Been asked to shoot behind the scenes on a film...

[Fordo]

would anyone have any tips?


I've been asked to be a photographer on a film set, getting behind the scenes photos that can be used for promotional material.

I want to go for quite a reportage style- capturing a directors hand gesturing to an actor, or an actress pulling a funny face or laughing as she's messed up a line. I want to get the feel of what goes on, on set, rather than the feel of the movie.

Would anyone have any tips for shooting this kind of style?

The set is quite dark, so im not sure whether to use a flash. It'll probably annoy the dop if im flashing (excuse the bad phrase there!) all the time.

Was thinking of upping the iso, and then only using flash if they ask for some staged promotional shots. The rest of the time I want to capture the moment, and I think the flash would prove a distraction to everyone.

Any tips would be most appreciated.

[CVP]

I don't have any specific experience of this myself but I have seen other togs in action on TV shows and stage shows.

They do exactly like you'd described no flash apart from the staged shots. In the old days of film of course no flash meant nice fast 400ASA and upwards film that gave a lovely grainy reportage look. Rcent stuff I have seen with digital gives a much smoother look.

The one thing I do remember reading about was a thing that wrapped round the camera muffling the sound of the shutter ?sound blimp? might be worth a bit of research.

Best of luck, sounds a really interesting opportunity.

Chris

[Scho]

i've done stills on a shoot before, it's suprising how dim movie lights are, you'l prob be shooting at 800 or even 1600 iso even at f2.8

pro's use a sound proof box that fits over your camera so you can photograph whilst the films being shot and not mess up the sound!

maybe try and hire one?

[Fordo]

Scho said:

i've done stills on a shoot before, it's suprising how dim movie lights are, you'l prob be shooting at 800 or even 1600 iso even at f2.8

pro's use a sound proof box that fits over your camera so you can photograph whilst the films being shot and not mess up the sound!

maybe try and hire one?

thats a good idea- thanks, i'll look into that

[GetCarter]

Don't even think about flash, in my opinion you'll really piss people off. A fast long lens is what you need. (f2.8 70-300) It will pull the subject out of the frame, and the shutter noise will also not annoy (as you'll be far enough back).

I speak as someone who has spent a lot of time on film/TV sets and know how tempers fray.

As mentioned above - you need to be invisible

Hope it goes well - post some pics up!

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 2nd July 16:49

[CivicMan]

GetCarter said:

Don't even think about flash, in my opinion you'll really piss people off.

As mentioned above - you need to be invisible

+1 (Flash ABSOLUTE no no - completely kills the cinematography which someone has spent a long time achieving!)

[Jenx]

GetCarter said:

I speak as someone who has spent a lot of time on film/TV sets and know how tempers fray.

You pop stars are all the same!

[Zad]

I have never done anything remotely like this, but I imagine it may well be worthwhile to ask the sound people if you can check that your shutter isn't audible at various locations. If nothing else it will show professional appreciation. Before they roll, the lighting cameraman will be doing tests too, so that is probably a good time to get in and work out your exposures, and where to stand to be out of the way of the tracks.

[VxDuncan]

I've shot a few music gigs that I guess are similar in terms of backstage kit, lighting levels etc. I'd suggest a monopod would be of benefit if you can get away with it, esp for the "backstage"(not so brightly lit) shots. Even if you have VR/IS lenses you should gain an extra stop with a monopod. This is going on my tests with a 24-120 VR - 2 stops monopod, 3 stops VR, 4 stops monopod+VR. I don't know how much confidence you have in your kit, and the ability to control it, but unless you are 100% confident in its metering and AF abilities in dim, high contrast situations I'd be prepared to go full manual on the metering (take a reading that works and stick with it), and manually focus. If you've a AF illuminator you won't be popular so turn it off and be prepared to manually focus. Shot RAW so you can benefit from off-camera noise reduction and white balance adjustments.

[Simpo Two]

VxDuncan said:

a monopod... full manual on the metering... and manually focus... shoot RAW

And with the other hand?

I'll stick to weddings - much easier!

[Elderly]

Fordo said:

would anyone have any tips?


I've been asked to be a photographer on a film set, getting behind the scenes photos that can be used for promotional material.

I want to go for quite a reportage style- capturing a directors hand gesturing to an actor, or an actress pulling a funny face

The stills photographer (a department of one) is always in the wrong place for somebody who perceives themselves as having a greater priority to be there.
If you are not in the wrong place for somebody else, you will probably be in the wrong place to get
a useable shot.
Stay out of the actors' eyelines and don't forget that many actors will have a power of veto in their contracts over stills being used that they consider show themselves not at their best (actress pulling a funny face ). Make-up, costume and hair may all decide that their artist (during rehearsals) is not in a fit state to be photographed and will do things like put sectioning grips in hair or a cardigan over a costume, only removing them for the take, and as has been said, if you are going to shoot during a take, a proper dedicated sound blimp for your
camera (what is your camera?) is a must; not just one of those large padded leather gloves.
Your best chance is after each take but you have to be quick before an actor rushes off to change,
or the set is struck for a scene change etc.

If you are outside on location, things would be much easier than if you are inside a studio on a sound stage.
Finally why isn't the unit's stills photographer doing this behind the scenes stuff ?
They won't be pleased to see you

Best of luck .....

[Fordo]

Thanks for all the tips guys- great stuff!

Trying to find somewhere to hire a sound blimp is proving to be a bit of a nightmare, but I'm going to keep ringing around all day.

Its quite a low budget shoot, hence why I've got dragged into doing stills. I'm actually the steadicam op, but I have a keen interest in photography, and somehow got roped into doing the behind the scenes stuff when im not steadicaming!

Camerawise, im going to hire in something. I've only got a Nikon D40 at the moment. It'd probably do a reasonable job- its great in low light, but I'd rather have something that can deliver a bit more.

Any recommendations for a camera to hire?

[_dobbo_]

For low light high ISO performance I think you need to be looking either at a Nikon D3, or otherwise something from Canon. Until the D3 came out, Nikon were no-where near Canon when it came to controlling noise.

[GetCarter]

If it's after the end of this month the D700 will be out and that has the same low light capabilities of the D3

[flat-planedCrank]

As was mentioned above, you may want to rent a fast tele-zoom (like 70-200 f2.8) or some longer prime lenses if the set will be dark.

(If you stick with your d40 then check the lenses will auto-focus ok)


D3 sounds like a good idea, but make sure you are ready to finance buying one when you realise you don't want to give it back
Might be worth check how much extra it would be to rent a day (or so) earlier than you need it - might require some familiarisation time...


Cheers.

[Zad]

Difficult choice to make! http://www.fixationuk.com/Fixation/Rental.html

Nikon D3 is £100/day £400/week
Canon 5D is £75/day £300/week

Their prices seem to be about 20% cheaper than Calumet http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/rental

[Jenx]

Zad said:

Difficult choice to make! http://www.fixationuk.com/Fixation/Rental.html

Nikon D3 is £100/day £400/week
Canon 5D is £75/day £300/week

Their prices seem to be about 20% cheaper than Calumet http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/rental

As a hardened Canon user I'd choose the D3 out of those two...

[DanH]

Zad said:

Difficult choice to make! http://www.fixationuk.com/Fixation/Rental.html

Nikon D3 is £100/day £400/week
Canon 5D is £75/day £300/week

Their prices seem to be about 20% cheaper than Calumet http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/rental

Doesn't seem a difficult choice to me!

[Fordo]

Phew, im knackered- nothing quite like a 14 hour day :-(

As it turned out, we were short staffed, so I ended up doing a lot of other jobs rather than concentrating on photos.

Time ran out on thursday and friday, and i had no time to get equipment rental sorted, so I had to fall back on my D40.

And the conditions were just too much for my little d40. The set was really dark and contrasty lit mainly with two arri 2.5k freznels beaming through two windows.

The D40 really struggled to get good shots- i had to shoot at iso 1600 and sometimes under expose, in order to get close enough to subject and be sharp. The lens just wasnt fast enough or long enough either, and VR would have helped me out too. Not to mention the camera just wasnt fast enough either- went I wanted to reel off 2 or 3 shots at a pivotal moment, then camera would just decide to sit and think about it!

Still, I managed to get a few good 'un's - some great expressions from cast and crew. i'll post them up once I've run them through noise ninja and cleaned them up a little.

[petermansell]

Lucky bugger