rest, what you really want is base good footage- ie: clear, clean well lit footage. After this anything else is a bonus and most likely can be done in the editing process. SO unless you really feel the need, desist from crazy zooming in and out or the like.

Obviously the better the initial shot the less that needs doing in post production, but don't try to over do it. Make sure what your spinning is clear and that your relation to the space you're in is shown if you're in a particularly interesting place (as is the desire). Other than that, leave it to the digital wizards Sphism/smilesmiley

Hope thats useful,

Chutney Sphism/smilesmiley

Comments

Nice one for starting this off chut.

I'd say it will probably be best if each shot is set up on a tripod and then left exactly where it is for the whole shot. No zoom or pan. When i'm editing i way prefer to stick to clips without camera movement. So unless you really know what you're doing. Don't move the camera.

As for digital camera effects ~ don't use them at all ~ the editors will be able to do every effect you can think of much better than your camera.

Another good point is to remember that the editors can always zoom in a little to your shot so it's nice to pull the camera back slightly from the spinner. It's nice to have the whole movement caught on video, ie the poi don't get cut off the side. Then when you edit it you can crop it as you wish.

Of course for some shots it's gonna be nice to have close ups, but the same applys. If your close up is on hands then make sure they don't get cropped as they move. We can always zoom in a bit later.

When setting up your shot have a good look at 2 things. The background and the lighting. The background wants to be interesting enough for the viewer without being so detailed that you can't see the poi properly. The lighting effects the mood of your film tremendously. Have a play. Usually you want the light source behind the camera and off to one side. If the light is far off to the side then you'll end up with a harsh contrast shadow across the subject. If the light is behind the subject then you'll get a silouette, this might work nicely if we all spin against a sunset. Or we could use the silouette as the mask for another clip.

That's all i can think of right now. Do we have anyone here who actually knows what they are talking about, i just make it up as i go along.

m