Video Tips
1. Shooting Hints
Finding Focus:
- When using a lens with a zoom function go in as tight as possible, focus, then pull back and compose the shot.
- If difficulty in finding focus is still experienced, then open up the aperture and focus.
- Remember to stop down again before shooting.
Shooting:
- Remember always start shooting before the action starts and continue after it stops. Listen for and act on "Roll Camera", "Cut".
Hand Holding Filming:
- Always use a wide angle setting.
- When filming static, pan or tilt shots the camera must become part of the body, the camera eye-piece held firmly against the eye, arms tucked into the body.
- When doing walking shots, the camera is held away from the body and the arms act as shock absorbers to smooth the movement.
2. White Balance
What is white balance?
White balance is a camera control that adjusts the camera's color sensitivity to match the prevailing color of outdoor light (cooler), indoor light (warmer) or fluorescent light (greener). On most cameras.To determine what is "white", the electronics in your camera must be shown a white object under the light that you will be shooting in. This is called "white balancing" your camera and you must do a white balance every time lighting conditions change.It is especially important to re-white balance when moving between indoors and outdoors, and between rooms lit by different kinds of lights.During early morning and late evening, the daylight changes quickly and significantly. Although your eyes don't always notice, your camera will.
The Importance of White Balancing
When you balance you are telling the camera to make whatever color is on that card white. To get a warmer look, you need to white balance to a different colored surface.The common technique of white balancing by pointing the camera at snow, clothing, painted wall, or other supposedly "white" object is simply WRONG and lazy.Why? Unless the camera is white balanced in a consistent manner, shot-by-shot, then your footage will certainly appear wrong -- especially on skin tones! And it's people that are the main subjects on film over 80% of the time. If they don't look right, nothing will look right.
How to White Balance?
?Fill the whole screen with the white reference. Anything less can result in an improper white balance.You must select your white reference with care.You should always use the same piece of reference white throughout a shoot.Care must be taken in positioning the card. Make sure it is held so that the primary source of light to which you want to balance is the only illumination falling on the card.You may need to move from the shot position to do a white balance, in order to ensure that your main source of illumination is the only one falling on your white card.Make sure that the card is held steady, and that its angle avoids reflections.?
3. Camera Angles
Camera Angles:
- The height of the camera and the angle at which it views the subject can subconsciously affect the way the viewer perceives the subject.
- The camera's angle of view can resonate with meanings in the viewer's life experience.
- There are primarily 3 main angles or levels:
- Eye level
- High angle
- Low angle
High Angle:
- When the camera is high in relation to a human subject, the perspective is similar to that of an adult looking down at a child.
- This angle tends to diminish the authority of the person in front of the camera. It can make that person look inferior, and give the view an impression of superiority.
- It is a useful shot when doing a long shot of a larger scene because it can give more of a 'bird's eye view', showing the relationship of the various elements of the scene, giving a sense of the geographical layout of the location, and showing action in great spatial depth.
Low Angle:
- With a low angle shot, the camera's view is that of a child looking up at an adult, or an underling looking up at a figure of power.
- This camera angle can make the subject look more dramatic, and given the person an aura of authority or grandeur.
- Low angle shots are useful for eliminating unwanted background elements, or for separating the subject form the background. They can heighten the sense of size, and in some cases, the sense of speed.
- When using low or high angle shots be aware that angle must correspond with the power of the shot.
Eye Line:
- Neutral angle shot puts the viewer's perspective on an equal part with the subject, so there is no subliminal commentary going on in the visual language of the programme.
- Eye line equals the average eye height of the person.
- When camera angle is at eye line it is in neutral gear on the information output
NB: Watch for Unintended Angles:
- For instance, a short person may need to stand on something to avoid getting that up-the-nostril shot.
- The tripod may also be set at a comfortable level for the camera person, rather than at an appropriate level for the scene.
4. Camera Movement
Natural Movements
Pan = Left to Right
Right to Left (On Tripod)
Tilt = Up of Down on Tripod
Track = Moving parallel to Action/Subject on dolly
Artifical Movements
Zoom = Don't do it!!!
- News Gathering?
- For effectUsing Zoom is a sign of a lazy film maker?
Movement Timings
- Hold establishing/opening shot for at least 6 seconds
- Camera movement
- Hold closing shot for 6 seconds
By doing this you give editing options.
Movement Disadvantages
Camera movement (pan, tilt, and track) controls the pace of the filmIf there is no motivation for camera movement, Don't Do It!!There must be a reason to justify camera movement, by either dialogue, action, for impact or to give power/emotion to shot.Camera movements should be well choreographed and practised to ensure that story is liquid.Establishing shot and closing shot of movement should be well framed and composed.?
5. Shot Sizes
The shot is the basic building block of a screen production. Through a succession of shots the story emerges. It is like a sentence, or phrase. Each shot, therefore, is important and should be carefully designed to 'say' what it is meant to say.
| E.W.A | - Extreme Wide Angle? |
| - Non people shot | |
| W.A. | - Wide Angle - Whole body |
| Long Shot | - Long Shot |
| M.W.A. | - Medium Wide Angle - Knees |
| Mid Shot | - Mid Shot - Belt |
| M.C.U. | - Medium Close Up - Chest |
| C.U. | - Close Up - Neck |
| The Three Most Used Shots Are | |
| 1. W.A. (Wide Angle) 2. M.C.U. (Medium Close Up) 3. C.U. (Close Up)? | |
| M.C.U. | - Emotion |
| - This is the Work Horse shot? | |
| - The most common dialogue shot | |
| - The most used shot in filming | |
| - Face and Body Actions | |
| C.U. | - Creates Drama/Impact |
| - Hand in Pocket >> Cut to close up on face >> Cut to knife | |
| E.C.U. | - Shock Shot? |
| - Sets up expectation of more drama or impact to happen Must Deliver? | |
| - Use Sparingly - not recommended for feature | |
| W.A. | - Establish the setting (Not recommended for television) |
| Long Shot | - Showing the actors in the setting |
| M.W.A. | - Introducing the character (The knee chopper shot) |
| Mid Shot | - More character/subject info shot (Face and Torso) |