C100: Teacher Video with C100

Hi Danny,

Very nice! Very good key light, nice wrap around, what did you use? Also, the music, I'd like to buy that cut if it is royalty free.

However, there was one glaring problem for me. Had I sent you out to film for my client I would have been upset: The blond's hair around 1:30. You need to own your own small make up kit that includes hairspray, especially if you have a back light on blond females. I buy the little traveller sizes and keep one in my belt pouch and one in my make up kit. Otherwise it was well done.
 
nedcam said:
Hi Danny,

Very nice! Very good key light, nice wrap around, what did you use? Also, the music, I'd like to buy that cut if it is royalty free.

However, there was one glaring problem for me. Had I sent you out to film for my client I would have been upset: The blond's hair around 1:30. You need to own your own small make up kit that includes hairspray, especially if you have a back light on blond females. I buy the little traveller sizes and keep one in my belt pouch and one in my make up kit. Otherwise it was well done.
Click to expand...

I've been in these situations before. You ask the subject to flatten her hair down. She tries, but the problem remains. I think I'll be getting a travel sized hair spray can. Thanks for the tip.
 
nedcam said:
Hi Danny,

Very nice! Very good key light, nice wrap around, what did you use? Also, the music, I'd like to buy that cut if it is royalty free.

However, there was one glaring problem for me. Had I sent you out to film for my client I would have been upset: The blond's hair around 1:30. You need to own your own small make up kit that includes hairspray, especially if you have a back light on blond females. I buy the little traveller sizes and keep one in my belt pouch and one in my make up kit. Otherwise it was well done.
Click to expand...

Hey...thanks so much for the nice words. lens was the standard 24-105.
Lighting was all tungsten.
Key: Rifa 88 with an extra silk for softness, and a soft white bounce for fill.
I have a 300 Fresnel for hair light (cut down with scrims)
and a 600 Fresnel with blue Gel and Cookie for background.
Yes, her hair!! We actually had a hair-makeup person, but something happened, and I didn't notice it until a bit later (and then it got fixed).
I guess having the hair/makeup person ON-SET is a good idea to keep an eagle eye out. She was in the other room prepping the next interviewee.
Lesson learned!
 
Oh...music is available from Free Music Archive. And the artist is Podington Bear.
Totally love their selections! And it's free, if for non-commercial, as long as you credit them.
Small fee (very very reasonable) for paid stuff.
I paid $12.50 (yep, 12 dollars and 50 cents) for that cut of really nice music.
 
Oh, and not sure if y'all notice another mistake. The "cookie" which I made out of cinefoil, is visible in the one person's shots. Could've fixed in post, but got lazy!
 
Nice job....you obviously have a good personality because they all come across very natural. bubbly and enthusiastic in the video.

Onl thing I would change is location and eating.
I would have had a nice blurred background somewhere with them in left third/right third taling to you at the side of the camea ala over the shoulder type angle.
 
Thanks, Eire!

I generally frame the interview people just like you said, but departed from that in this one, trying to go for that Errol Morris-look-the-viewer-straight-in-the-eye kind of thing.
 
Nicely done! I like the look and location, it keeps the focus on the teachers.
Like the look-into-cam, too. Much more of a connection.

What was your bounce?

1:23- 128 is why you don't use chairs that swivel if possible.

I'm amazed that the dark blues and blacks are so clean on YT! Wide DR?

This might (or might not) have been one of those type shoots where you can use b roll (of either the same framing or wider) of them laughing, prepping etc. over the interview for 2 seconds...

Most importantly, the teachers' passion come across, so mission accomplished!

Oh, and nice cookie! :happy:
 
Hi GroveChuck,

Thanks for the nice words!!
I've got these impact 5-in-one bounce/translucent things I use for both bounce and softening.
Cheap, portable, and do the job nicely.
Yes, another lesson learned: DON'T USE SWIVEL CHAIRS!!

Forget the setting I had the camera on, tbh. Might've been Wide DR.
I like your idea of the detail b-roll shots. (Don't think I have any of those...next time).

Thanks again,.

Dan
 
Really soft nice lighting, it really stood out for me. Like groveChuck stated, the message came out. Ultimately thats what we all are going for.
 
nedcam said:
Hi Danny,

Very nice! Very good key light, nice wrap around, what did you use? Also, the music, I'd like to buy that cut if it is royalty free.

However, there was one glaring problem for me. Had I sent you out to film for my client I would have been upset: The blond's hair around 1:30. You need to own your own small make up kit that includes hairspray, especially if you have a back light on blond females. I buy the little traveller sizes and keep one in my belt pouch and one in my make up kit. Otherwise it was well done.
Click to expand...


This is an interesting point. In my mind, I'm not a hair/make-up person. I'm terrible at it, and if this problem arose... well, I'd be able to tell there was a problem but absolutely zero idea how to fix it. If the client wants good hair/make-up, they should hire a hair/make-up person, just like if they want good food they should hire a good caterer, instead of standing around and asking me why everyone's hungry.

That said... I also totally understand that there are many gigs where you are just "the guy who makes the video" and it's your responsibility, regardless of the circumstances, to make the video high quality.
 
Most clients can't afford a real make up person. I don't know much about make up either but I do know when a shiny nose or forehead, or very distracting stray hairs are ruining my beautiful shot. I have observed pros applying make up so I know how to at least do powder and hair spray. My kit consists of wipes for facial oil, which I have them swipe their nose and forehead:

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/clean--clear-oil-absorbing-sheets/ID=prod4130-product

Then I dab them with powder. I have three flavors for black people. Plus hair spray, but I always ask first because some folks are allergic. I also have Murine for the eyes. That's it, probably under $35. And it makes my work look better. Why put on my $2400 70-200 f2.8 if the shot is ruined by a sweaty nose? Doing make up, even half ass, makes the clients appreciate me more since they won't pop for $400-$600 for a make up pro.

And here's a trick: I powder everyone sitting for an interview! Even if they don't need it. I will straighten a tie even if it's not crooked. It's Crew PR. I want them to feel confident and that I, Their DP, has their best interest at heart. Especially corporate vids when I do the honchos, or VIPs/Celebrities. The clients notice me doing that and they are grateful. Middle age women don't particularly care to be in our videos so anything you can do to make them feel better is much appreciated.

And here's another trick, especially starting this time of year: My $9 fan. Keeps the sweat down. I have it on a remote off/on which I or the sound man will control. Even if it's just a 5 second blast they appreciate it. I can't tell you how many times clients have made positive comments about me having the fan. Remember, it's not only about making nice looking videos, it's making the clients appreciate you. So in sum, a $35 make up kit and a $9 fan help give me a competitive advantage. That's a bargain!
 

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