Focus For Short

[srproductions]

Hey guys!

I have a short coming up later on this year. This will be my first "real production". Anyway, on all of the shorts I've made, they've just really been for messing around and practicing, so I using Automatic Focus. Well, this won't work for this film. I want it to be as cinematic as possible. What would you guys recommend. I mean, if your doing a moving camera shot, how do you stay in focus? Should I rent special gear? I don't really want to have to hire someone. Thanks!

 

[Joshua Provost]

What's moving, the camera or the talent, or both?

If the camera is still, and the talent is moving, you can just adjust the focus ring as the talent moves. This is called "follow focus." The focus ring has a light touch, so you can adjust focus with one finger without bumping the camera around. In fact, the LCD displays focus setting from 0-99, so you can plan out the focus changes in advance, and watch the indicator as you turn the ring. The talent has to be able to hit their assigned marks and the timing has to be right, but this is how it's done in major films.

If you camera stays still and you want to change focus from a foreground object (or person) to a background object (or person), that's a "rack focus." Again, you can plan the focus marks and adjust with finger during the shot.

For shots where the camera and talent move, if possible, plan them so the distance between camera and talent does not change. Move the camera in sync with the talent. This way, you do not have to alter focus on the move.

Anything beyond this and you need follow focus gears and a focus puller dedicated to controlling focus while others control and move the camera. That's a whole new league.

 

[srproductions]

What kind of gear are we talking? Expensive? Do focus pullers charge a lot?

 

[iain.bason]

This is a follow focus and gear: http://www.redrockmicro.com/mff_product.htm

I don't know how much focus pullers charge.

 

[taormina]

You really need a 1st ac to pull focus and set marks for the talent to hit, ensuring you stay in focus.

 

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Yes, among other duties, it is that of a 1st AC to pull focus. I have a friend who is a professional AC, and he usually works for around $200 on anything "low budget."