Pre-production / Behind-the-scenes

Gear

Shot using three Canon EOS 5D Mark II cameras.

These are the solid grand-daddies of DSLR filmmaking and have given filmmakers like me an opportunity to get the look we want without breaking the bank. I haven’t had an instance where I wouldn’t recommend someone pick one of these up.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

Very important lens for those close-ups that leave the background a beautiful bouquet of bokeh. The best long lens I’ve had the chance to use and it’s f/2.8 all the way through which is outstanding. I’d recommend this as one of the go-to lenses for any DSLR filmmaker.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens

Wonderfully versatile wide-angle zoom. Gives you a range while keeping a nice f/2.8 all the way through. Great for getting a lot in the frame while keeping your focus sharp. Another definite must-have lens in the DSLR filmmaker’s bag.

Zeiss 50mm f1.4 Planar T* ZE

Low / No budget film-making Tips

1. Location Scouting – For exteriors, instead of driving all over your city or spending all that time, use Google Maps Street View to scout locations. It’ll save you a LOT of time, energy, and gas. Just make sure to check the location you choose for any recent road closures or events.

2. The fewer locations the better – Getting people to a location is a big process. Making sure that location is ok with the film and everything else involved with setting up a scene is very time consuming. All of this significantly increases costs (opportunity, time, and monetary), so try to find a way to tell your story in simpler way until you have the flexibility and budget to move around.

3. Planning is king – Plan, schedule, plan more, structure as much as you can. Have backup plans. Even if you overestimate times or run into snags, it’s better for everyone if you have a very defined plan EARLY in the game. That way everyone involved, from actors to crew, have at least an outline of how things will go. People understand when things go awry, but try to give them as much information ahead of time. But, be ready to improvise if things aren’t working out.

4. Use free software – You can create and manage a lot of your pre-production and scheduling with free software that’s available to film-makers. Use Google Docs to collaborate, or Celtx to put together your whole film planning process, or even Open Office to do the basic work.

5. Find a crew of like-minded people – I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that the attitude and mindset of the crew on your production is positive. The crew you’re working with is going to have a huge impact on the outcome of the film and the overall shoot. Use sites like Vimeo to find people who are excited by the same kind of work you are. Look at their favorite videos and see if your tastes align.

6. Special effects blood – I got really lucky with Halloween being the weekend before the shoot, but a pint of fake blood was only $6 at the Halloween store. They’ve gotten really good about making it look and react in a very real way. Make sure to get the non-toxic kind because it will probably end up in places you don’t want it at some point.

More information and updates coming soon…