Getting the "Firefly" look?

MatthewC

MatthewC

Well-known member
If there are any Firefly fans here, I would love to hear your thoughts on Firefly's cinematography. I am interested in doing a project with the same sort of style, lots of snap zooms, whip pans, shaky cams, etc.
I would love any advice on trying to sort of mimic their look and feel.



Also, in Post Production, what type of filters or MB addons would help give it the same look as the TV show?
 
Firefly?

Firefly?

I was just wondering what Firefly was as I was reading his post. Then saw your statement about no one seeingit. I think you are correct. i never even heard of it. LOL

But may look for it on video since he was impressed by the cinematography.
 
Yes I have seen Firefly and absolutely love it!

I think the best way I can describe their cinematography is like a guy walking around with a camcorder trying to record all the action but he knows his moves, what works, and how to compose his shots, at the same time never locked into a certain stance, always ready to whip pan to something happening off-screen, so he's a little fidgety and organic as well. What do you think?
 
You might get more responses by titling the thread "Getting the 'Serenity' look?" instead. Not many saw the show, hence why it was canceled, but they've marketed the movie a lot more.
 
I thought about using Serenity, but I figure if they aren't that big of fans I don't want to hear their opinion about it.
:-O

Just joking. :-)

Yeah, the fan show I'm working on thats how I plan to film it. Lots of whip pans and zooms, a few coverage shots here and there, otherwise I'm going to try and keep it dynamic. I'll show some footage when I can.
 
The camera in Firefly and Serenity I believe was entirely handheld except for some crane and visual effects shots. This "documentary" style is also used on Battlestar Galactica.

Simply hand-hold your camera while shooting and shoot everything with a colour-temp a little on the warm side and you should be half-way there. Just don't let your camera shake too much (make sure you're zoomed all the way out) as it can get annoying and distracting.
 
I'm a big fan of handheld shooting as I feel it gives film a real 'edgy' feel. I normally shoot handheld with OIS off and 0 zoom, and it doesnt shake too much if you're used to it. People feel the slight shake, rather than see it.
 
I love Firefly! It's about time to watch the whole thing again.

I actually liked the look of the series better than the feature! "Out of Gas" was just amazingly shot.

The commentary tracks on the show talked a fair bit about the cinematography, and I remember seeing a Trade Paperback on the shelves about the time the movie was out that had a section on the cinematography of "Serenity".

Joe
 
Since you are a fan of Firefly, you probably have the DVDs, which have commentary on some episodes that talks a little bit about certain shots they used.

That would be my best advice. Oh, and getting a steadicam. Joss Whedon is a big fan of that. And one-ers.
 
Well I don't know what Firefly is; it would be cool if someone could post what this is and where we could see it.

Is this for film making?
If it's the way you mentioned, it sounds like it goes against many of the rules of cinematography ...
 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/

It was a sci-fi/western that was on TV for about a half season before it got cancelled. But it had such die hard fans in got made into the feature:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379786/

As for breaking the rules, they knew how to pull it off, so it worked.

I'm a big fan, have the show DVD's and the movie, and i'd suggest watching the behind the scenes stuff, if you haven't already. Very interesting stuff.
 
syberfilm said:
I was just wondering what Firefly was as I was reading his post. Then saw your statement about no one seeingit. I think you are correct. i never even heard of it. LOL

But may look for it on video since he was impressed by the cinematography.
Click to expand...
Wow. I am amazed there are people on DVXUSER who have never seen Firefly or Serenity. The secret's been outta the bag on this one for awhile folks. It's like saying what's a Vulcan or who's Chewbacca....

Sheesh! If ya aint seen it, don't admit it out LOUD for cripers sakes- least not on any kinda film or TV related forum. lol :shocked:

The show absolutely rocked and blew the movie outta the water on many levels. Don't watch the movie first, or you'll ruin the show. In fact, don't watch the movie at all if you don't wanna ruin the show. But, of course, you won't be able to help yourself...

The movie had more Hollywood gloss, which was kinda unfortunate... that was kinda the whole point of the series. Once you also become a browncoat, you'll see that the show and series are totally apples and oranges. Both to be enjoyed for different reasons.

The series was one of the smartest, coolest, funniest things to come along on TV in awhile- forget Buffy, this can't be the same Joss Whedon.

If you havn't seen the show, stop reading posts and don't come back till you've seen every epsiode of Firefly on DVD.

You're still here.

Go on...

Burn the land and boil the sea... As long as you've found Serenity.

Now off to Janestown with ya.... scoot!
 
As I understand it, one of the primary motivations in shooting Firefly handheld was to get away from that smooth, sterile Star Trek and Star Wars look.

Zoic, the visual effects company, even did some of the first "bad camera" CGI that I'd seen. Whip pans, zooms and bad focus pulls on CGI space exteriors.

Love that show.

Joe
 
um from what i remember most of those "zoom" shots were used in the space shots and those were CG...but if you really want to know how it was done or why. they made an article about it on star wars.

for those that missed the show...sci-fi ran the entire series leading up to the release of the movie.

...but let's not get into cowboy be-bop <- true fans know what i mean :)

other "zoom" shots in that style are used in battlestar galactica and there's some commercial on the telly where they use it during the entire commercial.

as for...

Wow. I am amazed there are people on DVXUSER who have never seen Firefly or Serenity.
Click to expand...

i missed the show entirely during it's run because i hardly watch fox. still haven't seen the movie. however for other people please realize that not everyone here is a sci-fi fan...even still they may like star wars, but not star trek. people have different tastes...you can't please everybody.
 
Firefly will light up your DVD collection...

Firefly will light up your DVD collection...

novelt said:
i missed the show entirely during it's run because i hardly watch fox. still haven't seen the movie. however for other people please realize that not everyone here is a sci-fi fan...even still they may like star wars, but not star trek. people have different tastes...you can't please everybody.
Click to expand...

True Enough... I also missed the show during it's run...

It was after hearing all the news reports about the fan base, and seeing DVD teasers about the fan conventions and stuff before the movie that finally prompted me to buy the DVD series. Glad I did.

Also I didn't say everyone had to like it- just that I was surprised people hadn't seen it yet. JMO here.

I.E. Almost everyone on these boards has seen "Fight Club" and discusses it- doesn't mean that everyone has to like it (which I do also).

Again, just my opinion, mixed with a tad of cynical humor. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

Bottom line, if folks ain't seen it, they should give Firefly a try (the SERIES, first).

:thumbsup:
 
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