Tips for shooting great movies (PDF, 559KB)

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TIPS FOR SHOOTING GREAT MOVIES
Here are a few tips that will help you organise, set up, compose and shoot great video.
1. Be Organised
Make sure your equipment is booked, prepared and checked well in advance of the shoot. Make sure
members of the production team aware of their responsibilities. Organise a checklist.
2. Remember Your Stuff
Bring spare tapes, microphones, spare battery, tripod, headphones and other equipment you think you
may use. Also bring your storyboard, script, log sheets, gaffer tape, clapperboard, pen and paper.
3. Pre- Roll Your Tape
If using a tape based camera, press the record button on your camera for at least 5 seconds before
shooting the action. If capturing to memory (SD) Card this is not as important.
4. Camera Check
If you are shooting in manual mode adjust white balance, exposure, focus settings and depth of the shot.
Check the audio levels through headphones
5. Compose Your Shots
Use the Rule of Thirds by mentally dividing up your viewfinder’s image into 3 equal parts vertically and
horizontally. The most important part of the picture should be where the lines intersect. Remember to
check the background of the shot and how elements in the shot are arranged.
6. Where’s the Light
Shoot away from windows and other forms of intense background light. If light is intense, use your
camera’s backlight feature. The backlight feature allows your camera to compensate for bright light. If
lighting is poor use a portable or camera mounted light. Always light your subject.
6. Zooming is Out
Zooming is a rarely used feature in production movies of most genres. Try not to use the zoom button
while shooting. Zoom only to frame the shot.
7. Steady On
Try to avoid shaky shots unless they are called for. Use a tripod or monopod whenever possible. If no
tripod is available, look for fixed objects that you can lean on, or lean the camera onto stabilize.
8. Short Shots Only
Engage the attention of an audience with a lot of short shots (sequences) instead of long, drawn out single
shots. Shots of a 3–8 seconds duration usually work well.
10. Hold that Shot
Make sure you hold your shot steady long enough to edit. Compose a good shot and while shooting count
to 10 before moving on to the next shot.
11. Coverage
Make sure you shoot enough footage for editing. Try shooting the same shot from a different angle,
perspective or with a different type of shot.
FILM-MAKING RESOURCE
Created by Kym Nadebaum 2012

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TIPS FOR SHOOTING GREAT MOVIES (cont)
12. Shot Variety
When shooting video, get plenty of A-roll (main event shots) and B-roll footage (fill or cut away shots). If a
shooting a sports day story as well as shooting each event, get shots of crowd reaction, the starter’s gun,
preparing for an event, presentations etc.
13. Watch Your Angle
Take your shots from a variety of angles. Experiment by shooting from high and low angles. Try to avoid
shooting all your shots from ‘front on’ and from eye level. Try to get perspective into your shots.
14. Create Some Interest
Try shoots that are different and creative. Experiment by shooting the reflection in a pond or mirror. Shoot
from a moving car. Shoot from inside a dark room the action taking place outside an open door in bright
light. Shoot ‘walking feet’ from ground level. Shoot lots of POV (Point of View Shots).
15. Move It
Moving with the camera while shooting can be very powerful. Follow a conversation taking place; a
person walking; or move towards or away from a subject to create depth. Experiment by moving with
the camera for POV and subjective shots. Use a dolly, wheelchair, skate-board or cushion to steady the
camera while moving. Take care while shooting!
16. Action and Reaction
Where characters are involved action shots should be followed by reaction shots. If shooting a wide action
shot of a person running and he/ she is becoming exhausted, shoot a close up reaction shot of their face
panting.
17. Establish the Setting
An audience needs to connect with where the action (story) is taking place. Use establishing (wide, long)
shots to verify a location. This can also be done with ‘on screen’ text during editing.
18. Connect the Start and Finish
Good stories often connect the beginning and end (either with a location or a statement or question). In
some movies, we see a setting shot that is repeated at the end of the movie as a cap-off. This often works
well in any video, particularly with short stories, commercials or documentaries.
19. Listen
Always wear headphones to monitor audio input level while shooting particularly for ambient and
background sound and conversation shots. Use an external microphone where ever possible.
20. Talk About It
Communication is a key component of a successful production. Discuss in your production team issues
such as shot type, location, framing, genre, mood and message. Also discuss new ideas that may arise.
FILM-MAKING RESOURCE
Created by Kym Nadebaum 2012