How to make a cinema look with the HVX200a?

Shoot 24p.

Buy an adapter and rails like the redrockmicro to achieve shallow DOF.

Learn good lighting techniques.
 
I don't have the funds to buy a redrock... I didn't really understand the scene files anyhow, can't I make the cinema look in editing?
 
Not if what's in front of your camera isn't cinematic.

There are no shortcuts. If you want something that looks cinematic, then you have to learn to shoot cinematically.
 
This is an extraordinarily difficult/impossible question to fully answer, but here are two tips that might help. 1) Shoot in 24p and make sure to follow the 180 degree shutter angle rule and 2) Adjust the camera's color settings so that they are as "flat" as possible. Then, in post, use a program like Magic Bullet Looks, Color, or even the Color Corrector Three Way in FCP to adjust the blacks, whites and mids to achieve as varied a dynamic range as possible. So, crush the blacks and boost the midtones and whites (use video scopes to monitor how far you go) to help achieve a less "video-like" look.
 
I didn't really understand the scene files anyhow, can't I make the cinema look in editing?
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brandon, if you arent going to listen to, APPLY, and LEARN from the information that people give you here. why should we bother to keep trying to help you?

saying you didnt understand and just asking for the easy way out. is really insulting.

most of us here have spent a great deal of time to learn our craft. and that means learning composition, lighting and last but not least - how to use our cameras. and its not something you just get overnight. ive been in this industry for 16 years and i STILL learn something new on just about every shoot. you cant just expect us to give you the formulas for good footage. even if we were willing to do that - THEY DONT EXIST! every music video or documentary or tv commercial or whatever, comes with its own set of variables and demands REGARDLESS OF GENRE. and there simply is NOT a "best" approach or setting for any of them.

if your set is dark and you cant afford or dont have time or access to lights, there are ways to make the most of the situation. will it be "best?" nope! could it be better with a different camera? maybe. but if you take the time to learn what your camera can do and how to manipulate it, you can plan and make the best decision with what you have in the scenario youre in.

i would suggest you take a step back. spend some time with the camera manual, barrys book and books on the fundamentals of photography and video. learn about what your camera and do and how you can benefit from it. it will take some work. but its really one of the best (if not only) ways to TRULY get BETTER at what you want to do...
 
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Brandon,

Are you a troll or what?

You have to use a scene file, you have no choice. Pick 1-6 on the scene file dial or make your own, but you have to use one. I would recommend the stock scene file #2, it has a great cinematic look.

Grant
 
Thanks for the replies...

@DavidJimerson I am trying to learn, hence why I am always on the forums. I got these books, and since you are a professional maybe you read these before, The Filmakers's Handbook Masters Of Light and American Cinematographer Manual volume1/volume2 Would you recommend me putting some time into that?


@carrcs okay so set the camera to 24p - where can i find the 180 degree shutter angle rule? I never heard about that? Would adjusting the camera to "flat" being the default settings of the HVX200a? I have Apple Color that I am trying to lean as well. I like to use FCP three way but I feel like Apple Color is where its at. Any filters I should look for? or just bring down the blacks & boost the midtones/white...


@wgzn I am trying to lean everyday on the forum. It hard to comprehend just words sometimes without diagrams or examples. If you don't want to keep trying then maybe someone else will see my potential and take the time to help me. I know you are a professional but think about it you have 16 years. I mean I been trying for 5 years but trying to fully understanding it even more now. I am also not doing big budget shoots like all the professionals on here. I am trying this solo trying to find people I can trust working with me. All the way to this point I have been self teaching myself. The clients I work with don't feel like investing into the right equipment that I tell them it would work out better for them if they did. Thats why I come and ask the forum or try to experiment. A lot of you seen my hip-hop videos because thats the only kind of genre I can find in my city, where I have built some ground. I have lots of sample work as shown on my website. [http://BrandonDull.com] so I am really not lazy with learning the HVX200a & etc... but thanks for your time.


@ggrantly Actually I am a human just like you Grant aka interest in film. I used the default #1 scene file. I was talking about loading other scene files into the camera. That did not work for me when I tried it. I didn't see much of a difference. Thanks for your suggestion about using the stock #2 file... is there any other settings I should adjust that with?



Thanks again,
Brandon
 
Stop messing with Apple's Color. Now. Put down the mouse and back away from the computer.

:D

First, start with Barry's HVX book. Read it backwards and forwards. Examine the scene file settings in the back and load them into your camera to see how each one of them is different. Understanding how the scene files work isn't knowledge that's limited to just the HVX cameras. It teaches you important concepts about color, contrast and detail that can be applied to almost any camera out there.

Next, go shoot. Anything. Just get familiar with what the functions of the camera are and how each affects the look of the footage and operation of the camera.

The scene files do work, and they do create scenes with distinctly different "looks." Once you understand how they work, and how you can use them to get what you want out of the camera, then worry about things like color-correction.
 
brandondull said:
Thanks for the replies...

@DavidJimerson I am trying to learn, hence why I am always on the forums. I got these books, and since you are a professional maybe you read these before, The Filmakers's Handbook Masters Of Light and American Cinematographer Manual volume1/volume2 Would you recommend me putting some time into that?


@carrcs okay so set the camera to 24p - where can i find the 180 degree shutter angle rule? I never heard about that? Would adjusting the camera to "flat" being the default settings of the HVX200a? I have Apple Color that I am trying to lean as well. I like to use FCP three way but I feel like Apple Color is where its at. Any filters I should look for? or just bring down the blacks & boost the midtones/white...


@wgzn I am trying to lean everyday on the forum. It hard to comprehend just words sometimes without diagrams or examples. If you don't want to keep trying then maybe someone else will see my potential and take the time to help me. I know you are a professional but think about it you have 16 years. I mean I been trying for 5 years but trying to fully understanding it even more now. I am also not doing big budget shoots like all the professionals on here. I am trying this solo trying to find people I can trust working with me. All the way to this point I have been self teaching myself. The clients I work with don't feel like investing into the right equipment that I tell them it would work out better for them if they did. Thats why I come and ask the forum or try to experiment. A lot of you seen my hip-hop videos because thats the only kind of genre I can find in my city, where I have built some ground. I have lots of sample work as shown on my website. [http://BrandonDull.com] so I am really not lazy with learning the HVX200a & etc... but thanks for your time.


@ggrantly Actually I am a human just like you Grant aka interest in film. I used the default #1 scene file. I was talking about loading other scene files into the camera. That did not work for me when I tried it. I didn't see much of a difference. Thanks for your suggestion about using the stock #2 file... is there any other settings I should adjust that with?



Thanks again,
Brandon
Click to expand...

Brandon:

One issue with some of your responses is that you tend to ask questions and then tend to ignore what is provided.

No offense intended, but learning is really doing rather than asking. It's making mistakes, and then learning from them

good luck
 
brandondull said:
Thanks for the replies...

@DavidJimerson I am trying to learn, hence why I am always on the forums. I got these books, and since you are a professional maybe you read these before, The Filmakers's Handbook Masters Of Light and American Cinematographer Manual volume1/volume2 Would you recommend me putting some time into that?
Click to expand...

I recommend you read everything you can get your hands on about cinematography and photography.

I also recommend you stop insisting you can't do this or that because you don't have "funds." If you really want to do it, you'll find a way. Finding reasons not to do something won't get you very far.
 
@StephenMick okay. What are your favorite scene files to work with?

@David S. I don't mean to ignore them. I am taking as much info. to my projects as I can from all the professionals. I don't want people to correct my past videos i want people to guide me in a direction for my future videos.

@David Jimerson trust me I am not making a wall to avoid certain lighting techniques & camera add ons, I want to get my hands on them but first I want to shoot my music videos right. I watch a lot of peoples work on Vimeo all the time. I am just trying to figure out how a real professional goes about things. I want my image to look right. I just need some direction in what I can afford right now.
 
brandondull said:
I don't want people to correct my past videos i want people to guide me in a direction for my future videos.
Click to expand...

By assessing and being critical by others about what you have done, you are guided on what you should do.

That essentially is constructive criticism.
 
@David S. I know what you mean but I am focus on the coloring of my images. Not composition. I know I need to move the camera around more but I want the cinematic look on tripod shots. so lets build off the tripod shots since thats what I got so far. Thats why I am asking for a better look. All I got out of it was to shoot 24p (which I can do) buy lights, lenses, dollies, & etc (which I cant) download the scene files but it's a headache to load them on & off because you can't get all 18 or how ever many on the SD card at one time. All I can say is I am trying... Can you post your work with what you are explaining for me to do?
 
Dude,

if you want a cinematic look. YOU HAVE TO USE A SCENE FILE. YOU CAN'T TURN THE CAM ON WITHOUT BEING IN A SCENE FILE. Can I say it any more clearly?

You can load a custom file manually in about 3 minutes from one written on a piece of freaking paper.
 
brandondull,

Following up on what ggrantly said in his post above. Download the scenes files you like from the site I sent you to the other day. You can do this directly to your computer desktop. Than manually load the 24p versions onto your camera. That's a place to start in manipulating the look of your images. Once you get used to working with those settings try some others. Experimentation is your friend when it comes to a good, creative cinematographer. Go outside and film your dog/cat- your brother or sister- anything that allows you to exercise your creative juices before having to commit to a look and style for a client.

Also, you don't have to stick with the settings you download. Again, experiment with settings like detail, color, etc. Create your own look by starting with a base setting that is close to what you like from an aesthetic stand point. Small adjustments can make a huge difference.

While you are doing all of this you will learn more about your camera which in turn makes you a better shooter.

Jim
 
@ggrantly DUDE, I know you have to have a scene file to shoot on the camera...

@Jim Carswell Thank you for a more summed up explanation. Can you provide me with the link to download the scene files? I already have the SD card to load the files from my desktop to the camera. Do you have any favorite ones you like to customize? or any sample work that you shot with one of the scene files?
 
180 Degree Shutter Angle

180 Degree Shutter Angle

Brandon,

Here's a pretty good explanation of what the 180 degree shutter rule is:

http://blog.tylerginter.com/?p=385

In short, set the shutter to 1/48th if you're shooting 24p.

"Cinematic" is a very subjective term. As all of the other guys have said, you just have to shoot a lot and try different things to achieve a look you find desirable. Lighting is vital as is composition and color correction. Magic Bullet Looks is a color correction software that features several filmic presets, which will probably amaze you when you first apply them. However, if you go that route, learn what those presets are actually doing to the video itself and how to manipulate them. I would also recommend dropping the cash to take advantage of the various tutorials at www.lynda.com
 
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