AboutTroy Smith Expertise I can answer questions on professional or amateur filmmaking and questions on Final Cut Pro, video cameras, lighting, sound recording, scriptwriting, storytelling, directing, producing, editing, multi-camera productions, shooting sports, picture to video, using DTE hard drives, using video cameras and editing in a very creative way and some 16mm filmmaking. I can't answer too many questions on 35mm filmmaking.
Experience I have been a professional filmmaker since 1995 and a film teacher since 2000. I am publishing a textbook for beginning filmmakers called "the New Filmmaker's Adventure". I have experience in the area of low-budget feature filmmaking, Iam the co-owner of the production company called Imminent Entertainment LLC, I have worked on hundreds of videos, TV shows, multi-camera events and low budget, professional productions, corporate and consumer videos, Final Cut Pro, scriptwriting, directing, videography and cinematography, sound, lighting, editing, and producing.
Organizations Independent Feature Project - Chicago
Education/Credentials Western Michigan University '95 BS in film production Magna cum Laude
Maine Media Workshops '02-07
Expert: Troy Smith Date: 5/11/2008 Subject: Movie "look"
Question What is it that gives a movie that "movie look"? If you film something with a video camera it has that live look, but like major movies have that dark look to them that doesn't look live. What is that process called and how can you do that? Can it be done with a home video camera and some home computer software? You know how sometimes they show the making of a clip and it looks live but then they show how it looks in the movie and it gives it that look that doesn't appear live or fake.
Answer Yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about. You see it when you watch the extras on a DVD. The ones that get me are when you see the video behind-the-scenes shot of an action movie like Gladiator and it looks totally fake and cheesy, then they show you the film version of the shot and it looks amazing! There are several reasons why this happens. I will compare film cameras to regular video cameras, but high-end HD cameras are very similar to film now so they are not part of this answer:
1. film captures images on a physical piece of film with similar properties to the human eye. Video cameras only record a signal of color and light. This is the very abbreviated reason why film looks "softer" and video looks "harsh." (I could bore you with more technical stuff if you really want me to)
2. Film lenses are unbelievably better than video lenses (except for the new HD video ones). Film lenses can cost tens of thousands of dollars each and are often changed from one shot to another. They have incredible ability to create depth in the shot. Most video cameras come with a built-in zoom lens that can't be changed and even have plastic lenses in cheaper cameras.
3. Film has a far greater latitude for color and contrast than video cameras. This means that film can pick up a range of color, depth and contrast similar to our eyes, but regular video can't even touch it, so tons of details that you would see on film would get lost in the same shot on video.
4. film is processed, video is played back. They can do some sweet things to film after it's shot to give it a certain look. We can do this to video now, too (which I highly recommend) but untouched video is very pain and harsh.
How can you make video look more like film?
1. Use lighting to create depth, texture and shadows. Lighting is key to quality shots and less can often be more.
2. Move your camera back and zoom in as much as you safely can to get your shot (please don't do a zoom-in WHILE you're getting your shot - it's very amateurish and draws attention to your camera work). This will make your depth-of-field much shallower, meaning that you can have your subject in focus while foreground and background will be out-of-focus like in the movies. Remember to move a microphone in close if you can, though.
3. In your editing, play with adding more contrast to your shot, desaturate the color a little or other effects. If you have Final Cut Pro to edit on, I can tell you an awesome way to make it look like film, just ask me in another question.
