How To Make a Video (Part 2)
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SHOOTING (Principle Photography)
Some shoots are simple, a single cameraperson gathering
footage in a "documentary fashion" under the direction of a
client. The specifics of the project (and the budget) will
determine what equipment is used to shoot the raw footage.
MiniDV (Digital) is a excellent quality format, while
Betacam SP is a 'full-broadcast' quality format.
For efficiency, or sometime effect, footage is shot handheld.
In other cases, the camera is mounted to a tripod for
stability and to facilitate simple camera-moves such as pans
(side-to-side) and tilts (up-and-down). Where the shooting
space, as well as schedule allows, we employ a Dolly to
perform 'rolling' shots that give a wonderful 'cinematic' look to
the footage. In other cases where again logistics, budget and
available time will allow, we can employ a Jib, which is a
large arm that the camera is mounted on. This allows us to
"crane" the camera up, down, sweep across, or all this
at once. Depending on the Jib's size, we can crane up as
high as almost 20 feet. On rare occasions we have gone
so far as to employ a Steadicam. Some corporate clients
have asked us to incorporate aerial views, i.e. of their facility,
in their video; we've shot such in everything from light planes
to helicopters.
In some cases additional light is not required (when speed
and efficiency is the key factor) to obtain a good image,
today's camera technology allows shooting in most light
settings (i.e. offices, shop floors), this is called shooting with
"natural light". In other cases, lights are set for each 'scene' to
create the best possible image, brighten up low-light areas,
or highlight a particular person or product in the frame. In
some cases, the cameraperson puts up and sets the lights;
in other cases a separate person with or without an assistant.
In virtually all cases, these lights are small fixtures (100 watt
to 1000 watt) that run off normal electrical supply (wall plugs
in any house or office).
In some cases, it is necessary to record dialogue as we
shoot, in others we record narration or voice-over later in
a studio, in which case we only record 'background sound' as
we shoot which may or may not be used later. In a case
where only one person is speaking, we would normally use
a wired clip-on microphone. In other cases, wireless mics
are used; and in still other cases a boom mic is employed
to capture voices.
Talent is of course as an important factor. 'Talent' refers to
anyone that is appearing on-camera, from professional actors
to non-actors, such as a company executive. There are many
tools that can help talent look and speak better, if budget
allows. Some examples are the use of a TelePrompter; this is a
device that mounts on the camera and displays the words to be
read, so that as the talent reads, they are looking directly into
the camera lens. On higher-end shoots, we often employ a
make-up and hairstylist to make the talent look their best. Of
course, good directing is the best assist talent can have,
especially non-actors who need assuring and coaching - we
specialize in this.
Some videos can be shot in a matter of hours, others have
their shooting time measured in days as the complexity and
look of each shot is the driving factor. Other production's
shooting times are derived by the length of events, such as
videotaping a sales presentation or an live-event of some type.
In most cases, the shots or images are not taken in the
order that they will be appearing in the final production, but
rather filmed in an order that makes logistical sense. Shots
will be reordered later in editing.
Click Here to Got To Part 3 - Finishing The Job
Some shoots are simple, a single cameraperson gathering
footage in a "documentary fashion" under the direction of a
client. The specifics of the project (and the budget) will
determine what equipment is used to shoot the raw footage.
MiniDV (Digital) is a excellent quality format, while
Betacam SP is a 'full-broadcast' quality format.
For efficiency, or sometime effect, footage is shot handheld.
In other cases, the camera is mounted to a tripod for
stability and to facilitate simple camera-moves such as pans
(side-to-side) and tilts (up-and-down). Where the shooting
space, as well as schedule allows, we employ a Dolly to
perform 'rolling' shots that give a wonderful 'cinematic' look to
the footage. In other cases where again logistics, budget and
available time will allow, we can employ a Jib, which is a
large arm that the camera is mounted on. This allows us to
"crane" the camera up, down, sweep across, or all this
at once. Depending on the Jib's size, we can crane up as
high as almost 20 feet. On rare occasions we have gone
so far as to employ a Steadicam. Some corporate clients
have asked us to incorporate aerial views, i.e. of their facility,
in their video; we've shot such in everything from light planes
to helicopters.
In some cases additional light is not required (when speed
and efficiency is the key factor) to obtain a good image,
today's camera technology allows shooting in most light
settings (i.e. offices, shop floors), this is called shooting with
"natural light". In other cases, lights are set for each 'scene' to
create the best possible image, brighten up low-light areas,
or highlight a particular person or product in the frame. In
some cases, the cameraperson puts up and sets the lights;
in other cases a separate person with or without an assistant.
In virtually all cases, these lights are small fixtures (100 watt
to 1000 watt) that run off normal electrical supply (wall plugs
in any house or office).
In some cases, it is necessary to record dialogue as we
shoot, in others we record narration or voice-over later in
a studio, in which case we only record 'background sound' as
we shoot which may or may not be used later. In a case
where only one person is speaking, we would normally use
a wired clip-on microphone. In other cases, wireless mics
are used; and in still other cases a boom mic is employed
to capture voices.
Talent is of course as an important factor. 'Talent' refers to
anyone that is appearing on-camera, from professional actors
to non-actors, such as a company executive. There are many
tools that can help talent look and speak better, if budget
allows. Some examples are the use of a TelePrompter; this is a
device that mounts on the camera and displays the words to be
read, so that as the talent reads, they are looking directly into
the camera lens. On higher-end shoots, we often employ a
make-up and hairstylist to make the talent look their best. Of
course, good directing is the best assist talent can have,
especially non-actors who need assuring and coaching - we
specialize in this.
Some videos can be shot in a matter of hours, others have
their shooting time measured in days as the complexity and
look of each shot is the driving factor. Other production's
shooting times are derived by the length of events, such as
videotaping a sales presentation or an live-event of some type.
In most cases, the shots or images are not taken in the
order that they will be appearing in the final production, but
rather filmed in an order that makes logistical sense. Shots
will be reordered later in editing.
Click Here to Got To Part 3 - Finishing The Job
