What makes a film look like a film?

Moving the camera has nothing to do with it.
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Depends on who you ask. Everyone should already know most of the basics-Go manual for everything (WB, Focus, Exposure) and light the scene, don't just use natural lighting. I was recommending something that I found works for me and the style of films I work in. There may be times where directors have not moved the camera. But chances are they were already shooting on film, such as the aforementioned Pulp Fiction. Moving the camera adds tremondous production value and will help hide the fact a picture was shot on DV. But like I said, you can't just move the camera, you need to make your DV cam (even a DVX) larger like a traditional film cam.
 
ChipG said:
Chad, I have met 1 person out of 500+ that my cam likes. I'm a good looking man but on camera I look like the devil. The devil...
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Hahaa. It's just true. Some people really shine on screen in spite of what they may or may not have going for them in real life.
 
mr_goodbomb, I think those long takes really work wonders when it's either strongly motivated, for a specific reason, or you have damn good actors. All the cast in pulp fiction were great, and the dialogue carried itself.

But the truth is most people making indie features are not Quentin Tarrantino, and the cast probably aren't incredible either. They could be, and by all means if the filmmaker knows what he or she is doing then locked down long takes can be incredibly effective. Keep in mind these long takes look a lot better on film, too. I'm sure somebody will disagree.
 
El Director said:
Depends on who you ask. Everyone should already know most of the basics-Go manual for everything (WB, Focus, Exposure) and light the scene, don't just use natural lighting. I was recommending something that I found works for me and the style of films I work in. There may be times where directors have not moved the camera. But chances are they were already shooting on film, such as the aforementioned Pulp Fiction. Moving the camera adds tremondous production value and will help hide the fact a picture was shot on DV. But like I said, you can't just move the camera, you need to make your DV cam (even a DVX) larger like a traditional film cam.
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Of course it does add prod value.

But it's not a deal breaker.

hell, add Helicopter shots to the production

:p
 
I think it's just the opposite when it comes to camera movement. Indies, typically, are roaming/shaky cam and couldn't compose a memorable static shot to save their lives.

Look at Leone, Kurosawa, Kubrick for beautiful static shots that sit there forever and you wish forever could be longer.
 
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