DVX100b Cinematography Tutorials/Article/Experience

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ondcolisto

New member
So I'm going to be making a short film at the end of August and I'm in the process of doing all the pre-production work. I have used a DVX100b and have made a few shorts -- all of which I think could have been better with more focus on the cinematography end of it. I want this short to have the best picture quality/feel as possible. The good news is that this will be in black and white.

I am going for a clean bright and crisp feel to my black and white short.

a%20la%20haine%20hate%20LA_HAINE_DISC01-02.jpg


a%20la%20haine%20hate%20LA_HAINE_DISC01-2%281%29.preview.jpg


Taken from the movie 'La Haine'

Can anyone give me any insight about shooting with B/W in terms of lighting and lenses etc...

I am filming outside and depending mostly on natural light. I will be buying lighting equipment so I will most likely use it if I need it.

I am also going to buy a few lenses/filters. I definitely want a Wide Angle Lens, a Telephoto, and a few filters. Does anyone have any suggestions about what's good to get for the good old DVX?



Any help would be great appreciated :)

Thanks
​
 
Man, I really like those grabs! If this is what you're aiming for, I think you'll need some advice from the lighting experts on the forum. Maybe GAGEFX would be willing to chime in on this, among others.
 
Thanks metro, for the vote of confidence, I'll try to help if I can.

Colisto: you mention lenses. Are you using a 35mm adapter or just a bare DVX?

If you could answer that, we can move on to lighting and possible filters.

One note is that in your top frame, there isnt a single SHARP point in the frame. The CU guy is out of focus (OOF) and the BGguys are OOF. You'll want to really nail that critical focus for nice picture quality. Also, for b/w, lighting and contrast are paramount. You dont have the colors to separate aspects, so it is all through lighting and subsequent tone.


WHY are you choosing b/w? I's there something about the story that makes it a good choice? And, is it just b/w in that it is just "normal" but happens to be in b/w (like your second still) or do you intend for something more stylistic and moody (like your first still).

I could give quick answers that may or may not pertain. I believe the answers to what I've asked are important.
 
I checked the lighting board and found a few articles/tuts that could be useful in the short time to come. thanks metro.

GageFX:
I am using the stock DVX lens and I am willing to buy any filters that would help my cause. This shoot is going to be 95% in a downtown alley way in the afternoon, so I'm depending a lot on natural light -- there's a chance I will be buying a lighting kit and use it if necessary (will it be necessary?). The style of the film will be with the framing and movement, not so much the lighting. So as for the two pics I posted, in a general sense I would like the film to be like the second picture. I want it to have a clean, bright, smooth, and professional feel.

Lighting and Contrast is key as you said and I'd love to hear anything that could better my project.

I'm doing b/w for stylistic reasons - mainly because I pictured it in black and white while writing the script and I think it would be a great way introduction to lighting.

;)
 
I want it to have a clean, bright, smooth, and professional feel.
Click to expand...

Natural, uncontrolled light is not the way to achieve this. And it's impossible to determine what will be needed without seeing the location and the lighting at various times of the day.

I dont do any b/w stuff. I'm going to jump on AE and try a couple thigns and get back to you.

You need alot of light so light in day light. Reflectors are easier and much cheaper, but dont work for every situation, and again, it largely depends on the location.

Tell me a little about the film. Is it raw and harsh like American History X, or... I dont know. Give me an idea of the feeling you are going for. What was it abou the story that made you think in black and white while writing it?
 
ondcolisto said:
I'm depending a lot on natural light -- there's a chance I will be buying a lighting kit and use it if necessary (will it be necessary?).
Click to expand...

Forget about buying a lighting kit. To compete with the sun you need HMIs and a generator that can cost quite a bundle. Unless you're running with a huge crew this is severely impractical.

You're fighting an uphill battle here by filming in an alley way. The buildings around will block all the sunlights coming in so all your subjects are gonna be lit flatly like an overcast day and all of the background is likely to be blown out if you can see out in the street. Reflectors won't do much good if there are no sun to reflect.
 
I am curious about one thing...how much of an issue is color temp in this situation? I mean, could he get a clean look using simple work lights?
 
Color temp wont factor a whole lot (again, I haven't done alot of b/w conversion so I cant say for sure without tests), but worklights will not be anywhere CLOSE to enough light.

We're talking 5k+ each light. Preferably no less than 10k. You need ALOT of light to light daylight. Shade MIGHT work, and you can handle the contrast and look in post (to try to counteract the flat light, or at least make it work for you), but what Huy says about the blown background is precisely why I said I'd need to see the location. If your actors are in shade, but the sun is hitting a wall, it'll be blown to hell.

You dont have a location listed: if overcast skies are a typical thing, you may be able to get that to work for you.
 
Maybe you could go to the location and shoot some test footage, then post it on vimeo or youtube. It might help to clarify what you're dealing with.
 
I think the reasons for shooting my short in b/w is purely on a subconscious level. I can't clearly explain why I think it should be shot on b/w, I just know it should be shot on b/w. I was planning on treating the short when shooting as if I want to make well lit, bright, and clean -- and if there was a chance I decided to go for the american history x grimy look, I could always achieve it in post.

The alley way building/light dilemma is a good point that I haven't put much thought in (shows how nub I am right now with this lighting thing ;p) so I agree with finding the location and showing pictures/videos of the location; so you guys can see what I'm going to be working with. I will be going scouting locations this weekend so I'll have something in that time.

I really appreciate the feedback :).
 
I LOVE LA HAINE!

And back to your scheduled thread.

And maybe if you shot at night, you would have more control over the lighting and use work lights etc.
 
Depending on how much movement is in the scene, you can always just play ping-pong with some shiney boards, get one out of the alleyway in the sun and shoot it in, then you can bounce the light coming from that shiny board onto your talent or wherever you like.
 
I would spend a day at the location with...at least the DP...so you know how the light changes as the day progresses. Plus your color of light will change as well. You could have a bit of a problem matching shots, of course some of that can be corrected in post, but never count on post to save any shooting. Plan it out by the hour so you know exactly how to arrange your shot list.
 
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