What happens when a lens falls out of someone’s hands and lands – thud! – onto the ground? It gives a heart attack to those of us in the camera department watching, especially when we know that gravity always wins.
Filmmaking Tips and Advice
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5 Rules to Help You Dress for Success On Film Sets
In the old days of Hollywood, back before talkies ruled and when cameras were still cranked with film, burly men would wear suits on sets and sweat their butts off. Not today. These days dressing for filmmaking is a different game all about comfort and common sense. Here’s 5 rules to stick by to stay comfortable on set so you can focus on doing your job right.
If You Don’t Collect Call Sheets Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
In the land of freelancing, anybody can claim experience and make up fake productions to confirm their work. So if you want to join a union or another professional organization, having proof of real experience is necessary. One way to prove that is through call sheets, so if you aren’t collecting them, here’s why you should start right now.
Are You Making Friends On Set?
Filmmaking is a uniquely collaborative medium that brings together many people towards one creative goal. The people are also one of the best reasons to stick around. A good friend on set has the potential to become a good friend forever. Do you stay in touch with those you work with?
How to Clean a Camera Lens Without Damaging the Glass
One of the questions I get a lot from readers is how to clean a camera lens properly. While I can’t claim my method is “the way” to clean a lens, it has served me well in my career so I decided to share it with you in my first ever video post.
Save Money and Your Tools in 10 Minutes or Less
Losing gear is part of the life cycle of a toolkit. A tool can easily find its way out of your hands in the hustle of production, but you should be spending money on new tools instead of replacement ones. If you have 10 minutes of time, you can save money and save your tools by using this easy tactic.
Comment Corner: Week of March 14th
Sunday is exciting because I get to show off the smart and talented readers of The Black and Blue. You did not disappoint this week, providing some new techniques on methods I had already explored and also proving that filmmaking is made of a community that strives to share with each other.
On Set: A Lens and a T-shirt
There’s a certain pride as an AC to be able to return an entire camera package complete, unbroken, and with everything in tip-top shape. Accidents can and often do happen, but there should never be a piece of broken gear because of a stupid mistake like that.
Don’t Waste Time with Camera Movement
Cinema is built around motion and the art of movement, often by the camera. These types of shots are often impressive and will add value to any production, but they also take time to set up. Before you dive head on into the world’s greatest dolly move or an five-minute long Steadicam shot, consider the resources you’re expending to execute it.
Getting Drinks with Crew: Hit the Bar or Hit the Sack?
When you spend 12 hours (or more) working, a soft pillow and a warm bed are your best friends at the end of the day. That’s until you hear, “Hey, we’re going out for drinks, you should come!”