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Shooting

The most important step in creating a film is - shooting it. However original the idea, however scintillating the script, you will never succeed in making a good film in the editing room if the material you have shot is not meaningful, technically error-free and skilfully executed. Get properly prepared before starting to shoot and when you are on location be circumspect and aware of what is going on to make sure that no irretrievable opportunities are lost.

No two shooting situations are the same and there is no instant recipe for achieving perfect results. Nevertheless, some advice and recommendations that have proved useful in practice can be passed on.

Preparations

Before you begin shooting set up a shooting schedule. Make a note of all the important shots and of each sequence chronologically. Allow yourself sufficient ‘space’ so that you can be flexible when the unexpected occurs, and, besides, experience shows that shooting always takes longer than you planned.

Check your equipment before you start, to make sure that shooting is not held up by missing items such as batteries or cassettes.

	Camera
	Battery packs/transformer
	Cassettes
	Tripod/Stands
	Tripod base
	Microphone equipment
	Headphones
	Sound cable
	Lighting gear
	Extension lead, multi-adaptor

Camera work

Begin with an extreme long shot. (cover shot). Choose a suitable position for the camera; one that will provide a good overall view of the action, preferably at a slightly elevated angle. You can always use this shot as the starting or concluding frame of a sequence. Next, try a panning panorama shot so that you will have an alternative to the extreme long shot when editing.

The next step is to shoot various parts of the total picture using different focal lengths. When you have got all the interesting subjects “in the can”, change the position of the camera and move in closer to the action. Take shots using the zoom and wide-angle lense, look for odd and amusing details, capture the atmosphere with your camera.

Tip: Not everything that looks or is good must be filmed, but everything that is filmed must be good. Try to shoot your material in the chronological order of your film, i.e. take your shots in the same sequence as you intend to use them later to create your film. The advantage is that you will always know at exactly which point in the film you are and which shots still have to be taken. Additionally, continuity problems due, for example, to changes in the lighting conditions can be avoided more easily.

Interviews

When filming an interview, select a location beforehand which will be suitable; one where you can work in peace and without interruptions. The surroundings should have some connection to the person being interviewed. You might choose an office, or somewhere in the open air, but then avoid streets with heavy traffic.
The camera angle is placed at the eye level of the person being interviewed, and is focussed on her/his eyes. The interviewee looks just past the camera (not directly into it) at the interviewer. Should the microphone be visible or not? If so, then use a dynamic microphone. If not, choose a directional or a pin mike. (See also: microphone equipment).

Start with the less important questions and ones that are easier to answer so that the interviewee can gradually lose her/his shyness and nervousness in front of the camera. Ask her/him open questions that will prompt more than just a yes/no response. If you want to record the questions as well, then this should be done separately, after the interview has taken place.Take a few shots of the interviewer just listening, as well as several neutral ones, so-called ‚cutaways’. You can use these later in the editing room to shorten the interview.

Recording music

If you are filming a musical performance the sound track needs to be top quality. The best way to achieve a good sound track is to play the pre-mixed sound directly from the mixing console into the camera. If a mixing console is not available, or the musicians are not using any electrical ampflication, place a ball microphon on a stand somewhere in about the middle of the space, where you can expect to get the best sound.

When you film the musical performance, leave the camera running the whole time to ensure that you have an uninterrrupted sound recording.
Shoot the performance using different length lenses. Then take some shots of the listeners; individuals, groups and the entire audience. You can use these shots when editing as transitions between sound and film cuts.

Tip: Mark each cassette with a serial number, the date and the subjects of the shots. Do not forget to press the recording safety button.

Teamwork

Filming is teamwork. The credits of a major feature film sometimes read like a list of all the citizens of a small town: actors, script writers, producers, director, cameraman/woman, sound engineers, cutters, editors, each with at least one assistant, technical team, drivers, make-up artist, property manager etc. etc., all of them experts in their own field, all of them working toward a common goal: namely, to make a good and commercially successful film.
Why not adopt this model, taken from such large film projects, in schools? Without effective teamwork and clearly defined tasks and responsibilities you cannot make a good film. The only difference between school and Hollywood is that, in a school project, everyone should have the opportunity to take part both in front of and behind the camera, to direct, to be in charge of sound, to conduct an interview and then to take over the catering – by providing a meal for the whole crew.


Authors: Robert Lambrecht and Berti Schwarz. © Robert Lambrecht and Berti Schwarz.