A bit of a different style of commercial on this week's breakdown episode.
We try to recreate some of the classic looking pictures from the 1950s with a big wide dance number and a little 2d animation thrown in for fun.
Hopefully you can follow along with the stills below to see how it all came together.
Enjoy!
New Course: Mastering Exposure is LIVE
Mastering Exposure is out now. It is the latest course in the line up and so far the reviews have been awesome.
In the course I detail how I learned exposure and I share how I would get up to speed the fastest way possible if I was starting over today.
Cinematography can seem incredibly complex but underneath it all there are some fundamental decisions that must be made if you are going to get images you are happy with. Exposure and understanding how to best manipulate exposure and why one way is better or more efficient than another is absolutely essential if you are going to work with a crew and on schedule.
THis course is my attempt at sharing my exact process so you don't have to struggle to find answers like I did.
If you are interested you can check out the course here:
Patreon Podcast - Operators and Set Etiquette
I had planned to do a feature film breakdown but then late last week a conversation came up over on Discord about camera operators and set etiquette so I want to do a podcast to go over all the issues rather than typing it out.
Working on set isn't complicated but there are a few things to look out for if you are new or inexperienced. Even if you are super experienced it is still fun to hear how some people operate so in today's podcast over on Patreon I talk about how I like to work and what I like to see from people around me.
If you want to hear the podcast or check out any of the past content you can find it all by clicking the link below:
The Sound of Lighting - Location
The Spot - The Sound of Lighting
Shot #1 - The Wide
The Shot
The entire ad plays in this wide shot. A couple dances from the rear of the set all the way to the front before the actual couple that lives in the house walks in on them from frame left.
The Lighting
This set up was the exact set up we ran with all day. The only fixes from shot to shot were either moving Neg closer or further away because the edge of the frame had changed or by thinning out the sheers on the window for the same reason.
2 x M40s for the back window and BG. 1 x M90 for the Mid ground and then 2 Vortexes through 8x8 for the inside wrap. The practicals played on and there is a wall of black frame left to help get an contrast we could.
The Result
Shot #2 - The Move
The Shot
Camera tracks back as the main dancer is revealed to start the ad.
The Lighting
same as the wide.
The Result
Shot #3 - The Two
The Shot
Camera on a mini jib tracking back as the dancers start to seperate on to either side of the kitchen bench.
The Lighting
Same as wide.
The Result
Shot #4 - Single
The Shot
Tracking back to lead the female dancer out to the middle fo the room.
The Lighting
Same as Wide.
The Result
Shot #5 - Opposite Single
The Shot
Matching shot for the ladies single.
The Lighting
Same as wide.
The Result
Shot #6 - The Gag
The Shot
Here is where the commercial snaps out of fantasy and back in to reality. We switched lenses to the optimo zoom and added some office type snap zooms to break the world up even further.
The Lighting
Same as wide.
The Result
Shot #7 - The Real World
The Shot
Zoom coverage of the real couple reacting to seeing the strangers in their house.
The Lighting
Same as wide.
The Result
