You’re making a film, but your
budget is low. You can get great quality video from the family DSLR as a video camera, or even a smartphone
camera (the iPhone can make particularly good movies, as can Microsoft’s high-end Lumia devices), but putting together
well lit and smooth motion shots can be tough without
costly accessories.
More Than Just Photography: 10 Videos Shot With DSLR Cameras
More Than Just Photography: 10 Videos Shot With DSLR Cameras
We've put together a list of 10 stunning videos shot using a digital SLR camera
that you an use as a point of inspiration for shooting your own videos.
But budget doesn’t have to mean no
movie. With a bit of invention, lighting issues can be resolved and
Steadicam-style camera work can be introduced, for very little or even no
money, using tools and equipment that you may already have in your office, shed
or workspace.
No
Steadicam? No Problem!
DIY Steadicam - Flying Camera Support from Videopia on Vimeo.
One of the big problems facing
amateur and low budget film makers is the price of a Steadicam. The
genuine article will set you back $320 on Amazon, while low budget alternatives can cost anything from $20 to $130.
Now, you might find that making your
own Steadicam is something you’re interested in doing, and with the right
equipment this is achievable. Online DIY sites are chocked full of home-built
Steadicam alternatives, but this is one of the best we’ve seen:
DIY Steadicam,
Without the DIY Skills?
Just suppose you’re completely
useless at DIY. You may have the ability to screw and unscrew things, but when
it comes to putting materials together, you prefer to pass. Well, this might
just be the solution to your Steadicam dreams.
Known as the Merricam (named after
its inventor, Will Merrick) this Steadicam alternative utilizes the physical
properties of a standard camera tripod, and requires you to remove a single
screw. Note that this may not work so well with cheaper, lightweight tripods,
but is perfect if you have a standard tripod to the same or similar design.
(And if you are completely bereft of
DIY skills, you can always learn them on YouTube.) Learn Basic DIY Skills Online With YouTube Learn Basic DIY Skills Online With YouTube While
DIY falls in and out of fashion depending on the state of the economy,
individual styles, and the availability of professionals and materials, there
will always be someone, somewhere keen to learn basic DIY... Read More
Hello,
Dolly
Smooth motion is an absolute
must-have for amateur movie making, and at the same time very difficult to
achieve. While Steadicam hacks are one way of achieving this, you might also
want to track and zoom slowly, something achieved in film production with a
dolly, a small platform on wheels upon which the camera is mounted.
Typically these devices have track
along which they are pushed. But given how much smaller scale your movie
project might be, you could construct a DIY dolly using parts you have in your
shed, or that are easily affordable.
Built using an old skateboard and
two lengths of aluminum, this DIY dolly gives great results.
Drive
by Shooting
If some wheels and a DIY track
aren’t quite big enough, why not employ a car?
No, really.
The truth is, shooting from a car
can give great results, not just as a dolly substitute for tracking and zoom
shots, but also for elevated camera work. You might mount your camera on the
side of the car (although this can be expensive) or you might prefer to wind
down a window or sit in the boot to get the right shot.
As you can see from the video, you
can shoot footage inside a car safely, and use the vehicle to record some
impressive stunt shots too, with zero expense on stuntmen!
If this isn’t an option, you can
also manage in-car video shooting using just a smartphone mount. Like this…
Ahem.
Let
There Be Light
Lighting is almost always a problem
for amateur and budget moviemakers, but if you’ve got the right skills or
personnel, you can take advantage of affordable equipment and build your own
lighting solutions.
These might be as simple as adding
some extra bounce to your flash, or building an entire lighting rig.
DIY lighting solutions don’t have to
be a stop-gap, either – they can create results that might otherwise prove very
difficult or expensive. Here’s a bonus example, which demonstrates how to
achieve subtle, scary lighting with an IKEA trash can.
Doesn’t that look
great? Repurposing IKEA furniture is great for DIY projects – take a look
at our budget standing desk built from IKEA tables. How To Build A Cheap Standing Desk From Ikea, And What It's
Like To Use How To Build A Cheap Standing Desk From Ikea, And What It's
Like To Use There's a current craze emerging for standing desks,
literally desks that you stand at while working. Having spent the last five
years as a self-employed freelance writer who spends most of his days sat at...
Read More
Keep
Up With the Film Making Hacks
These videos are just the tip of the
iceberg of DIY film making tips that you can achieve with little or no
budget. But where can you find more?
A good place to start is Indiewire,
the first stop for independent filmmakers online, which has a section dedicated to
DIY filmmakers. Indeed, there is very little reason to avoid this
site as it is full of useful articles and features.
Several online video channels are
worth following too, such as DigitalRev TV who produced the first lighting
video above, and the Vimeo Video School. For a more in depth
discussion on DIY video techniques, the DIY Filmmaker’s Podcast is also a good choice.
Meanwhile if you have a Lynda.com
subscription, you can take your movie making further with some courses compiled
and hosted by professionals.
This post is from a search for DIY Filmmaking, easy to find.
(Note: Highly recommend Lynda.com for any tutorials. Easy to navigate and informative.)
Keep the DIY Flag flying high!!!
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