What are your top tips?

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noddydog
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Joined: Feb 28 2004

Here's one of mine for creating a sound booth in your hotel room. I think the photo says it all: https://picasaweb.google.com/noddydog1/GorillaProduction?authkey=Gv1sRgCKqhjbH3kK6wTw#5582462568027941522

Chrome
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Joined: May 26 1999

Top tips eh?

I've got three that spring to mind immediately...

1. If you're shooting on location, carry backups for everything, and backups for the backups if at all possible. This especially applies to batteries & media (whatever medium). Don't get caught out, especially in front of a client.

2. If organising a shoot on location, plan carefully, then go over the plan carefully, then plan some more. Then expect the plan to change at any time whilst on location due to unexpected events/requests etc. If you've ever played 'Military Commander' style games (or been in the military) then this will help.

3. Never expect a 'celebrity' to turn up on time, especially if they're travelling to the shoot on their own. :D

noddydog
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Joined: Feb 28 2004

Always ask the question at the end of any interview "is there anything you'd like to say that we haven't covered?"

Alan Roberts
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Joined: May 3 1999

1. If you're determined to shoot progressive, DON'T WAVE THE DAMNED CAMERA AROUND.

2. When in doubt follow tip #1.

Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them.
Camera settings documents are held by Daniel Browning and at the EBU
My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here.
Also EBU Tech.3335 tells how to test cameras, and R.118 tells how to use the results.

MAGLINK
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Joined: Mar 8 2007

1: Turn the camera on!
2: Take the lens cap off!

erich
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Joined: Aug 8 2001

If it is possible to go wrong it will

noddydog
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Joined: Feb 28 2004

Never leave a tripod plate on a camera... unless you have one tripod and one camera.

Mark M
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Joined: Nov 17 1999

Make sure the record light is on after you've hit the record button.

Adobe Certified Professional Premiere Pro CS6, Premiere Pro CC

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Dugi
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Joined: Jul 2 2009

Lock off the camera before you walk away.

RayL
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Joined: Mar 31 1999
noddydog wrote:
Never leave a tripod plate on a camera... unless you have one tripod and one camera.

Or:
Standardise on one type of tripod and have a tripod plate for every camera (so you never lose a plate because they are never removed from the cameras).

and
If you even think about taking a toolkit, then you aren't taking enough spares.

and
Don't travel without: Red/white stripe tape (to mark off technical areas), Gaffer tape (marked with company name to encourage return after the inevitable loans), Head-mounted torch (to leave hands free), Ball-point pen, Marker pen, Identity badge, Business cards.

Ray

tom hardwick
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Joined: Apr 8 1999

1) Keep the camera steady
2) Lock down the exposure
3) Constantly vary your POV and focal length
4) Think of the audio
5) Check and double check.

branny
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Joined: Nov 6 2001

Don't wipe yer bum on cement bags . . . I'll get mi coat :)

Do not follow, I may not lead. Do not lead . . . I may not follow.

robo
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Joined: Aug 15 2000
branny wrote:
Don't wipe yer bum on cement bags . . . I'll get mi coat :)

thanks Branny, think I may have just wet myself :)

For those using DV Tape:
1. Always have at least one spare in your pocket
2. Take the wrappers off the spares
3. Take out the sticky label and single paper sheet from inside the case - they have a habit of hanging on to the cassette.

Don't put PP3 batteries in the same pocket as your house keys without a rubber cap on the terminal - you've been warned!!!

robo

Maxwell
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Joined: Jan 13 2007

Always carry an identity card and blood group if possible if you do location shoots.

Ben Longden
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Joined: Jun 10 2009
Alan Roberts wrote:
1. If you're determined to shoot progressive, DON'T WAVE THE DAMNED CAMERA AROUND.

2. When in doubt follow tip #1.

*two thumbs up*

Ben Longden
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Joined: Jun 10 2009

Use the blasted tripod.
Avoid the trendy wobblecam lest you supply the vomit bags.

RichardB
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Joined: Aug 27 1999

Blimey...my old password works!

My top tip is... if you are shootiing on a tripod, turn the auto stabilisation off.... otherwise it will 'compensate' every time the subject moves!

RichardB
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Joined: Aug 27 1999
Ben Longden wrote:
Use the blasted tripod.
Avoid the trendy wobblecam lest you supply the vomit bags.

I have been arguing this point with Alan for over 10 years.

"Wobblecam" is not a bad thing...it's just in the UK we don't know how to use it.
In the US they use it as a 'soft cut'....beyond the wit of us Blighties apparently.....

tom hardwick
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Joined: Apr 8 1999
RichardB wrote:
if you are shootiing on a tripod, turn the auto stabilisation off.... otherwise it will 'compensate' every time the subject moves!

That might have been so with the very early EIS versions Richard, but it was never so with OIS and hasn't been a problem with image stabilisation systems for some time.

tom.