Top 10 Cinematography Tips from Renowned DP Roger Deakins (No Film School Blog)
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
Music Video Blog
On one fair spring day I, the glorious Zachary, was given the task of making/ imitating a music video. After discussion with peers I decide on a song, Smash Mouth's Allstars. One of the few classics of my era I would do it justice, putting in hours of time working and planning. Carful planning each step by step I had developed a storyboard.
With my idea finalized, and people guaranteeing help I had schedule the date of the next Monday, May 11Th. After only one person should up to help me film I realized the struggle of working with some many I then swiftly embarked onto plan B, filming Logan in front of a green screen and making
a music video out of that that.
Inspired By Zladd's classic Elektronik Supersonik I tired to include some of the famous artist stlye along with throwing in mine own here and there. Here is his original video so you can compare the two.
In my crusade to make Smash Mouth's Allstar reality I lost. But I did learn two thing,s that it's hard to rely on some many people when filming, and though it is possible to use a larger number of people in a music video, it's far from easy. And I also learned some more about adjusting the green screen in post to fix spots where the lighting can be off.
Approaching North by Northwest
North by Northwest, one of the many classics made possible thanks to one Alfred Hitchock tells the tale of one Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) an advertising executive from New York. But all goes a stray with Mr. Thronhill being mistaken for George Kaplan, and then soon get kidnapped. As the story progress, we find Mr. Thornhill is introduced to to the lovely Eve Kendall (Eva Maire Saint) and soon grows strong feeling to the new, mysterious girl. Then faced with the fate of himself or Eva the story reaches a climatic end as Mr. Thornhill makes an ultimate rash choice.
But there something more to the story, something that elevates it, making this film truly breathe taking. With the special effects not being the caplet with some rather laughable scene the this question pushes further and further into the rabbit hole. Watching the film over and over again anyone really can see that its the little exspersions, from the subtle simile on Eva's face as she first meets Roger, to the true distress on the face of Mr. Thornhill's face in learning his newly found lover is in grave danger. Small, midiculous details fill the film, making the overall feel that much more engaging. These small minnows in the pond are all the none other than the man, the myth, the legend, Alfred Hichock. Orchestrating these details like F natural in D major these little do wonders for the performance, but the average person go unnoticed, and unappreciated.
But there something more to the story, something that elevates it, making this film truly breathe taking. With the special effects not being the caplet with some rather laughable scene the this question pushes further and further into the rabbit hole. Watching the film over and over again anyone really can see that its the little exspersions, from the subtle simile on Eva's face as she first meets Roger, to the true distress on the face of Mr. Thornhill's face in learning his newly found lover is in grave danger. Small, midiculous details fill the film, making the overall feel that much more engaging. These small minnows in the pond are all the none other than the man, the myth, the legend, Alfred Hichock. Orchestrating these details like F natural in D major these little do wonders for the performance, but the average person go unnoticed, and unappreciated.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Discover Your Strengths
As we've branched of into our different department fin preparations for the next major e-comm film, we've taken a strengths test to identify the strengths and flaws that show how we are different and similar. The Strengths that were revealed to me, in no specific order are strategic, restorative, ideation, belief, and finally competition.
Strategic: This strength highlights ones way of perceiving a problem or situation and working your way out. If say a problem were to arise on set one with this strength could help find the best possible solution using an cause and effect technique, thinking of one way wouldn't work and why one way would work.
Ideation: This strength highlights ones way of thinking outside the realm of everyday thinking, to put it simpler its thinking outside the box. A strength like this could help Strategic in looking for a solution.
Competition: This Strength Highlights what motivates me to be better, essential its my drive. Being competitive means I base my talents with others, simply to see whom is better. If seen as lesser than some else someone with a competitive drive will strive to only be better.
Belief: This Strengths highlights ones value system, simply someone with Belief as an strength is held to certain values. While the values will vary from person to person they are usually strong and will help said person with this strength find their mission in life.
Restorative: This Strength Highlights the one enjoys solving problems. Wether for the simple thrill it, or perhaps the tactical side of it those With restorative can better be focused on solving a problem.
Strategic: This strength highlights ones way of perceiving a problem or situation and working your way out. If say a problem were to arise on set one with this strength could help find the best possible solution using an cause and effect technique, thinking of one way wouldn't work and why one way would work.Ideation: This strength highlights ones way of thinking outside the realm of everyday thinking, to put it simpler its thinking outside the box. A strength like this could help Strategic in looking for a solution.
Competition: This Strength Highlights what motivates me to be better, essential its my drive. Being competitive means I base my talents with others, simply to see whom is better. If seen as lesser than some else someone with a competitive drive will strive to only be better.
Belief: This Strengths highlights ones value system, simply someone with Belief as an strength is held to certain values. While the values will vary from person to person they are usually strong and will help said person with this strength find their mission in life.
Restorative: This Strength Highlights the one enjoys solving problems. Wether for the simple thrill it, or perhaps the tactical side of it those With restorative can better be focused on solving a problem.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Spoken Word Blog
So in a recent turn of events I was assigned a spoken word video. In this video we were supposed to film the beauty of nature, and I made a pretty swell video. But alas, with all great things there comes a price and for this video not all of the rules were followed. Though my video may not live to the standards in which it was assigned, it's not that horrible and I still meet all of the shot requirements for it. Thus, I present to you my spoken word video (below).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apjEch28nwU&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apjEch28nwU&feature=youtu.be
10 Camera Techniques Reflection
Well coming back into the school old Morris let us go on a expedition through the highly isolated high school. But there was a catch the expedition we were required ten different shots of ten different shot techniques.
Search Up
Here an example video I did
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwaNIhOZiS4&list=UUodpblRBtdu6mJrOF35mcRA
The shot techniques we were required to go out and go get were:
Whip Pan, Whip Cut
Okay, so for this what you need is a shot of a some sort of scene. Then, you whip the camera over faster than Usian Bolt running the one hundred meter dash. After this you need to get another scene that is relevant to your first one in some way. But instead of starting with getting the shot you whip the camera again, but instead of doing it as fast as Usian try to do it as fast as Micheal Phelps swimming the one hundred meter butterfly. Lastly you get the shot of the scene.
Whip Zoom Look
Whip the camera to a scene and then zoom on what ever the focus of the shot is.
Search Up
Okay, for this take your camera and point it down, showing the lowest point of whatever your focus is for this shot(example:Persons feet). Then have the camera slowly moving up to the top main focus of this shot(example: persons face).
Back to Front
Okay, so for this shot you film some sort of action in the background. Then have the camera pull its focus to something closer.
Focus Out, Pass Out
Okay for this shot get a POV of you know whatever. Then adjust the focus of the shot and make it blurry, Lastly adjust the exposure making everything go to black while making it look like the you've fallen down (and can't get up, get life alert).
Focus Transition
Okay, so start the shot out of focus, then focus in on the main point of the shot. This shot is good to start out a video.
Overexpose Fade, Underexposed Fade
Okay so for this shot start by making it overexposed, then adjust the exposure to make it less exposed.
Ceiling Twist
Get a shot of whats above or below and spin around, this shot add more action to a boring shot
Shifting Angle
While filming some sort of horizontal shot tilt the camera from left to right.
Sleepover
this shot is a birds eye view shot of actor. Then rotate the camera and or make the camera rise and fall to give this shot more piazza.
Here an example video I did
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwaNIhOZiS4&list=UUodpblRBtdu6mJrOF35mcRA
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Plot v. Story
As I find myself falling further and further into the rabbit hole that is
world of film, I'm being asked many new questions to better help my
understanding of my new, different surroundings. Whether that question be what
are some of the basic shots or what are the basics of editing a film,
these questions are varied and are meant to serve a purpose in my film
development. But we've begun to shift from technical side of making a
film to more of the writing and planning of a film, as the writing
process for are class film as begun. But to start on this new topic I've
been asked our take a stance on whether plot or story is more important.
To give my personal stance on the importance of story or plot to I film I firmly believe story is more important. David Anspaugh's Hoosiers is a great example of the story meaning more than the plot. The plot of the movie is dodgy coach trying to take a team to sate, but the story goes so much more in depth with the way it portrays the characters and there journey. The way the characters development and journey is what truly separates a good film from a bad film. But I'm not the only one who feels this way, Oscar and Golden Globes award winning director Martin Scorsese feels the same way. In a interview (Link Below) he defends his stance on story being more important using Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man as a example.
To give my personal stance on the importance of story or plot to I film I firmly believe story is more important. David Anspaugh's Hoosiers is a great example of the story meaning more than the plot. The plot of the movie is dodgy coach trying to take a team to sate, but the story goes so much more in depth with the way it portrays the characters and there journey. The way the characters development and journey is what truly separates a good film from a bad film. But I'm not the only one who feels this way, Oscar and Golden Globes award winning director Martin Scorsese feels the same way. In a interview (Link Below) he defends his stance on story being more important using Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man as a example.
Mr Scorsese in this interview uses The Wrong Man's character development as what really separates this piece as being great. Explaining the way the charter is portrayed is what really make a great film for him.