SHOOTING GUIDE

Having read this book, you will no doubt have realised that theres an awful lot to
learn. And, during your shoot, its sometimes hard to remember what it is you need to
remember! In addition, the last thing you need is to have to look through a whole
book or camera manual in order to make sure you havent forgotten anything, or if
you are confused about a particular button on the camera. This hooting !uide "also
available as a #$% document on the $&$, so you can print it out and take it with you'
is essentially a (uick reference for when you are on a shoot. The assumption here is
that you are doing the filming yourself, but its e(ually useful if you are directing and
have a cameraperson with you.
This guide is broken down into the following sections)
!uide to *amera et+,p and -enu ettings
hooting *hecklist
-enus ettings
.it /ists
THE CAMERA SET-UP
-ost cameras, both professional and semi+professional have a whole set of menus,
and often menus+within+menus. If youve rented, borrowed or bought a camera, you
need to know what the right settings are and, unfortunately, the manuals dont really
come with a 0$efault set+up for documentary filmmaking. 1elow is a (uick reference
guide to the typical menu set+up you will need for a documentary shoot. Although this
section refers specifically to the ony 23 camera, most of the settings easily translate
to other cameras.
Please note) the assumption here is that you are self+shooting and doing your own
sound, and recording in #A/. The menus might be slightly different if you are using a
sound recordist "with 45 mi6er'. Also, if you are using a cameraperson, they may
have their own choice of menu set+up. If you are recording in 5T*, then consult
your manual to make necessary ad7ustments.
MANUAL VERSUS AUTO
The golden rule here is shoot in manual mode so that as many of your controls as
possible are set to manual, including focus, aperture, white balance, gain and shutter
speed. There is no substitute for getting to know the camera and ad7usting the
functions manually. The only e6ception to this should be when you use the 0#,H
A,T8 button as a guide to focusing, and if you are in an emergency situation and
you very (uickly need to shoot something then 9 and only then 9 should you rely on
the cameras automatic mode.
FORMAT
The 23 can record in H$&, $&*am and $&. All formats record onto a mini+$& tape
"or $&*am tape, but essentially its the same thing'. The important thing to
remember here is if you are shooting in H$& or $& mode then a :;+minute mini+$&
tape will record :; minutes of footage. If you are in $&*am mode, and using a :;+
minute mini+$& tape, then it will only record around <; minutes. Think carefully
before choosing a format to shoot in. H$& is great, but it re(uires more storage
capacity and a high spec editing system.
LCD SCREEN
-ake sure that the brightness of the /*$ is set in the middle, otherwise you will think
something is too overlit=underlit, when it might not be. Also, make sure the backlight
is on "unless you are filming in very bright light' otherwise the screen will make it look
as if everything is underlit. The settings for /*$ > &iewfinder are in /*$=&% ?T
menu.
STATUS CHECK
A button on the back of the camera, which enables you to (uickly see some of your
settings at a glance.
PICTURE PROFILE
Its used to fine+tune specific settings such as colour and contrast. ,nless you are
very e6perienced in using this, its best to leave it off.
AUTOLOCK
This button effectively locks all of your settings apart from focus. ,se it when you are
worried you might knock some of the buttons and dials "especially shutter speed on
the 23, as its the easiest button to knock'. However, remember what you have done.
If youre in the middle of filming and nothing seems to work it could be because your
A,T8/8*. is on!
ZEBRAS
I dont like them because they lead to an over+reliance on the camera when it comes
to 7udging e6posure. I would suggest you keep them off, particularly when you first
start using the camera. Its hard enough at this stage to concentrate on all the other
things going on on the /*$.
MENU SETTINGS
8nce you have ad7usted the menu settings, the camera will not change them unless
you do 9 a strong argument for being (uite guarded about who you lend your camera
to. If I have left any of the menu items off, then this means you 7ust need to ignore
that function.
CAMERA SET MENU
MENU SETTING RECOMMENDED
DEFAULT
COMMENTS
@1 #A??T "OUTDOOR' 1ut, try to always use
manual white balance.
@1 /?&?/ "0'
H8T TAA5 "NOT RECOMMENDED' These are in+camera
effects, and should be
avoided. "Bou can do all of
this in the edit.'
*8/8,A *8AA?*T OFF
T?A$BH8T ON Theoretically, you should
turn this off when using a
tripod, but the world wont
end if you forget.
T?A$BH8T TB# STANDARD
#?A.I5! *8/8,A) HITE /?&?/)
HIGH
A% AIT "OFF!
A? A?#85? FAST This is the speed of auto+
e6posure, but try to stay in
manual mode.
-AA.?A "OFF'
-AA.?A ?/?*T DON"T USE THIS
HA5$/? 288- H #C / $ ets the speed for using
the handle Doom.
1AA TB#? T%PE &
%AA-? A?* OFF ,nless you are wanting to
use the camera to do stop+
frame animation.
IN'OUT RECORD
The setting here depends on whether you are recording in $&*am mode or H$&.
AUDIO SET
MENU SETTING RECOMMENDED
DEFAULT
COMMENTS
AUDIO MONI CH&( CH$
AUDIO OUTPUT $V)*s
AUDIO MODE FS+#,
AUDIO LOCK LOCK MODE This is automatic in
$&*am mode.
AUDIO LIMIT OFF $epends on the situation.
5ormally keep off unless
very loud "e.g. in a
factory'.
MIC NR OFF
INT MIC SELECT OFF
-LR SET -LR CH SEL. CH&, CH$ This will mean that a
single input of a
microphone will record
onto both channels.
8bviously, change this if
you are using two different
microphone sources "e.g.
shotgun and radio mics'.
-LR ACG SET SEPARATE
INPUT& LEVEL MIC "0/0'
INPUT & IND OFF
INPUT $ LEVEL MIC
INPUT $ TRIM 0/0
INPUT $ IND OFF
LCD'VF SET
MENU SETTING RECOMMENDED
DEFAULT
COMMENTS
/*$ *8/8,A a1 U2
/*$ 1/ /?&?/ NORMAL
/*$ *8/8,A a1 U2
&% 1 /I!HT NORMAL
&% *8/8,A ON
&% #8@?A AUTO
TC'UB SET
MENU SETTING RECOMMENDED
DEFAULT
COMMENTS
T* #A??T 00.00.00.00 Ad7ust the first digit for
each new tape you put into
the camera.
,1 #A??T 00.00.00.00 #ress reset if its not on
this setting.
T* A,5 REC RUN This means that the time
code advances only while
recording.
T* -A.? REGENERATE
OTHER MENU SETTINGS
-any of these are obvious 9 such as world time and language 9 so I have omitted
those.
MENU SETTING RECOMMENDED
DEFAULT
COMMENTS
4,I*. A?* OFF
1??# OFF Important, so that the
camera does not beep
every time you start
recording.
A?* /A-# OFF
IAI $IA/ NORMAL 8therwise, direction of dial
will be inverted.
A?-AI5I5! ON @ill display remaining tape
on /*$.
288- $I#/AB BAR To display Doomed
position using bar.
?E# %8*, AUTO OFF Aeleases e6panded focus
after certain time.
$AT? A?* OFF -ake sure its off,
otherwise the date will be
burnt into the picture.
F;i=:;i ?/ 304 %or $& #A/
CHECKLISTS
1?%8A? TH? H88T
1elow are 7ust some of the most common issues to keep in mind when preparing for
the shoot.
*A-?AA A5$ .IT
Is the lens cleanG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Are the camera batteries poweredG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
$o you have spare batteries for the cameraG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
$o you have spare batteries for microphonesG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
$oes your tripod work, and have you definitely got the tripod
plateG
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Have you set the right time codeG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Are the lighting conditions right to shoot inG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Have I checked all my menu settingsG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Am I sure that I am recording in the right format "$&*am, H$&
etc'G
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Am I clear on the shot listG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Have I laid K; seconds of colour bars down on the tapeG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
%inally, have I checked all my e(uipment is workingG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Health and afety) -ake sure you have done a full risk
assessment.
Aeleases. -ake sure you bring all relevant release forms.
8,5$
Is the sound going into the camera, and are my levels okayG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Are my headphones working properlyG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Am I using the right microphone"s' and is it the right distance
from the sub7ectG
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
If using a boom, is it definitely out of shotG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Have I got at least K; seconds wild track "or 0atmos' for each
location I am shooting inG
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Is the sound clean, avoiding e6cessive wind=background noiseG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
*H?*./IT $,AI5! TH? H88T
Am I sure I know what my film is about, and that all shots and
interviews reflect thisG
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Are my crew "if any' also informed enough about the shootG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Have I produced a comprehensive call sheet, so that everyone
knows what they should be doing, and whenG
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
%or interviews, do I know all the (uestions I should be askingG
And, when interview has finished, have I asked them allG
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Have I got at least K; seconds wild track "or 0atmos' for each
location I am shooting in
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Am I shooting enough cutawaysG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Am I holding my shots for long enoughG HI5#,T TB#?IJ
-ake sure that if something spontaneous happens, I am free to
follow this action.
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
$id I really get that rightG 8r should I do it again as a second
takeG
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Am I shooting for the editG Holding pans and tilts, avoiding Dooms
etc.
HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Avoid 0crossing the line. HI5#,T TB#?IJ
Aemember, the key to shooting well is making sure you are aware, at all times, of the
following)
FOCUS
APERTURE
SHUTTER SPEED
HITE BALANCE
SOUND LEVELS
IMPORTANT SHOOTING TIPS
Belo5 a)e a l4st o6 7ene)al t42s t8at 54ll 8el2 1o9 4n 1o9) s8oot4n7( an/ also
8el2 1o9 to *a,e s9)e t8at 1o9 :s8oot 6o) t8e e/4t";
Aemember the 0Aule of Thirds and always try to frame your shots with this in
mind. -ake sure your sub7ects have ade(uate 0head room at the top of frame.
Think about location. 5ot only does it need to be well lit, but its also helpful if
location informs the narrative.
Try, where possible, to avoid mi6ing natural and tungsten "artificial' light.
-ake sure you use a variety of shot siDes, as it will make your video much easier
to edit.
1e wary of e6cessive camera movement, as it can be a problem in the edit.
Hold shots both before and at the end of tilts and pans.
Try to avoid using the Doom) often it looks unprofessional and can create
problems when it comes to editing. If you are going to use the Doom, try to avoid
using it during important action.
hoot in se(uences. Think carefully as to how the footage will look in the edit
"using a storyboard if this helps' and make sure your shots cover all the action.
$ont be afraid of taking time to get a shot right 9 even if this sometimes means
doing it again.
Avoid using the automatic functions on the camera, unless you really, really have
to.
Try to avoid a large shooting ratio. Although there is a tendency to 7ust carry on
shooting, it will mean you have far too much material when it comes to the edit.
1e conservative.
-ake sure youre in control of the shoot. This means both crew and contributors
know what is e6pected of them, and how long its going to take.
1e prepared for problems, and learn to think (uickly on your feet. %or e6ample, if
your headphones stop working, look carefully at your audio levels on the /*$.
Think ahead. Bou need to know what you are going to do ne6t.
KIT LISTS
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