Filmfluence is a platform intended to positively influence the independent filmmaking community in any way we can. As director, field producer, and editor of AGTV's reality/documentary T.V. show, "The Voyage of Life". I have went from an Independent filmmaker with 10 years of hard gained experience to a fulltime industry filmmaker. During this almost overnight change, I have been forced to adapt and overcome several learning curves that reconstructed my outlook on film, caused me to re-evaluate the knowledge I've grown since the beginning of my career, and built me into the filmmaker I am today. I want to share that knowledge and experience with everyone I can.
It looks really nice but it's totally inappropriate for 99.9% of self tapes. The casting director wants to be impressed by the actor, not the lighting setup and the camera settings. its great to have a clean professional self-tape setup, but a super stylised setup will actually hurt your chances as an actor because it's too distracting. Coloured light and dramatic shadows actually alter your appearance which is precisely what you want to avoid. Some big Holywood A-listers film really dramatic pitch videos when they want a part - but that's NOT the same thing as a self tape.
Yo great vid! Are you changing the color white to brown in some shots? If so would love to know how you isolate the background and tweak color. Davinici? Final cut?
Light is a 12inch by 12 inch RGB LED Panel from amazon, blanket I have no clue lol I think i got it from walmart, just make sure you get one with texture! It was dark grey.
Gun foley is stupid and annoying and i found out about it being a thing only cause it was so annoying to me that i had to give my enemy a name. It destroys every context to the depth of the story as the viewer is reminded of the sound porn the responsibility of carrying a gun delivers making it all about the gun. I hate this.
Fantastic! The only thing I'd add is the mask and desaturation to take the background black I wouldn't recommend. For a similar reason you wouldn't want a headshot for someone wearing black with black hair on a black background, you're subsequently blending the subject into the background with very little contrast. In general, a more neutral lighter color will add some more depth and contrast to the image. Then we can see the subject perfectly and watch them perform without distraction. If we have to squint to make out his highlights, you've gone too far. Additionally, casting doesn't exactly want to see a cinematic finished film product. That's for the director and crew to do when you're on set :) High quality setups certainly set you a part, but I wouldn't do any fancy bicolor backlighting. It's a bit distracting and the reason for a self tape is to see the actor act. Always think about the actor that will be in front of the camera and ask yourself the question, what's unique about them and how we can extrapolate on those features? For example, bringing out the depth on a subjects face or lighting their hair to show off the color. I'd stick to a key light and a fill with absolutely no crazy color on it. Keep it to daylight between 5500-6500 kelvin at the very most. Diffuse the sucker and give it an edge light to give the subject dimension. If it's a heavy drama, some negative fill can be nice, but again, we don't want you to infringe a tone upon casting an actor in a self tape. Show YOURSELF off, not your gear.
Fantastic video and learned a lot! But was curious - I thought you wanted to make the background as boring as possible so the casting director can focus on your performance/not get distracted?
Dude. This was insanely helpful. I’ve got a really funky space. Gonna try all these and see what I can make happen. Will circle back. Do you offer consulting services by chance?
That was awesome! Thank you so much for all that info. I’d looove to see more videos about lighting and even how you color grade them bcuz your shots looked beautiful. Thanks again!
That was so great! Now, could you do a video on self tape where the actor is doing the entire set up, framing, body shot within a tight space with you narrorating. I find myself doing this lately a lot since not everyone is always available when I need them. So, I would have to jump behind the camera and then in front while camera is rolling just see eventually if I like the set up and if I'm too centered or just right. This would help out greatly. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
I disagree. This doesn't have to be professional equipment. A lamp behind a $1.25 plastic table cloth from Dollar Tree. Another lightbulb behind a stainless steel salad bowl, also from Dollar Tree. Hang an LED light from a ceiling fan. Be creative. Don't find a problem for every solution.
Haha, not consistently. One day that might happen. I just wanted to enter this competition in hopes of winning some helpful equipment for other projects! Once I start my film course a lot of that content will go on here though.
Yes. It was just an led above and behind subject. We just used the included gel with the light but you can buy them cheap and clamp with clothes pins if needed.
Loved this video. I don’t have a camera. I use my cell phone. How much do the rules change when using a phone? Especially when you want the same effect?
1. You could try and get a lens for your phone. 2. You could get an app like Mavis Pro to gain more control over camera settings. Other than that you can do the same thing!
@@filmfluence1682 am just a beginner and i want engage in shoot film project with low budget so am in dilemma on which basic things to start with that is why am asking for help dear brothers
@@johnrobert8617 so rokinon primes are pretty cheap lenses. They won’t be as good as other more expensive lenses, but they are the ones I use, and aren’t terrible by any means! I’m actually creating a course on filmmaking for the Company I work for. Make sure you subscribe to see when that becomes available. The first class is on lighting which will help you a lot being a beginner! :)
@@filmfluence1682 thank you, i have a 70-200mm and im just figured if its tooo large for my small space. I have a 50 and it just isnt looking as gorgeous as i thought for my small space. Is 35 tooo wide ?
@@peekabookatt well it depends on what sensor you have, my actual lens I used was a 35mm but because it’s a m4/3 sensor it’s basically double that making it around 70mm equivalent. But if you have full frame then you’d need a 70 to get 70. 35 has a good look but it depends on what you’re doing. I’d stay at 70 eq. (35 mm on a micro 4/3 sensor) if you’re doing self tapes! Try and find a way to make it work.
