6
votes
Accepted
Why do pro cameras still need to pull focus?
Well there's a number of factors that come into play, but first and foremost, the reason a camera operator pulls focus (if shooting alone) or having a 1st AC/2nd AC pull focus is because if you care ...
- 2,477
6
votes
Accepted
Good learning resources for 'non-technical' aspects of filmmaking
Do you realize people go through years of academical studies or expensive courses at private universities to learn all that? It's certainly not something you're going to master by watching a few ...
- 5,412
5
votes
Why do pro cameras still need to pull focus?
@Martin A provided an very in-depth answer, but I feel that it's worth noting one more thing: focus is part of the creative toolbox that filmakers use. Pulling focus from one actor to another in a 2 ...
- 13.7k
4
votes
Accepted
What are these two things on the side of a stage?
I believe they are teleprompters. They contain the text of the speech the person at the podium is reading. In this case, the camera is very far away, so they can't be projected onto a half-mirror in ...
- 2,156
4
votes
What's the benefit of Hollywood still using film for most major productions?
Is this an impression you have or based on statistics you read? My impression is the opposite: projects shot on film have become so noteworthy they get some press coverage for the fact alone they are ...
- 639
3
votes
Accepted
What are a Gimbal and Tripod used for?
Gimbals are good for adding movement without shake, they're brilliant for run-n-gun documentary work where lugging a tripod slows you down. They're perfect when you're in the thick of things, using a ...
- 13.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Does 60 fps make sense for YouTube?
Google has supported 60fps video since 2014. YouTube has a page that talks about video formats, codecs, framerates, etc., here. It is up to the Browser and YouTube to negotiate what format, frame ...
- 4,730
3
votes
Tips to start making a little production
The minute you said "no lighting" you violate the premise of "look as professional as it could be and not too amateur". Lighting is not only about ensuring there are enough photons to actually record ...
- 4,730
3
votes
Please help identify this rack-mount case
I know it's a long time since you asked this and likely no longer need it, but in case anyone else comes across this thread looking for the same kind of case (as I did!), look for "pop up" rackmount ...
- 31
3
votes
Good learning resources for 'non-technical' aspects of filmmaking
If you feel comfortable with learning from good Youtube resources, here's some channels that have tons of material to answer your questions:
https://www.youtube.com/user/filmriot
https://www.youtube....
- 614
3
votes
V-mount and D-tap power problems
To anyone who has similar questions, I think I solved it. Pay attention to voltage inputs to your devices. The blackmagic monitor I was using has a power input of 12v using the two-pin barrel ...
- 61
3
votes
Questions about Customs/Insurance/Transport for your equipment?
I can only write from the experience of travelling from the UK to many other countries with kit a few years ago (pre-covid era):
In the UK, if you provide an equipment list to the airport customs desk ...
- 7,585
2
votes
supply video files to editor in another country
I recently read about MASV on TechRadar, it's a file transfer service that charges 25¢ per gig that is downloaded. If you're only sending 10GB at a time, this is much more cost-effective than mailing (...
- 421
2
votes
How does green screening work with green objects?
For static shots they shoot what's called a background plate: the same scene shot from the same angle but without the foreground action. Then where the green is taken out the empty background shows ...
- 13.7k
2
votes
Accepted
Tips to start making a little production
Story
Your film needs drama. That is normally created by conflict or tension. Keep the story simple. It is better for your first film to be too simple than too ambitious.
But it must have drama.
Shot ...
- 308
2
votes
Looking for suggestions on workflow/equipment: daily production of short presentation videos
There are camcorders that enable full-res uploads of their memory cards via WiFi. Thus, if your room has connectivity to your intranet, you can leave the card in the camcorder, hit upload when you ...
- 4,730
2
votes
How to speed up playback speed like YouTube using Camtasia?
You don't do this in Camtasia as it doesn't appear that Camtasia supports pitch shifting at this point although there has definitely been some discussion of the topic for quite some time.
There are ...
- 206
2
votes
What's the benefit of Hollywood still using film for most major productions?
The biggest reason for shooting on film is because...it looks like film.
20 years ago, Red Hat founder Bob Young told a story about branding that bears on this question. He explained that if you ...
- 4,730
2
votes
Accepted
How to capture documentary quality footage of tiny subjects
Up until the high-frame rate (HFR) section of the video I would have said that all you need is a Canon MP-E 65mm Macro Lens, a nice LED light (so as not to fry the poor bugs with all the IR radiation ...
- 4,730
2
votes
How to film a moving bike on a budget
Here are some suggestions:
Film the bike from a moving car.
Have two people in the car, minimum: One for driving and one for filming.
Shoot through open windows of the car, not through glass.
Get ...
- 1,729
2
votes
Need culturally sensitive alternatives to standard videography terminology such as "shoot," "shooting," and "shot."
What about:
film, filming, filmed
record, recording, recorded
- 932
2
votes
Sites for learning the business side?
Most undergraduate media programs have a "The Business of..." course in their curricula. It used to be "The Business of Television" or "The Business of Film". Nowadays, it is probably listed as "The ...
- 2,405
2
votes
What is the drone for a low budget production
The DJI Mavik is one of the most affordable ready-to-fly drones with enough quality (4K) for expert-looking video production.
Alternatively, you could strap an action camera, like a GoPro, to a non-...
- 21
2
votes
Accepted
How to use DJI Ronin MX in adverse weather
There are numerous simple solutions including shoulder mounted umbrellas and rain shields, or even ones mounted on the Ronin itself.
Obviously, in a complete downpour you may need to consider a ...
- 2,317
2
votes
Why have offset camera placement?
It can be used with different intentions, mainly to give the footage more dynamism.
The off-camera look gives the impression to be filmed like an interview, with an interlocutor in front of the ...
- 1,152
1
vote
Accepted
What is the drone for a low budget production
Currently DJI is pretty much your go-to for this. They have a great mix of price range to performance ranging from the $500 Spark (which is actually a bit more if you want a physical controller which ...
- 19.3k
1
vote
Animating vectors to audio in After Effects
I would build one of the "stacks" as a comp. On the first frame of the comp, I'd have the first layer in the stack, and on each progressive frame I'd add the next layer.
Then in my main comp, I would ...
- 7,585
1
vote
Accepted
Writing to multiple memory cards on a canon 5d mark iii whilst filming
As far as I am aware it will write to both cards at the same time (dual redundancy), I dont think you are going to be able to write from one card to the next.
Using 2 cameras would always be a better ...
- 1,284
1
vote
Accepted
How to film a moving bike on a budget
Something that might make your life considerably easier is a gimbal stabiliser.
These let you get good quality moving shots easily, without the bunmpyness that you'll get even in a car. I worked on ...
- 13.7k
1
vote
Post production removal of uneven green screen with glass object shattering in foreground
I don't even see how rotoscoping would help and can't think of a way to solve the issue directly with the green screen footage (if I understand the situation correctly anyway). If the glass is ...
- 19.3k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible