How to Shoot Inserts for your Commercial

Summary

This video script offers a detailed guide on enhancing commercials with dynamic inserts and transitions. The speaker discusses overcoming the challenge of creating a seamless narrative flow by capturing contextually relevant transitional shots, emphasizing the importance of understanding the scene's context. Techniques such as using a dedicated day for controlled environment shooting, specific camera settings, and creative lighting for dramatic effect are shared. The script also delves into the technical aspects of shooting, including camera settings on the Sony Venice, lighting setups for distress and isolation scenes, and the use of step printing for smeared frames. The speaker encourages creativity in shooting inserts, suggesting that they don't always have to be captured on set, but can be done separately to achieve better quality.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The importance of adding inserts or textures to make a commercial feel more dynamic is emphasized.
• 🔄 The speaker used to struggle with creating dynamic transitions but found a process that works effectively.
• 📹 A common mistake is quickly 'whipping' the camera around during a shoot, which can be improved with more intentional transitional shots.
• 🗓️ It's recommended to have a dedicated day to shoot inserts in a controlled environment when time on set is limited.
• 🤔 The process starts with context; cinematographers should ask what they are shooting and how to enhance it with transitional shots.
• 📽️ A scene breakdown is provided to illustrate how to implement these techniques, starting with understanding the scene's context and desired mood.
• 💡 Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood, with examples given of how to create a distressing and isolating atmosphere.
• 📸 Camera settings such as white balance and lens choice are discussed to achieve a cinematic look.
• 🌟 Creative lighting techniques, like using a top light and diffusion, are used to create specific moods and textures.
• 🎬 The use of multiple light sources, including a trust system with multiple flashes, is described to create a Paparazzi effect.
• 📹 Post-production techniques like step printing and slow shutter speeds are used to add motion blur and smeared frames for artistic effect.
• 🛠️ The speaker advises not to feel constrained to shoot inserts on set, but to be creative and shoot them separately when necessary.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video script regarding commercial shooting?

The main issue discussed is the feeling of something missing between scenes in commercials, and how to make the project feel more dynamic by using inserts or textures effectively.

What technique did the speaker struggle with and how did they overcome it?

The speaker struggled with shooting transitional shots and inserts effectively. They overcame this by developing a process to capture these elements in a more controlled environment on a dedicated day after the main shoot.

What is the importance of context when shooting transitional shots for commercials?

Context is crucial as it helps the cinematographer understand what they are shooting and how to capture transitional shots that add to the narrative and enhance the overall dynamic feel of the commercial.

Why is it recommended to have a dedicated day for shooting inserts after the main shoot?

A dedicated day allows for a controlled environment and the necessary time to focus on capturing high-quality inserts without the pressure of the main shoot schedule.

What camera settings were used for the camera flash scene in the script?

The Sony Venice camera was used with a 4400 Kelvin white balance, and Zeiss Super Speed lenses, specifically a 25mm lens at an aperture of f/2.8.

What lighting setup was used to create the black void effect in the camera flash scene?

A top light was created using an Aputure 1200d with a 150 soft box set to 20% and a daylight balance of 5600 Kelvin. Two layers of diffusion were used without a grid to allow for spill and a grungy lighting look.

How were the camera flashes achieved in the scene?

The camera flashes were achieved using multiple Aputure 600C lights with Fels on an overhead rig, set to a Paparazzi effect, and handheld camera flashes operated by the production designer.

What is the significance of the final flash in the scene and how was it inspired?

The final flash was significant for its dramatic effect, inspired by the Euphoria season trailer, and was achieved using preset effects in aperture life sources to create a slow draw from the back of the light.

What is Step Printing and how was it used in the video?

Step Printing is a technique where footage is shot at a lower frame rate and then slowed down in post-production to create motion blur and artifacts. It was used to capture the smeared frames of the camera flash inserts.

How did the team ensure the inserts were realistic and not obviously film lights?

The team shot the inserts in a dark room with actual light bulbs on a table, using a dimmer to control exposure, and captured various movements and angles to create a realistic texture.

What advice does the speaker give for shooting inserts and transitions?

The speaker advises not to feel pressured to get inserts on set and to be creative by shooting them later in a more controlled environment, emphasizing the importance of planning and creativity.