tech tips - expression

Tech Tips

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Part 1: Before the Shoot

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•Camera(s)•Audio•Lighting

Know the Equipment

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•LMW has four, MSV has more.Panasonic HPX-170

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HPX-170Field Guide

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•LMW has two available.Canon T3i DSLR

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•LMW has two available.GoPro Hero2

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•LMW has five available.•Can walk up and check

out without a calendar reservation.

•Limited -- share with LMW1.

Canon SX40

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•LMW has ten available.•Use with the T3i’s,

SX40’s and GoPro’s.•Lavalier mic: interviews.•Built-in mic: location

sound.•Can use for vox if placed

close enough. (Use windscreen).

Audio: Zoom H4n

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•LMW has four available.•Use this for most interviews.•Plugs in to the HPX-170 or the Zoom.

Shure MX150 Lavalier Mic

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•Available for checkout.•Three-point lighting kit.•Arri Handbook

Arri Lighting Kits

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•What cameras do you wish to use?•What audio equipment will you need?•How will you light your shots?

Equipment

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•Know your Core Concept: WHAT’S THIS FILM ABOUT?

•Research & develop your interview questions.

•Be clear about your APPROACH (see SESSION 1 handout).

Before the Interview

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Part 2: during the shoot

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•Know your equipment: this allows you to concentrate on what you’re filming.

•Show up early.•Be professional.•Stay light on your feet.•Be patient, be ready, stay after.

On location

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•A-roll interview, well-framed and lit, with an interesting background and good sound.

•B-roll: all the details! Close-ups! The people, the space, the unexpected.

Get coverage!

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•If possible, shoot action shots of the person first. This can get the person warmed up to the camera before the interview.

•B-roll: close-ups, face, hands, feet, clothing, accessories.

Capturing behavior

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•If the people being recorded perform regular tasks, they’ll get interested in what they’re doing and let the camera take care of itself.

•They still remain aware of the camera’s presence, but that awareness becomes a part of their normal behavior.

Capturing behavior

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•Strive to create an invisible wall between the production crew and the subject.

•Don’t cross the wall to interfere with the subject.

•Forget poor shots or missed opportunities. Keep rolling.

Capturing behavior

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•Contract with the subject: you will allow the subject to do whatever he is doing without bothering him with production problems.

•Contract with the audience: you will show the audience the truth.

Capturing behavior

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•Plan for the unexpected.•Discard preconceptions, especially

when they don’t fit what is happening in front of the camera.

•Tolerate uncertainty: allow the camera to run while remaining optimistic that something interesting will happen.

Capturing behavior

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It’s okay to re-shoot an answer.•Interviewees are often more

composed and articulate the second time around.

•Usually they won’t mind -- people like to sound and appear well-spoken.

•If you miss a shot, let it go.

Interview Tips

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Make the interview like a conversation.•Be genuine and interested.•Be informed.•Share your own stories.•Know your core concept!

Interview Tips

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Don’t step on the other persons answers.•Keep silent when your interviewee

is speaking. Editing out your “ums” and “ahs” is difficult.

•Long pauses are ok. Let the person think.

Interview Tips

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Keep the camera rolling.•Awkward silence is okay!•Sometimes if an interviewee has a

chance to think, she will come back with a more thoughtful answer.

Interview Tips

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Missing anything?

•Like B-ROLL?!•Did you get the obvious stuff? For

example, you’re making a piece about beer -- did you shoot people drinking beer?

•Establishing shot? Wide angle? Details? Close-ups?

Wait! Don’t Leave.

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Is when you have:

Success...

•Good AUDIO•Good B-ROLL•Well lit, nicely framed shots in

focus of your INTERVIEW

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Audio: prior to your shoot...•Have a production meeting

with an instructor about your audio needs.

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Audio questions•Where are you shooting?•What will the location noise level be like?•Can you secure a quiet space for an

interview?•Standing or sitting interview?•What mics are you considering?•What cameras are you using?

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Lighting?•Light the subject brighter than the

background.•Make sure the light source is in

front of the subject.•Natural light? Need a kit?•Improvise? With what?•Use a bounce card.

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Lighting the Background•Choose the best background

based on your knowledge of the core concept of your film.

•Separate subject from the background as much as possible.

•Light the background.•Use rule of thirds composition.

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Lighting Your Subject•Soft lighting and shadows is

generally preferred.•Direct or non-diffused lighting

causes hard shadows -- a no-no!•Less is more.

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Lighting Your Subject•A soft box is an ideal lighting tool.

If you don’t have one --•Arri kit: 300W (smallest), put on

barn doors with heavy white opaque diffusion gels on barn doors.

•Approx. 45 degree angle on face.

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Lighting Your Subject•One light setup: use a bounce

card.•Attach it to a C-stand (or have a

crew member hold it). Point the light at the bounce card to diffuse the light.

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• Instructions for checking out equipment.

• A printable Equipment Reservation Form.

• A list of LMW equipment.

LMW EquipmentOn the Resource page:

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To reserve the HPX, T3i or GoPro:• Have an LMW instructor create the

calendar reservation.• Turn in a Reservation Form to the ER

with your list of gear.• Both must happen 24 hrs in advance

or you do not get the gear!

LMW Reservations

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