Pro Video Tips

Get tips on topics like shooting techniques, storytelling, audio, and miking.

Introduction

• Intro to Pro Video Tips

1. The Great Polarizer Spectacular

• Controlling reflections in glass
• Managing color with polarizers
• Using a polarizer to adjust skin tones
• Using polarizers when shooting landscapes
• Ten polarizer tips

2. Lav-Hiding Techniques

• Supplies to get to hide lav mics
• Hiding lavs in collars
• Hiding mics in hair
• Hiding mics in sheer tops
• Hiding transmitter packs on talent

3. Checking Out the Canon C100

• Canon C100 overview
• Looking at the Atomos Ninja
• Checking out the C100 menu options

4. Safety On Set

• Ten tips for set safety

5. Traveling with Your Gear

• Packing a truck

6. Putting Together a Lens Kit

• Putting together your lens kit
• Normal lenses
• Wide lenses
• Ultra-wide and fish-eye lenses
• Telephoto lenses
• Super zooms
• Macro lenses

7. Tools to Help You Judge Exposure

• The importance of exposure
• Using waveforms
• Using histograms
• Using zebra stripes

8. Understanding Shutter Speed

• Shutter speed overview
• Different ways to use shutter speed

9. Budgeting

• Tips for keeping your budget down

10. Batteries

• Working with batteries

11. Audio Settings

• External audio settings
• Audio input menus
• Audio output menus
• Setting and monitoring your levels

12. The Beauty of Backlighting

• Introduction to backlight
• Types of backlight
• Exposing for backlit shots
• Backlighting translucent object
• Avoiding lens flare and wash out

13. Mic Booms

• Booming techniques

14. Feeding Your Crew

• Feeding your crew

15. Working with Prime Lenses

• Choosing between prime, servo, and manual zoom lenses
• Running and gunning with prime lenses

16. Working with Green Screens

• Green screen lights and materials
• Mounting the green screen
• Lighting the green screen
• Lighting your subject

17. Tripods and Monopods

• What to look for when buying a tripod
• Working with monopods

18. Shooting a surf video

• Choosing a camera
• Preparation and supplies for a surf shoot
• Dealing with lens fog
• Mounting your POV camera
• Tracking and shooting your surfer from the shore
• Interview with Tony Cruz

19. Lens Mounts

• Introduction to lens mounts
• Canon mounts
• PL mounts
• Nikon mounts
• Micro 4/3 mounts

20. Lighting Ratios

• Introduction to lighting ratios
• Comparing ratios
• Measuring light ratios

21. Ten Looks in Ten Minutes

• Ten Looks in Ten Minutes

22. Camera Height and POV

• Using camera height and POV to better tell your story

23. Lighting an Interview Subject

• Tips for lighting an interview subject

24. Making Your Subject Look Better

• Taking 10 pounds off your subject
• Dealing with nose shadows
• Lighting different skin tones
• Putting makeup on your subject

25. Cookies

• Types of cookies
• Making your own custom cookies
• Controlling the look of a cookie

26. Shooting Sports Footage

• Introduction to shooting sports footage
• Getting good coverage for your sport shoot
• Camerawork for shooting sports videos
• Gear to bring on your sports shoot
• Wrapping up

27. Bouncing Light

• Tips for using bounce light

28. Shooting a Video Portrait

• Video portrait intro
• Video portrait camera work
• Considerations for a video portrait interview
• Bonus: Finished video portrait

29. How to Get a Film Look

• Shooting at 24p
• Using depth of field
• Lighting for a film look
• Using filters
• Getting a film look with software

30. Professional Car Rig Mounts

• Introduction to professional car rigs
• Attaching a side mount rig
• Mounting a speed rail rig
• Hood suction mount
• Car rig safety tips

31. Camera Techniques To Manipulate Size

• Manipulating the size of people
• Manipulating the size of buildings
• Making crowds look more crowded

32. Lighting Techniques for Car Shots

• Introduction to lighting cars
• Lighting the car from outside
• Lighting the car from inside

33. Air Travel with Gear

• Packing your gear for air travel
• What to do at the airport
• Getting on the plane

34. Working with Editors

• Why you should hire an editor
• Working with editors during pre-production
• Working with editors during shooting
• Working with editors after your shoot
• Final tips on working with editors

35. Avoiding Scam Film Festivals

• Tips on avoiding scam film festivals

Common Budgeting Mistakes

• 36. Four common budgeting mistakes

37. 10 Filmmaking Lessons

• 10 Filmmaking Lessons...I Learned the Hard Way

38. Dealing with Moire

• Why you get moire and aliasing
• Avoiding moire

39. Adding Production Value to Your Shoots

• Tips on boosting your production value
• Shooting with a shallow depth of field
• Great audio and sound design
• Keep your shots steady
• Keep your camera moving
• Location, location, location
• Adding appropriate titles and FX
• Hiring a colorist

40. Shooting an Interview by Yourself

• Positioning yourself for the interview
• Settings for camera and audio
• Using a second camera

41. How to Make a One Camera Shoot Look Like Two

• Tips on shooting an interview with one camera
• Faking reverse shots and cutaways

42. Shooting Scenes with Windows

• The trouble with shooting windows
• Dealing with exposure issues
• Managing mixed color temperatures
• Tips and tricks for shooting window scenes

43. How to Adjust SMPTE Color Bars

• Adjusting SMPTE color bars

44. Stealth Filmmaking Tactics

• Introduction to shooting discreetly
• Scouting locations for a stealth shoot
• Traveling and shooting low profile
• Recording audio discreetly
• Using discreet cameras and camerawork
• Running interference
• Adding production value with local resources
• Always have a plan B

45. Dealing with Production Issues

• Five things you can do when your production stalls out

46. Using an Interrotron

• Why to use an Interrotron
• Setting up an Interrotron the traditional way
• Nontraditional Interrotron setups

47. How to Get Beautiful Shallow Depth-of-Field

• Five ways to achieve shallow depth of field

48. Media Management Tips

• Tips for managing your media

49. Tips for Renting Equipment

• Tips for renting equipment
• Do your homework
• Test the gear out
• Get the best rate on your rental
• Getting all the manuals
• Stay covered, with insurance
• Dealing with damaged, lost, or stolen gear

50. Editing on the Road

• Using your hotel TV as an ad-hoc monitor

51. Shooting with Mirrors

• Shooting an overhead tabletop demo with a mirror

52. Heat Wave Effect

• Creating a visual heat-wave effect

53. Shooting Live Events

• 10 Tips for Shooting Live Events

54. Coverage Strategies for Live Events

• Understanding the challenges of shooting live events
• Shooting for the cut
• Getting neutral shots and cutaways
• Bonus: Final edited video

55. Audio Strategies for Live Events

• Tips for recording audio at live events
• Plugging into a mixing board
• Mic'ing the instruments
• Mic'ing the speakers
• Using a shotgun mic

56. Managing Your Crew

• Seven tips for better managing your crew
• Get it all on paper first
• Learn to delegate
• Hiring is half the work
• Understand how each person likes to work
• Feed them good food
• Learn to speak their language
• Goodbye