Watch: 10 Things You Should Be Doing When Shooting B-Roll

Cinematography June 15, 2017

Watch: 10 Things You Should Be Doing When Shooting B-Roll

While you're busy obsessing over your principal photography, your b-roll is over there begging for some attention.

If you're an experienced filmmaker, you know that all of your supplemental footage requires almost as much planning, preparation, and TLC as your principal photography. Just like with anything you shoot, you've got to plan your shots, make difficult cinematic decisions, and be able to change it up at the drop of a hat if you need to, which can be a huge challenge if you don't really know what it takes to get good b-roll.

If you're new to this, don't worry, because filmmaker Darious Britt of D4Darious shares a ton of great insight on how to capture beautiful and effective b-roll for your projects in the video below.

Like always, Britt unloads a ton of great advice in this video, so here are ten takeaways that we think are the most important for capturing quality b-roll.

Get a variety of shots: Wides, mediums, and close-ups...you're going to need them all.
Shoot (way) more than you think you're going to need: And then shoot some more. Seriously, it gets used up quickly.
Hold shots for at least 8-10 seconds: There's nothing worse than not having enough of a really good shot.
Capture stuff at higher frame rates: Just in case you decide to slow it down later.
Pay attention to camera position: High angles, low angles, and eyeline shots communicate different things to your audience, so be aware.
Choose the right lens for your needs: Zooms are great for capturing fast-paced b-roll, but wide angle, tele, and macro are also good to have on-hand.
Move your camera: Static shots are good, but kinetic ones keep things interesting.
Use camera stabilizers: No one wants to watch shaky b-roll. Get yourself a monopod, gimbal, or some other kind of camera stabilizer. (Tripods work, but they might get in the way of principal photography.)
Rack focus: Because of course you need rack focus shots.
Experiment...a lot!: B-roll is a great time to try new things.

What have you learned from shooting b-roll? What advice would you give new filmmakers about it? Let us know down below in the comments.

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What Does a Director of Photography Do?

Cinematography June 15, 2017

What Does a Director of Photography Do?

CINEMATOGRAPHY

We know the title and recognize some of the greats, but what does a director of photography (aka cinematographer) actually do on a film production? Let’s explore.

Top image via

When it comes to defining a film’s overall look and feel, very few play a greater role than the cinematographer. To shape a film’s visual aesthetic, the DP must have a very deep knowledge of cameras, composition, lighting, and film history. He or she also will be called upon in many other parts of production. Let’s start at the beginning.

Pre-Production

Image via

A director of photography is often brought onto a project by the producers or on recommendation of the director. Some mainstream directors have worked with the same DP for decades.

The DP is needed early and often in the production process, as he or she is instrumental in deciding on how to interpret the script and make cinematic style and tone decisions. Once thematic styles are fleshed out, the DP will work to put together crews (or whole departments) for cameras and lighting.

Storyboards

What Does a Director of Photography Do? - Storyboard

Image via No Film School

While the DP may not always do the physical drawing by hand themselves, a cinematographer must still painstakingly go through the film’s script and create visual representations for every individual shot. The storyboard, combined with a thorough shot list, will lay out the film in its entirety so that the director and producers can schedule and plan the production.

Cameras

Image via Shutterstock

A large part of establishing a uniform style for a film revolves around the selection of cameras and lenses for the various scenes. An initial decision needs to be made between digital and film, while taking into account how each would lend itself to a particular look. Along with camera selection, specific lens kits and lenses are hammered out to best capture each shot.

Lighting

Image via Shutterstock

In charge of anywhere from a single gaffer to an entire lighting department, the DP will dictate how he or she wants every scene lit. Lighting setups can vary from elaborate production sets to a single china ball. A great metaphor for the art of lighting compares a cinematographer to a painter, using each layer of light and darkness as a brush to paint a picture within a shot.

Framing

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Along with the lighting, the DP works with his or her cameraman to properly frame each shot as he or she sees fit. Camera composition can sometimes take hours and requires a pristine attention to detail.

Movement

What Does a Director of Photography Do? - Camera Movment

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6 Filmmaking Tutorials for Cinematographers

Cinematography June 15, 2017

6 Filmmaking Tutorials for Cinematographers

CINEMATOGRAPHY

You’ve got to keep learning if you want to become a true master of cinematography. Let’s check out a few filmmaking tutorials every cinematographer should watch.

Top image via DonnyCam

In order to master the art of cinematography, you need to learn about the craft everyday. You’ve got to stay fresh. You’ve got to be willing to go back and reexamine the fundamentals. With these truths in mind, we’ve rounded up six filmmaking tutorials every cinematographer should watch. These tutorials cover the basic concepts and techniques of cinematography, things you should know before ever rolling.

1. Camera

Obviously the camera is a very important tool for cinematographers. Before going into a production, the cinematographer and director discuss what type of image they want to create. This discussion ends with the producer who will provide the money for the camera. Here’s an overview of the camera selection process with cinematographer Jim Denault via .

2. Lenses

Lenses make the image, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There’s basically a lens for every need. Watch this video from cinematography veteran Jose Zambrano Cassella to gain an understanding of the crowded world of glass, and learn why picking the right lens for the right scene is so important.

Video via NakedFilmmaker

3. Blocking

Blocking scenes (determining where the actors and cameras will be placed) with the director is a vital part of the cinematographer’s job. While the video below (from Dan Fox) isn’t a tutorial, it offers great insight into why blocking is so important.

4. Composition

The foundation for composition begins in pre-production, when directors work with their pre-visualization team to develop storyboards. Many directors also bring in the cinematographer at this point to help realize the compositions. This is the process of framing the action. Again, the video below (via ) isn’t a tutorial, but it’s still a great source of information on how and why one needs to take time to compose shots.

5. Movement

Cinematographers can communicate a lot through the way they move the camera. Dolly shots can convey any number of emotional cues to the audience. So can a low-to-high crane shot. In the video below, Ryan Connolly (of fame) offers a quick and insightful look at how impactful movement is in film.

6. Lighting

The true masters of cinematography know exactly how to manipulate light (or use natural light) to get the composition they’re looking for. In the video below, cinematographer Eric Kress (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) runs through part one of a lighting workshop presented by thefilmbook.

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