GH2 How to look 'impressive' with a small DSLR on a professional shoot...
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William_Robinette
Shallow Member
"How to look 'impressive' with a small DSLR on a professional shoot..."
Have a client monitor and then go put images on it that leave no doubt as to why they hired you.
Have a client monitor and then go put images on it that leave no doubt as to why they hired you.
If you just need a bigger camera, this will handle the job, and as a bonus, it can do double duty as a synced sound recorder:
My standard response: "It looks funny, but in a recent competition with cameras costing $50,000 or more, Francis Ford Coppola, director of The Godfather, actually chose this as his favorite camera."
That usually shuts them up.
Fresno Bob
Well-known member
I used exactly this line last Wednesday on a job!
Inprogress
Well-known member
So true. The same situation has been seen in the top speed of cars. Yeah sure the Bugatti Veyron does over 400km/h, but practically, 98% of us are more than happy at 120km/h.
cyclone
Well-known member
I actually still bring my Canon xha1 to shoots and put it up on sticks to shut the client up. I don't even shoot with it (although I do sometimes record protection sound tracks with it). I shoot with my Canon 60d (and soon, my Panasonic gh3).
John Andersson
Well-known member
Put as much stuff as you can onto a camera to impress! :shocked:
BrandonT
Well-known member
Oooh, that's good. I'll have to use that.
I've done probably 35 interviews in the past month. I find that people are usually more curious than condescending. It does happen, though. I had one guy who I was interviewing say... "That's a VIDEO camera?? Ok, I'll take your word for it. It looks like it's just a photo camera with a little box stuck on top of it" (referring to my H4n mounted on the shoe). That one was actually kind of funny. And then during the interview with the very top head of the large organization that the project was for, he said "That looks kind of like a 35 mm". Which I kind of took as a compliment, and I went on for a minute about how it's very similar and that's what makes the image look so great. The client who I was working directly with (who I've known for years, but have really only worked directly for starting with this project) just kept saying how she was fascinated with the setup.
I've had other condescending remarks made in the past, but really not that many. It does kind of feel like they are questioning your... manhood.. lol. Otherwise, it's normally more curiosity. I had one student that I did a sit down interview with. Then later, when I was shooting b-roll and she saw me, she said, "Wait, that's what you're shooting on?? Cool!" So she didn't even notice it during the interview with lighting and mic and all around.
Take those questions as an opportunity to explain the recent revolution in video camera technologies and the industry. Throw in a little bit of jargon if the person can handle it. Don't go on and on, but little things like this will help calm any concerns that the client might have and know that you do know what the heck you're doing and talking about.
But yeah, there's certainly ways that you can improve it. Myself, I'm not going to add anything that I don't need or want just to make it look better. But coming in with good lighting (I use a 900 bulb LED light, plus a 150W Arri), a quality fluid head tripod, a sound recorder mounted on it in some way, and professional audio (I just use a wired lav with an XLR extension cable, but wireless is even better.. or a boom mic) should look fine for most people. For the others who are more critical, a good demo reel/ portfolio or the recommendation from another client that got you the job should be enough to get them through their concerns until they see the footage that you are creating. If all of that isn't enough to satisfy the client that you are working for.... then there's a good chance that you're working with a sociopath who is going to be a major PITA to work for. And if you do this long enough, that is going to happen and it's going to feel like freedom when you can wash your hands of them. Then hopefully you can notice the red flags in the future and avoid them. lol.
BrandonT
Well-known member
Oh God, please no. lol. Now I can see the point of every single piece of equipment on that. Definitely. But I usually run by myself or with one assistant and am busting my arse to finish one interview in an hour, then trek across a campus or wherever to get to another interview that is scheduled an hour and 15 mins or an hour and a half after that one was scheduled to begin. I know it takes me a few minutes to build my camera with my pretty simple setup and get the person mic'ed up. I don't know how long it would take one person to build and break that down, but I know it would be too long for me. Now if you have a camera team and/ or you have control of the entire day's schedule, then by all means, I can see the point behind all of this.
I really do look forward to having something that is a conventional format with audio built in and all with at least the same video quality as the GH2, and is under $4k, though. In other words, what the AF100's refresh could have been. I love holding my $3200 20x zoom miniDV cam, but unless I'm shooting sports, the video quality looks like shyte to me now.
On another note, once I (likely) get the GH3, I bet that monitoring the footage from a phone or tablet will improve the impressiveness factor, don't you guys think???
I scanned EVERY single post in this thread to see if anyone would actually give this answer.
It is the only solution that you need. And it works every time.
=P Not surprised one of the elders on the forum posted it, though.
This is a stupid trend anyway. Why does everything need to be smaller and thinner? I have no problem with a camera you can actually hold in your hands or a computer which actually has fans in them to keep it cool and extend the lifespan.
Practical over beauty, anytime.
I have actually never had that issue, but I nip it in the bud with my $20 mattebox :happy:
omnikron
Well-known member
I have found for my projects this last year, the amount of time wasted building my camera setup on location wasn't worth it. There is a time & place for follow focus, monitor, matte box, etc... but a lot of times it's not necessary. My clients have all been interested and impressed when they question about the camera I shoot with and I tell them about the changes in the industry in the past few years.
Oh, if only that were true, we'd still be able to buy the better and cheaper CRT televisions.
1. Tear off a two inch long piece of white gaff tape.
2. With a Sharpie, write "RED" on the tape.
3. Affix tape to your camera.
This will impress any ad agency type. Back in the day, doing the same but writing "FILM CAMERA" would have the same effect, allowing the agency type guy/ gal to proclaim "we shoot on film".
MalfunctioningHuman
Active member
That is hilarious.
the single most effective addition is a square shaped sunshade/ mattebox. this automatically suggests you are shooting movie and not just using a stills camera. century/schneider create a really nice little one which weighs next to nothing. it's expensive, but takes 4x4 filters. model number:- 0DS-FH44-00. I picked mine up for about £80. way lighter and more compact than those horrid cheap ones from ebay china. Don't add weight and stupid cages. 90% of cage users don't need them, and it's hilarious watching them fumble around, missing good shots because their 'rig' cant be carried around without it getting knocked apart by people.
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Century-Optics-4x4-Sunshade-Filter-Holder-0DS-FH44-00-/00/s/MTAwMFgxMDAw/$(KGrHqF,!jkFBOpCs5ORBQoWemj9zQ~~60_35.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Century-Optics-4x4-Sunshade-Filter-Holder-0DS-FH44-00-/00/s/MTAwMFgxMDAw/$(KGrHqF,!jkFBOpCs5ORBQoWemj9zQ~~60_35.JPG
Joke:- http://cinescopophilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Malstroem-Camera-Rig.jpg
Joke:- http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/travis_camera-low.jpg
Joke:- http://joesutherland.com/images_products/PCI-Custom-Shoulder-Rig-04.jpg
if I booked someone to come and do a video shoot where a dslr was the best option and they showed up with rigs like this I would probably ask them to leave. It's like they wanted to remove every physical advantage a dslr has over typical video cameras. Can you ever imagine talent (real talent), taking an interview seriously with the bloke in the last photo doing the camera work?
Joke:- http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/travis_camera-low.jpg
Joke:- http://joesutherland.com/images_products/PCI-Custom-Shoulder-Rig-04.jpg
if I booked someone to come and do a video shoot where a dslr was the best option and they showed up with rigs like this I would probably ask them to leave. It's like they wanted to remove every physical advantage a dslr has over typical video cameras. Can you ever imagine talent (real talent), taking an interview seriously with the bloke in the last photo doing the camera work?