Documentary filmmaking advice
- Thread starter HeyAndy
- Start date
Just in general. How can we be sure that shots are relevant in post production and are cut to rhythm? Is an xl1/xl2 always recommended for filming? Can you use a dslr for filming? etc.
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- NEVER think "well...it's ONLY a documentary
- If things go wrong...immidiatly stop...and solve the problem
it makes no sens to record things which you can not use.
If you record a guy firing up a building...well the image can be crapy, be bad
but when the batterie is empty....
- Be sure your sound is good... Take care to do interviews in "silent" places. Don't record next to airport, next to highways... Shut down ref's, heaters, airco's...
remove batteries out of clocks
- take care of the lighning also, but that I don't know a lot of
- If things go wrong...immidiatly stop...and solve the problem
it makes no sens to record things which you can not use.
If you record a guy firing up a building...well the image can be crapy, be bad
but when the batterie is empty....
- Be sure your sound is good... Take care to do interviews in "silent" places. Don't record next to airport, next to highways... Shut down ref's, heaters, airco's...
remove batteries out of clocks
- take care of the lighning also, but that I don't know a lot of
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
Well, if you are going to, "...Make a documentary for a company..." I am assuming that you mean you are going to make documentary ABOUT that company. That is a sub genre of filmmaking that is commonly called an "Industrial film". I have made quit a few of these, and if this is what you are doing I can give you a little bit of advice.
Well to start, you have to know as much as you can about that company. If they have a website (and who doesn't these days) go to it and go everywhere on it. Learn the basics, of course, like who they are, what they make or do, what market they serve, how big are they, ect, ect, ect. The biggest thing that you will learn from their website is how they present themselves, with images, graphics and, sometimes, video. Take a good look at the website, and study the style. Are they conservative, are they "Hip", are they middle of the road. Look at the layout of the website, what are their priorities, what are they most proud of, are there anything on it that shows that they have any negatives they are fighting (and if yes, avoid that in your conversations at all costs). If they have video on their website, then you have found gold. Study the video and see what they are used to using to tell there story.
Once you know at least a little bit about them, you need to find out exactly what they are looking for in the film that you are making. And I mean EXACTLY! Now, with this, you are going to run into organizational politics. Now, in most of the situations where I have done industrials, there are two people you are going to need to please. One is the, usually younger, person who has been given the go ahead to supervise the making of the video, the dude, and the other one is they real person you will need to please,the decision maker, who is usually the head of the department or company. You are now in the middle! Your job is going to be sure to make a video that pleases the decision maker, that the dude can take create for. The problem is, the dude usually thinks that he is a creative person and that he knows exactly how to make a video that will not only please the decision maker, but will end up winning the g*d da*n Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, the dude won't know his a** from a hole in the ground, when it comes to making a video. So, step one, learn exactly what the decision maker wants, in detail, then, step two, wrangle the dude, as diplomatically as possible, into making that video. Welcome to the world of industrial filmmaking.
As for the technical specifics of the video, the company should provide that. However, from my experience, they will rarely dictate what camera you should shoot with (Though I have had that, it sucks, but I was able to change their minds), what they will usually have is generalities about their delivery requirements. Now with web delivery, they may actually have very specific delivery requirements, but I doubt that they will have production specifications. As to what camera you can use, well that will depend on what kind of video they want, the look that you want the video to have (you do have input, BTW), and the delivery requirements. So, No an XL1/XL2 is not always recommended. Any of the modern pro-sumer HD video cameras are acceptable for industrial filmmaking. Yes you can use a video DSLR for making the video, however, I would be very clear about the camera I am using, and why, and would not go into and industrial video situation with a video DSLR unless I had a uber tricked out kit. What I mean is the full nine yards, cage (or equivalent) rail system, follow focus, matte box, and on board monitor. If you show up with a T2i, with a kit lens and just a loupe, then the dude is going to question your participation in HIS video. You may also be shooting interviews and will want to make sure that if you are using a video DSLR you have a good double system sound system.
As to what to shoot and will your shoot cut, well, most times what you are going to shoot is very specific and, in many instances very technical. This is where the dude comes in, and for you, is his biggest input. You need to sit down with him and make a very detailed shot list, and as you shoot this, make good notes as to the shoot (editing) order. Now, YOUR job is to make sure that what you are to shoot is technically proficient, clear, and reflects what the company wants. Once you have covered the basics, you should also try your best to add some style and creativity.
Good luck.
Well to start, you have to know as much as you can about that company. If they have a website (and who doesn't these days) go to it and go everywhere on it. Learn the basics, of course, like who they are, what they make or do, what market they serve, how big are they, ect, ect, ect. The biggest thing that you will learn from their website is how they present themselves, with images, graphics and, sometimes, video. Take a good look at the website, and study the style. Are they conservative, are they "Hip", are they middle of the road. Look at the layout of the website, what are their priorities, what are they most proud of, are there anything on it that shows that they have any negatives they are fighting (and if yes, avoid that in your conversations at all costs). If they have video on their website, then you have found gold. Study the video and see what they are used to using to tell there story.
Once you know at least a little bit about them, you need to find out exactly what they are looking for in the film that you are making. And I mean EXACTLY! Now, with this, you are going to run into organizational politics. Now, in most of the situations where I have done industrials, there are two people you are going to need to please. One is the, usually younger, person who has been given the go ahead to supervise the making of the video, the dude, and the other one is they real person you will need to please,the decision maker, who is usually the head of the department or company. You are now in the middle! Your job is going to be sure to make a video that pleases the decision maker, that the dude can take create for. The problem is, the dude usually thinks that he is a creative person and that he knows exactly how to make a video that will not only please the decision maker, but will end up winning the g*d da*n Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, the dude won't know his a** from a hole in the ground, when it comes to making a video. So, step one, learn exactly what the decision maker wants, in detail, then, step two, wrangle the dude, as diplomatically as possible, into making that video. Welcome to the world of industrial filmmaking.
As for the technical specifics of the video, the company should provide that. However, from my experience, they will rarely dictate what camera you should shoot with (Though I have had that, it sucks, but I was able to change their minds), what they will usually have is generalities about their delivery requirements. Now with web delivery, they may actually have very specific delivery requirements, but I doubt that they will have production specifications. As to what camera you can use, well that will depend on what kind of video they want, the look that you want the video to have (you do have input, BTW), and the delivery requirements. So, No an XL1/XL2 is not always recommended. Any of the modern pro-sumer HD video cameras are acceptable for industrial filmmaking. Yes you can use a video DSLR for making the video, however, I would be very clear about the camera I am using, and why, and would not go into and industrial video situation with a video DSLR unless I had a uber tricked out kit. What I mean is the full nine yards, cage (or equivalent) rail system, follow focus, matte box, and on board monitor. If you show up with a T2i, with a kit lens and just a loupe, then the dude is going to question your participation in HIS video. You may also be shooting interviews and will want to make sure that if you are using a video DSLR you have a good double system sound system.
As to what to shoot and will your shoot cut, well, most times what you are going to shoot is very specific and, in many instances very technical. This is where the dude comes in, and for you, is his biggest input. You need to sit down with him and make a very detailed shot list, and as you shoot this, make good notes as to the shoot (editing) order. Now, YOUR job is to make sure that what you are to shoot is technically proficient, clear, and reflects what the company wants. Once you have covered the basics, you should also try your best to add some style and creativity.
Good luck.
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Thank you to everyone that replied.
And thank you for the reply, David. Useful information
Have you got those videos online? Is it possible if I could look at them for inspiration?
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
You know I don't have any industrials I have worked on on-line. Most of them actually are kind of boring. LOL!. I have also been shy about putting them on-line because they were bought and paid for by the companies I have worked for, and are their property. Of course in my agreement, I do stipulate that I can use part or whole of the video for the marketing of my services, but I have not posted anything like that. Putting together a website is something I have been putting off.