Do's
Use a Variety of Camera Angles -
Using multiple different angles causes the audience to feel constantly engaged and therefore more excited as it allows the scene to look more dynamic than it actually is (for example the shot of a character in their first appearance ). This will also help to portray more visual information to those watching more so than using the same basic shot continuously.
Use a Tripod When Necessary -
This makes the overall footage look a lot more professional as it allows the camera to be more stable when filming, this helps maintain the audiences attention as they are focusing more on the scene than the unstable filming.
This makes the overall footage look a lot more professional as it allows the camera to be more stable when filming, this helps maintain the audiences attention as they are focusing more on the scene than the unstable filming.
Plan work beforehand -
Planning your work fully beforehand will ensure that you know what you are doing when it comes to filming. Planning can come in a variety of different forms:
When planning, it is important to include the people involved in a shoot, location, time, cameras involved so that you'll spend a lot less time thinking about what to do and more time getting more content for the project.
Planning your work fully beforehand will ensure that you know what you are doing when it comes to filming. Planning can come in a variety of different forms:
- Storyboards
- Scripts
- Mind maps
- Visualisation diagrams
When planning, it is important to include the people involved in a shoot, location, time, cameras involved so that you'll spend a lot less time thinking about what to do and more time getting more content for the project.
Use a Variety of Camera techniques -
Using a range of different camera techniques can cause the audience feel as was intended. These camera techniques include:
Using all of these camera techniques it allows the scene to convey more information than the audience would originally know, for example this may be done through having a mid over the shoulder shot which shows the audience a zombie for example, this may make the audience feel scared for the character as they can see the zombie in first person view and having that knowledge ,whilst the character doesn't, makes it have more of an impact.
Using a range of different camera techniques can cause the audience feel as was intended. These camera techniques include:
- Camera Movement
- Camera Shots
- Camera Angles
Using all of these camera techniques it allows the scene to convey more information than the audience would originally know, for example this may be done through having a mid over the shoulder shot which shows the audience a zombie for example, this may make the audience feel scared for the character as they can see the zombie in first person view and having that knowledge ,whilst the character doesn't, makes it have more of an impact.
Always consider the use of interesting sound and light design -
This is a very important factor because it is what distinguishes the difference between a professional looking film and an unprofessional film, therefore it makes the overall film look as if there has been a lot of money put into it. Because of this it will make the audience more inclined to watch the whole production as it looks like time and effort has been put into it.
Sound and light design can each add their own individual element and depth to a film that would not have existed without them. Even the smallest element of sound can create suspension and therefore increase the audience's attention and interest towards your film. Furthermore, careful light design can create fear due to the sense of the unknown.
This is a very important factor because it is what distinguishes the difference between a professional looking film and an unprofessional film, therefore it makes the overall film look as if there has been a lot of money put into it. Because of this it will make the audience more inclined to watch the whole production as it looks like time and effort has been put into it.
Sound and light design can each add their own individual element and depth to a film that would not have existed without them. Even the smallest element of sound can create suspension and therefore increase the audience's attention and interest towards your film. Furthermore, careful light design can create fear due to the sense of the unknown.
Always film with the brief in mind-
Having a brief can make the filming run more fluid, it also makes the whole set up of the project a lot easier as it causes people to think about what they are making during everything they choose to have in the film there for it sticks to what the original concept of what the media was and therefore it doesn't go too much off on a tangent, this also allows the film to look more professional in the long run because it makes everything relatively consistent. What the film brief may include is what genre of film they are making for example it may be a comedy or a horror.
Having a brief can make the filming run more fluid, it also makes the whole set up of the project a lot easier as it causes people to think about what they are making during everything they choose to have in the film there for it sticks to what the original concept of what the media was and therefore it doesn't go too much off on a tangent, this also allows the film to look more professional in the long run because it makes everything relatively consistent. What the film brief may include is what genre of film they are making for example it may be a comedy or a horror.
Casting -
When filming anything make sure you have the correct cast to play certain roles, as otherwise the footage as a whole will not be realistic and believable to the audience. For example, if you cast a 2 year old girl as a serial killer, the chances are the audience won't take it seriously. Many directors subscribe to the famous notion that 90% of directing is casting, as they recognize that a film that is cast well and according to the director’s vision will be far more realistic and authentic than one cast in any other way.
When filming anything make sure you have the correct cast to play certain roles, as otherwise the footage as a whole will not be realistic and believable to the audience. For example, if you cast a 2 year old girl as a serial killer, the chances are the audience won't take it seriously. Many directors subscribe to the famous notion that 90% of directing is casting, as they recognize that a film that is cast well and according to the director’s vision will be far more realistic and authentic than one cast in any other way.
Props -
Props are the items that are held or used by an actor in a scene to make it more realistic. These are also best kept to the minimum. One example you would not be stabbing someone with a biro pen as your prop, you would use a knife. Along with the costumes, props help lend a sense of character to the figures using them. They become imbued with a bit of the figure's personality, and can even serve as a short-hand form of identification. For example if you saw Daniel Radcliffe riding a broomstick, you would assume he was playing Harry Potter.
Props are the items that are held or used by an actor in a scene to make it more realistic. These are also best kept to the minimum. One example you would not be stabbing someone with a biro pen as your prop, you would use a knife. Along with the costumes, props help lend a sense of character to the figures using them. They become imbued with a bit of the figure's personality, and can even serve as a short-hand form of identification. For example if you saw Daniel Radcliffe riding a broomstick, you would assume he was playing Harry Potter.
Delete clips - When filming a new scene, you will have some parts on camera that are not film worthy. This doesn't mean you should delete them however, because these could be used later for something else! Sometimes the thing you are filming may not go to plan and may even turn out a lot better when looking back at it, only improving your overall film.
Zoom in - Zooming is an easy-to-use but hard-to-get-right feature of most cameras. It is arguably the most misused of all camera functions. Doing this whilst filming can end up making the scene as a whole look unprofessional and lazy to the audience. However, using it as a dramatic effect or gradual reveal can be very effective in some cases.
Film a drama -
Filming this genre of film is often boring for the audience, for this reason we tend to film other types of film, such as Horror, to keep them on the edge of their seat and engaged. Drama can often get caught up in the individual problems of the characters, instead of stirring the emotions of the audience, for this reason we tend to avoid it.
Filming this genre of film is often boring for the audience, for this reason we tend to film other types of film, such as Horror, to keep them on the edge of their seat and engaged. Drama can often get caught up in the individual problems of the characters, instead of stirring the emotions of the audience, for this reason we tend to avoid it.
Film reflective surfaces -
Doing this may result in lense flare in the footage, which can obscure the overall shot and make the film overall look less professional. This can be avoided by filming in places with fewer windows or where there is less sunshine. Clear footage without lense flare also gives a more realistic representation of what's going on as it looks as though you are seeing through your own eyes instead of a lense.
Doing this may result in lense flare in the footage, which can obscure the overall shot and make the film overall look less professional. This can be avoided by filming in places with fewer windows or where there is less sunshine. Clear footage without lense flare also gives a more realistic representation of what's going on as it looks as though you are seeing through your own eyes instead of a lense.