In my opinion it would be good to use 2 cameras on conversations. On action shots that can only be perfromed small amount of times its best to get the two main views with one camera and if you can a third one to get a beauty shot. If it's a guy walking through the bushes 1 camera is enough.

H.A.

I would say that if you have more than one camera, then use more than one. Unless your entire crew is stellar, it's going to be obvious when you have the actors do the same movements over and over just to see it from different angles. Just make sure you're very organized as to which shots came from which camera. It may also force you to use a seperate sound recording, rather than plugging right into the camera... well, possibly, anyway.

'In the life that man creates for himself, he too, creates his demise... and his legacy.'

Two cameras will save you a lot of time. If both actors nail the lines you move on rather than trying to get the same thing from another angle. Still you'll be forced to light them both at the same time and that is not always easy as the lights have to be hidden from both cameras.

I would suggest a slightly different approach if you have two cameras. Use both on the same actor. One for a midshot and the other for a closeup. That way the same lighting can be used.

If the cameras aren't of the same quality, however, I'd use the lame one for a behind the scenes documentary of your project rather than add it to the film.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Keep track of your cameras by slating one as Camera "A" and the other as camera "B" for all shots. Multiple cameras are used most for action where duplicating the actions may be difficult or a safety concern. Operating two cameras requires double crew for camera and sound so it can get interesting...and any movement of the actors plus two or more cameras and mics can get to be pretty crazy. Then you get into lighting and shadows...it is often easier to use one camera...and your script supervisor(s) will still be your friend.

Experiment and practice.

Thanks for all the input! Yeah, if I did have another camera, I really don't see how I could get another prosumer one. Finding one free one was hard enough. I suppose I could rent the second, but I'd probably want to experiment with the cruddy cameras first to see if using two is something feasible for me.

However, if I can swing another one, I think it'd be well worth it, from what I hear. Lighting problems or no. Soundwise though, I don't see how that'd be a huge problem? Wouldn't you just only use the sound from one of the cameras, and sync that with the other footage in post production?

You can always rent a prosumer camera for big days of shooting.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Soundwise you can use one mic and not have both cameras recording sound. Or use one mic going into a mixer and then to both cameras. It is always nice to have back-up. I've also been on shoots where we recorded sound into the camera and into a recorder for backup purposes. Sure beats dubbing if you have any sound problems.

If you have access to more than one camera, go for it. If it'll require extra $$$, then go with one. If you haven't already, check out Robert Rodriguez's "El Mariachi." Most of the conversations, if not all, were filmed with the actors saying their lines all at once and then just using editing to cut it all together in post. In fact, many of the conversations were filmed with the characters on different days. The other plus to that is the actors don't have to be there that long and you get done quicker. You don't have to keep moving the camera either, unless you're going for a conversation like the one in the car between Dante and Randall in "Clerks."

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2's a good number, but u will need two camera teams meaning more ppl. Then your going to put twice as much on your pc so make sure you got a gd pc.

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Yeah, I'll probably go with two. I've apparently got a Canon xl1s now, so I suppose I'll take that out for a few dozen trial runs, and then when my crew and I are satisfied we know what we're doing with it, we'll rent a Canon xl1s or xl2 this summer and film the movie. I'm going to have to do a lot of good lighting demos first too, I've never really seriously lit a movie before... Oh well, I've got until late summer to get things in gear 😀

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I've always done absolutely fine with one and never needed more.

Be aware though that even supposed same level cameras still have a slight difference in their 'look'. Unless you have colour-correction settings on your edit system you might have a little prob.

What if it was the exactly same type of camera, IE two canon xl1s or two canon xl2s?

Two identical cameras should cut together fairly well.

I've also intercut DVCAM and Digibeta footage for a short a friend shot some time back which was pretty much indistinguishable... on the other hand, he had to get a couple of reaction shots later to fill holes in the edit for which he used an XL1 and that was very soft in comparison.

But you should be doing a decent color grade in any case, which will allow you to cover up most of the differences.