How to Shoot a Narrative Commercial - Cinematography Breakdown

Summary

This video script offers an in-depth look at the art of cinematography in narrative commercials. It discusses the importance of composition and lighting to create a natural yet elevated look, using a clothing brand's Lunar New Year content piece as a case study. The script details the challenges faced and solutions employed, such as using a Sony Venice camera for an early morning feel and various lighting techniques to mimic natural light and add depth. It also explores specialty shots that provide unique perspectives and immerse viewers in the story, emphasizing intentionality without forcing it, and concludes with a call to action for more commercial breakdowns.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video emphasizes the importance of perseverance and storytelling through cinematography, focusing on narrative commercials.
• 🌅 It discusses achieving a naturalistic yet elevated look in commercial shoots, often set in real spaces, by using composition and lighting techniques.
• 📸 The video provides a detailed breakdown of a commercial shoot for a clothing brand's Lunar New Year celebration, highlighting the challenges and solutions.
• 🏺 The cinematographer shares insights on shooting in a pottery space, capturing the owner's story of resilience through intentional framing and lighting.
• 💡 Lighting is crucial for elevating the scene, with the video explaining how to use natural light, color temperature, and artificial lights to create a commercial look.
• 🔧 The video showcases practical solutions like using a riser for the camera to avoid seeing the dolly track in wide shots, demonstrating creative problem-solving.
• 🖥️ Post-production techniques, such as image overlays and Photoshop editing, are mentioned to ensure consistency in the final output.
• 📹 The use of specialty shots, like attaching a camera to a moving garage door, adds a dynamic element to the storytelling, enhancing viewer immersion.
• 📈 The video provides a step-by-step guide on setting up shots, from initial concepts to final execution, including the use of specific camera settings and equipment.
• 👤 The director's vision of making the commercial feel naturalistic yet with a commercial flare is central to the video, with the cinematographer detailing how this was achieved.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video discussed in the script?

The main focus of the video is to demonstrate how to shoot a narrative commercial with naturalistic yet elevated visuals, focusing on lighting and composing techniques.

What is the significance of using a Sony Venice camera in the video?

The Sony Venice camera was used to achieve an early morning look, with its white balance set to 4400 Kelvin to create a blue look and provide contrast for an orange and teal color grading.

How was the challenge of seeing the dolly track in the wide shot overcome?

The challenge was overcome by using a riser to elevate the camera off the dolly track, allowing only the second half of the dolly to be used for the shot.

What lighting setup was used to mimic natural early morning light in the pottery space?

A tube light was set outside to mimic the natural light from a street lamp, and its color temperature was set to 5600 Kelvin to match the daylight outside, creating streaks of light inside the room.

How were the lights in the room controlled to create a naturalistic look when the character turns on the lights?

The gaffer rigged up multiple MC lights and a tube light on a cuelist, allowing them to turn on individually to mimic the naturalistic look of lights turning on in a home.

What technique was used to focus the viewer's attention on the cup in the dolly shot?

The cinematographer used a Forza 500 light with a Fresnel lens to create a directional light that highlighted the cup, while keeping the background action to show the subject's passion for her work.

How was the garage door used as a lighting tool in the video?

The garage door was used as a large light modifier, with a Forza 500 light placed behind it to create a naturalistic and directional light source that illuminated the scene.

What was the purpose of using a Nanlite Pavo Slim light in the video?

The Nanlite Pavo Slim was used to create a soft top light that motivated the existing Skylight, using a silk to soften the light further and provide a beauty lighting effect on the subject.

How was consistency achieved in the cup shots where different cups were shown?

Consistency was achieved by using an image overlay on the monitors to position the cups and by using Photoshop to regenerate the background layer and mask out the cups for a uniform look.

What challenges were faced when attaching the camera to the garage door for a specialty shot?

The challenge was to securely attach the camera to a non-magnetic aluminum surface. This was overcome by using a right-angle plate with strong magnets to hold the camera in place.

How did the director of photography approach the specialty shots to elevate the storytelling?

The director of photography used unique camera placements, such as attaching the camera to a moving garage door, and creative lighting to provide different perspectives and immerse the viewer in the story.