how to remember?

J

Jay Laville

Well-known member
Hi guys, had access or owned my own camera for a little over a year now, but actually having time to experiment and use I'd say just over a month max, so still pretty new.

so...My new year resolution was and is to get out there make time and film different projects so last night I decided to start filming my friends music video which I hope to complete next weekend and then spend a day editing. However because I was on my own I found I was struggling to remember everything. I had the rode videomic on the camera so I could sync his voice to the music voice easily but silly me forgot to switch it on :embarasse, then did a whole clip and I guess I forgot to hit record... :embarasse then I got up to play the music came back to the camera and he had moved slightly and was out of focus :embarasse is all this normal mistakes or am I just not cut out to do this? :embarasse
 
It's all experience. Now that you've got an idea of general problems that can arise, and the solutions to them, you'll be more cautious last time and you'll set up with these things in mind.

For filming anyone moving around you need to keep held onto the focus ring and keep an eye on where they are and how the focus looks. This is one of the hardest skills in camera operating and takes a lot of time to master, especially with the unpredictable movements in dancing.

You've just gotta remember that it's not going to happen over night, and not to be put off by failure, but embrace it and learn from it. If you get kicked off the horse, climb back on...
 
thanks for advice mate, I just couldnt believe my luck it was like one bad thing to another but i will climb back on and see this through as I really want to get serious even though it will always be my hobby first and foremost. Am shooting again this saturday going to get some mates to help out in other areas so its not just me and the talent, hopefully reduce me making mistakes or will cause more headaches lol
 
Make a check list, or better yet, rehearse setting up for a big shot in your house/garden. Go through everything, basically wrote learning all the steps involved so you'll be a lot less likely to start recording and realise something isn't right.

I've had problems with not recording footage - I film a lot of skateboarding, and when someone lands a trick perfectly smoothly and you realise you didn't press the record button... The disappointment is sometimes too much to bear :P
 
"Rolling Sound"

"Rolling Camera"

"Scene 3 take 127"

'Action"

Always helps - even if you say it silently to your self

"RS - RC"

If I am working under a director I check that I am in focus before responseing "Rolling Camera"

For real fun use a 5d and 7d with the record buttons in different locations :)

S
 
A checklist is always a good idea. Create an acronym from it that you will remember. And, just like anything else, the more you do it, the more automatic it will become.
 
wait till you grab the camera, head out the door and leave the battery at home on the charger ...

checklist,
checklist,
checklist.

build up good habits. On big jobs get a good 1st AD and someone to slate.
 
thanks guys, and theres me thinking its just me lol, checklist is good, and getting a second helper, trying to do it all by myself is near impossible, ill post the video up here once done, be good to get some feed back so I can improve on.

The dance scene was a nightmare, I had to tape a line so he could stick to because almost every move he want to pull shot him way out of focus, guess I now see the benefits of a focus pulling mechanism so I can mark point to point for each dance sequence. Didnt want to buy it incase I never used it but now I see the benifit and a monitor as lower angle shots with viewfinder aint happening
 
I was on set yesterday and forgot to start my camera, even after I said "Roll Camera" We all forget to do things from time to time. Especially running a skeleton crew.
 
Jay Laville said:
The dance scene was a nightmare, I had to tape a line so he could stick to because almost every move he want to pull shot him way out of focus
Click to expand...

This isn't just you, this is standard practice that most film makers will use when shooting tricky things (camera moves and focus pulls, rack focusing etc.) and to make sure your talent knows where to stand to be well framed and in focus.

Low angle shots are another beast, unless you can position yourself in line with the screen there is a certain amount of guesswork involved, particularly in achieving focus once you're framed. There is no shame in lying down to operate the camera, if it helps you get that killer shot you want. :happy:
 
Calomile said:
This isn't just you, this is standard practice that most film makers will use when shooting tricky things (camera moves and focus pulls, rack focusing etc.) and to make sure your talent knows where to stand to be well framed and in focus.

Low angle shots are another beast, unless you can position yourself in line with the screen there is a certain amount of guesswork involved, particularly in achieving focus once you're framed. There is no shame in lying down to operate the camera, if it helps you get that killer shot you want. :happy:
Click to expand...


think thats why i need to get a marshal monitor, I was laying down on my side in the pouring rain trying to get this one shot I was filthy and drenched when I got up
 
Good old blighty. If it's not completely clouded over and pissing it down, you're in work all day sat behind a desk.
 
Calomile said:
Good old blighty. If it's not completely clouded over and pissing it down, you're in work all day sat behind a desk.
Click to expand...

yep the joys of living in England, that and having such a shite PM push up the price of petrol and nhs, can it get any better lol... sorry side track rant, I just went to fill up my car £1.22.9 per litre :Drogar-Sick(DBG):
 
I have found that if I tend to forget to do one thing consistanly, I assign any person helping me to remind me before each take. Sometimes I have a person who that is all they do...remind me to turn the DOF adapter on (don't need to do that anymore thank God)
 
J Davis said:
wait till you grab the camera, head out the door and leave the battery at home on the charger ...
Click to expand...

Or leave the tripod plate on the other camera that you left behind...

Or forgotten a new tape...

At least with the 550d and it's SD cards it's easy to get the habit of getting home, pulling the card out of the cam and putting it into the reader, copying the files, then putting it straight back into the camera. I've lost count of the amount of times I've grabbed a DV/HDV camera to do some quick casual shooting and not pulled out a fresh tape as well. I now have them strategically placed in every bag I own, as well as at mates houses, in peoples glove boxes, at work, etc, etc.

My point is that after making the same mistakes a few times you will learn and NEVER make them again!
 
just made another mistake, shot 60p to put on 25p timeline..... :angry::angry::angry::angry: ahhhhhhhh pal is 50p to 25p to do slow mo, 60p is headache, caused alot of glitches, have to reshoot scene now :Drogar-BlackEye(DBG
 
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