Film look / F-stop Academy / badly lit "update"

[PhilD]

http://www.learntocreatethefilmlook.com/learntocreatethefilmlook/what-we-have-been-up-to/

Here's my comment in the page's responses, that will probably get deleted.

"Great insights, I am interested in the course but why is this video badly lit? Like the trees in the background. I also get tons of overexposed areas and I’m not sure how to get rid of them without expensive lighting and accessories"

Your thoughts?

Personally I think every single video they make should be a cinematography masterpiece, otherwise what's the point of their course? I understand time can be a concern but it's like they put their camera on auto.

:laugh:

 

[Huy Vu]

So what? Great cinematography is mostly about shooting under the right condition and if they have the time I'm sure that all of their shots would be done during magic hour. But usually indie filmmakers don't have the luxury of spending all day waiting for the right moment, and unless you have 18k HMIs then you make the compromise and you get the shot. So no, the shot isn't "badly lit", it's probably the best that anybody can do under those conditions.

Good, cheap, fast. Pick any two.

 

[PhilD]

Seriously.

I need better than what anybody can do if they want me to pay for their course.

It looks like an interview for a teaching position: "Sir, you misspelled yellow. That is a basic word you know."
"Well, I didn't have time to look up in the dicshunary. When I'll be teaching the kids I'll spell it right."

 

[Scott F]

Great cinematography is mostly about shooting under the right condition and if they have the time I'm sure that all of their shots would be done during magic hour.

They were busy shooting a spot featuring Kevin Spacey, so I'd say they're doing something right.

 

[Fohdeesha]

For some reason I can't put my finger on, I despise phil bloom. Maybe it's the fact everything he shoots has absolutely no content and is the same old "subway story" footage coming out of every prosumers cam and onto vimeo, except everyone flocks to his. Or maybe it's the fact he's taken this and capitalized on it to the point of sheer annoyance. He's trying to get everyone to shoot with a 35mm adapter and grade with Looks. Hell, most prosumer stuff already looks the same, the last thing we need is it all being mis-focussed and way over-saturated and contrasted with cheesy midtone coloring. (who am I kidding, it already is)

What I'm trying to say is - I wouldn't pay a dollar for a course by Phil Bloom. It's a big orgy wrapped up in emulating film, that everyone in the market seems to be involved in the past year. Go write a good story and shoot it with a minidv, nobody will care if the background is in focus.

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

I don't like how he looks directly into the camera when drinking the diet coke. Makes me feel if I shouldn't be watching him. I actually glance away! hahaha.

So what? Great cinematography is mostly about shooting under the right condition and if they have the time I'm sure that all of their shots would be done during magic hour. But usually indie filmmakers don't have the luxury of spending all day waiting for the right moment, and unless you have 18k HMIs then you make the compromise and you get the shot. So no, the shot isn't "badly lit", it's probably the best that anybody can do under those conditions.

Good, cheap, fast. Pick any two.

Yeah, what do you expect them to do? Leave the Shire to shoot their video course? Work with what you've got.

 

[Cranky]

For some reason I can't put my finger on, I despise phil bloom. Maybe it's the fact everything he shoots has absolutely no content and is the same old "subway story" footage coming out of every prosumers cam and onto vimeo, except everyone flocks to his.

First, AFAIK he is in the business for 20 years or more, so I doubt you could see ALL his videos. Second, while I generally agree that his moody, slow, shallow-DOFy videos that you can see on Vimeo have no content, but these what thy are, beauty shots, and they are perfect at that. I thought too, that what he does is so simple, go on and shoot a boat, or a bridge, or a bird, or a kid playing in the park, but for some strange reason my videos suck, while his don't.

I don't know where ELSE did he work, but for quite some time he worked with Channel 5 doing news pieces, go to Vimeo and look for Channel 5 vids. In two minutes he was able to tell a complete story.

Or maybe it's the fact he's taken this and capitalized on it to the point of sheer annoyance.

Well... yeah. I don't know whether his friendship with Steve Weiss is real or is it all strictly business, but from some recent time when I think "Philip Bloom" I think "Zacuto". He does try to capitalize with his school, but what is wrong with that, after all?

 

[PhilD]

He's a DOP so if you want to learn storytelling, he might not be the best teacher! Film school or experience are the best bet for that.

He doesn't say anywhere that he will teach how to make a good story.

 

[Simon Höfer]

So what's your point? If you don't like it or don't like him, just leave it at that, don't watch his stuff and don't ***** around. Nobody forces you to book his course.

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

He's a DOP so if you want to learn storytelling, he might not be the best teacher! Film school or experience are the best bet for that.

He doesn't say anywhere that he will teach how to make a good story.

First of all, I'd assume "F-Stop Academy" would not be discussing storytelling outside of visual storytelling. Not sure why you think he would be.

Second, a DP is very capable of understanding story, on occasion better then the director. Just because a DoP has a title which usually limits his/her collaboration to visually supporting story, doesn't mean they don't know it backwards and forwards.