• Tips to be More Eco-Friendly as a Filmmaker

    Posted on by A. Wong in Recent News | Comments Off on Tips to be More Eco-Friendly as a Filmmaker

    With the increasing concern everyone should be doing everything in their power to protect  the environment. As  filmmakers there are plenty of things you can do when shooting on set or editing at home. No matter what scene  you’re shooting you will most likely be using artificial lighting. Leaving the lights on throughout the entire shoot is bad for the environment and the lights. Turn the lights off when they are not in use. This will help save energy as well as increase the life span of your bulbs. Another thing you can do to save energy is to try and incorporate as much natural lighting into your scenes as possible. This is already a popular option in many Hollywood films like The Revenant for environmental and aesthetic reasons. Most shoots can take several hours. If so, there is bound to be garbage or waste produced. Keeping a recycling bin and compost around …

  • 3 Budget Lenses for Students

    Posted on by A. Wong in Video Production | Comments Off on 3 Budget Lenses for Students

    If you are a student you probably won’t be able to afford professional gear, and will most likely be looking for the cheaper options. Below are three lenses that are relatively cheap compared to a 24-70 mm f2.8 or a 70-200 mm f2.8 for example. The three lenses below cover most of bases for what a student would be working on. The wide: 18-55 mm f3.5-5.6 vr Kit Lens If you are just starting out in photography or video and you have decided on a DSLR you most likely opted for the kit lens bundle. If you just got the body you can pick one up for around $60 used. The 18-55 mm is a great all purpose lens as well as a wide angle lens at 18 mm. On a crop sensor it is a 27 mm due to the crop factor(1.5x). There is a slight distortion at 18 mm but that …

  • Why DSLRs are Better vs Mirrorless Cameras

    Posted on by A. Wong in Recent News | Comments Off on Why DSLRs are Better vs Mirrorless Cameras

    In the past few years’ mirrorless camera technology has advanced significantly. Mirrorless cameras such as the Sony A7s and A7r are providing fierce competition for DSLRs. It has come so far that there have been talks of mirrorless cameras replacing DSLRs. Though not to say mirrorless cameras are flawless, there are still some issues that are stopping mirrorless cameras from completely replacing DSLRs. Size and weight The size of mirrorless cameras is smaller when compared with DSLRs. This is due to the lack of a mirror, hence the name mirrorless. With the smaller size comes a lighter camera. This is one of the appeals of mirrorless cameras, being able to carry a small camera that can fit in your pocket with the quality of a DSLR. Although DSLRs are not too far behind, entry level DSLRs such as the D3300 have roughly the same size and weight, just slightly larger …

  • Operating a steadicam: tips and tricks

    Posted on by azure in Video Production | Comments Off on Operating a steadicam: tips and tricks

    Old school Glidecam V-20 at work! A steadicam is a mounted video camera that allows for the taking of unshaken andmore stable footage without using complicated dollies or tracks. It prevents the unavoidable hand shakes from even the most talented camera operators during fast-paced shots or filming that requires a fluid movement on the part of the camera operator. Essentially, it’s a harness that attaches the camera to the operator, or a camera that is attached to a a bar with a handle. This bar differs from a standard tripod as is allows for much swifter movement. Several notable scenes in famous films have employed a steady cam, including when Danny rides his tricycle around the hotel in The Shining, as well as countless other films and television shows that have used long, uninterrupted single-camera shots. Whether for commercial video production, educational video production, marketing video production or online video production, a …