Make your documentary video look more like film, or make it look less like video!
Film Style Look
The question I always ask my students is, are you taking your video camera and filming (you don’t have film in a video camera), or are you videotaping?
It seems that the term “filming” is now the generic term for shooting with a non-film camera. It is kind of like the number “zero.” I watched a commercial the other day and the phone number to call was laced across the bottom of the screen with two zeros in it. The voiceover announcer used the letter “O” to describe the numeral zero. It is actually easier to say; it’s only one syllable.
So today, things that were once tried and true are now open to new interpretation.
Today you can make a film with a video camera. There are so many out there today that that it makes it easy to get one. In 2010, if you look on Craigslist, people looking for videographers are asking them to show up with HD cameras, and asking what experience you have as of last Thursday.
Light it Like a Film Shoot
Now back to the subject at hand. You should all know that when a videographer brings a high end HD camera to shoot, he brings a light with it. When you bring your low end Pro-sumer camera to shoot, why won’t you bring a light with it? That is the first step in trying to make your video look like film, or look less like video.
The best lighting for you to think about is using three lights and making a four-point lighting scheme. Ah, how do you get to four from three? Use a bounce, and that is your fourth source of light. Now, when you are on a budget, you may only have one light. If that is what you have, then so be it. Having a light on your subject will always enhance the look of your interview, and there should not be any tip-off that this is a low quality production. Remember, a film shoot may not do this style of lighting; this is for interviewing.
24p
A film camera shoots in 24 frames per-second and this is what a lot of us have grown up watching in the movies and on television. This is what are our eyes are used to seeing. Video is shot at 30 frames (actually 29.97 frames) per-second and I guess you know that. So today even low end cameras will allow you to shoot at 24 frames, progressive. That is like one solid frame of picture, similar to one on a strip of film.
Video Like Film
Filters
These are round glass-like items that you physically screw on to the front of your lens, according to its size. Think of them like shades for your eyes, where the light that comes into your eyes is altered. These are to help you get your film look even more like film. You should have a plain glass one to protect your camera lens;. if something flies at your lens, it is protected. Replacing the filter is a lot cheaper than replacing the lens. Tiffen has a “film look” kit of filters that you can use. There are others, but that one comes to mind.
Shutter Speed 1/48
Your camera has a shutter speed dial. This is when you need to read your camera manual. If you set up your dial on the camera or make adjustments in the menu to 1/48, then you may be on your way to getting that film-style look for your shoot. Experiment with settings if you want. If you are going to shoot action stuff or moving fast stuff, then you need to watch out for “Judder.” Check out YouTube or Google for more instructions on this topic; just search for “make your video look like film.”
Adapters
You can buy film adapters for your video lens to help give you that out-of-focus look behind the person like a close-up in the movies. These can be a little costly.
Another cheap way is to go on a “long lens.” That is a term one hears working around movie sets. The idea is to take your video camera and tripod (you will need a tripod) and get as far away from your subject as possible and then zoom in to them. Be careful about camera movements. Practice, practice, practice, and if you’re lucky, you may notice that the background is out of focus. Neat huh?
Post Productions
In the editing room with your edited footage you have another chance at adding another type of filter to your video. This is a digital filter.
You can get software that you add to your editing software, that will help you achieve the “Film Look.” You can get 30 filters or more to give you different film looks, as each filter may emulate the look of certain film stock that people make movies with. Some will pull out certain colors from your video, or give it that old film look with the scratches, or highlight a certain color so you get that same look of your favorite film.
Remember that if you apply a filter to just 30 seconds of video in your editing program, it can take up to five minutes or more to render it out for you. The longer the video, the longer it will take. The faster computer you have, the better.
There’s a lot of information out there to search for, if you need more clarification on any of the topics above. This is just to give you a sense of items available to you. I hope you enjoy this brief entry into making your video look like film. If you have any questions, just drop me a line.
Andre Campbell
139 West Prods.
