How do I get this look with the HVX200?

[withuk]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning on shooting a short with the HVX200 and I need it to have the look and feel of 'The Elephant Man' directed by David Lynch. A link to a scene from the film is below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF19L00KbAI


I need advice on several possible things to attain this look, they are:

Settings and shooting modes on the camera
Possible filters that I should get.
Shoot in Black and white or do in post
Any other information that may help
Also I do not have the Letus or any equivalent as I won't be able to afford that for another few months.

I realise that a lot may have to be done in post production but any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for any replies

[Abaddon]

It's tough because The Elephant Man was shot on B&W film which has a very distinct look.

I'd start by using a 35mm adapter to get better depth of field. Then study the way those shots are lit and go for the same style. The rest is really in post where you should lose the color and maybe play with some filters.

Not much in your camera setting to play with since color isn't an issue. You may wanna crush the blacks a bit, but you can do that in post also.

[Justyn]

I'd also say to possibly look into a film look program. The one by nattress is great and it's only a hundred bucks.. The HVX in black and white looks great. I didn't go quite for that look but I shot under some flat florescents at my dad's factory and then just tweeked a bit in post to get this.. not quite EM but I was happy with the results and if I had added a filmlook and grined it up then maybe something close..

http://www.electriccowtheater.com/video/Factory.mov

[withuk]

Thank you for your useful replies. I will probably use nattress for this project as I can't afford a 35mm adapter yet. Although I will be getting the Letus Extreme in the new year.

[J.R. Hudson]

It's tough because The Elephant Man was shot on B&W film which has a very distinct look.

I'd start by using a 35mm adapter to get better depth of field. Then study the way those shots are lit and go for the same style. The rest is really in post where you should lose the color and maybe play with some filters.

Not much in your camera setting to play with since color isn't an issue. You may wanna crush the blacks a bit, but you can do that in post also.

The Elephant Man used deep focus. Not to say you could use a 35mm adapter, but I'd stick the shorter end of the lens. Also, it has a very Noir'sitic lighting style.

No need to shoot B and W. Do it in post with a sharp contrast.

[withuk]

My problem lies with shooting it in digital as scenes will have to be shot differently to if it was film. I was thinking of shooting with Chroma -7 and HD Normal Gamma, low key lighting and just do the rest in post. It is all to be shot at night and I'm going to do lot's of test shots over the next week.

Thank you for replies.

[PatrickLawler]

I guess you could also shoot at a speed like 20-22 fps to get that slightly undercranked look of old chaplain films etc. Also play with your scene file settings to take down the detail level so it isn't so sharp. After effects has a lot of cool old film post production effects that you can use as well.

[killfilm]

you can also crush your blacks in camera. i notice the shadows are pretty deep. But best advice though is to shoot it clean. then apply gamma, contrast, brightness, etc. to taste in post. I found AE has the best tools for this, especially the levels plugin.

you'd also still have the original color version to play with.