I'd been wondering how the pros did it, regarding exposure, moving from inside to out. After reading Gonzo's and Rik's posts, shall I assume that they're just pulling exposure?
I can't do that, not now. So, I've decided that my first long shot will be either all-inside or all-outside (probably all inside).
I suspect it is quite a challenge.
But isn’t that why you’re doing this?
Ain't that the truth! Last week, I was discussing music-video ideas with a musician friend, at work. On the short-list is a single-shot video; my friends like the idea (there's of course more details than the fact that it's one shot), and I'm excited about it, so I think it's what we'll go with.
We're still open to tossing out new ideas, though, and one of the ideas that was mentioned was also a single shot, except not the kind that a filmmaker would prefer to do. The idea mentioned was more along the lines of OK Go's
breakout viral hit.
I told my friend, yeah, that's a really cool idea, but I have to be honest -- from a purely selfish perspective, I don't like it because it doesn't allow me to be a filmmaker. The video I had in mind would challenge the heck out of me, I'd surely make mistakes, I'd surely learn a lot, and I'd surely have a lot of fun.
Anyway, long story short, mrpeech I absolutely endorse your idea of making this video. I do feel the need to temper that encouragement with the harsh reality that it is going to be EXTREMELY difficult to make the exposure issue work, using the camera you've got. Us low-budget filmmakers have to make compromises -- is there any way for you to alter the concept to entirely take place inside, or entirely outside? If you do it inside/outside, you'll have to light the HECK out of the inside.
Either that, or rehearse from early morning until JUST the right moment, and shoot it at dusk. And nail it, in one take, or come back the next day and try it again. In that scenario, I'd think exposure and white-balance should be tested a day in advance.
Good luck!
