Shot with DVX100 at DVinfo.net

Dan Reed · March 1st, 2007, 11:54 AM

I shot this on a DVX100 using basic hardware lights and only a boom mic.

Any comments as to how to do better on a limited budget? What do you think of it?

http://films.thelot.com/films/21143

Mark Morikawa · March 1st, 2007, 04:58 PM

indoor lighting is too dark. open some windows and bounce the light with what ever you want. let light fill up the room. but watch for back light situations. try different angles to avoid it. soften prop lights (lamps) with makeshift diffusers and rely on a different light source if possible.

try a different way to display the note left on the table. the text at the bottom didnt feel right. you may just have to go macro and show the note up close. text on screen isn't much better than vo's that you were againt.

otherwise good job!

Greg Hartzell · March 1st, 2007, 05:58 PM

Hey Dan,

Nice work. I like the way you were able to tell a story vissualy. This is were a lot of amatuer/indie film makers fall short, relying on their dialogue rather than vissuals. That said, work on the details.

Your always going to be your own worst critic, so rely on your gut, and try to learn as much with each project. I got through school mostly because I got tired of making crappy videos, so I learned how to make not so crappy videos.

I would agree that most of your interior shots looked a little dark. This is fine if it fits the story, but the look wasn't consistant through the piece. Try to increase detail in the faces, keep them pretty well lit for a drama, it was hard to see facial expressions sometimes.

I really liked the fact that you used practicals, but they were to bright. There are many filmmmakers that avoid the use of practicals for this reason. You can get cheap dimmers from the hardware store, use them, but avoid dimming too much, as the color temp will drop as you dim them. This can also create cool lighting effects if you use it properly. Keep your background a couple of stops dwon from your actors faces. Bottom line, put together a decent professional lighting setup and experiment. Posterboard and foam core are also great resorces.

It looks like there was some exposure drift in the begining scene, always expose manually. And don't shoot sit down interviews hand held (it looked a little shaky to my eyes in the begining).

I'll post a video up here I shot when I have one online.

Thanks for the post,

Greg

March 1st, 2007, 11:54 AM	#1
Dan Reed Tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: LA, USA Posts: 4	Shot with DVX100 I shot this on a DVX100 using basic hardware lights and only a boom mic. Any comments as to how to do better on a limited budget? What do you think of it? http://films.thelot.com/films/21143

March 1st, 2007, 04:58 PM	#2
Mark Morikawa Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Aiea, HI Posts: 85	indoor lighting is too dark. open some windows and bounce the light with what ever you want. let light fill up the room. but watch for back light situations. try different angles to avoid it. soften prop lights (lamps) with makeshift diffusers and rely on a different light source if possible. try a different way to display the note left on the table. the text at the bottom didnt feel right. you may just have to go macro and show the note up close. text on screen isn't much better than vo's that you were againt. otherwise good job!

March 1st, 2007, 05:58 PM	#3
Greg Hartzell Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbia, CT Posts: 168	Hey Dan, Nice work. I like the way you were able to tell a story vissualy. This is were a lot of amatuer/indie film makers fall short, relying on their dialogue rather than vissuals. That said, work on the details. Your always going to be your own worst critic, so rely on your gut, and try to learn as much with each project. I got through school mostly because I got tired of making crappy videos, so I learned how to make not so crappy videos. I would agree that most of your interior shots looked a little dark. This is fine if it fits the story, but the look wasn't consistant through the piece. Try to increase detail in the faces, keep them pretty well lit for a drama, it was hard to see facial expressions sometimes. I really liked the fact that you used practicals, but they were to bright. There are many filmmmakers that avoid the use of practicals for this reason. You can get cheap dimmers from the hardware store, use them, but avoid dimming too much, as the color temp will drop as you dim them. This can also create cool lighting effects if you use it properly. Keep your background a couple of stops dwon from your actors faces. Bottom line, put together a decent professional lighting setup and experiment. Posterboard and foam core are also great resorces. It looks like there was some exposure drift in the begining scene, always expose manually. And don't shoot sit down interviews hand held (it looked a little shaky to my eyes in the begining). I'll post a video up here I shot when I have one online. Thanks for the post, Greg