Boring Location? | How to Make ANY Setting Cinematic

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Cinematographers are often met with location challenges, most commonly being spaces not ideal for lighting. However, good filmmakers find solutions such as better staging and composition, so that they open up more interesting angles and creative opportunities. In this episode of 4MFS, DP/host Valentina Vee shows you how to incorporate good storytelling and directing into cinematography. She plans her sequence ahead so that she isn't stuck shooting into a boring corner. With the usual fixings of supplementing natural light and modifying it for the scene, we take a seemingly flat apartment and turn it into something that could appear in a feature film.
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0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Concept/Staging
03:02 - Production Tips
03:53 - Camera
04:41 - Lighting
09:22 - Close-Ups
11:35 - Final Result
12:15 - Outro
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🎥Free Cinematography Lessons From Experts!
• Back to Set | Learn Ci...
🎥Connect with the A-Team!
Host/DP: Valentina Vee
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Twitter: / valentinavee
Producer: Moses Israel Guerrero
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Director: Tue Duong
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Episode Cinematographer: Joe Adams
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Editor: Matt Esteron
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Summary:
Aputure's KZbin channel provides free high quality cinematography, lighting, and filmmaking educational content to help you take your film projects to the next level.

[@aputurelighting]

For those asking about the viewfinder app, it's called Cadrage www.cadrage.app/ And Vee's shirt is from Vienna Pitts' online store vienna-pitts.myshopify.com/collections/tshirts/products/fix-it-in-pre

[@AdamFunk]

Thank you; I was very much going to ask about the latter, ahaha.

[@rae2-j]

Vee's hair color is well made too!

[@bradleyatom]

"it's actually just a boring apartment!" The apartment owners: :(

[@arowefilms]

😂 😂 😂 😂

[@phillippia]

They secretly know that it is boring, too. 😜

[@SaguinMedia]

I'm always amazed at the lengths film production goes through to capture only seconds of footage that get used in the end. I've been on a few big production film sets as background and spent entire days filming with hundreds of people involved, yet maybe only several seconds gets used in the final film.

[@fredriksvard2603]

Adds up when millions or hundreds of millions watch those seconds

[@RobertsIslandLivingAdventures]

If you have billions of dollars to make the movie, you can get pretty dang scientific about it.

[@mattcrum6557]

This is one of the best tutorials I've seen for aspiring DP's and filmmakers. Covered a lot of useful info! One thing I like to do sometimes when struggling with a bad location, especially when it's cluttered with stuff, is to just start clearing out the entire frame- removing all the plants and furniture, etc.- so you can work with a clean slate, and then start adding objects back in to the frame strategically.

[@TheSmeagol630]

This one's from Wandering DP: shoot into the "L of the room" (towards a corner), because two white walls at a right angle are better than a single white wall.

[@emesteve]

Great tip, thanks!

[@jakemoore880]

I think Patrick would find this too front lit haha

[@owenrumsey3662]

Unless you're Wes Anderson

[@JohnDSmith]

Agreed, i don't think Patrick would dig this look. It is subjective at the end of the day. I'm personally drawn to darker images but Aputure did a good job here.@@jakemoore880

[@kendigProductions]

Personally I would call this more commercial lighting then cinematic lighting. Especially since you evenly exposed across the frame. I prefer more contrast with lighting away from the camera and a short key on faces for a more "Cinematic look".

[@GlennHanns]

I think that ‘cinematic’ lighting holds true to the story’s emotional thread rather than be tied to a particular contrast ratio, look at Hoyte Van Hoytema’s work in the example or John Alcott’s work in ‘A clockwork orange’ which is high key and stylised for the genre. You limit your scope when you define cinematic as one look.

[@TruckerSteve]

@@GlennHanns I was going to comment and then seen your message and was like, exactly! Good to see I'm not alone here!!

[@jakemoore880]

Agreed, I actually preferred the wide shot before any lights were added.

[@CriticasDeCineEn2Minutos]

On KZbin there is a tendency to call contrasting and obscure lighting "cinematic", but that is not necessarily its meaning.

[@kendigProductions]

@@CriticasDeCineEn2Minutos that's why I put cinematic in quotations. People use the that word way too much when trying to compare what they see in theaters to what they capture at home on their iPhone. " Wow that's looks Cinematic" not knowing really the depth a production team goes through to achieve that "Cinematic look". I get it hence the quotations just to clarify once again.

[@paulcritzman]

I was once told to only light things I want seen, so I commonly reverse engineer that and remove light from things I don’t want seen in a boring apartment. A white wall with no light turns into a gray wall. Gray is much easier to add color to. So I’ll bounce a light into colored foam core to add slight tints of color to that newly gray wall. Vee, always love watching you bring in solutions for indie filmmakers who can’t always choose their locations or even scout sometimes before shoot day! “Quick” solutions like this are vital for filmmaking regardless of budget. Reminds me of the “high budget/low budget” segments of some older 4mfs vids. One thing I’m curious to see would be a dedicated video about those common “replacements” of industry things. You commonly do this as asides in videos, but I think a video that goes through “low cost” fabrics, diffusion, bounce, grids, etc could be great! For example, if you don’t have nets to cut down light intensity, the apartment you’re at probably has screens in the windows which can be used to do the same thing. Or if you can’t afford a roll of diffusion, you can always use tracing paper or baking sheets parchment paper. Hearing the pros and cons of these and even hearing from someone like a rep from Matthews who makes the industry fabrics/gels/nets and how they’re engineered for filmmaking can help people make better budget decisions. All of these things came from a simpler solution that eventually was needed in a more advanced situation, but that doesn’t mean the modern advanced solution is always the tool for the job.

[@mattyjmogul]

Whoever gave the dislikes don't know real filmsets. You guys dropped some solid gems for free!

[@emmanuelnkwocha1275]

Lol you know film sets??

[@mattyjmogul]

@@emmanuelnkwocha1275 I run them Sir! You? lol

[@rc_krueger]

Production design is super important, even just changing pillows and things like that can do a lot, and if it’s a situation where it’s not possible to move things to give you more depth, corners can save the day.

[@DJTI99]

This! And if you can scope it out in advance, you and/or your production designer will know what small things to bring to match your film's mood and general color pallet.

[@claudiorojas1240]

I don't know whether to be happy that this kind of material is free to share with anyone or to be disappointed that in 3 years of film school no one went ever told us any of this.

[@nerucheung]

Valentina is such a fun person. Always love seeing her here giving out free knowledge

[@BillStreeter]

She is a delight!

A technique that I recently discovered and loved with Caleb from DSLR video shooter is using mirrors to fake window direct sunlight. When used correctly it looks super convincing especially in a space where you can’t put lights outside (like in a building, would be a cool tutorial BTW) That’s my hack Have a great day y’all !

[@SuperEchinacea]

Can you elaborate? Maybe provide a link?

[@gabrielmachadobsb]

@@SuperEchinacea kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHWsgoiohNWGerM

[@SuperEchinacea]

@@gabrielmachadobsb 🙏

[@ruifeliz6466]

When I walk on to a set, either with or without location scouting, my strategy is that I don't look at the room/space in its current configuration, but rather 'how can I configure the room to suit my story needs?'..... I've put chairs where chairs have never been, switched beds, switched headboards, added items from other rms...etc... It also helps to have a great set dec person who can make lemonade from lemons....Again...it's down to having a talented, committed team. I too LOVE the hazer....just sayin. Great work VV!

[@stillsixstudios]

I always appreciate how you review the shot and show how the scene looks with each light and the specs on each. Super helpful to see in each video you make. Thanks for doing that!

[@janostkamper167]

I just want to thank all those guys at Aputure for their effort and amazing work they are putting in their content. It's amazing how much they help to educate industry-curious people as well as up and coming professionals. I took a fair chunk of tips and tricks from your videos to propel my career as a Creative Producer in Advertisement and you helped a lot! Thanks guys and much love! Keep up the great work!

[@aputurelighting]

Thanks for your support!!

[@andersochmia-filmforwebboc993]

Thanks for a very helpful video. In just a few minutes, I got answers to most of the questions I encounter when I end up in a "boring-location-situation". Next time on location, I will not hesitate to move around sofas and furniture. This channel is gold.

[@apatirataiwo4335]

Story , blocking , composition and lighting

[@Ranger7Studios]

I'm a huge fan of using peel & stick wallpaper. You can make one room into several and never have to change locations. I've also used posters, magazine clippings and newspapers on the walls to disguise the same room.

[@retlwiz]

"Peel and stick wallpaper"?! This would be brilliant - blank walls are the bane of my existence. Gonna look that one up.

[@yetanotherfilmchannel5766]

MOoving thaat couch was pretty brilliant. This might be my favorite episode!

[@ZenMasterSteven]

I love using sheer curtains in nearly every location, softens up the daylight coming in through windows, and adds a nice vertical streak to pretty much any interior composition!

[@KingPWNinater]

This video was very helpful. The part when you flipped through the changes in lighting with each light/modifier added....please keep doing that. Also the chapters help alot; thank you.

[@paramveerssachdeva]

WOW! WOW! You are just amazing. Thanks so much for sharing everything with such details and simplicity and making it easy for us. Thanks a lot.

[@eronchavez6823]

Awesome video! I love how she points out details. Love Mr Jorge Hernandez representing 🙌🏼

[@aakriti9634]

This video made me think more about bring in depth to usual shots. Just a small manipulation in space and the set looks so much more bigger and interesting. Thanks for this video.

[@JimRobinson-colors]

I had a film crew use my house once and in their shoot there was a conversation between actors by the fridge. And I guess the fridge fan motor was intermittently kicking in. So someone opened the fridge doors and turned the dials all down to zero. Which stopped the fan from kicking in, but whomever did it, forgot that they did it and never told anyone. So my well stocked fridge ( and freezer ) looked to be working because the light was on - but all the food spoiled. So if you work in a house and do something like that, take a few minutes and leave a note on or in the fridge. Or even better take notes to tell the homeowner or turn it back on before leaving.

[@IanSPeterson]

The trick I've seen used on film sets is that the person turning off or unplugging their fridge puts their car keys in the fridge until they turn it on again. That way it's never forgotten

[@TheAceman90]

I think finding a way to add practical lights in your shot can add depth and give motivation to certain lighting decisions you don’t always get with just sunlight. I think it adds depth and realism and ultimately a more cinematic shot. Great video!!

[@elliotblue5457]

Loving these videos. They are so educational and entertaining at the same time. Thanks for putting the knowledge out there in a way that easily accessible for all type of budgets. I would have loved to see the people who played the couple at the beginning being the actual cast. That also helps making it less boring/irritating. I think it's always good to think about which types of messages we convey with which bodies we choose to portray.

[@xavpil2]

one of the best channel for real world shoots/sets

[@BRGriffin]

One way I like to make a boring scene look more cinematic is using objects to create depth and texture, whether that’s putting something in the foreground like a plant of kitchen utensils (whatever makes sense to the scene) or practical lights in the background (such as led fairy lights). Also, love the shirt! Fix it in Pre!

[@SmartphoneFilmmaker]

This is one of your best videos yet! As a low budget filmmaker it's great to see how you can turn a boring room into something with depth and interest. Thank you!

[@aputurelighting]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rishigolembiewski]

My go to is practical lamps in the background and shadows in the foreground. Also fairy lights/ candles in the background of a shot for beautiful bokeh that can be used as leading lines etc.

[@qiyuantan]

Lighting wise - bring in lots of practicals, candles, fog it up, block your character into different pools of light with varying temperatures, light up your background props & areas like stairs etc, even outside the door Production design wise - mirrors and glass object helps add texture, get some water on the windows, definitely change the curtains, add in props that can be used as fg elements Framing wise - shoot into the L of the room, find opportunities to create frame within a frame

[@dpm6000]

This was super helpful, thanks! I especially enjoyed how you showed the stacked composition from no lights to turning on each one at a time. To answer your question if the contest is still running, my “hack” is using grids on my softboxes. I love diffused light in general but like the grids for a little added contrast and direction.

[@destinationmusicrecords5934]

you got me on the intro girl, kuddos also to the editor

[@jonhellerphotography]

the quickest and simplest way to make things more cinematic I have always found to be putting a single light outside and push it back into the house through a window. You can shape it and modify it more but a hard light from outside always looks great.

[@radekdrayco]

That is an intense amount of lighting going on, thanks for this. Now I know and will apply this to my next endeavors.

[@emanueleboscofilms]

Production design wise, some wake wallpaper to cover boring white walls is one of the smartest tips I came across.

[@chadwickwatkins6272]

Really good. Thanks for the insight! Valentina, you always give a great perspective and energy to the cinema talk.

[@etor2131]

This was very helpful.. need to watch this more than once

[@daniel.francisco]

Very enlightening video!! Thank you.

[@roosmith6]

I always try remember the foreground, mid ground, background layering technique for an opportunity to give some more depth. I feel like that can be easily overlooked and is a super quick fix with often just moving the camera

[@kaywashstudios4890]

Textured wall panels! Changes the room every time

[@aputurelighting]

Always a great move!

[@joshdrewpic]

Valentina is a national treasure. So on point.

[@nukecanon1]

that was awesome dont stop these videos they are really helpful for us

[@silversniper1841]

I never realized how much effort went into producing typical movie 'feel', that we take for granted. Thank you for posting this. That being said, having seen Dune 2021, I just can't go back to 'fake' lighting. But still can appreciate the craftsmanship for staged lighting in short / corporate endeavours.

[@valentinavee]

Almost all of Dune's lighting is "fake" ...

[@silversniper1841]

(JJ Jameson lol)

[@carljoseph507]

Thanks for this. Proportion is key too. Regardless where you shoot review your scene on frame. Your subject can easily be dwarfed or upstaged by you set design and other features of the environment. When you find balance on frame you won’t really have a boring set anymore.

[@valentinavee]

This is a very important point!

[@gairahmedia]

sometimes youtube made me watch 30 minutes memes compilation, and at certain point they want me to watch valuable knowledge like this, life is weird, and thank you for sharing!

[@VerticalScaleMedia]

I love using color to make a boring location more cinematic. A lot of time you can motivate practicals with gelled lights, especially using contrasting colors (which don't always have to be lights, sometimes your gelled light can be a contrasting color to an outfit your talent is wearing). PS: I love haze (not fog) and use it too!

[@Danimally]

So much gear and teamwork for that shot! Despite not having that gear, those light and gripping technique are cool and relevant

[@user-nb8lj3ux4e]

this is very helpful! please keep posting these videos!!

[@aputurelighting]

Thank you! Will do!

[@JoshuaFortuna]

Practicals practicals practicals! That’s my go-to for spicing up a scene/set

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

The show Bones is the bible of practicals.

[@lostalphabet341]

Love this one! I make a boring room look cinematic by curating the objects in the room. If the budget or time doesn't allow adding things I can remove objects that don't serve the story I am building.

[@karlisbergs306]

Great tips here! I usually make a location more cinematic by trying to create layered depth - open up doors, put stuff in the foreground and very far in the background. Also removing all everyday things from the shot and putting in only some of them really helps to build the story aswell. Thanks!

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

Well hello there. Thanks for the tips.

[@MobileFilmmaking]

This was a really good episode. I learned a lot from this episode.

[@CountSorinsRealm]

Dat Rubidium stock footage haha. Awesome video Valentina!

[@futurevisionsfilmsandphotos]

Your intro is awesome!! Great info.

[@bigchiefcinema9654]

awesome work to the entire team. keep it up watching from Kenya.

[@jungmaeng]

For me, I always like using color contrasting lights to create more depth in a character’s face. I really like using a daylight colored light as my key, and a tungsten for a fill/rim (opposite if it’s indoors). It really makes the subject pop.

[@verifiedccp6064]

I love you vee😍😍...u made this sooo simple

[@adrianloong5218]

Fantastic stuff thanks for sharing

[@Felix-qk2xs]

Really love these short tip videos! So great to see

[@aputurelighting]

More to come!

[@kevinadah]

A easy and quick hack is to shoot low at an angle and with a lower t/F stop! Love your content keep it up!

[@tylerhuttosmith]

Panty hose over a uv filter or some other essentially clear filter to give a pro mist effect is always cool

[@humpfreylupin8292]

I love how the actor smacks his head into the plate at 11:55 and you guys went with the take.

[@adeboyejo94]

In the past I’ve added pictures or painting from my apartment to add depth to blank walls. Also fake plants help out a lot.

[@JaysonBumbalough]

there's more cinematography and production design in this video than most Hallmark Christmas movies.

[@aputurelighting]

😂

[@frontfoot1035]

Valentina is the best teacher!

[@JazminC]

Every minute of this video was so valuable and informative!! Thank you for this great content

[@uploadsnstuff8902]

Oh man, this is so good, thanks a lot! Wide to close ups conitnuity is always tricky, in this case her strand of hair shifted places...

[@rjkivanii]

I learned soooo much from this... Please make more like these ❤

[@smepable]

Amazing Job, learned a Lot.

[@cogmission1]

Awesome tips! Wow, I'm excited to try out some ideas at home!

[@keirrawebster]

Man I wish you guys were my professors …. I swear I learned this last semester but you just clarified in a way that makes sense 🥴🥴🥴

[@aputurelighting]

Keep it up! Glad to hear it helped.

[@hauntedbytheliving1175]

Fantastic video! Not much to add; I’m pedantic about “eye lights” for life/pop, I might throw in a couple of inserts of more extreme closeups of action/interest and possible a camera move, like a swinging motion/tracking shot to add vibrancy and accentuate whatever energy I can.

[@shashanksheth2409]

Wonderful video. I learnt a lot from this! 🙌🏼✨

[@AndrewKuttor]

Loved this one, I mean the spaceship was cool too but this one was super helpful. So, what have I done to make my apartment cinematic? So, I use my apartment as a set 3-4 times a week for my videography and camera gear related KZbin channel "Power of Drew" and other videography based projects and I have found that painting half of your walls a darker color like grey can really help give some contrast and depth to your talking head shots. Also, I recommend getting a few good quality lights. For example, I currently have two Amaran 100d's that are on C-stands with castors that I can roll around the apartment to change up my shot. One light has the Aputure Lantern for fill the other the Aputure Dome-Mini for key. Which reminds me, try to find furniture that you can puzzle piece together and isn't too large to move around. This way you can have endless different configurations for your place, especially if its a tiny place. Finally, I suggest black-out curtains or something similar so that you are able to control the light coming from your windows, since being able to control the light will be at your advantage. Thank you Aputure, you guys are my FAVORITE company. I am a HUGE fan. So thankful you guys are making products for people on a tight budget. THANK YOU. Keeping my fingers crossed I win this MC. But, regardless I'll be here for the next one. 💡🎥🎬

[@natecarrollfilms]

I have to use these hacks a lot; especially, when the pandemic limited my shooting to home. Absent of painting, white and beige walls can benefit from a soft, color wash. Saturate to your personal taste, but add a contrasting color to make them both pop. Whether that’s balancing your camera’s white balance at 4600K and using Tungsten and Daylight settings or just using gels. I’ve added Full CTO on an industrial work lamp just to get it to pop from a room saturated with a Vittorio’s VS-Indigo wash (available on the Nova P300c.) Leverage third-point perspective. Shoot into corners, but also don’t limit yourself to a static camera plane. Raise your tripod and shoot towards where the wall and floor intersect or use a high-hat or sandbox to tilt the camera up into the ceiling. Even a dull highway has unique angles and perspectives. Use some Aputure MCs or even M9s with gel to sprinkle in some color. I’ve also found incorporating a hard source shooting through a homemade Cucaloris (gaff tape across a frame) to mimic a window; then, a complementary or contrasting color can shake up an otherwise flat wall. I argue that my suggestions so far have been static. Just adding movement to a light in a scene can supplement the shot with some interest. Light aside, any actor movement from point A to point B provides an element of depth in the frame. Add some foreground to the frame to augment depth. Whether a prop, potted plant, etc. Having something in the foreground enhances the frame. If the story calls for it, a rack focus can add some interest. If all that fails, open up the aperture and conceal the background with a short depth of field. Maybe throw in some tiny, sharp background lights and exploit the lens’ blades to create light shapes; thus, creating interest. Lastly, educate yourself. The Aputure product release videos and annual training with resultant certification test can help you to maximize your investment (e.g., using Sidus when shooting alone). I hope this helps all the other subscribers and welcome any feedback.

[@LongShotfilmz]

I learn something new everytime I watch your videos. AS an indie filmmaker, I will say thank you.

[@aputurelighting]

Happy to hear that!

[@PavlaVankova]

vids about these real-life sets are the most useful ones!

[@aputurelighting]

Glad you liked it!

[@pdawggity]

for me to make a boring location more interesting i like to motivate the camera angels from where the talent is looking. i also like to keep a cohesive color scheme. also fog machine and a pro-mist are a must.

[@gafferngrip5407]

Great video as away! What I would use to make a boring location to more cinematic. What I did was adding different color to each layer, ex: foreground, mid and background. Of course shape the lights.

[@aputurelighting]

Great tip!

[@dylanjohndickerson]

This was awesome guys! Thanks for this 🙏

[@CristianMartins697]

Você é ótima nas explicações aprendo muito com seus vídeos e com essa produção fica melhor ainda!!

[@AMILLIONVOICES]

Wow, this was extremely helpful again 👏 thanks for sharing. I started making my own Mini Documentaries earlier this year, there is still so much to learn but videos like this one have helped me so much.

[@aputurelighting]

Keep it up!

[@AMILLIONVOICES]

@@aputurelighting thanks 🙏

[@mamoun.s.hassan]

Aaand a like just for Ms. Vee... Good job!

[@MorphPicturesllc]

Excellent work🙌🏾🔥

[@MrMichaelMcfadyen]

If the room is super boring I’ll shoot through the doorways to frame the subject and use them to block anything unsightly. It’s a quick way to add depth and interest on the wide.

[@jayrodney9821]

I like to use RGB to add depth in a boring g shot or subtle rim light with RGB to separate from the background. Love the videos. I learn a ton from them...🤘

[@shadowboxer2747]

This is interesting.. i really enjoy this.. thank u for sharing

[@aputurelighting]

Thanks for watching

[@TheWateringSpace]

To make my footage look cinematic, I like to add foreground elements to shoot through for wide medium and close ups if I have the time and equipment to. Really pulled back wide shots can be be nice to have for the edit.

[@wxtreokgo7849]

thank you for the lesson! costumes of heroes also makes image more interesting. colours.

[@holdmedear]

Blackmist 1 and haze.. Killing the contrast here

[@chrishoffman4635]

Quick tip to spice up a boring place - color temp. I love using good CCT lights to give the background a slightly cooler appearance than the foreground. If you also spice up the subject with some warmer light-spice, boun appetit!

[@valentinavee]

I’ve used that truck before too! Actually for exactly this reason.

[@chrishoffman4635]

@@valentinavee right? Everyone talks about Rembrandt lighting on the face, but nobody talks about how Renaissance artists created depth with cool and warm colors. 🤷🏻‍♂️😁 Works on paper, works on screen. 💯

[@rickmagnell]

The rolls of ND was a great tip I’ll be looking in to. Always something to learn.

[@aputurelighting]

Such a crucial trick!

[@firstmile]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@samuelguce]

Appreciate this guys thankyou

[@sprinklememang]

Having the right practical lights in background of frame can help add to the "cinematic" look

[@sheldonnorton9035]

My first big lesson shooting: Pull everything away from the walls. Classic!

[@Souchoroukof]

Great tips on how to craft the scene so that it evokes the feeling we are going for.🙌

[@DiegoPocovi]

Excellent tips.👏👏. then everyone add their own personal touch. That's the idea. Great job.