Batutta
Major Contributor
I will keep adding to this list--
1. As far as bang for your buck goes, nothing beats black wrap aluminum foil as a lighting tool. Used it to flag off lights, keep spill off the walls, blackout windows, get rid of a flare. If I were only allowed one thing in my lighting kit, I would choose this stuff.
2. Lenses are more important than your camera. My GH4 can look like cheap video or smoothly cinematic depending on the lens I use.
3. When shooting high contrast images (like a film noir image with lots of black space in it), the histogram and exposure tools (on the GH4 at least) can be misleading. You have to trust your eye and gut.
4. Never shoot someplace without seeing the location beforehand.
5. I hate yellow walls. Related to number 4.
6. Use negative fill. I bought one of these and it was invaluable. Easy to set up, portable, goes on a stand and the black side can be used for negative fill. Can also use as bounce or reflector.
7. Don't schedule an outdoor shoot in Los Angeles in the summer in the middle of a heat wave.
8. Don't buy a field monitor with a reflective screen. The Aputure VS-1 is nice indoors, outdoors it's nearly useless. Why they didn't put a matte screen on it is beyond me.
9. Do background checks on any people you hire.
10. Actors are your best resource for finding other good actors. I had one actor supply me with three other actors, who all turned out to be great.
11. Pay your actors. Doesn't need to be a lot, as most actors are broke and even a little cash goes a long way with them. Also ensures that they will show up.
12. When doing it all yourself, storyboards are essential. Too much to do and not enough time to think on set about your shots. I often didn't refer to the boards on set, because I had boarded them all myself and knew them by memory, but it saved a lot of time and money knowing what I was and wasn't going to see. I used Shot Pro, which is an affordable and easy to use 3D program. I found it dumb enough to be easy to use, but flexible enough for just about anything. Only wish they included more characters, or had a character designer.
13. When resources are limited, you're better off doing something simple you can pull off really well, than something complicated you can only do a half ass job at.
14. An A-B follow focus is essential if you are a one man crew.
15. Sliders are overrated. Got much more use out of the glide gear dolly and some PVC pipe. Will probably spring for the flex track next time out. In the old days, you really fretted over small bumps in the track, but today, with in camera stabilizing, and post stabilizing, things are much more forgiving.
16. Peerspace is an invaluable tool for finding locations. It's AIR BNB for filming locations. Not in every city yet, but I found a lot of good places to shoot, safe, and with amenities for the cast. Easy to book and pay.
1. As far as bang for your buck goes, nothing beats black wrap aluminum foil as a lighting tool. Used it to flag off lights, keep spill off the walls, blackout windows, get rid of a flare. If I were only allowed one thing in my lighting kit, I would choose this stuff.
2. Lenses are more important than your camera. My GH4 can look like cheap video or smoothly cinematic depending on the lens I use.
3. When shooting high contrast images (like a film noir image with lots of black space in it), the histogram and exposure tools (on the GH4 at least) can be misleading. You have to trust your eye and gut.
4. Never shoot someplace without seeing the location beforehand.
5. I hate yellow walls. Related to number 4.
6. Use negative fill. I bought one of these and it was invaluable. Easy to set up, portable, goes on a stand and the black side can be used for negative fill. Can also use as bounce or reflector.
7. Don't schedule an outdoor shoot in Los Angeles in the summer in the middle of a heat wave.
8. Don't buy a field monitor with a reflective screen. The Aputure VS-1 is nice indoors, outdoors it's nearly useless. Why they didn't put a matte screen on it is beyond me.
9. Do background checks on any people you hire.
10. Actors are your best resource for finding other good actors. I had one actor supply me with three other actors, who all turned out to be great.
11. Pay your actors. Doesn't need to be a lot, as most actors are broke and even a little cash goes a long way with them. Also ensures that they will show up.
12. When doing it all yourself, storyboards are essential. Too much to do and not enough time to think on set about your shots. I often didn't refer to the boards on set, because I had boarded them all myself and knew them by memory, but it saved a lot of time and money knowing what I was and wasn't going to see. I used Shot Pro, which is an affordable and easy to use 3D program. I found it dumb enough to be easy to use, but flexible enough for just about anything. Only wish they included more characters, or had a character designer.
13. When resources are limited, you're better off doing something simple you can pull off really well, than something complicated you can only do a half ass job at.
14. An A-B follow focus is essential if you are a one man crew.
15. Sliders are overrated. Got much more use out of the glide gear dolly and some PVC pipe. Will probably spring for the flex track next time out. In the old days, you really fretted over small bumps in the track, but today, with in camera stabilizing, and post stabilizing, things are much more forgiving.
16. Peerspace is an invaluable tool for finding locations. It's AIR BNB for filming locations. Not in every city yet, but I found a lot of good places to shoot, safe, and with amenities for the cast. Easy to book and pay.
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