Trip promo video - tips

[DDirector]

Just looking for some tips on getting certain shots, required gear, or anything else about shooting promo videos.
Looking at the example below, shooting videos like that but making it MORE cinematic looking than a random person with a camera

For example, working with one company who sends students out on vacations, whether it would be down South, Africa, Europe, or even somewhere more local for a weekend ski trip.
Basically, there's a bunch of staff, and one of the staff would take on an extra role as the videographer & photographer of the trip.

Something like this..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnSi-n4ow4A&list=UUERqgj4Rdaipi14t9_Ozq8w


Keeping in mind, that any gear I use (rent or own) would have to come out of my pocket.
And that most of this is a one man-band operation. Travel by bus and plane most of the time.

I currently shoot on the C300.
No DSLR at the moment as mine's busted and would need to purchase a new one.
I use a slider and on camera lighting. 90% handheld.

Tips on any thing?
Getting the most out of my gear, what to bring and what not to, etc.?
Especially if I am the only one shooting. So no multiple operators or any assistants.


Two things I love is slow motion, and having smooth looking shots - Slider, glidecam, crane, etc.
But how do you deal with all this and with the equipment, and considering you dont know what you will need as you dont know 100% sure what you will be doing or seeing.

 

[sonofaresiii]

Good luck getting those aerial shots on pocket money. I'd start hunting for a different feel. Figure out how the company wants to promote the location (eg Look how beautiful our location is! or Look how exciting our location is! or Look how many people visit our location!) and tailor the video to that.

Some general things I've noticed in promo videos:

Clients go crazy for slider shots. I would get a dslr up and running (even if it's just a used t3i) and immediately pop it on a slider when you get to a location. It lives on the slider. (if you don't already have it done, it's reeeaaaalllllyyyyy easy to near the end of your shoot, think about unpacking the slider, setting everything up, and getting the shot, when all you want to do is go home, and say eh, we don't REALLY need the slider shot)

Crowds. This may depend on the marketing, but most places want to show off active crowds. Even if there's only 8 people, think about how you can frame it to look like a huge crowd.

B&W. I suspect this is just because it's atypical, but people love it when you throw in occasional b&w shots. This can easily be done in post.

Slow-mo. Same with the b&w. Just throw it in every now and then and you can almost hear the "ooh's" and "ahh!'s".

Forget on-camera lighting. You're not a news cameraman. Anything you point the camera at is going to look spotty and bizarre in context of the rest of the location.

Fast lenses with lots of ND (does the c300 have built-in nd like the c100? Can't remember. Either way bring more). You're probably going to be shooting outside and it's probably going to be bright and sunny. Clients LOVE shallow dof, and more than anything they love racking out-of-focus to in-focus. Do this and do it often.

Travel tripod. Leave your big sturdy guy at home and bring along a $300 skinny manfrotto deal. Your back will thank you.


A lot of people bring monopods along. I don't find them useful, they tend to get in the way more than anything else. Keep a steady hand and you'll be fine, if you really need stability use your travel tripod.

and finally, a last bit of advice: HOLD YOUR SHOTS! It's way too easy to pop something off for two seconds and feel like you "got it." Holding it for four or five (or six or eight) is going to make editing so much easier.

Best of luck.

 

[DDirector]

Cool..
Yeah, I think the main thing is really getting nice smooth shoots. Monopod or like the defy g10/12. But then again, it could be a hassle bringing it, and when swapping lenses or zoning if using a zoom.. But it would be my main used equipment if it wasn't a big deal.

Aerial would be nice. Using the gopro copter thing. It's about 1-2 grand. Not too bad.
And I could see myself getting some awesome shoots out of it.

Yes, c300 has build in NDs. Never needed more. But maybe I could use different filters like polas or maybe something else, but can't think of anything ATM.

For the tripod, I have a lightweight gitzo, but the head is kinda heavy. But really nice. Might consider a lighter head, but if I have a while rig, or a slider attached to it, it's one of the cheapest heads I could get that can support all that weight. - Cartoni HD head.

On camera lighting is for nightclubs or dark places where I need some light. I try to avoid it.
If I do use it, it's diffused a lot.

 

[DDirector]

I've been looking around on vimeo and couldn't really find any other video examples, to get some ideas from.
Anyone have any links?

Cinematic trailers or promo video of someones vacation, trip, excursion, etc.
Ones that I could possibly shoot myself