Tips from the Goethe Institute re filming

さつえいする時のヒント

German School Film Festival www.goethe.de/schulfilmfest
Siobhan's basic filmmaking tips
By Siobhan Maiden

え　Picture
• Ensure the date display function is turned off the camera. Some cameras also display text,
such as happy birthday etc. Make sure this function is turned off, it is very distracting.
• Avoid shaky shots by using a tripod or monopod to get a steady result. If you can't use a
tripod, steady the camera against any solid object, for example, a tree, a pole, a desk and
the ground. Avoid hand held camerawork unless you need to follow a moving subject.
• The wobblies in hand held camera work can often be reduced by setting the lens angle
(zoom control) to fully wide. This reduces apparent movement and is great for street vox
pops. You will need to keep close to you subject.
• When composing a scene, look at the whole of frame. Are there any power lines in shot or
is the horizon going through someone's head? Has the rule of thirds been applied?
• Try and shoot a variety of camera angles - wide shots, mid shots and close ups. Most
people forget to get enough close ups. Cutaways can make a scene come alive.
• The camera operator needs to move their body to position themselves in the best angle for
the shot. If everything is shot from the camera operator’s eye line, it will be a very boring
film. Squatting and getting a perspective form low down or standing on a table and filming
from high up can be very effective. Tilting and panning can also add interest.
• Do not zoom gratuitously!!!! The human eye does not zoom, so excessive camera zoom
can drive a viewer mad! The camera operator should use the zoom sparingly, and rather
than zooming in to get a close up, they should get physically as close to the subject as
possible.

おと　　Sound
• Identify Ambient Noise: how many distracting background noises can be heard, such as
planes, wind, dogs, school bells, lawn mowers, the class next door, air conditioners etc.
• Ensure any dialogue is spoken no further than two meters away from the camera. The
microphones on mini DV cameras are not designed to pick up audio from a great distance.
If you need to record audio in a wide shot, you could record the audio in a separate close
up, and sync them together in the editing.
• Mini DV camera mics are uni-directional, meaning they will pick up everything to the left and
right of them, as well as straight ahead. This means the people giggling next to the camera
can be heard. So, ensure your set is quiet while shooting.

ひかり　　　Light
• The most common mistake amateur filmmakers make is shooting into a window, which
creates a silhouette out of the subject matter. Always ensure the window or major light
source is to the side or in front of the subject, not directly behind it.
• Identify primary and secondary light sources in the scene. Always light to the primary light
source. Use the three point lighting set up:
1. Key light - dominant light.
2. Fill light - complements key light and brings out the detail in the shadows cast by
the key light.
3. Back light - separates the subject from background.