If you're shooting a movie on digital video, which cinematographer would be better for that kind of movie? Should I pick one who's had most of his experience on film, or should I pick one whose experience has been grounded on digital video? I'm worried that if I hire a cinematographer whose experience is in film, that he won't have enough experience on video to do the movie well. If I hire a cinematographer who has more experience on video, however, I think it may look like it was done more professionally but I'm worried that the end result may look like video. I'm not sure if that would be a bad thing, but it makes me concerned. What do I do?
Oh, by the way, I'd like my movies to light up the big screen, in case it's important to know.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Anybody have their two cents on this?
I'm not certain but I would think either one, told what you want could manage.
Do you want it to look like video or not? Ask them if they can create the look you want.
RJSchwarz
RJSchwarz
Most good cinematographers can work interchangeably on film or digital. Ideally you can find someone who has done both. If it comes down to choosing one or the other, I'd pick a film person over a video person any day--not because film is better, but because you need to know more about lenses, lights, response curves and contrast ratios when you shoot film. With video, the tendency is to just point and shoot, and so oftentimes video shooters don't really understand the concepts behind what they're doing, and so have a difficult time controlling lighting situations or rely on the "fix it in post" mentality.
That being said, mostly what's important is the work they've got on their reel. If you like the work they've done--be it on video or film--that's the most important thing.
Going the other way, though, I'd be very wary of hiring a video-only DP to shoot something on film for me, even if they had a good reel. Not to say that it shouldn't be done (or that I haven't done it), but it's definitely an added risk.
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Andrew Gingerich
Exploding Goldfish Films
Check out my blog at http://www.exgfilms.com
and my reel at http://portfolio.exgfilms.com
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Andrew Gingerich
Exploding Goldfish Films
Check out my blog at http://www.exgfilms.com
and my reel at http://portfolio.exgfilms.com
Glad to see other feel the way I do.
A good DP is good. Knowledge of films stock doesn't make one less able to shoot
on tape. Though the opposite can be true. When digital was new all you could find
were DP's with experience lighting for film. They adapted that knowledge to digital
tape very well. After all, good lighting is good lighting and composition is the same
in every medium.
But if you're worried, then by all means, make sure you find someone who has never
shot on film.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
