Schneider
Welcome to Filmmaking 101, where we offer some tips on how to go about creating your movie masterpiece. Read on to discover suggestions for your pre-production, production, and post-production phases.
Pre-Production
Scriptwriting
You have your idea for an arthouse masterpiece or an action-based blockbuster; now how do you translate that into a script―the backbone of your production? You can use MS Word, Google Docs, or another document program. But using dedicated screenwriting software provides the standard formatting, outline tools,
It’s raining, it’s pouring, your lead actor is snoring… in the toasty-dry holding area, while you and the rest of the camera crew wait out the storm in the not-so-great outdoors. Or perhaps your director has decided that their scene would just be so much more emotionally engaging if shot in a downpour and the dreaded rain machine is making its ominous appearance. Here we outline several solutions for keeping your video or film equipment dry in spring showers or heavier precipitation.
Cameraman in the rain
April Showers
When dealing with
When I’d perform a camera package checkout as a camera assistant, if there was any chance that we’d be shooting outside during the day, guess which filters I would add to the order? Neutral Density filters (aka NDs)! Even if they were not part of the original order, any production office coordinator (P.O.C.) worth their salt would approve this addition by the A.C. Read on to discover why, next to a polarizer, these are the filters most essential to your video shoot.
Shallow depth of field, daylight
ND Basics
Neutral: meaning there’s no
If you are looking for the perfect camera or lens to get for that special videographer in your life, that is a tall order. But accessories, now—accessories make the camera package. However, camera accessory purchase decisions can be difficult to make for someone else, but don’t worry—for anyone who owns gear, there is always maintenance. Owning camera gear invariably leads to needing accessories to get the most out of your kit, and maintaining the kit requires expendables.
Lens Cleaning
For an overview of great cleaning supplies for lenses,
Thinking about making the leap to 8K video capture for stunning resolution and color depth, incredibly nuanced HDR, improved low-light performance, and cleaner compositing? Shooting with 8K cameras like RED DIGITAL CINEMA’s MONSTRO 8K VV and
When looking to align camera images with what their eye sees, to smooth complexions subtly, or to create specific looks for various scenes, moods, or locations in their projects, experienced videographers and cinematographers often turn to optical filters. When you’re confident about the look you want, optical filters also enable you to “bake-in” elements of your vision, both saving time in post and reducing the possibility of unwanted or unintended “corrections.”
While many filter looks can indeed be replicated or at least approximated
Are you creating your holiday gift list or being asked for hints as to your own gift? Here we present a grab bag of cine-style gifts for video shooters. They range from action cameras to light kits, portable camera sliders, stabilizers, matte boxes, and more, divided into three price ranges. Independent video-content creators and your film-school graduate sweetheart, friend, niece, or nephew will wonder how you knew just what they wanted—we won't tell.
Less Than $500
GoPro Action Camera
Often imitated, the California-based GoPro originated
Help the videographer in your life get just the look they want, or round out your own kit with the gift of a pro filter pack from B&H Photo. Enhance your exposure control to create sharp focus drop-off, subtly take the edge off wrinkles and blemishes, darken overexposed skies, lower contrast in high-exposure locations, and generally create a more “filmic” look with the use of optical filters. The links provided below are to the popular pro-cine 4 x 5.65" filter size but most are also available in
And, at last, we have Park Photos (Tests 9-12) of the light-pollution filters, and my conclusions. To return to the first part of the article and the City Photos (Tests 1-5), please click here. To view Town Photos (Tests 6-8), please click here.
TEST 9A: From the park, a wide-
Here we have Town Photos (Tests 6-8) of the light-pollution filters. To return to the first part of this article, please click here.
TEST 6A: Backyard wide-angle photo with the house, pool, lights from the neighbor and nearby hospital.
Fujifilm X-T2; Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS lens; 30 seconds, f/2.8; ISO 3200
TEST 6B: Same as Test 6A, with WB at fluorescent.
Fujifilm X-T2; Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS
Light pollution sucks. Thanks to the electric light, humankind's view of the cosmos is in a steady decline. Dark skies are a thing of the past for most of us. Is there a way to combat this? Many filter manufacturers offer lens filters that claim to reduce light pollution in your photographs. Not only are they all unique in their specifications,
If you’ve lived in New York long enough, it’s bound to happen to you one day as you turn a corner: you’ll be gazing from the sidewalk as a movie, TV show, or commercial is being shot. You may ask yourself, “Who are all those people besides the actors standing around on the set?” Read on to discover the crew positions that you’ll find listed in the credits of most professional productions, and how, despite appearances to the contrary, the crew is indeed putting in a full day’s work, and then some.
As befits B&H Photo Video’s focus on all
Canon has recently announced the addition of three new tilt-shift lenses to its lineup, a relatively big deal for a type of lens often considered merely a tool for architecture photography. The truth is that tilt-shift lenses are used in many photographic applications, from landscape to portraiture, and their creative possibilities are limitless. Also, with this release, Canon has expanded the format to include a
If you’ve taken the plunge and invested in one, two, or a full set of cine-style lenses, you’ll now want to take the best care possible of your lenses. Not only will the lenses function better if they’re properly maintained, but you’ll be protecting your (probably substantial) financial investment. Most cine-style lens care and maintenance is the same as for still or ENG-type lenses, so if you’ve made the switch from these other lens types, you’ll know the drill.
Carrying Cases
When transporting your cine lenses between locations, although
As someone prone to discussing video gear with just about anyone willing to engage in related conversation, one topic that is frequently brought up to me is the price and purpose of professional video gear and the seeming price disparity, in contrast to consumer or prosumer gear. In this installment of pro gear discussions, I will delve into what separates professional cinema lenses from their prosumer and consumer ilk.
Questions that I used to get while I worked in equipment rentals would commonly include, “Why do these cinema lenses cost so