Camera and lighting Setup for the Projects

Here is the camera equipment setup that I am going to want to use for each of the projects. I am going to use the equipment for each project as it will only progress my skills with using the equipment. It will also mean less hassle when booking out equipment from the Creative Media Stores. Paul Wheeler says, "The most effective way a cinematographer can reclaim lighting time on the set is to invest time in preparation. Without good preparation, too much time on set will be spent answering unnecessary questions and trying to steal time to make arrangement for upcoming shooting days, which are not, as yet fully organised. Thus with good preparation, a DP's time can be better deployed" (2005, P.9). This quote is of great value, as pre-production is something which should be well planned before shooting. As I am working on two projects it is vital that my equipment list and pre-production work is complete well in advance. If not I will most likely find myself figuring things out during the film shoot, which is time I can definitely not afford to waste.

I have decided that the Sony F5 will be the most suitable camera for me to use with both of my projects Daniel's Kite and Under the Sun. This is because the video quality this camera actually gives out compared to the other cameras available in stores is so much higher quality. The colours and depth of field is really effective. I will want to show a large amount of character emotion throughout each project, this camera gives out large detail of whatever is put in front of it. It is also suitable for me as it comes with larger battery packs that DSLR camera's can not offer. The battery life is more extensive making this camera more suitable for me. I will also get the option to use cable power, as the Sony F5 comes with a charger cable that plugs straight into the camera, so that you can then use it while you are actually filming if the batteries have both ran out. I will also get the options to use high frame rate for this camera, which I know I will need to use for Daniel's Kite film shoot. There is also multiple camera logs on the F5, meaning I can suit my style of how I want the film to look visually either by choosing a normal auto setting or using an S-log, S-Log will enable me to make colour grading more noticeable within post. However this may be slightly complicated for me to use as I've not used it before with this camera. The camera will also come with a variety of prime lenses from the Creative media centre.

I have also decided that I want to use this Canon 24-105 mm zoom lens. The reason for wanting to use this is because I am most likely going to be on a tight schedule when it comes to the film shoots. Therefore using this will save me from changing the prime lenses repeatedly. I will try and stick to using prime lenses as much as I can, but when under a tight schedule I will use this lens as I am able to do both Wide and Close Up shots with it easily.

I want to use the JVC DT-F9L5 field monitor for both of my project. It will be vital to use this field monitor for both of my projects. This is because the Sony F5 does not have a built in monitor to look at a live feed or playback footage. It only has the built Sony eye-piece lens to see what you are filming. This will come in handy as I will be able to show Directors Brock Neal-Roberts (Under the Sun) and Chris Kenward (Daniel's Kite) a live feed of what I am recording from the F5. This will also help to spot out errors within the shot frame. However the monitor should not be used for sorting out the white balance or any other levels. This is because the actual Sony F5 eye piece will be a lot more accurate top lighting and true colour of what is being recorded.

 I will also need a long HDMI cable for both projects. This is important to have so that I can transfer the feed from the camera to the JVC monitor. It's vital that I use a long HDMI cable as I will be doing handheld camera movement and will therefore need a long cable if I am moving around.

It is also vital to make sure I use a heavy duty video tripod. This is because the Sony F5 is a lot heavy than most camera's available in stores. I have previously took out a standard duty tripod and attached the F5 to it. The results were horrible and the tripod could not handle the weight of the Sony F5. We may also be filming out in exterior locations throughout both projects and will therefore require two of these tripod to also attach the monitor to.

I will need a Dolly track for both projects. This will enable me to create more interesting and better looking shots. It will give me plenty more options when it comes to creating a shot. I will once again attach the heavy duty tripod to this so that it can support the Sony F5's weight.

I will also need to have a Dedo kit for both projects. This will be vital for when filming interior scenes, so that we have well lit actors. We will have to make sure when taking down the lights that we use safety heat proof gloves as the dedo's get extremely hot when left on for a long duration.

Finally I will need a Kino Flo Diva 400 kit. It may be a good idea to take two of these kits out. This lighting equipment will be used similarly to the Dedo kit. We will need it to fill up lighting space within a scene as well as the actors themselves. When both lighting kits are set up we will also need to make sure we tape the cables down the floor as someone may get hurt or the equipment may get damaged.

The mentioned equipment is all vital for both of my projects, if I want to ensure that I am able to make two high quality films. Without this equipment both projects will struggle to achieve this goal. Therefore I will make sure that I book out the equipment well in advance from connect 2. Author Paul Wheeler says, "At this stage of pre-production, one does not want to frighten the budget controllers with a foolish amount of equipment. It is more important to list a reasonable kit in order that comparative estimates of different suppliers' prices may be obtained" (2005, P.10). If I was not using connect 2 and was in the industry, this would be very important as I would be renting or possibly buying out a large amount of kit. I will want to keep the costs as low as possible, with still having high quality kit to make a high quality film. Therefore this would need well planned pre-production research on what kit to use for the making of the film.



References: Wheeler, P. (2005). Practical cinematography. Oxford: Elsevier/Focal Press. P.9-10.

Cinematic Approach to both projects.

Before filming Daniel's Kite and Under The Sun. I want to look at the a few types of technique's and styles of filmmaking, that I will implement into my skills to make the best quality films possible. To make this possible I want to involve these skills and techniques relating to my camera setup for both project (SONY F5).

The first technique that I want to include within my cinematography skills is 'Rule of Thirds'.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

The rule of thirds is designed to separate film into 9 different parts. The lines are used to place the most important parts of an image on these lines instead of always putting the subject as a focal point of a shot in the centre frame. This works extremely well when shooting EWS, WS, MS or CU shots. An author called Dave Johnson says, "The Rule of Thirds suggests that you'll get the most interesting photos when you align the subject along one of these lines".  (2013, P.82). If I am able to use this framing style within my film work it will hopefully benefit on both films. It will mainly benefit for close up shots within Daniel's Kite and EWS and WS in Under the Sun. 

Another key technique that I will be using a lot of is the shot type "Extreme Wide Shot":

EWS Example #1 

EWS Example #2

The Wide Shot camera angle technique will be vital to my cinematography for Under the Sun as it will really help to emphasise action happening in both the foreground and the background of the shot. It will also help to show the lack of community around the area where the boys live. 


Another key technique that I will be using a lot is the shot type "Close Up":

Close Up Example #1

Close Up Example #2

The use of a Close Up shot will be vital to the cinematography and making of both Daniel's Kite and Under the Sun because it's one of the most impacting ways to show a character's emotion through the camera. With the Sony F5's high video quality this will look even more impressive as it will show character detail. 

I have physical forms for both Marked-up scripts for Daniel's Kite and Under the Sun within my portfolio. However when looking into the meaning behind the Script breakdown I found a quote from Cleve, B, who says, 

"The script breakdown sheet is the single most important production form during this phase because all future reference and production work will be based on it. Anything missing in the breakdown sheet is likely to be missed during the shoot on the set, and thus will be missed on the screen. It is essential that the utmost care be taken during this step of production". (2006, P.24).

To sum this quote up, everything I have included within my marked-up script and within this post must take note of everything, that I will need to know for the shoot in terms of shots, camera angles, lighting, and setup etc. If not then important factors could be missed when on the film shoots.  

References: 

• Johnson, D. (2015). Take Engaging Photos Using the Rule of Thirds. Macworld, (2), p.82 (online).
• Clevé, B. (2006). Film production management. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Focal Press. P.24.