I'll work on keeping the dialogue interesting. I'm even going to encourage "some" improv as well. As long as they get the point across I don't really care exactly how it is said. The more natural the better.

What exactly do you mean by static camera movement?

Thanks,

I need more cow-bell!

On static, I'll take a shot. I could be wrong, but this is how I would define it.

A static shot, is similar to what you see in a Woody Allen Movie. The camera doesn't move much if at all during the scene. The scene happens like its a play with the characters doing all the moving and action. You better have some intersting dialogue or the audience may start to get bored.

A non-static shot can be done in two ways. (1) The camera moves. Up down, dolly or steadycam the camera is in motion giving energy to the shot. The beginning of Reservoir Dogs has a good example as the camera circles around the table as the different folks talk. Its complicated for lighting, and to make sure the cameraman doesn't trip, and keeps the right person in focus but it looks wonderful and natural if done correctly. (2) The scene is composed of a dozen static shots edited together. This creates movement without the complications of lighting around an actual moving camera. This is the way they've been doing it for decades.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

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I'm thinking of neat camera shots. How do you follow a moving person and do it smoothly?

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The Raimi-cam, previously mentioned, used on Evil Dead: Camera attached to a plank of wood. Ropes attached to either end of the plank. Two unlucky cameramen moving with the subject. This makes for great impossible shots, like flying up/down small rivers or over puddles and ponds.

Camera attached to a wheel chair or a shopping trolley.

For low shots, camera in a strong shopping bag with a hole in it.

Basically, the idea is to remove your motion directly from the motion of the camera, since your body is, well, not that good at keeping absolutely steady.

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How do you do a zoom in shot from down the hall and make it look like it does in the movies?

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Move the camera forward on a wheelchair/shopping trolley to get the line of motion very steady in all dimensions, whilst zooming in.

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Any actual "camera tricks" as opposed to special effects would be very helpful.

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Learn the art of the Dutch angle. I.e., putting the camera at an angle and shooting. Used effectively, it's a great tool.

Also, think about the placement of the camera and take lengths. French New Wave directors thought about this a lot, and Tarantino seems to have picked up on it and used it to great extent, very successfully and very well, judging by Pulp Fiction's Trivia Track on the DVD. Basically, building up to a situation where violence may occur can use long takes, and that builds tension. Then, when the situation presents itself, the build up to the violence is done using short takes. The art of buildup. And think of the camera like a person. Have you seen Pulp Fiction? Because it's really the only very-well-known example I can cite from: watch as Jules interrogates Brett during Brett's breakfast. The camera never focuses (i.e. lens change so that he is sharper) on Vincent, and there are never cutaways to Vincent - it's because Brett can't see him, and to the audience, Vince is seen as the threat in the background, a worrying source of paranoia. So they feel like Brett does (slightly), without realising it, and it draws them into the picture.

It's a mistake many stupid Hollywood directors make in movies: when someone creeps up behind someone, they focus the camera on the guy creeping up. The lack of focus builds tension and excitement. Alfred Hitchcock said it best; that the build-up to something is the scariest part. I'm paraphrasing, I don't know his exact words.

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One more thing. Should I go with auto focus or handle that myself manually?

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Auto focus? Depends. If you wish to use tricks like that above example, build tension, make the audience feel more whatever, etc etc, then I'd say no. But if you're just doing a run of the mill dialogue scene, in which each character focuses on each other in their situation, then constant refocusing is a pain in the neck.

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One more thing... how do you do that shot where it seems like the background is getting closer and closer but the main object barely changes.

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Already answered in someone else's post, I think.

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Just thought of something else, how can I get a shot of the main actor talking to himself in the same shot. Imagine that he has a twin (but he doesn't) and I want them both in the same shot. Is there an easy way to do a split screen shot or can I do this in editing?

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I think this has already been answered too. If it hasn't, then I can't answer it - you've got me stumped with this one for low-budget alternatives.

Hope your film turns out good.

You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday.

Thanks Alex, this is really great stuff and I get a lot of what you are saying. We start shooting tomorrow night and I can't wait!
I'm a big Tarantino fan so I was able to follow you without any problems.

Great advice guys! Thanks for the info RJ, I get it now.

I need more cow-bell!

Alright guys... I have a short teaser edited from some of the scenes we've shot.
Where can I put up a fairly large file so that you can view it?
(127 MB)

Thanks,

Mike

I need more cow-bell!

that's far too big for a teaser, it'll take you too long too upload, and for anyone to download. compress it first. (If you're not sure how to, tell us which program you're using for editing and what platform (pc or mac) and I'll try to help.)

?url? http://www.yousendit.com/?/url? allows large files to be stored, just send it to yourself, and post the link you get here on the forums, or to anyone else you want to show it too.

I'm using Adobe Premiere 1.5 and Windows.
Not too sure how to compress it?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

I need more cow-bell!

Here is a link to the clip for those with high speed.

?url? http://s49.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=225GXBJ0BJQRQ1WJFX2N4VR3FD?/url?

I just threw together a few clips to give you guys some idea of what it looks like. Be gentle, this is my first attempt at filmimg.?:I?

I need more cow-bell!

I've never used Premiere. Doesn't it have any compression built in?

It took about 10 minutes to download as was about 30 seconds. My trailer and promo (2min and 4min) are under 8mb and 14mb. I'm sure the Premiere users here will be able to help you.

Assuming I saw all if it (30sec) it seemed fine. All the standard "horror" shots were there. Unfortunately your use of Carpenter's score didn't help. That score is so recognizable.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Can you post a link to your trailer?

I just threw in the Carpenter music since we don't have a score yet... Kind of lame without any track at all. I edited it together in about 15 minutes late last night.

So.. any other impressions for a first timer?

Thanks,

I need more cow-bell!

Any impressions?

I need more cow-bell!

Well my impressions: First, the name of the file is horrible. Movie.avi, sounds like you're not even trying there. Second, damn its a big file. Third, there appears to be a black frame around the letterboxed image and the end of the movie is black after the video is over because the sound file continues. This is all adding to the file size somewhat.

Other impressions: Not bad but... You could use a close up or two. Closeup of the kids face, another of a hand opening the door. Build tension a bit more that way. You might also consider different angles, low from the floor looking up, from up high looking down. Anything to mix things up a bit.

Also at one point the kid looks and sees the villian, I really expected more of a point of view shot after that. Just the villian on the stairs. What did he see? Instead we got a shot with him and the villian in it and it took a bit to realize that he wasn't seeing a different kid and the villian.

Pacing, along with the closeups and things you need to consider pacing. Sometimes a little pause or two can build the tension. You are trying to scare here and not make an action movie. For an example of what I'm thinking about here consider, the kid comes out of the room looks up and sees the villian. What if he wasn't sure if there was something up there in the dark. Pauses a minute. We look and see only dark. Then the villian moves, a subtle flash of light on the mask/bag he's wearing. Then the villian comes down the stairs after him. That slight pause in the action can work really well.

Lastly you should consider the lighting. The way it is now your main character/victim is silloutted because all of the light is behind him and the villian seems well lit. You should consider reversing that. We want to see the face of the victim, its best to keep the villian hidden and mysterious.

And get lots of coverage when you shoot. Most of what I mentioned here is stuff you can put together in editing if you have the shots. Shoot the scene as you did. Shoot it again with a close upon the main characters face. Then again on the villians face. Then other things, dramatic things like a closeup of the door knob, or really close shot of terrified eyes. Flash of a knife or whatever. These can be added in later to lengthen and add interest and fear to the scene.

Lastly you should make up a little logo to tag on the end so that no matter how this file gets moved around the internet it at least has some identifier on it. Something like Cowbell Productions.

I said not bad before, but its actually rather good for a first effort. Horror is not easy despite what some people think and you've got a nice bit of tension. You should be proud. Good luck.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

since its a horror movie the camera should be a lot tighter, especially on the hero's face. horror is scary because of what you can't so don't have too much coverage.

focus more on close-ups of the protaganist's scared face.

plus, you can make it SEEM dark without it actuall being too dark. have the characters lit from the bottom, but lit strongly.

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Great advice guys! I have a lot of those shots that you mentioned RJ, I just don't have the time to edit them in at this moment. 🙁

I'll work on a new teaser as soon as I get some work done and I'll throw in those close ups and tru to add a little tension. I also have some shots from different angles as well.

Lighting is my worst enemy, I have no idea how to light a scene.

Thanks for all the great advice guys! I really appreciate it.

I need more cow-bell!

Lighting is tricky, I've watched my director of Photography lighting our set for weeks now and I'm still amazed and trying to keep up. There are sites on the internet that explain the whole 3-point lighting thing.

Since your looking for a horror thing though, mood is more important than rules. But here is the 3-point lighting in a nutshell.

One point is light on the camera side of the character so the camera sees what we're looking at. This is usually the brightest light.

Second point is filler light. Much weaker light that will remove the dark shadows created by the main light. This can be done with a bounce board (white board off camera that reflects some light) or it can be done with a second, softer light hidden out of view. The filler light tends to make a somewhat flat video image appear a bit more three dimensional, and its one key to making a movie more filmatic looking.

Third point is the back light. This light is hidden out of view and it lights the rear of the character to help seperate them visually from the background. It's a weak light. Again this helps create more a feeling of depth and makes things more cinematic.

Then again there is a whole wave of cinema out of Europe that believes in only using natural lights. So do what you can but make sure we can see the peoples faces and be careful about putting your actors between the camera and the bright lights because it tends to silloute them and make things hard to see.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA