In fact, in this industry there is no any rules.
You can make the cool music video with your cell phone without light and money.
In this video I want to tell you how to make your video production process more predictable
and visually beautiful.
In these tasks these stages will help me:
The first is Scouting Then, Choosing of equipment (grip and lenses)
Planning Set design
Work with lighting Color grading
On my example, let’s study each stage and look at how all this is connected with the
final result.
Of course before shooting any project I should scout the location where the set of project
will be.
What I need to look at: The first is the Sun!
With «SUN Surveyor» app I look at how and where the sun can be in certain moment.
When I have a timing of production day, I can foresee where the sun is.
Why it is useful.
For example.
If I want to shoot without the sun I will need any blackout for the window.
Or on the contrary, if I need the sun, I know that it can appear where I need it.
Choosing the location and approximate camera angles.
The good location is the half of a good shot.
If I don't like the place on the scouting, I just offer to find another location.
Don't try to make a good scene in a bad place.
If the location doesn't have what you need, just search for the other.
Sometimes the location doesn’t look so bad, but it doesn't have decoration or any props.
I always take a picture of several places in the location.
And then I think what I can add and rent from props for this scene.
In this step I just try to fill poor space with decorations in preproduction.
Also, with «Cadrage app» I take several shots to understand approximate camera angles
and where the camera will be.
Light set #1
It was the first scene.
We had about two hours for preparation with the light setting when the Artist and stuntmen
department were preparing.
For this project I took ARRI 2500W.
For this location it was appropriate.
Because if the light source was a little weaker, I would not have so contrasted shot.
I put the main light source behind the Artist and I did the backlight setup.
This source imitates the sunlight.
If I put it from the camera side or the left in the frame, I would just get the flat image.
Then the light will fill the walls and the light will bounce with all space.
Also You can pay your attention to the silhouette.
We put the negative fill behind the camera.
We use it to block the bounce light.
Because all the walls are quite bright and can reflect the light on the characters.
The black textile can give more dark shadows and a contrast silhouette.
And what about beams of light?
This space is really huge and if I used a simple smoke machine I would not get volumetric
light.
I used the haze generator.
This tool was needed about 10 minutes of continuous work for filling all space with haze.
Choosing of equipment
If I work with a middle budget project, I can rent good equipment.
Cine lenses, cinema camera, dolly or Dana Dolly slider.
Your final image style is the result of equipment choice.
As this is a music video, I need that to have a special style.
For this I'm just listening to music which I make the video for.
And thinking about two points:
The first: What type of camera movement will be suitable for this music and story.
Handheld camera?
Smooth and slide or static, fast or slow?
This is very important for holistic video editing.
I choose the slide and slow camera.
The second point I think about on the preproduction is: What lens type I want to use.
Of course the anamorphic lenses look very cinematic and beautiful but this kind of lenses
are not suitable for all stories.
My advice is to use more different lenses and think about the storyline and concept
of music.
As the story I'm shooting looks like a movie concept, I chose the most cinematic and contrast
lens- this is Hawk V-lite Anamorphic.
Light set #2
In this scene I used RGB laser on 4 watts like a key light.
A separate specialist was responsible for this laser.
I just said that - I want the triangular blue light.
And he just did it!
Alone, I would not go into this rather heavy equipment.
So, also in this dark scene, there is a little fill light in the dark side.
This is the light from the godox 300 vl with red gel filter.
Which works with 1% of power.
I am making a plan not to forget how and in what style I will have to shoot on set.
What will happen in the scene.
What actions character will do or where the camera will be?
What is the shot type I need.
How will the camera move or stay, what type of lighting will be there.
I'm just filling the table list with my future actions.
The next, I'm waiting for approval from the director and if everything is ok,
I will use this list in the shooting day.
Light set #3
Top light in this scene was created with Godox 300vl and haze.
We had about 30 minutes before the set shift will be stopped.
And the Director said that He wanted to back in the stairs location and shoot some more
scenes.
We just took the godox with c-stand and haze and put this light setup for 15 minutes.
I used handheld camera with easy-rig.
Set design
In production process, I have to control, that the props, which I need, are in the scene.
I make a set design process with the art department.
I try to make interesting and good composition in the scene.
I remove all colors or objects that do not match the style of the video.
And I can add something for composition balance.
This is art process and all props and filling objects I prepare before the shooting day.
These TV box was the Director’s idea but the scene was still empty.
On the preproduction I just offered to fill the space with plants and book papers.
Just because the scene looks more mysterious and filled.
Light set #4 The key light of this scene works from a fake
window area.
ARRI 2500W is quite bright for this scene, and We made the bounce-light from the silver.
Also, I cut half of the light flow with black flag.
Why?
Because ARRI 1200 HMI burned out this day, and we had two daylight sources.
The second light source was Godox vl 300.
This is quite bright and has well white balance.
I used it with ARRI.
With godox light I made the reflex of light from the floor.
So, we made many good shoots and in this stage I want to make the materials even more beautiful.
The first rule of color grading is do not spoil the material.
I'm not a professional colorist and therefore I shared these project with a professional
artist.
I gave the materials to Ty Van Haren.
He works with celebrities in the music videos and has very good style and experience in
color grade on the music videos and not only.
Ty Wan worked in Davinci Resolve, and he used one interesting tool.
This tool is Dehancer OFX.
This plugin works like a film imitation.
In addition to the typical grain of film, this plugin adds stunning halates effects
that are insanely hard to create in post-production.
Also, I really love that it can add so pure and tidy glow light effect.
Also, we added a grain.
Denhancer has many varieties of grain, and we can manipulate quantity and size.
Ty Van made a very good work.
And for simple cinematic grade He created cool color grade Luts.
Links to Ty Van’s Lut's and Dehancer plugin are in the description of this video.
The best advice is to have maximum preparation for any set.
It is better to shoot a little planned and beautiful material than to shoot a lot of
bad material without preparation.
Also, check my website.
I prepared my online course for deep work with light and set design.
I have put a lot of knowledge and experience into this course.
It will definitely change your work with the light and set design.
I am incredibly proud of the works of my students, and I am sure that you will do the same shots.