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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.
For efficiency, or sometimes 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 can employ
a Dolly to perform 'rolling' shots that give a wonderful 'cinematic' look
to the footage, employ a Jib, which is a large arm that the camera is
mounted on. 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.
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. Good directing is the
best assist talent can have, especially non-actors who need
assuring and coaching - we specialize in this.
On higher-end productions, 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. Also on higher-end shoots, we
often employ a make-up and hairstylist to make the talent look their
best.
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.
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.
Other production's shooting times are determined by the length
of events, such as videotaping a sales presentation or an
live-event of some type.
Click Here to Go 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.
For efficiency, or sometimes 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 can employ
a Dolly to perform 'rolling' shots that give a wonderful 'cinematic' look
to the footage, employ a Jib, which is a large arm that the camera is
mounted on. 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.
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. Good directing is the
best assist talent can have, especially non-actors who need
assuring and coaching - we specialize in this.
On higher-end productions, 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. Also on higher-end shoots, we
often employ a make-up and hairstylist to make the talent look their
best.
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.
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.
Other production's shooting times are determined by the length
of events, such as videotaping a sales presentation or an
live-event of some type.
Click Here to Go To Part 3 - Finishing The Job
