cinematography Getting that "movie" look?!

GageWFilms

GageWFilms

Hello, I'm a young movie maker (15) with a very small budget! Right now I'm using the Sony Handycam PJ650v, I'm making a movie titled "The Day After The End". Does anyone have any tips to getting that "movie" feel??? How can I make my movie actually feel like a movie!?
 
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Use a tripod and/or stabilization gear. Handheld can look fine, but usually looks unprofessional on smaller cameras. On a low budget, the "spider steady" can give you great results:

Spider Steady:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBiRDXoGsCs
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=qKr-u66tAGbjgG9MyPp4xQ&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc

Tripods:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQt5-Ns-Bfw
And if you don't want to spend your $$$, then you can always go DIY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVswSEXsYk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nAC6ztIUbQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn9htcBCpJM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR_-R2bS9ag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIGLniZoUxw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pUZf-JY6JM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCwPDXODMs
Make sure you have the right settings on your camera. You should have the quality as high as it can go (1080p, uncompressed), the footage white balanced, sound on, exposed properly, and in focus. Most Hollywood films (and due to the DSLR explosion, in Indie films) use a thing called Shallow Depth of field. Shallow DOF is where a part of the image is in focus, and the rest is blurred. Click the link below to see the difference between Shallow and Deep DOF:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...hzMZ0gqSr0UDzEnhZXLTsPxg&ust=1373608751345453

The image on the left has a shallow DOF, the one on the right has a deep DOF. Notice the deep DOF image doesn't have a blurred background. Now, because of the camera you are using, you cannot get shallow DOF easily. Usually you have to have lenses with low apertures, or 35mm lens adapters (both of which I believe you cannot have on your camera) to get shallow depth of field. You can always get shallow DOF by backing up, and zooming in on the subject if you do not have the money for a 35mm lens adapter. Below is a video explaining depth of field, and a video showing ways to get shallow. DOF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34jkJoN8qOI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npN1igCJi7w

One thing to remember is that shallow DOF isn't just to get a "movie feel", but also a tool to help guide the audiences eye. For example, if we have a shot of a group of people in an elevator, we don't know who to focus on. But, if we blur out the other people slightly, the audiences attention will be focused (no pun intended) on the person in focus.
I'd recommend not buying a 35mm lens adapter though. They are incredibly expensive, and only worth it if you have lots of money to spend. There are other ways to achieve Shallow DOF, and it is more important to get good audio and lighting equipment.
Good audio is one of the most important things to make your movie look professional. I'd recommend using a mic or handheld recorder. There are also experienced people who know a lot about audio, such as Alcove Audio, who can give you advice, recommendations, and help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEq5T8fJarM
Always light your scene properly. One of the biggest issues by newbies is not lighting your scene well. If you are doing a no-budget film (which appears to be what you are doing), then you can pick up clamp lights from home depot, and make PVC pipe light stands (for this I recommend the youtube show The Frugal Filmmaker).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwIFtumihFs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6JFVHRwJwc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtT2YzCK1CU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_Sov3xmgwg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ5rZrNQBXo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSo_bMFT5YI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUsTpUzOhFY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgfeET_W6YE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUSrpcGf3gc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFzIP_TN75A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqXgw8_pkfA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q87KA4NUEBo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pKdOGWZepk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxN8_0kNJPc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXMI8_o6VTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0WTzMvJMYQ

In post, there are many things to do to improve your footage. If you are in something like iMovie, or Windows movie maker, I recommend upgrading to Adobe CC, Hitfilm, Sony Vegas Pro 11, or Final Cut Pro X. If you are in iMovie, FCPX is your best choice.

To get a more professional feel: stabilize, enhance audio, add widescreen bars, color correct, and color grade.

Here are some FCPX tutorials that include stabilization, audio, widescreen bars, color correction, and color grading. But you can find color grading tutorials for pretty much any program.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=RAs_EUMz7M0WzNz4lkcZ1w&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc

Here is a color grading website from this cool dude named Denver Riddle.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=e3nwsCSIsUh3VLc3bJbupQ&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc

And add a 35mm overlay from Gorilla Grain.com or Holy Grain.com. They have some free stuff on their site. This gives the look of a Hollywood film because of the fact most mainstream films were shot on film up until the 2000's.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=2AlVzkn0VeEnbdqzb6HduA&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=gamFc6l6tSRZR0f6qJ2RFQ&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc

Music is important as well. Below are some awesome sites with music.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=riT9lBau7wKgFKnRFzQNWg&bvm=bv.49478099,d.aWc
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=1lec3xvpAP9QmGAmMMBbgg&bvm=bv.49478099,d.aWc
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=taSuL6Wypqknh5sKrOTdcg&bvm=bv.49478099,d.aWc

And you can always ask for a composer on a site like the one you are on right now, IndieTalk :)

Always export your footage in HD.

To learn more on these topics, I recommend watching as many Film Riot, Indy Mogul, Frugal Filmmaker, Basic Filmmaker, Dan Allen Films, Color Grading Central, and Framlines TV episodes. There is only so much you can learn from a post.

And remember, camera movement and color correction is great, but you have to have a good story, script, and actors. You have to know how to organize the project, and direct everything before getting into all the little goodies. If you don't have a good story, you're basically putting whipped cream on a turd. No matter how much whipped cream you put on that turd, it's still a turd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAWVRqASoYY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUIZVzElDzc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si86Au0UbIo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew5D_DjUG1Q

Other useful tutorials:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRJ0Ei4hLWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrZtShb1-8E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XafunNmwtPg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK2IAEO-FUI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brStDyPNI7w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD8nXGt91yo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FP3AS_r5jo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol51d7JekJ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZszextv6yE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYnsKATCrdw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu_N1fV_mUQ

EDIT: Good luck, now study up, practice, and make a good short film :)
 
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What's even more important is getting that movie sound as well. And good lighting of course. I would only spend money on a 35mm adapter if you have nothing else to spend money on, and you have extra left over.
 
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harmonica44 said:
What's even more important is getting that movie sound as well.
Click to expand...

I posted a video on that

And good lighting of course. I would only spend money on a 35mm adapter if you have nothing else to spend money on, and you have extra left over.
Click to expand...

I mentioned good lighting. You don't need a 35mm adapter. There are other ways. And I forgot to post this previous thread:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=7_g_vOTGN7As9ALDp9HMEg&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc
 
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harmonica44 said:
I would only spend money on a 35mm adapter if you have nothing else to spend money on, and you have extra left over.
Click to expand...

Mother of God, No. I can't possibly think of a bigger waste of money right now than one of those adapters - save for putting one on the camera the OP is working with.

Gage - don't listen to anyone who tells you to buy anything at this stage of the game. Work on your craft and storytelling skills at this stage. Gear is the least important part of the equation.

welsh_gambit said:
Blimey Chimp!!! excellent post. I think Indietalk should sticky this info on the newbie part of the forum.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but sadly, IT is strictly a "No Sticky Zone." I've tried. :D
 
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Very nice resource hoard, CPF. :yes:

GageWFilms said:
Hello, I'm a young movie maker (15) with a very small budget! Right now I'm using the Sony Handycam PJ650v, I'm making a movie titled "The Day After The End". Does anyone have any tips to getting that "movie" feel??? How can I make my movie actually feel like a movie!?
Click to expand...
That's a nice beginner camera.
http://store.sony.com/p/Sony-32GB-Full-HD-Projector-Camcorder/en/p/HDRPJ650V#specifications
It's specs are similar to what I'm using. Not great. Not cr@p. But nice manual controls.

That tiny chip loves light!
Pretty much forget about doing anything pre-dawn or after dusk.
Even with a wide open aperture many inside shots will be grainy = CMOS sensor starving for photons!

Before plunking out your small budget on tech (you can't tech your way out of a cr@ppy film) just try to keep it on a decent tripod.
Any handheld work should be almost stationary. Forget any actual moving around. Seriously.
If you wanna blow $20-30 build a DIY metal box rig if you insist on moving about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd83zNHGnh8

And you do have a UVfilter on to protect your lens, right?
It's good insurance.

High Definition
AVCHD Progressive
1920 x 1080p / 60 fps (28Mbps)
1920 x 1080i / 60 fps (24Mbps)
1440 x 1080i / 60 fps (9Mbps)

MPEG4
1280 x 720p / 30 fps​
Dang.
That sux.
I was about to suggest that since computers show info @ 29.97 frames per second you might as well shoot @ 1080p 30fps - but that isn't an option for that camera. :( Waaaaah.
I guess shoot at 1080 60fps and just try to keep your shutter speed (usually a combined factor with your aperture) @ 1/60 or 1/120.
Slower than 1/60 and your images get "smearry".
Faster than 1/120 and they'll start to get choppy.

What video editing program are you working with?

And the next "real" thing you should spend money on is to get your audio OFF OF YOUR CAMERA.
Get a microphone and plug it into that mic input jack.
Sound is what'll kill you.
The camera's mic is only "utilitarian" for about five or six feet out. After that: cr@p.

Download Audacity for free. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
Learn how to edit audio.
 
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Filmmaking is the work of many crafts becoming an integrated whole; definitely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Indie filmmakers want their projects to look like mega-budget productions. And yes, it is possible. But......

The issue is that the filmmaker must pay attention to ALL of the myriad details. Okay, you got the "right" camera (whatever the hell that is). To get that "quality" look you need to light well. But now that it's well lit, the details of what is in each shot become even more important - the set design, costume design, hair/make-up, etc. Putting aside the quality of the actors, how they are dressed and their hair and make-up count for a great deal in putting over their performances, as is the set design - the film world with which the characters/actors interact.

And, of course, being one of the resident audio guys, I have to mention that:

Your project will only look as good as it sounds, because
"Sound is half of the experience."

If you FUBAR the production sound you have gone a long way towards killing your project. Why? Because you (and your cast) don't have the skills, equipment or budget to fix it in audio post. The script is dialog - characters verbally interacting with each other. 97% of indie filmmakers tend to forget this once they are on location. If your audience can't understand the dialog without sonic distractions you may as well hang it up.



Okay, I said that making a film look great on a micro budget is possible. I'm sure that you're familiar with the expression "Time is money." When you don't have the budget you expend the time, lots and lots and lots of time. You need to preproduce your project down to the last detail. Scout your locations (with your PSM, DP, 1st AD, Key Grip and, of course, your line producer) several times. Test wardrobe and make-up on camera. Have lots of walk-through/talk through meetings. The idea is to be so prepared that problems don't happen. Problems will happen, of course, but you've eliminated most of them before you started shooting.


You may also have heard that you should "write within your budget." Writing within a small budget is why films like "Blair Witch," "Paranormal Activity" and even "Clerks" worked; the audience expected a low budget look from the beginning, so didn't even have to forgive the gritty look. The sound, however, has to be even that much better - from a technical POV an audience will forgive poor visuals, but they will NEVER forgive poor audio.


So the "secret" to a great film "look" is very simple - preproduction, preproduction, preproduction, preproduction, preproduction, preproduction and more preproduction.
 
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Well, Chimp just handed you a free film school, and Alcove covered the very basics of why audio is important. I say watch those tutorials multiple times, then go online and find twice as many tutorials on audio and repeat step one for those. Or find people who are great in your weak areas, whatever those may be (make short films to discover that)
 
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