Why would you need a B Cam?
- Thread starter Richard J. Johnson
- Start date
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
I'm 90% done with a feature using a Two Cam set-up and I would never go back to one. EVER! It makes our days go by so much faster. I can't believe I did not take this approach on my other films. I aint goin back.
It gets a little tricky from time to time but we have the flow down now.
It gets a little tricky from time to time but we have the flow down now.
Interesting... On my next production I am working with a HMC150 and a T2i. My plan was to ONLY use the HMC for dialog (boomed shotgun mic) on channel 1 and get ambiance if needed on channel 2. As a sound guy would that present problems for you in post?
Id argue it depends on what youre shooting.
For narrative, two + cams, seems unimaginative and insecure, that is unless you have a lot of action in a scene or throughout the entire piece.
On MV, if your shooting the band performance as the main subject, then Id say two to three min, to keep your takes down.
On TVCM, same as narrative.
For live concert, 3 cam min. for me.
For narrative, two + cams, seems unimaginative and insecure, that is unless you have a lot of action in a scene or throughout the entire piece.
On MV, if your shooting the band performance as the main subject, then Id say two to three min, to keep your takes down.
On TVCM, same as narrative.
For live concert, 3 cam min. for me.
RyanT
Veteran
Good call Ryan.
Mind if have my own style?
I should qualify that statement though... I was thinking in a low budget world where the question seems to stem from, sorry if its not.
Mind if have my own style?
I should qualify that statement though... I was thinking in a low budget world where the question seems to stem from, sorry if its not.
RyanT
Veteran
Of course you can have your own style. Not everybody should shoot with multiple cameras and unless you really have a handle on things, it'll really compromise your film. After 5+ years making movies and around 3 years of working professionally, I feel like I just barely have enough chops to start doing 2 camera shoots....and I'm not even sure how much I'm going to like it...we'll see.
I just worked on a TV show shot around San Francisco and watching a real DP cover a scene with 3 cameras rolling at once, it became very apparent that if you know what you're doing and what 3 cameras are capable of, you'll do 8 or 9 page days like it's nothing. They end up using 200mm+ lenses all the time, and those dolly grips never stop working, but that's just what they have to do to stay on schedule, and it's just part of the look of the show.
It's not like the DP doesn't think about things either, all the camera moves are just like one big dance..and they all somehow work together beautifully. Every move is very planned out and it's obvious he knows exactly what it's going to be used for in the edit, even if he did just come up with it all on the spot. That's just obviously what years of experience will get you.
I did work with another DP on a feature a while ago with 2 cameras...and that seemed a bit unimaginative and insecure. He'd place the A-camera where he wanted it, then just sort of stick the B-camera any old place to get more coverage. Sort of sad to just see a whole camera crew go to something that isn't really for the story and more for just the safety of his job.
I just worked on a TV show shot around San Francisco and watching a real DP cover a scene with 3 cameras rolling at once, it became very apparent that if you know what you're doing and what 3 cameras are capable of, you'll do 8 or 9 page days like it's nothing. They end up using 200mm+ lenses all the time, and those dolly grips never stop working, but that's just what they have to do to stay on schedule, and it's just part of the look of the show.
It's not like the DP doesn't think about things either, all the camera moves are just like one big dance..and they all somehow work together beautifully. Every move is very planned out and it's obvious he knows exactly what it's going to be used for in the edit, even if he did just come up with it all on the spot. That's just obviously what years of experience will get you.
I did work with another DP on a feature a while ago with 2 cameras...and that seemed a bit unimaginative and insecure. He'd place the A-camera where he wanted it, then just sort of stick the B-camera any old place to get more coverage. Sort of sad to just see a whole camera crew go to something that isn't really for the story and more for just the safety of his job.
JonathanLB
Carbonite Member
Well
Well
On a feature, I don't need a B-cam, not unless there is action or whatever.
On a music video, I refuse to shoot without B-cam, not sure why anyone would do that unless they just don't know better. You should always be shooting 2 cameras at once on a music video. I need at minimum 20 takes of the song's performance section, and no band can go 20 takes without getting way too exhausted and having the quality suffer. Most bands can give you 8-12 takes just fine, so you use two cameras and you pick up 20 takes in 10 takes of the song. It's the way to go.
Well
On a feature, I don't need a B-cam, not unless there is action or whatever.
On a music video, I refuse to shoot without B-cam, not sure why anyone would do that unless they just don't know better. You should always be shooting 2 cameras at once on a music video. I need at minimum 20 takes of the song's performance section, and no band can go 20 takes without getting way too exhausted and having the quality suffer. Most bands can give you 8-12 takes just fine, so you use two cameras and you pick up 20 takes in 10 takes of the song. It's the way to go.
xmephestox
Carbonite Member
the toughest part is managing to sneak in both cameras for ur wide and close up. t2i benefits with the close ups the most, shallow dof, less information for the codec and less to line skip so portrait shots are the money maker for dslrs. huge issues with a and b cam with shooting the same shot is basically getting in each other's way and sacrificing good composition for the sake of saving time and getting more coverage. fine line there, but if you can get great composition on both cams, and it truly is a God sent.