Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: advice

Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: advice - Recent Posts http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: advice - Recent Posts en Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:08:52 +0000 michael9 on "Amateur to Amateur Advice...." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/amateur-to-amateur-advice#post-74672 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:22:06 +0000 michael9 74672@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hi Thanks, great to find such a clear delivery of info. Cheers Michael Kenkyusha on "Requesting Feedback" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/requesting-feedback#post-74088 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:40:30 +0000 Kenkyusha 74088@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ The Trailer for Feline- great premise, good use of sound FX and framing of some of your shots (e.g. your main character drinking from the glass with the kitten calendar on the wall).  To my eye, the thing that needs most work is lighting (there were a bunch of dark and undefined images in Feline and Three Guys on a Couch).  That and the sound was blown-out in '3 Guys'. HTH. *Final nitpick, the Feline trailer has a billed time of over 4:00 despite the actual runtime- whatever upload issue you may have had, a newer one with accurate time would be better. C.D.P on "Requesting Feedback" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/requesting-feedback#post-74087 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:47:40 +0000 C.D.P 74087@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hi, if you could take a moment to check out our work and offer some advice, I'd be very grateful. We're beyond beginner, but have taken a real interest into making videos. So any pointers, advice good or bad, would be great. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cavedemonproductions">http://www.facebook.com/cavedemonproductions</a> Thank you and all the best Cave Demon Productions. EarlC on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-73271 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:30:12 +0000 EarlC 73271@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Great tool, Robin. I like your enthusiasm and initial assessment. I am personally interested in hearing more as you get into the abilities and quality of video with your new camcorder. Please do keep us informed. designcbts on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-73270 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:07:21 +0000 designcbts 73270@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/  Congratulations Robin!   Start investing time with your new equipment, even if it's just shooting some stock footage for yourself.  Be careful, protect your camcorder and accessories from drops, scrapes, etc.  I would also start experimenting with your shotgun mic in different envronments (indoor/outdoors).  Good luck! Robin on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-73256 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:42:02 +0000 Robin 73256@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hey thanks everyone for all the info. It was extremely helpful. I ended up getting the panasonic AG-HMC80-- it's a perfect size and weight (really stable); it can record in HD or SD; it has a lot of really great manual functions; and the sound is good (I got a shotgun mic as well.) <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/709719-REG/Panasonic_AG_HMC80_AG_HMC80_3MOS_AVCCAM_HD.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/709719-REG/Panasonic_AG_HMC80_AG_HMC80_3MOS_AVCCAM_HD.html</a> I just got it yesterday and I'm really happy with it, though I'm still learning how to use it:) Joseph Dellwo on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72766 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:28:49 +0000 Joseph Dellwo 72766@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ I'm not going to get too deep into the DSLR vs camcorder issue here - I own both and both have their place - it really depends on what you want to do with them. But I will say this - I owned the venerable Canon XL-1 for almost 10 years and never bought a second lens. Weddings, commercials, sports, training videos and more - same lens. So don't get hung up too much on interchangable lenses. Your camera moves. And I NEVER had to sweat the audio with my XL. There's nothing like having all your controls at your fingertips and a nice headphone jack to make sure you get the audio you need. Secondly, if you do go DSLR to shoot mostly video, consider a Canon t3i (600d) instead of the weather sealed 7d. If you aren't taking it into the jungle, the t3i will do everything video-wise and more that a 7d can do for way less money. Same APS-C sensor. Same lenses. Awesome flip out viewfinder. An admittedly difficult to use audio meter and manual controls, but at least it has them. It's also less prone to overheating. Put the money you save into good audio equipment. There is no one size fits all camera. Figure out what you are going to do with your camera and let that guide you. Bruce on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72763 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:07:35 +0000 Bruce 72763@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Robin, I think you're getting ahead of yourself. Interchangeable lenses? Why? It's like starting out as a young driver and your want your first car to be an Indy racing car. Get a great rated Canon, or any other brand/video camera that others rate high. Use that camera's zoom feature, or better yet, get your subject within the framing/asthetic reasons. When you've reached that peak in ability, projects, getting to know what works and what doesn't, then you can use your past knowledge and step up to the interchangeable world of videocameras. Good luck and enjoy the experiences. David Forrester on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72762 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:43:44 +0000 David Forrester 72762@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Robin: I have both. A dedicated camcorder Sony Z5 and a superb DSLR Canon 5D Mk2 with 8 Zeiss lenses. I have used them extensively for over a year. Both cameras give stunning quality pictures. When it comes to stills, the Canon is world class. When it comes to clear, clean night or low light photography, the Canon wins hands down. When it comes to shallow depth of field, creativity "art" type of shooting, the Canon wins big time and in truth, that is why I got it. But when it comes to audio - and remember audio is 50% of the total capture and often overlooked or minimized, the Canon fails miserably. So I had to buy an external Zoom Hn4 recorder - which means you need another person with you to focus in on the audio component. It means you have to turn on and off the camera AND the recorder each time - watch for level controls, etc. It won't work for a single gal. Not at this stage of the game. And then you have sync the sound in post. The Zoom does give a huge range of audio options and quality and 4 channels - so that is amazing alone and worth the price of admission!! But it IS another job for a dedicated sound guy. The Sony Z5 does these things that the Canon cannot do: Delivers stunning pictures with a 20X zoom, the quality and sharpness indistinguishable or better than the Zeiss and the Canon. Maybe the colors aren't as saturated, but that is always done in post anyway. That Sony has superb built-in mics and another directional mic that is as good as my Sennheiser ME66. The controls of the Sony allow me to do anything my heart desires from run and gun automatic to any form of manual / auto and therefore alllows me to follow focus. The audio is taken care of automatically or manually. It can accept 2 XLR mics, on line inputs, phantom power. I don't have to change out lenses - the range is from 29-580 - huge! And variable zoom rates which can almost duplicate a slow dolly shot! and 2 zoom rockers and start / stop buttons for low angles. It has a flip out rotational screen - awesome! For ultra wides, I use an adapter. It has 3 built in ND's which are absolutely a MUST (Canon does not). it has something like 100 functions including peaking, color settings, profiles, last frame review, variable rates when color or light changes, 24 and 30p as well as SD and interlacing (dinosaurs these days). And variable lens stability too! And I USE all of them often. Even slo-mo (but you sacrifice pix quality). And it can record for an hour non-stop - then you have to change tapes. It does not overheat. One battery is good for 6 hrs of continuous recording - unheard of in a dslr. The only downside is the lack of shallow depth of field at 29-150mm settings and low light with clarity and no noise. But trust me, the Sony is still the king of the 2. I love that Canon 5D, but it has become a cash sink-hole to make it work. For instance, when shooing at f 1.4-2.8, the focus is shallow - sometimes razor thin. Following action is almost impossible and takes great skill and practice. The live view is the only way to see the picture and it and it is not nearly good enough for precise focusing with a big lens of 50-180mm range and a moving subject 5-10' away. You are always switching to 5 and 10X zoom for precision - a pain but necessary. The fully manual Zeiss lenses are world class and trust me, they need exacting precise operations to make them sing - therefore you need help. I got a Hoodman to look up close to the live view which is a great asset, but still cannot equal an external monitor such as the Marshall 5 or 7" (absolute pre-requisites) and that costs 500-1000. The Canon cannot do a 15 min straight shoot as it gets too hot and shuts down to cool off. I can do it in the winter tho. The Canon has moire and a digital look with microscopic vertical and horizontal lines. The Sony's Exmor chip eliminates that completely. The Canon shines when it comes to the creative aspect, but really needs to be properly set up and very carefully used only in the right setting. The Sony weighs 6 pounds. The Canon with lenses, audio, gear accessories is 30 lbs or more. Canon investment is around $10k. Sony is $4k and is easier to use by a wide margin. But when it comes to stills, Canon is the king in the world. Hope this gives a really detailed, in depth, understanding of what you are up against. Now, having said that, a great DP once said this after looking at the Great Camera Shootout, "Give me a good script, a good cast and a good Director and I can win the world" even with so-so equipment. Schindler's List is a classic example of exactly that. Tim on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72491 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:40:02 +0000 Tim 72491@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Robin... as somebody else mentioned, you'll have to find another means for capturing audio if you go with a DSLR.  Big consideration. I purchased an XA10 a couple of months ago.  Great pic, relatively easy to use... I had a small issue configuring mic inputs, but I may have just been having a bad day... again.  It's very small and a little hard to get used to as I was using a Panasonic AG-DVC60 before.  Zoom control is a little touchy.  But, I'm happy with my purchase and the quality of the video. vid-e-o-man on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72419 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:42:10 +0000 vid-e-o-man 72419@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Robin, as Joshua stated: They sell camcorders with interchangeable lenses (almost any DSLR lens if you have the adapter for it) which are designed to bridge the gap between camcorders and DSLR's, Sony's nex 10 price is in your range. I haven't any experience with it but you can find lots of input on it. It has a large enough sensor to give the shallow depth of field and you can add an adaptor to use a lot of different lenses. The form factor is similar to a videocam good for run and gun and I don't think that you will have the overheating issue as a DSLR. You were looking for another suggestion and I thought of this. Good luck with your choice. Robin on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72403 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:57:13 +0000 Robin 72403@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hey thanks everyone-- this is great. I really appreciate the thoughts and comments. Rob you brought up a great point about just knowing the trade and Earl you brought up a great point about the inconvenience of changing lenses. Out of curiosity, does anyone have any other camcorder recommendations? Freddy on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72392 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:18:53 +0000 Freddy 72392@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Actually, DSLR are pretty nice for many things, when you already know the basic and you are in situations where there is not enough light for example. But for learning purpose, I would prefer a camcorder, just for the fact that I would develop more skills to fix that low light situation, instead of relying on my low light capacity. At least for me, is not just "what is best", but "what push me more to be creative". Later on, you can find out "what is easier" : ) EarlC on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72391 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:31:11 +0000 EarlC 72391@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Controlled shooting environment with the availability for retakes ... something in the growing, interchangeable lens, DSLR family. This is, of course, provided you have the budget for additional quality audio acquisition and an assortment of lenses that will enable you to take advantage of the creative potential that comes with interchangeable lenses. Virtually ANY other video production environment that calls for being quick on the trigger, from ENG to what Rob said about "run-and-gun" where you have to move quickly and be ready to shoot, or continue shooting for various reasons would benefit from a video camcorder. In my case i do a LOT of continuous record event shooting that lasts from one-to-two hours, often without breaks. I have NO use for another lens, nor would I be able to anticipate, drag out another lens and change it mid-performance. I need long record times without stopping/starting due to heat and time restrictions, and I do not want to be any MORE creative than what two camcorders, one shooting wide to medium, the other shooting medium to extreme close up, can give me. A camcorder, PLEASE! Joshua Strazewski on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72389 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:22:49 +0000 Joshua Strazewski 72389@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/  They sell camcorders with interchangeable lenses (almost any DSLR lens if you have the adapter for it) which are designed to bridge the gap between camcorders and DSLR's.  The problem now is they're new and pricey.  DSLR's are good for interview type shooting/fixed camera placement.  I use mine (D5100 which I know is a pain to use for video on account of having to back door the settings to get it out of auto focus) for time lapse and stills to complement my HMC-150 footage, not replace it. videoworksjh on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72385 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:28:47 +0000 videoworksjh 72385@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/  I find myself asking the same question, I have three, three chip Sony camcorders.  Although these are good cameras, I do have problems in low light situations.  I have just started looking into these cameras.  The ability to change lenses seems like a great step forward in low light situations.  Maybe if we throw this question up in the cloud.  "Ha ha" we will all be able to gather some more information.  But on the surface, these smaller cameras with the ability to change lenses, and their ability in low light situations makes them extremely interesting. robGRAUERT on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72382 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:58:09 +0000 robGRAUERT 72382@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ If you're a film student and want to work in film/television, I think you are better off getting a real video camera first. The HDSLRs lack many controls and inputs that are standard on video cameras. And whether or not HDSLRs are more versatile is based on the type of shoot you are on. They aren't more versatile in run-n-gun situations. And with new 35mm video cameras becoming more available, HDSLRs are becoming more irrelevant. When you get out of school, a legit employer will hire you based on what you can do, not necessarily what equipment you used in school. So you need to focus on HOW to tell a story, HOW to shoot, HOW to light, HOW to edit, HOW to make motion graphics, HOW to encode and compress. Don't get so caught up on what gear you are using. Don on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72372 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:51:24 +0000 Don 72372@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ this debate has been done, check the forums search.. I have no experience with that camera... Robin on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72370 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:59:28 +0000 Robin 72370@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hey thanks for the reply--yea I'd be able to get more lenses but that would have to wait a few months... Do you know anything about the XA10? Do you think it'd be the right investment? Don on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72369 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:51:00 +0000 Don 72369@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ I think you answered your own question... if your budget is limited, you're gonna want lighting and sound equipment.... then will you be able to afford lenses for a d-slr? if not then there is no point in going that direction. Robin on "DSLR vs. Prosumer Camcorder?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dslr-vs-prosumer-camcorder-1#post-72368 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:25:16 +0000 Robin 72368@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hello, I am a student filmmaker and I am about to purchase a new camera. I am debating between a DLSR (something like the Canon 7d) or a prosumer camcorder (like the Canon XA10.) My budget is around $2,000 or so. I already have a digital camera (the Nikon d80, which is decent) so I am leaning towards a camcorder. I feel that since if I am trying to be a filmmaker and not a photographer a DSLR is not the right direction to go. However, a lot of my friends have and recommend them because they are versatile (in terms of lenses and whatnot.) Any comments or advice? Is there another brand that I should consider? Do you have any other recommendations for cameras? (Just a note as far as my post production goes-- I edit on final cut pro 6 and have a 1 TB external hard drive.) composite1 on "Amateur to Amateur Advice...." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/amateur-to-amateur-advice#post-63978 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:11:03 +0000 composite1 63978@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Luis, Yup that's straight 'Guerrilla' brother! One way to cut down on heat on set is to use Compact Flash Bulbs instead of Halogens and Flood lights. CF Bulbs come in comparable wattages of 100, 150 and 300. You'll have to double to quadruple up on bulbs to achieve a certain wattage level (i.e. 600w = 6 100w, 4 150w or 2 300w) but, they're much cheaper and don't kick out anywhere near the heat. You can also get them in Daylight and Indoor (Tungsten equivalent). Be advised CF bulbs are 'off color temperature' from traditional bulbs. Indoor bulbs rate at around 2700K and Daylights rate at 6500K so make sure to do a good manual white balance and adjust your exposures accordingly. Halogens are best used outdoors for shooting. Indoors they do present a potential fire risk. SargeHero on "Amateur to Amateur Advice...." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/amateur-to-amateur-advice#post-63975 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 07:54:45 +0000 SargeHero 63975@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Nice video Wolfgang. My greenscreen set have guerrilla written all over it, but it works great. Although the set temperature rise like 5 degrees, I turn the lights off from time to time and I put a fan in the side for a more "pleasant" experience. For chroma keying I prefer to use After Effects because its way more powerful than Premiere and I feel more comfortable with it. Check out my greenscreen guerrilla style set, enjoy <img src="http://api.ning.com/files/rkKEupXRKlRXnKX7I0heU9pTfiEVT5Mx0WAK76tlI70B3IO-aQP37wLEXxzq54i*JVOs5vpVk3yiqNyS7TLIhtk2R10dVKl6/DSC05565.JPG?width=737&height=552" width="350" height="245" /> <img src="http://api.ning.com/files/JqrgyMHgQmnw9NoNqnnnqOoHbB6yyUcIQChl3V0dQGDR6fsB2bI1f1eJFCCrsazPpqF3uSoHRE*ZFr5yv*K0-iJBy38YPVnT/DSC05571.JPG?width=737&height=552" width="350" height="245" /> <img src="http://api.ning.com/files/wC0ZJYtbZZ7PRoJw3BLYqc3BM7qrZUyiUEjaW98OmkV6Pg5da71CjT6RWw67KGrUpgMK57RnrRX13o9aUFiwKrHr9or9r1bF/DSC05573.JPG?width=737&height=552" width="350" height="210" /> <img src="http://api.ning.com/files/QRLV2bu-SV-p3b1Syuc7nO8YqroUfCLX8cWEIB-jt71YmLCGrq9m-BWzkFCBVcW5pB760HVzxmrqpd9Tug261OdMIoHALGfO/DSC05572.JPG?width=737&height=552" width="350" height="210" /> WSanford on "Amateur to Amateur Advice...." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/amateur-to-amateur-advice#post-63971 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:32:24 +0000 WSanford 63971@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ That was great. composite1 on "Amateur to Amateur Advice...." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/amateur-to-amateur-advice#post-63964 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:14:10 +0000 composite1 63964@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ As one of the many Pro and Intermediate Gurus here in the forums, I've given tons of tips and advice to tons of Amateur and newbie videomakers. It's always cool to find an Amateur or Intermediate who has the chops to put out good info that even we pro's can find useful. Here's a vid by Dave Dugdale on 'How to Greenscreen with Adobe Premiere CS5'. <a href="http://vimeo.com/16953620">How to Key Green Screen DSLR Footage in Premiere Pro CS5</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/dugdale">Dave Dugdale</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. composite1 on "Interview Lighting, Softbox & Reflector Advice Needed" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/interview-lighting-softbox-reflector-advice-needed#post-63720 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:32:40 +0000 composite1 63720@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ "I think I will try and adjust the colors in post first using the daylight bulbs." Milky, Lights don't make your video 'clearer'. You have to properly expose your shots according to the light you have available. In your case, the light available will be electric lights instead of sunlight. It is the amount of light you have available in your scene which will determine your exposure settings. The only thing 'daylight bulbs' will do is simulate sunlight. If your scene requires 'fake sunlight' then daylight bulbs are an excellent choice when you can't use sunlight. Otherwise standard white indoor lighting (tungsten or indoor compact fluorescent bulbs) will do just fine. If you have to 'fix' your lighting during post-production, you've already screwed up and may not be able to. "What are 'old Masters portrait books' please as I have never heard of these." Go to your local library (preferably) or search on-line for books and info on master painters like Da Vinci, Rubens, Van Der Meer, Raphael, or any of the 'Neo-Classical' or 'Romantic' Era painters and look at their portraits. These guys were masters of single, 3-point and 5-point lighting long before anyone shot a frame of film or video. If you want to see how lighting sets the mood or tone of a scene get your hands on some books or see the images online of the work the old masters made. They can be a great influence on you and your work. Also look at the free training videos on lighting here at VM. The old masters can show you what you can achieve and the videos will show you the basic tools to figure out how to do it. The difference in 'just giving the client something' and giving them something 'they will remember' and call you back for further work all depends on how much 'extra' work you put in creating 'production value' in the final product. Anybody can 'stick' some lights on a set, but only someone who's taken the time to find out where best to put the light will stand out from the rest of the pack. Think of the movies and tv shows where you 'fell in love with an actress'. More often than not it wasn't because she was anymore beautiful than any other woman, it was due to how well she was lit. Same goes for your clients. Lighting can make a client look powerful, sympathetic, inspiring or just plain awful depending on how you go about setting it up. The last thing you want to do is lose a client because you made them look like $%^&! because you either didn't have the knowledge or were too lazy to take the steps to give them what they were paying for. If you didn't light them well during the shoot, there's no 'whiz-bang' trick you can pull off in post to fix it. 'Crap in is crap out'. milkyc on "Interview Lighting, Softbox & Reflector Advice Needed" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/interview-lighting-softbox-reflector-advice-needed#post-63708 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:48:28 +0000 milkyc 63708@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Thanks for your time and advice, I think I will try and adjust the colors in post first using the daylight bulbs. That way I know the video will be clear enough for me to work with, as this is the first time I've used lighting within my work. I think I will try and get rid of all artificial light from the room and use just my lighting and gold reflector to see what I can create. I hope the room isn't just a plain white room with no character as that will make it harder to work with. It's my decision finally to make the decision of the 'tone' of the project. I think the client will be happy for what ever I create, just best obviously to use my tools to the best of my abilities. What are 'old Masters portrait books' please as I have never heard of these. Mike composite1 on "Interview Lighting, Softbox & Reflector Advice Needed" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/interview-lighting-softbox-reflector-advice-needed#post-63694 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:37:15 +0000 composite1 63694@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Milky, Before you choose a lighting setup, find out what the 'tone' of the project is and set your lighting scheme around that. That means if they're going for a 'hard-charger' feel, you're not going to want to light them with a romantic 'potpourri' look. Remember that you're 'painting the scene' with light. Get your hands on some old Masters portrait books and see how they lit their scenes. You'll no doubt find something that will fit the mood of your upcoming shoot. birdcat on "Interview Lighting, Softbox & Reflector Advice Needed" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/interview-lighting-softbox-reflector-advice-needed#post-63688 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:04:57 +0000 birdcat 63688@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ An interesting look might be to darken the room and only well light the person being interviewed (particularly the face in tight shots). Since you are using daylight bulbs, you could look around for some warmer ones or adjust the colors in post. milkyc on "Interview Lighting, Softbox & Reflector Advice Needed" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/interview-lighting-softbox-reflector-advice-needed#post-63683 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 05:03:33 +0000 milkyc 63683@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hi, I will be filming some interviews this weekend which are personal recollections from the past. Please could someone advise me the best way to light my subjects to create a less-corporate look and to create something more warmer without losing too much loss of light to help maintain video quality. ~~~~~~~~~~ The equipment I have: CANON XM2/GL2 CAMERA 2 X 40cmX60cm SOFTBOXES WITH (2x 125w 5400k ra>90 daylight bulbs) 1 X SILVER/GOLD REFLECTOR KIT REFLECTOR + STAND DYNASUN RE2018 SILVER/GOLD 70x110 on eBay (end time 18-Dec-10 15:27:47 GMT) 1 X SMALL PAR SPOT ~~~~~~~~~~ Any advice/techniques are more then welcome. This will be filmed within a hotel's meeting room which I'm guessing (but not yet checked) will be quite clean/white/brightly lit before my lighting is added/replaced. Many thanks in advance Mike