MadMark Films' L'EXPERT (2014)

[drapeama]

I'm currently shooting a short film and I'd like to share my work so far. I'm looking for advices and criticism on the shots, global cinematography, lighting, framing, pretty much everything related to the picture.
We're shooting with a Canon T2i and Magic Lantern installed on it.

Scene 2-3:
We shot in a city bus, with available lighting. Was enough to see the city/building lights through the window. Shot at ISO 800 to ISO 1250 with a shutter speed of 1/24th and using the "kit-lens" 18-55mm at f/3.5. Used the Cine VisionPlus v2.0 picture style.


Shot these scenes using the location lights. These were shot using the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens at around f/2.8, ISO 1250, 1/24th. Same picture style used.

 

[drapeama]

Scene 4 - Interior at night

Scene 4 - Interior at night

I had fun shooting these scenes, with just enough lighting to see what's going on while not looking too "staged" lit.
I've used my DIY "coffee-can" lighting setup, small one, with some magazine wrapped around it:


Shot these at ISO 400, 1/48th at f/1.8 using the 50mm lens.

Shot these at ISO 640, 1/48th at f/3.5 using the 18-55mm lens.

I've calibrated my monitor using this, but I'd like to know if these are too dark on other calibrated screens.

 

[drapeama]

Scene 5 - Morning

Scene 5 - Morning

I had hard times lighting these scenes, which takes place in the morning. We had to shoot after dusk, so I brought some halogen lights behind the camera. There was enough lighting, but I didn't have anything to "soften" the lighting, so it's a bit harsh. I hope only people working in the domain will notice it when watching. Other than the harsh shadows, I'm satisfied of the results, unless I'm missing something?
Shot using the 18-55mm lens at f/3.5, ISO 320 and 1/48th.

 

[drapeama]

Scene 6 - Exterior morning

Scene 6 - Exterior morning

We only had that day to shoot that scene, and unfortunately, it was quite cloudy. We also shot it at 6pm (no choice) and it's taking place in the morning. I've worked it as I could in post, and I think it's believable once the proper sound field will be added to it.
Shot using a 200mm lens at f/4.0, 1/48th and ISO 320 with ND0.6:

Shot using a 28mm lens at f/2.8, ISO 320 and 1/48th with ND0.6:

 

[drapeama]

Scenes 7 & 10

Scenes 7 & 10

For these, I had a 2-camera setup, as I could only shot these scenes once! We had the B-Cam using the Neutral picture style, unfortunately, I haven't been able to load the VisionPlus in it to shoot with the same PS in both camera (not mine, so can't force!).
Shot using the 50mm f/1.8 lens at f2.8, ISO 160 at 1/48th:


Shot that one at ISO800, 50mm at f/2.8. I only have one electrical socket in the bathroom, and it's for the rasor. Didn't had much space in the hallway to put some lighting, so we went with ambient. We see what we need to see though.


B-Cam shot, using the 18-55mm at f/3.5. Don't have the settings on it, but roughly ISO 400 to ISO 800. Magic Lantern wasn't installed on this DSLR (T3i), so it's Canon settings only.

 

[Samuel H]

I know about lenses, cameras, filters, etc. Lighting, camera work, framing, etc, is what I'm trying to learn. But since you asked, I'll pitch in...


* Scene 2-3: I like the first pic (though it would be better if the back guy wasn't there), and the last two. On the other three, the framing is kid of off.
* Scene 4: that's one weird light, but it did its job. Nice. All four frames. (btw my on my monitor they look the right amount of dark)
* Scene 5: the first two shots look cheap, probably because of the location, but also the lighting. Not sure how to fix it (as I said, still learning...). The third and fifth are fine.
* Scene 6: looks fine to me (second shot better than the first one) (also: I like this kind of lighting, but not everybody does).
* Scene 7-10: very nice (except for the one underexposed shot).

Again: grain of salt, this is just a newbie's opinion...

 

[drapeama]

I know about lenses, cameras, filters, etc. Lighting, camera work, framing, etc, is what I'm trying to learn. But since you asked, I'll pitch in...

Thanks! Every aspect is important, so I'm glad you take the time to share some thoughts about my work!

* Scene 2-3: I like the first pic (though it would be better if the back guy wasn't there), and the last two. On the other three, the framing is kid of off.

About the first and last two, I second that.
The second scene in the bus was to get a shot of him from the front. There was other people in the bus, and we went guerrila-style, so we tried to get as few people as possible in the frame. Except for that Andrew Garfield in the back, who never moved to another seat..!
The Bus scene is perfectly leveled, it's just the street! I know it feels strange, but I double checked it when shooting.
I have also fixed the one he's walking away from the camera. That one was leveled on the sidewalk, but apparently not in the frame. It's been fixed by now.

* Scene 4: that's one weird light, but it did its job. Nice. All four frames. (btw my on my monitor they look the right amount of dark)

Yeah, a DIY light made from a coffee can, with a CFL bulb (23w - 100w equivalent). Doesn't cost much, saves a lot while working pretty well. One day I'll get more expensive lighting gear.
I'm glad I've corrected them to the right ammount of dark/black.

* Scene 5: the first two shots look cheap, probably because of the location, but also the lighting. Not sure how to fix it (as I said, still learning...). The third and fifth are fine.

What do you mean by cheap? I choose to shoot there because of the minimalistic look of the appartment. Btw, I live there! ahah
About the lighting, not much to fix there. I've used 500w halogen light to simulate the sun, but didn't used the "frosted" glass on that one to diffuse/soften the lighting. So shadows are a bit harsh, but it's too late.

* Scene 6: looks fine to me (second shot better than the first one) (also: I like this kind of lighting, but not everybody does).

This was ambient lighting, on a very cloudy day. I would have preferred to shoot on a more sunny day, but I guess in the end it'll add to the mood of the scenes.

* Scene 7-10: very nice (except for the one underexposed shot).

Thanks. I know there's one that's a little underexposed, but I didn't wanted to have that one rightly exposed, as it's supposed to be in the shadow of the counter. It's supposed to be darker down there, than it is in front of the mirror. Maybe it's a bad move from me..

Again: grain of salt, this is just a newbie's opinion...

Thanks! You took the time to answer and post some criticism about it. I appreciate it. Thanks for your time!

 

[Egg Born Son]

The only shot I didn't like was the second one on the bus, the framing/composition is awkward in that one compared to the first which is a classic cinematic shot.

My favourite shots are:

-the first one in scene 2-3, the composition is confident and the reflections are beautiful; and the bus, i like how the bus stop windows echo the bus windows
-the first shot of scene 5, even though it is a white wall there is a shadow gradient and the emptiness of the left contrasts the busy right third of the frame. this would support an interpretation of calm, lack of direction or emptiness in front of him if that is the emotional place he is in the film.
-the second shot from 7/10, i like how his face is just visible on the left, enough to know it's there and no more - it is like he has taken him out of himself to impersonally examine what is left; the last shot echoes the shot i mentioned from scene 5.

 

[Samuel H]

What do you mean by cheap?

I mean that to me it lacks production value: whereas other shots here look like something I could see in a big-budget movie, that one looks like something I would expect in a cheap short produced by a small group of friends. Which is probably what you're doing, but hey, you would trick me with some of those other shots...

 

[drapeama]

The only shot I didn't like was the second one on the bus, the framing/composition is awkward in that one compared to the first which is a classic cinematic shot.

Yeah, we had only 10mins (the whole ride) to shoot the stuff we needed (for about 10-15 seconds in the movie). So I tried to cover as most possible angles as I could, without having other people withing the frame. That shot was to have a different angle than the other. One angle facing him. I kept it, but maybe won't use it on the final edit.

-the first one in scene 2-3, the composition is confident and the reflections are beautiful; and the bus, i like how the bus stop windows echo the bus windows

Thanks! The composition in the first frame was kind of "classic" so there was no "risk" in shooting it that way.
For the bus stop, we were tight in time, so I decided to shoot on a tripod, with a slow pan as the bus moves and stops. Simple, but works pretty well.

-the first shot of scene 5, even though it is a white wall there is a shadow gradient and the emptiness of the left contrasts the busy right third of the frame. this would support an interpretation of calm, lack of direction or emptiness in front of him if that is the emotional place he is in the film.

The wall facing him is light grey while the one on the right third is king of beige.
The fact that there's nothing on the wall, make the room empty and simple. No accessories, only the table with only one chair, facing an empty wall of a dull colour. Reflects the personality of the character in a way, but visually. I'm no set designer, but I thought that this could play in our favour for these scenes.

-the second shot from 7/10, i like how his face is just visible on the left, enough to know it's there and no more - it is like he has taken him out of himself to impersonally examine what is left; the last shot echoes the shot i mentioned from scene 5.

Yeah, I like that framing too. Simple, and as I said, kind of "classic" so, a sure shot in a way.
The last shot was mainly a "back-up scene" with our B-Cam, but I think it'll be used a couple times in the final edit. I played safe, in case something would go wrong with my camera, as he can only cut his hair, once!
I would have preferred the B-Cam to be more of a close-up, but with the mirror and the camera placement in the room/hallway, we setup both cameras in order not to see each one in the framing of the other. Close-up on the left, wider angle on the right.

I mean that to me it lacks production value: whereas other shots here look like something I could see in a big-budget movie, that one looks like something I would expect in a cheap short produced by a small group of friends. Which is probably what you're doing, but hey, you would trick me with some of those other shots...

Oh I see. There's no time to reshoot, as he now has shaved both hairs and beard. But I'll try to see if I can crop it or something. The same comment has been mentioned on another forum. It was about framing more than lighting, but maybe a "closer" look on him might save it.
I did some quick tests, and to my eyes, this was the best shot of them. I wanted to illustrate that he was lonely, living alone in a very mundane apartment. Very minimalist concept. Simple life, simple routine. Nothing exceptional. I thought that with the kitchen it was showing enough stuff to illustrate that.

 

[drapeama]

Scene 11-13-14

Scene 11-13-14

We got another great shooting day! Got 3 whole scenes completed today!

Scene 11:
This one has been shot with the 50mm, f2.8 at 1/48th and ISO160. Reminds me a bit of the opening scene of Skyfall:

Shot these using the 12CFLs big light as keylight, and my little 23w one as backlight. 50mm, f/2.8 at 1/48th and ISO320:

This is the big 12CFLs light I'm talking about. All DIY, of course. (Had to replace some of the apartment lights after the shoot, when I took the photo!):

Used a Polarizer to get rid of the reflections. The screen is dark, as intended with the background. The last shot has been intentionally shot that way, I won't replace it in post for a "better" screen view:


Scene 13:
Shot using the little 23w one behind him, and the main window as primary light. Used the 50mm f/4.0 at 1/48th and ISO320:


Scene 14:
Another morning. Used the 12CFLs big light as keylight again, the little 23w as backlight. A lot softer in the shadows than the previous shot using the halogen. Used the 18-55mm lens at f/3.5, 1/48th and ISO800:
(looks more natural than the other one from scene 5)

Shadows are a lot softer on these shots as well:

 

[Samuel H]

those look better to me than the shots from scene 5
even that scene 14 shot doesn't look cheap anymore

 

[drapeama]

those look better to me than the shots from scene 5

Thanks!
I used a different setup, trying to improve the results and I think it worked well. I'll probably end up not using that Scene 5 at all. I'll see how things are going. Maybe I'll be able to "match" it and save it.

even that scene 14 shot doesn't look cheap anymore

Looks less cheap because of the back light I guess?

One scene I'm proud of (might look ridiculous) is the laptop one. There was so much reflection in the screen, all gone with the Linear Polarizer. The image was darker though. I had to push the gain in post. I'll have to calibrate my external monitor for the next shoot.

 

[Samuel H]

I'll probably end up not using that Scene 5 at all.

Please don't go by my opinion alone. It's from an opinionated newbie with way too much free time.

 

[drapeama]

Please don't go by my opinion alone.

It's not only your opinion. I already posted pretty much the same on another forum, and I received some comments about the same scene. I'll try to re-work it and maybe do a version 2.0 with these, maybe I'll be able to save them and match with the newer ones.

 

[drapeama]

Fixing Scene 5

Fixing Scene 5

So I tried to "save" that scene in Post with AE, here's a comparison:

Scene 5 "matched":

compared to the original:

and the scene 14:


Still not perfect, but considering the first shot has been shot without a backlight, with the kitchen lights turned off as well, I think this it the closer I could get to "match" the shots together.

 

[Samuel H]

it's clearly better now

 

[drapeama]

Organized Medias - Audio LOGs

Organized Medias - Audio LOGs

it's clearly better now

Thanks! I think we might have saved the shot finally. We'll see if I can go with, or without, during the editing process.

The magic of scheduling shoots! I'll shoot the final scene tomorrow with one of the actors. Hopefully, I have sorted the scenes each time I've transferred the medias on the HDDs. Will be a lot more easier in post..!


In each Scene folder there's an audio log sheet:


Don't know how pros are doing it (organizing medias) but so far, it works well for me that way.

 

[drapeama]

Focusing Screen Patterns

Focusing Screen Patterns

I'm currently working on some "Focusing Screen Pattern" for some scene I'll have to shoot where the main character take pictures of someone. I've searched a lot about focusing screen and I wanted to have the best possible pattern, yet plausible.
Here's some tests I've done so far:

A:


B:


C:


D:


E:


F:


Still not sure which one is the best...

 

[Egg Born Son]

A or D. Subtle works best.