BAD SHOTS vs GOOD SHOTS | Learning from a Cinematographers Mistakes

[@jamesmather7896]

I work as a DP (30 years). I always opt to protect the eyes unless the scene calls for it - as it’s usually the first place people look. The only reason I can think to light the girl this dark is if you want the audience or a character within the scene to be “in the dark” (as it were) as to what she’s thinking. It would have to be a director led decision - I wouldn’t do something like this unilaterally. If the guy talking to her wasn’t sure what her motivations were in the scene (like “is she likely to betray me” or “is she lying” might be reasonable motivators for this degree of darkness). You can also half it - (sidelight - one eye - this can be seen as mysterious but still gives the actor some ability to emote (like Benicio del toro in his last scene with Emily Blunt’s kitchen in Sicario). I like that you’re on a frank journey of self examination and impartially critique your own work - it’s the only way we can improve. Good luck! 🎥

[@6shopfilms]

Love this input. I’ve referenced that sicario scene a dozen times at least for mood boards. Thank you!

[@jamesmather7896]

End scene sicario - similar to your scene on Del toro but we are not sure if he will kill her or not - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6HSZoOcaJ51Z7csi=C1XKV9R8RwzkIT6d

[@CW_Visuals]

This video and comment gave so much great info. Thank you both!

[@AndrewNjemanze]

We the audience don’t have any context about the scenes content, so to me, those shots look great and do not suck in anyway whatsoever… That’s Unless that scene was your characters talking about how awesome Christmas is… but then again that just means your scene was in the wrong context but they are not bad shots AT ALL.

[@6shopfilms]

Fair. Context definitely plays a part. I guess just in general, there are parts of the shot that I knew I could’ve taken the time to enhance. It works enough, but still a shot I don’t consider to be up to the standard of what we can do. But I do agree, I should’ve laid out some context to give a better reason to why.

[@friendlyfilmz]

💯! Yes. 🙌 Self-criticism and self-flagellation are not the same. Reflecting, refining, and learning are how we improve and grow. ❤

[@HighFiveTheHorizon]

'Yaddabla brabra brabra braBRA' - 6 Shop Films Words to live by. That said, neither shot 'sucks', at least to me. Not having seen the film, the darkness in The Reunion conversation might as well be the important info for the feeling. Of course, if you had something else in mind, then that did not work out ...as you planned. But that is coming into the territory of looking for perfection in everything we do, and that is quite the difficult task. So don't beat yourself up about that.

[@6shopfilms]

I do use the term “suck” pretty freely here, but at the end of the day: there is something lacking that I know I could’ve done to improve the shot, and improve my communication to my DP and better give him a space to work. I still actually love the film, and I’m sure I’ll run into more films I hold dearly that maybe have just a moment or two that’s lacking.

[@_trismegistus]

0:28 - such a beautiful shot

[@WasabiNoise]

There's always that saying that you need 10K hours to be good at something, but that's not it, reflecting on what we can improve is way better. And then "deliberate practice" to make it better next time. I'm just an aficionado but I enjoyed your video, great work with the documentary, those shots look great!

[@6shopfilms]

Thank you so much! That doc is very special to me, and I agree. Deliberate decisions and reflection can make anyone a good filmmaker

[@AllThingsFilm1]

Good advice. Especially about using motivated lighting. That one additional light to wrap the window light around the actor's face goes a long way.

[@6shopfilms]

Coves and wraps are the way to go 🤘🏻

[@AllThingsFilm1]

@@6shopfilms Yep. Roger Deakins loves the Cove light. :)

[@nicktosti7487]

Super well done video.

[@LesterCampbell-e2y]

Nice video. Subscribed and can't wait to see where you go from here

[@6shopfilms]

Appreciate the sub 🤘🏻

[@rickymcc8624]

Honest impartial review is a good way to learn. It's easy to be defensive and not be open to how things might have been improved. But practice, review, practice review and repeat will surely help most folk. Like point about letting DP do best they can but that only works if DP is good (or good enough) and there is trust, experience of working with DP etc. Agree with other comments that context is important. But also important to remember what you are attempting to communicate with an audience - how much info is appropriate to reveal etc. One problem with motivated light IMO is it can just distract the eye and attention away from main point of focus (typically a face, eyes, character etc). Agree your shot of girl in chair is 'bad' because face is too dark relative to 'blown' highlights from window, made worse by placing highlight in top right corner. I love moody light, rim lighting etc, but it's important when lighting what you intend to command attention (typically a face etc) has enough light, relative to background luminance, to stand out and draw the viewers eye. That's why limited DOF shots typically look better by having less distracting backgrounds. IMO best to avoid any text, interesting objects, bright lights (in big area) red or bright yellow etc. That said, as humans, we are naturally drawn to look at faces, eyes etc or look to direction of speech (talking head). But, we are also curious, searching for meaning and context, so easily distracted - especially if foreground or comments are 'boring'.

[@sabrod92]

I love this video. One thing I hate about some other KZbinrs is they make you feel like you need (insert name brand) or this or that. You tell us it's okay to use what is there. You got my sub

[@6shopfilms]

Skill over gear always. Thanks for the sub!

[@leasophiaproductions1599]

Awesome video! Thank you for this!

[@6shopfilms]

Always our pleasure. Thank you!

[@lauritee]

Loved the video man! Great insights about understanding and trusting your collaborators on a project.

[@6shopfilms]

Trust and collaborations are so important. Thank you!

[@Teh_Yeet]

Super nice video! Keep it up!

[@tim.kreisel]

Beautiful video! Love the vibe, looking up for more!

[@PracticalMedia]

Good video, man. You earned a new subscriber

[@6shopfilms]

Thank you and welcome to the channel!

[@theowlfromduolingo7982]

3:50 and especially the eye light is missing which can easily be added and makes a big difference

[@6shopfilms]

Eye light would help for sure. Would love to have done that spotlight trick. Definitely gonna have a video experimenting with that kind of lighting.

[@gevergeverisreali]

Dude, Im totally stealing from The reunion and The last shot for my next short mood board!!! I walked by a weird looking steal staircase today and it sparked something in me. glad to see the world was so quick to response back. and subscribe, of course :)

[@6shopfilms]

Happy to help and we are honored haha

[@ninoydayritvideoworks]

i just stumbled upon this clip. and upon watching, there is something on how you explain that is rather intresting. not quite sure how to pin it, but i gues it is in your audio. super precise choice of words and straightforward. Im subbed.

[@6shopfilms]

Extremely appreciated. Thank you and welcome to the Chanel!

[@LaFuenteOnFilm]

Great insight. Inspiring for future shoots!

[@nitch3304]

Just came across this clip. So awesome on so many levels. Love your honesty, your though process and your work. Looking forward to watching more of your work. 🌟

[@6shopfilms]

Thank you so much and welcome!

[@gabriel-mckee]

This. This 1000%.

[@leonreaper90]

This is good for people to learn from, appreciate the video bud.

[@6shopfilms]

Thank you! Hope it was helpful.

[@bunkertons]

Phew, that music was LOOOUD. 😂

[@6shopfilms]

Oh no. 🫥 I’ll have to keep that in mind for the next one.

[@erolsq]

Oh yeah man, you're gonna be big! Great Video

[@6shopfilms]

Hopefully someday! Thank you.

[@cryptokingz615]

Great content dude!

[@stephencaserta2969]

I thought the reverse shot of the guy looked pretty decent - I agree that bouncing some light around to boost the ambient and even shooting on a longer lens to crop out that white wall would have helped a ton. Potentially even exposing up a tad and using the guy to cover the window a bit so your not worried about overexposing the window

[@6shopfilms]

That’s a solid suggestion. Simple but effecting, especially using the tighter lens.

[@studiosoul]

Well done, thanks for sharing. ❤

[@BrokenBicyclesProductions]

Nice video. Subscribed and can't wait to see where you go from here ❤

[@OscarCloud]

Great vid, making mistakes is the only way to keep getting better

[@6shopfilms]

It’s the best education! Thank you!

[@jackbarron8880]

Reunion one looks great to me....I love the shadows. I guess it depends on the context of the scene? If it's meant to be a dark, moody scene then the reunion one works....

[@6shopfilms]

I dig the mood of it all as well, just wanted to lift the face a little since other parts of the film have more of a “gravity” to it.

[@NiklasPennanen]

Great video! 4:52 pool noodle?

[@6shopfilms]

Yup! Pool noodles. Carlo Stigliano has a video about it, and I’ve seen in on set myself. I will be makin a video about it for sure

[@DavidFamous]

this was great, love the honesty and how important it is working with natural light cinematically, I often wonder what makes some locations look great and depending on natural light it could really stand out. if there was one light that you would use in a daylight setting would you recommend the tubes?

[@6shopfilms]

The tubes with diffusion are (for me at least) the easiest and fastest way to enhance an maintain the look of natural day light. I’d also say the Infinibars

[@johnclay7644]

good video

[@arjunsframe618]

which camera you used to shoot the documentary?

[@6shopfilms]

Mostly the URSA Mini Pro G2. Work bench footage was with the BMPCC6K. All sigma Art lenses.

[@FilmbyChris]

Were all these shots really from the 6k pro??

[@6shopfilms]

No just my talking head was with the 6k. For the Doc: the work bench scene did use the 6k, but the film was shot on the URSA Mini Pro G2. The Reunion was with the Alexa Mini and Zeiss CP2s

[@erwinge]

How did you do the grain in the Documentary?

[@6shopfilms]

All filmconvert Nitrate. Set grain at 50%, but I actually switched to Dehancer. There’s a little more control with grain.

[@RaedViera]

Shane Gillis' tutorial for lighting

[@L0n3ly0akFarm]

holy shit its shane gillis

[@deardaughter]

Thanks bingbong

[@robertdouble559]

Reunion wasn't that bad dude. Depending on the mood you were after. Nice contrast. Maybe a little eye kicker was all it needed.

[@6shopfilms]

It’s definitely not terrible by any means, but I guess it’s more the fact I didn’t let the DP experiment more that gets me. Sure it’s “fine” and hits a mood, but I know it could use a little TLC. You could be right. Maybe an eye kicker would’ve done the trick.

[@robertstefan869]

damn man. consider adding subtitles to your clips. it will really fit the vibe u’re going for. other than that, great video!

[@6shopfilms]

Thank you! And yes we will absolutely try to Incorporate some better subtitles.

[@CommanderSammer]

You're literally me

[@zachschmo]

Look, we all go Big Doofus mode from time to time

[@6shopfilms]

Amen brother. Amen.

[@RoboOggy]

shane gillis?

[@6shopfilms]

Not the first time I’ve heard this 🫠

[@blackwhitepictures4291]

I don't agree. It is not a bad shot. There is an artistic direction. Maybe not the good you want but, this not bad.

[@6shopfilms]

Very fair. I realize that I didn’t explain what I preferred the end goal for the “bad” shot. On its own, sure, works perfectly fine. In the film, it could use some work.

[@HowILove]

"a cinematographers" - i'm confused.

[@myneighbornate]

Disagreement does not equal hate. Homosexuality is a sin because God is the designer of sex, not humans. I hang out with my gay coworker everyday. I don’t hate him, but I 100% disagree with his lifestyle choices. Are you going to hate me because I think homosexuality is wrong?

[@aymen2949]

sorry, but both shots were bad, the composition is so bad in both films

[@6shopfilms]

Can’t win them all. Thanks for watching!

[@sofisticated_films]

Great video! Thanks for the insight.

[@6shopfilms]

Glad it was helpful!