MASTERY FILMS – FILM PRODUCTION SERVICES
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR EQUIPMENT NEEDS
Certain clients who just started playing the game tend to think that each and every project requires the best of the best—the best camera equipment, the largest and most complex of lighting setups and a whole army of production staff to arrive on set on the shoot day. That’s where they’re wrong.
You see, there are a multitude of projects that each have their specific needs, and the most important thing to remember is that efficiency is the name of the game. After all, you wouldn’t use a flamethrower to get rid of a tree when a simple axe will get the job done. With Mastery Films, we use our experience and insight to recommend the best sort of equipment packages that will get the job done while still ensuring that the logistical necessities of the shoot are well met and are still friendly to our client’s budget.
Here are some insights that will help determine the sort of production you’re looking to do:
Small-Scale Shoots
Corporate Videos, Talking Heads & Event Coverage
Small Scale Productions are typically branded content, talking head interviews or an event coverage. The equipment scale for these types of projects are usually lightweight and compact, focusing on efficiency and mobility, so that the crew, usually a 3–5 person team, are able to move quickly and effectively.
A typical setup for this would be a 1–2 camera kit with lenses, usually a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, accompanied by a compact 3-point lighting & grip package, and audio kit.
Medium-Scale Shoots
Branded Content, Documentaries & Small-Scale Commercials
Medium scale productions, this is usually where a higher level of production value & logistics comes into play, often involving 2–3 locations, time sensitive cast, shooting schedules, and larger crew sizes, as well as an increase in creative requirements, usually resulting in additional equipment.
In this range, the equipment packages would include cinema cameras, heavy duty lighting, wireless monitoring, and or drone operations. Depending on the production, for example, a documentary project may require a more lightweight package capable of adapting to locations, and the changing environments, while for branded content like a TVC, would benefit from a more controlled environment like a studio or shooting location.
Large-Scale Shoots
Television Commercials, Feature Content & Long-Form Productions
Lastly, we have our Large-scale productions, the final level to the production game. These can be anything from global campaign commercials to any sort of narrative production like a Hollywood blockbuster or a TV series that’s going to be shot over the course of a few weeks at least.
You can certainly expect the highest level of visual quality and complexity with these types of productions and from that, you can definitely imagine that each of the departments are going to need quite a few bits of gear in order to execute this flawlessly with some things including advanced camera riggings, large lighting packages, and a whole lot more.
Cameras: From DSLR to Full-Frame Digital Cinema Cameras
One of the first pieces of equipment clients ask about when planning their production, is the camera, it’s one of the first parts to the overall filmmaking process.
For some of the smaller scale productions, cameras like a DSLR or Mirrorless camera is just what you need, providing exceptional image quality while being compact and most importantly cost-effective. An ideal choice for your interviews or event coverage. As the scale of the production grows, that’s where cinema cameras come into play, such as an Arri Alexa Mini LF, Red, Sony Venice, or other similar full frame camera systems that offer greater dynamic range, to improve the colour reproduction, enhanced low light conditions, and flexibility during production & post-production.
The choice of camera ultimately depends on the requirements for the project and the deliverables, whether it’s intended for audience distribution platforms, or creative goals.
Lighting & Grip
Unless you plan on shooting your video in complete darkness or you’re going to rely on natural light for the entirety of the shoot, lighting is going to be needed and you may be surprised to hear that something as simple as this is actually one of the key elements in determining the visual quality of your production.
At its most basic level, the lighting setup can be your standard three-point lighting setup that will primarily be used for any and all corporate interviews, but for larger projects, you can expect a larger amount of lights on set which can include things such as larger LED fixtures, softboxes, diffusion frames, negative fill,
overhead rigs, and practical lighting elements to create more sophisticated looks.
If done right, the lighting and grip department will help turn what was once a basic location into a visually appealing environment while also maintaining a certain level of consistency of light quality for your video.
Drones
If you’ve ever seen a video, chances are you’ve seen the opening that showcases the entire cityscape where the story or video is taking place. Guess what, you’ve just seen a drone shot.
You see, drone shots, or aerial cinematography as some might call it, are one of the most surefire ways to increase the production value and quality of your video and you’ll find them being used across a wide variety of project types - including corporate videos, tourism campaigns, real estate content, documentaries, and television commercials.
It won’t be a walk in the park though. The reason being is because drone operations require not only an experienced pilot, but depending on the country and exact location where you’re looking to capture this type of shot, you’ll also need the relevant permits and approvals before you can even think about taking off.
Specialized Equipment for Your Shoot
Most of the time, the basic necessities require just a camera with a tripod, but you’ll also have to keep in mind that adding some sense of movement is what makes your audience interested and adds a whole other level to the production quality to your video. With this in mind, you’ll then have to decide what sort of speciality riggings
you’re going to need to best suit the scene. These systems can range from relatively simple stabilizers to highly specialized motion-control equipment.
Steadicams and Gimbals would be considered one of the most common speciality riggings you will find on any sort of production. The reason for this is because they help provide a smooth and seamless movement to your shots; following your subjects through their environment, which will make them the best item for cases such as walk-and-talks, documentaries and most commercials.
Jibs and Cranes are what you need for when you want to start off an exposition shot the right way, almost as though you’re showing the world of your video. These will generally involve any sort of vertical or sweeping movement to your camera.
Vehicle Mounts you will find on any major set that requires the camera to be used for all sorts of dynamic action sequences. These can range from cars, motorcycles, boats, and other moving platforms.
Underwater Camera Systems would definitely be considered a speciality even in the film industry because you’re taking something electric and using it to film something underwater. Whether you’re in an isolated swimming pool or out in the middle of the ocean filming a diving sequence, you’ll be needing these special casings to protect your camera equipment.
For high-end commercial productions, advanced motion-control systems such as the BOLT High-Speed Camera Robot deliver extremely precise and repeatable camera movements that are often used for product films, food commercials, and visual effects-heavy productions.
With specialty rigging systems such as these being a great asset that will surely enhance the quality of the footage you’re looking to capture for your project, it’s worth keeping in mind that it all comes down to your budget and creatives to ensure whether or not it’s justifiable and, most importantly, affordable.
All in all, each and every production needs to be assessed carefully before moving forward with the right equipment.
Rest assured, however, that we at Mastery Films have you covered. Allow us to help you build the right budget for
the right set up and we’ll save you from all that is unnecessary which will only increase your expenses.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your project and discover how we can help bring your vision to life.
