- 1. Helpful Tips While Filming Fatma Sadiq
2. Camera Work Film is cheap, use it - Once we have worked out a
shot and everyone knows what they are doing, it is simple to do it
multiple times. Film every shot at least three times. Keep it
simple - Zooming, panning, and dolling just make shots complicated
and can make the audience sick. So if it is at all possible, don't
move anything during a shot. However, if we want to try something,
film is cheap, so try it both ways and see how it looks when you
edit it. 3. Use a tripod - This makes an amazing difference in the
end product. Even if someone thinks they are steady, the shots will
be noticeably shaky without a tripod. However, if we want to
establish a sense of uneasiness in a skit, we could accomplish this
by carrying the camera, or tilting it a little to one side.
Continuity - If we are doing a skit, we should have someone
assigned to make sure things don't change from shot to shot. For
example, during a conversation, a lock of hair shouldn't go from
being in front of a person's face to behind their ear in two
seconds, unless one shot shows them moving it. Close-ups - TV's are
much smaller than movie screens, so it is important we get most
shots as close as possible, and people can see only part of an
object to know what it is. For example, if someone is sitting on a
car, you don't have to show the entire car; you can show from the
chest up on the person and have the windshield in the background.
4. Camera Work The Shot Frame the shot - This refers to using
things as a natural border to the shot. For example, in
conversations, you often see the shot framed by the head and
shoulder of the person not speaking. You can also use building,
trees, or anything to make this border. Sequences - In a newscast
or skit, it is often a good idea to start with a long shot, so you
can establish a scene. You should also then vary between close-ups
and mid shots, but you can use more long shots if you feel it is
necessary. 5. Rule of thirds - This rule applies to both video and
photographs. A screen divided into thirds both horizontally and
vertically; the lines and their intersections are where everything
of interest should be. For example, if you have a long shot (not a
close-up or mid shot) and have someone's entire body in a shot,
their body should line up with the right or left third, with their
head at the intersection of the upper third. If you have a close-
up of someones face, their eyes should be on the upper third.
Height - While you can make your shot a bit artistic by filming
from above or from the ground, the camera should mostly be at the
eye-level of the person being filmed. 6. Lighting Standard setup -
The most common and simplest lighting is the three-point setup.
First, there is a key light, which is the brightest. It is usually
placed about 30 degrees to the right or left of the front of the
subject, and about 30 degrees above (a person's nose shadow
shouldn't touch their lips). If filming outside, the sun can be
used as a key light. Second, the fill light isn't as bright as the
key light and helps to soften the shadows on the subject. It is
placed 30 degrees in the other direction from the key light (if the
key was to the right, the fill is on the left), and on the same
level as the subject's eyes. If filming outside, a piece of white
poster board can serve as a fill light. Finally, the back light
goes above and behind the subject, pointing down on them. The back
light serves to put a light around the subject so they can be
separated from the background. It should also be noted that these
lights are listed in order of importance, with the key light most
important, and the back light least. 7. The Sun lights the front -
Don't ever film with the sun behind the subject. This is rarely
done even in professional movies, because it is very difficult to
do correctly. Like anything, you can try it, but it probably won't
work. Effects - To film in the dark, use a less intense and more
diffuse key light. If needed, try it with lights of varying
brightness to see which works best, but you will always need to
have the lighting brighter than you think when you're filming. To
set a mood, you can try changing the color or position of the key
light. For example, placing the key light low to the ground can
create a feeling of uneasiness, because people are used to having
light comes from above. 8. Sound Use a microphone - Always use a
microphone. Built-in microphones on cameras don't work well. When a
microphone shouldn't be visible, you can wrap the cord around a
broomstick and have someone dangle it above the subject's head.
Watch audio levels - As a general rule, audio levels should be as
high as they can without going into the red. If your camera has any
sort of audio level indicator, watch that while you are filming; if
not, then watch when you are editing, and adjust the audio levels
of the clips as needed. Watch the p's - If you hold the microphone
too close and are speaking directly into it, every 'p' will create
a loud puff. So you can either direct your mouth just over the top
of the microphone, hold it about six inches away.
