final course reflection

I learned that there are tons and tons of cameras out there. They range from small little flip cameras, to Go pro cameras, to DSLR cameras, to HD professional video cameras, to expensive digital movie and film cameras. There are different types of sensors, and different sized sensors. Different cameras render color differently.

Lighting is very important in a film. Lighting sets the mood of the film. It directs the views eye. It creates emotion. It gives life to a film. Different lights have different effects and different shadows. Lighting wide shots are much harder than lighting close ups.

Video production is extremely time consuming. If you do not have a passion for film making, then you shouldn’t be in it. You have to love it. Not just want to do it. It has to be your life. It takes forever to write a script, do a shot list, floor plan, story board, figure out lighting, location scouting, finding actors, finding a crew, finding the right times to shoot, shooting, and editing. It’s not something that you can just do overnight. It takes effort and hard work. Most people just think that you come up with a video idea, then film some actors doing what they need to do. They are wrong. Pre visualizing and pre production are what sets a professional film apart from billy bob trying to make a short youtube video. It shows in the outcome. You can tell the different between someone who has planned their film, vs someone who just showed up and screwed around.

I learned about myself that I have potential. A month ahead of time for a film isn’t long enough for me. I have big dreams. Before I took this class, I did not want to direct. I wanted to edit. Now my brain has totally been rewired. I think differently and see the world differently. I am inspired. I cannot even watch a movie in the theaters anymore without breaking down the shots. Movie going has almost been ruined for entertainment. Now though, a lot of shots I see inspire me and make me want to make more films.

DP REEL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sjyPU02BlM&hd=1

Artist's statement

     To call one an artist is to claim that they create art. To call me an artist is what many people do. I do not call myself an artist though. I call myself a conveyer. A communicator. An entertainer. A nobody. A somebody. I do and I don't. For me, I make films and the films make me. So if the films make me, can you call the films artists? In the long run, the films I make have more of an impact on me, than I do on them. I mold them and make them in the beginning. Then, they are done. But each film that I make, helps mold me. They open my eyes, give me experience, and make me who I am. They have an everlasting effect on me. They are alive.

      I have visions, stories, and ideas that suddenly come to me. I could force myself to make a film, but those are the ones that have no passion. The visions that burst into my brain out of nowhere, unravel themselves without me putting effort into them. Those are the ones that I have a fiery and uncontrollable drive to convey. My OCD kicks in, and BAM, I go all out and create my film.

     My visions are not art. They are not films. They are an alternate reality in which my soul lives in. They are where anything is possible. My playground. I just like to make them visible for others to see and enjoy my own world. I am not an Artist. I am not a creator. I am a liver.

progress

I have been learning that there are so many things that go on behind the scenes of movies. The preparation is intense. I've learned about myself that I have the potential to be a great director. I did not want to be a director when I started this class, but now visions pop into my mind and I see the shots played out in my head and have motivation to go out and make it real. The only down side is that my visions would require a much bigger budget. My strengths are my creativity, my understanding of lighting, and my form of camera movement. To better my production skills, I would like to get better at special effects software, get better at pr-production, and work on getting a crew.

I hope to become a director or actor someday. I learned that the whole crew needs to be in tune to each other, and not just random people showing up to do the job. Relationships are what make a difference and can help the story line and shots be perfect.

cameras

Cameras make a big difference in making movies. Go pros can get POV shots, be mounted on cars, or be put in small areas that other cameras cannot get to. DSLR cameras can shoot in really low light and crush the depth of field.
Most cameras now use SD cards and not tape.

The best camera in my opinion is the 5D mark ii. Yes, there are other cameras out there with more power and capabilities, but for a super low price, you get a full frame sensor, full HD video recording, 22 megapixels for photography, great color rendering, a huge choice of lens, easy work flow- just use an SD card, film, then pop it into your computer and import straight to Vegas or Premiere, and you're ready to edit. It's small. The down sides are that it can over heat, there is no XLR jack for audio, it can't shoot 60fps, it uses a CMOS sensor, and shoots for about 12 minutes then cuts off.

The best camera out there right now I would say is the RED Epic, but it is too expensive.

DSLR

Advantages of DSLR Cinematography are that they are cheap cameras, they shoot full HD, can have a ton of different lenses and crush the DOF, use SD cards, are small, have large sensors and shoot well at night, and can do really good time lapses.

Some of their limitations are that they overheat, they only shoot 12 minutes nonstop, have CMOS sensors which cause Jelly Roll effects, can have shaky footage, and have no XLR input for sound.

The Sony ex3 with the redrock adaptor is great for video, but it's very expensive, and cuts a lot of light. Because it's big and heavy,  handheld shots are more steady.

a good video that shows how great you can make the 5D look with a simple glidecam. The details are super sharp and it's cheaper to get the set up, than a normal HD video camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qv_oR_PFeE&hd=1

Scene Assignment reflections

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXN2MovmUsU

This assignment was actually pretty fun, except for being out on the quad in 31 degree weather for 4 hours in the middle of the night. I loved being able to use legit professional lights and going out on location. I was able to get a more professional look. It was more fun to film than class exercises. I learned that it takes a lot longer than you would think to come up with your vision and then translate it onto film. It also takes a lot longer to film. A few minutes can take several hours of filming. Having a good DP/Director relationship is the key.