what do you guys think of these episodes?

I love just listening to discussion about cinematography. The videos are insightful. Very cool.
 
They seem a little too proud of their camerawork to my eye.

I'm guessing they're using 5 or 6 cams - but they seem to move them around and cut between them at random, giving the whole presentation a messy, cluttered feel.
 
Yeah there interesting. They have some really good videos. Theres one showing all the major prosumer cameras with 35mm adapters. It totally made up my mind to get an hvx200a with letus adapter. Then I went SGBLADE ;)
 
pwyll said:
They seem a little too proud of their camerawork to my eye.

I'm guessing they're using 5 or 6 cams - but they seem to move them around and cut between them at random, giving the whole presentation a messy, cluttered feel.
Click to expand...

it's probably just to show off all that zacuto gear. I'd seen the first video before but missed the second. they do some nice camera comparison videos as well.
 
I wasn't paying attention to the camera work at all, although I can see where it might feel somewhat "cluttered". But I think of these things is the content of the episode and not so much the craft, since the content is about the craft.
 
We have four types of videos we make.
1. FilmFellas
2. Critics
3. Zacuto product videos
4. Camera comparison videos

The FilmFellas and Critics web series are shows that I direct that have nothing to do with Zacuto. I'm a director and I love to make these shows. The only period since 1983 that I have been not directing is the last five years I have been in the Zacuto products business. I was get antsy not doing any production so I conceived these two show as a way to fill my creative void. We never mention the word Zacuto or talk about Zacuto or any other products at all in these shows. These are strictly entertainment. The last cast on DP's does talk about DSLR's a bit but only as a concept with no mention of Zacuto. These two shows are my passion points. Granted we do present them on the Zacuto website and that has some marketing benefit, but Zacuto pays for it so I think we are allowed that bit of promotion.

As far as our product videos, those are promotional and meant to help sell or educate folks on Zacuto products and our sales tools. So watch them knowing they are a commercial.

Our camera comparisons videos are a bit different, they are more educational and don't refer to Zacuto products although you may see a few products in some shots, it is not meant as a sales tool but it is produced by Zacuto films.

We are in production on a new camera comparison video that will be released in the next 30 to 40 days and it's a doozy. Much more scientific than the previous ones. All DSLR's cameras compared to 35mm motion picture film shot at Resolution Studios in Chicago. See a comparison of resolution, DOF, latitude, highlights, lowlights and more. Series shooters, industry specialists, colorists, techs from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic were all brought in for this test. All of the color timing was done on a Divinci 2K at Filmworkers club in Chicago and will be presented on the web at Zacuto.com and available for download in 1080p. After the test, we recorded a discussion that will, lets just say the results will amaze you. This has been in production for months and I think you are going to find it really interesting.

Steve Weiss
Director/product designer, Zacuto
 
Steve - was my point about cutting/moving cameras valid? Are the camera movements and cuts more or less random - or is there an aesthetic that I'm not seeing?
 
wow! I can't wait for that comparison it sounds really really good! I hope the GH 1 made it in there!

thanks Steve!
 
that sounds really cool, steve- did only the cameras from those 3 companies make it in? looking forward to seeing it anyway- I think you did a similar one with film and digital as well a while back, right?

anyway maybe I shouldn't have said "show off"- if I had access to all that gear I know for sure you wouldn't see a single static shot ha. the camera moves do seem reminscent mostly of the diner scene in "Reservoir Dogs".
 
process

process

Nothing is random.
We are essentially shooting a hybrid of TV style (multicam but not switched live) allowing a camera for each talent (usually an over the shoulder), a dolly 4 shot and a booming shot. My esthetic is that FilmFellas is a show about reactions. Typically I'm more interested in the other cast members reactions as opposed to the cast member speaking. But this show is not switched live and ever shot is carefully picked.
 
Very good killcam, the inspiration is part Reservoir Dogs and the dinner scene in GoodFellas.
 
pwyll said:
Steve - was my point about cutting/moving cameras valid? Are the camera movements and cuts more or less random - or is there an aesthetic that I'm not seeing?
Click to expand...

I didn't have a problem with the cuts. The presentation is in a 'round table' and appears to be 'unscripted' so, there was some amount of overtalking, grabbing the floor (no robert's rules of order'...) and so, with several cameras in operation, the 'editing' may be a bit jumpy, but then the conversants were jumpy... as well.

What I thought was interesting was how the camera from the opposite side was 'hidden' so one had the impression it was all one camera... rather than a table ringed by cameras...
 
The content is really interesting - everything Zacuto posts is, though!

In my opinion, the roundtable cinematography is tricky. I did notice heaps of line crossing, which is more acceptable in this type of shot than in a typical proscenium / fourth wall blocking set-up. The extensive rack focus play was less an issue for me than the eyeline issues and scattershot compositions. Again, because this a live-on-tape / live-switch styled production, almost anything is forgivable.

My rule is that if people are noticing, regardless of how good your content, that is when you should rethink the blocking style.

e
 
Great videos Zacuto!

I'm looking forward to seeing the comparison one! Wow, that sounds awesome! :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
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