Businesses of all sizes need better ways to offer their products and services to the world, and video is clearly the new language of brand communication. Learn how to plan a multi-camera production, increase production value through camera movement, and create cinematic lighting on a budget. Plus, get tips for adding great music and sound effects, saving time and money in post-production, and more!
All the video gear featured on (and used to produce) this course is available here.
Some links might be affiliates. If you purchase gear with them, I might receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks in advance for your support!
Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions regarding this course (on anything else) on Instagram.
From planning a shoot to DIY lighting solutions, learn how to produce professional videos with very little gear, tight deadlines, shoestring budgets, andno crew.
All the video gear featured on (and used to produce) this course is available here.
Some links might be affiliates. If you purchase gear with them, I might receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks in advance for your support!
Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions regarding this course (on anything else) on Instagram.
I’m very thankful with Benro for putting together a webinar to discuss the 1PersonCrew Approach. The host was my dear friend Matt Hill, who is not only an awesome guy, but also a multi-talented artist in his own right. Matt’s project with handmade paper dresses and long-exposure portraiture is jaw-dropping.
I hope attendees found the webinar fun and and helpful. In case you missed it (or want to rewatch it) here’s the full recording. Feel free to leave comments and questions below, or hit me on Instagram.
I created three lists to share my favorite tools; one for the travel filmmaker who’s priority is size and weight. The second gear list is for those who are getting started or are looking to add new/better tools. And the third list is for more experienced filmmakers who want to take their productions to the next level.
Here’s the third gear configuration I’d suggest:
The Cinematic Look
This list is for people who already own the essential tools, but want to increase the quality of their video productions. A cinema camera and lenses, additional lighting tools, and better audio gear are included.
The “Cinematic Look” is what I’ve used for high-end corporate gigs, music videos, and even short films. Not all the items on the list are supposed to be used simultaneously. For example: I’d use the NanLite MixPanel 150 and a PavoTube Kit on most situations, unless shipping gear is required. In that case I’d use the Fiilex kit.
The same goes for lenses. Under controlled and well-planned situations, I prefer to use the Rokinon Cine lenses, but depending on the story, subject and shooting schedule a fast zoom lens might be a better option.
The gear lists are not paid or sponsored by anyone. They reflect my own independent opinion, and the companies and products I use and trust. Some links might be affiliates, which means I may get a few pennies if you decide to purchase something. Thanks in advance for your support!
There’s no question that the best way to learn about filmmaking is to shoot, edit and make a lot of useful mistakes. The second best way is to watch movies, especially with commentaries so we can learn about the challenges other people have and how they solved them. And the third approach is to read great books.
Today’s post is a simple list of the filmmaking books that have inspired me over the years, and that I recommend or gift most often. Here we go!
The Coronavirus outbreak has forced a global lockdown. Most governments are enforcing travel restrictions with random checks on roads, highways, and bridges and are requiring justification for traveling anywhere, even within a city. Because of this (and other reasons) most shooting assignments have been canceled or at best rescheduled. But this does NOT mean we can’t continue looking for interesting spots for upcoming projects.
This short article covers the 1 Person Crew approach to legally scout locations during a lockdown in two steps:
Step 1: Google and Google Earth
A quick Google search for “the best viewpoints in Lisbon” offers 30,000,000 results in 0.87 seconds. Wow. Another option is to search for “melhores miradouros em Lisboa” (306,000 results in 0.61 seconds) which most likely offers better recommendations from locals.
Three viewpoints immediately get my attention: Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Miradouro das Portas do Sol, and Miradouro da Graça. I like these three spots for several reasons:
They are reachable by public transportation.
They are close to main roads so I can use a share-riding service like Uber to get there.
The three are within walking distance from each other, yet they offer different perspectives of the city.
They all seem to offer good shooting opportunities at sunrise, sunset and at night.
Not only the views, but the viewpoints themselves seem visually interesting.
Portugal is safe at all times, so I don’t have to worry about that, but that would be another consideration anywhere else.
Here’ s a screen recording of my research process using only Google and Google Earth.
OK. I now have three potential locations, without leaving my desk. What’s next?
Step 2: Exercise
We are being “asked” to stay at home,
with few exceptions, which usually include:
Buying food or other essential items
Going to work if unable to work from home
Going to hospitals or health centers
Going to care for someone
Returning to their primary residence
Walking pets
Exercising outdoors for short periods in groups smaller than 2 persons
Aha! This last exception is our salvation. Now that we have identified three interesting spots, close to each other, and at a reasonable distance from home, it’s time to go out and exercise.
Then we need to pack everything into the smallest possible bag to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
My lovely wife also enjoys working out while enjoying this incredible city, so I was lucky to have an assistant this time. =)
That’s it! You are ready to explore the world and
scout potential locations for your projects. But remember: Wash your hands,
don’t touch your face, maintain social distancing, and travel only for
essential tasks (including location scouting for upcoming shoots).
PS: I wanted a “spy movie” kind of soundtrack, and it took me about 3 minutes to search, find, download and cut the song “Ace of Spades” from Artlist.io by far the best music library I’ve used. And now they also offer sound effects! Highly recommended.
Experience a post-production workflow that is far from traditional, but is extremely efficient and logical. Recommended hardware, software and apps, batch renaming, 4K Proxy workflow, GPS tagging, the correct steps to color correct and grade footage, and even how to safely back-up and archive your projects.
Learn the entire pre-production workflow, from brainstorming to asset allocation all the way to actually pre-shooting your project. This course is geared to filmmakers working with small crews, but it offers essential lessons and resources for all content creators.
This is your chance to join an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker on location! Get a unique view, from concept to delivery, and experience how to capture stills, video, and sounds to produce a commercial for a boutique winery in beautiful Oregon.
Expand your creative options and the range of services you can offer to clients by incorporating video and hybrid projects into your new 2020 skill set.
