How to ACTUALLY Make Anything Cinematic

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Okay it’s official. Ghost has invented the rule of fifths. As it was written.

[@cleverghostchili]

I thought it was an established technique

[@mongehsonjong4673]

🎉

[@aadityasharma206]

Its how everything binds together in this video,narration so cohesive.

[@kurlysoul]

"color grading begins before you leave the house" Thank you for that! Very Helpful video

[@robingossman3385]

Really appreciate the educative direction of this channel.

[@cleverghostchili]

Yeah and it's nice interacting with everyone

[@czcx403]

Accidentally bumped into your channel in my research for my first camera to get into "cinematic" shooting. A lot of authentic and visually pleasing shots in this video really made me think I need to consider Sigma fp, but it's obviously not about the camera, it's about the person behind it. I'm looking forward to your next content! Great job!

[@cleverghostchili]

It’s a very good camera for image quality enthusiasts, but that’s always just one piece of the puzzle. Once you can put your mind at ease about gear, you can focus on making great images

[@czcx403]

@@cleverghostchili that's absolutely true! On the side note though, would you say it is a suitable camera for a beginner? have you tried the sigma lenses before? I really liked your Zeiss Otus, but am looking for a more budget friendly alternative to begin with.

[@cleverghostchili]

@@czcx403 milvus is better for beginners. The sigma FP is not beginner friendly and has a learning curve but I do have videos/reviews/guides on all these things. You can check out my long term written review, will answer 90% of your questions www.cleverghost.net/blog/sigmafpreview

[@veenitareadswrites]

Only 6.5k views? This channel will blow up very soon. Mark my words

[@cleverghostchili]

@@veenitareadswrites algorithm jail

[@gentlesteps2476]

Another brilliant and inspring video, thank you!

[@m.i.andersen8167]

Cool locations and clever speak. Really nice pictures, Interesting and relaxing at the same time. It's always great to be with Chili, who I have a feeling I know, of course because she's a clever actor who knows how to get the most out of minimal gestures. Clever work! PS. Congratulations on your U87, a very good choice -that can be heard.

[@cleverghostchili]

Haha! We make a pretty good team if I do say so. I rarely give her directions these days, I just say, "Go" and she gets it 😂

[@NunoAlmeidaPhotography]

Super useful tips and insights! Thank you!

[@cleverghostchili]

Happy to share

[@19HR89]

Inspiring. Thanks for sharing these tips. Love the rising tension/ crescendo at the end.

[@cleverghostchili]

As something with a music background, I can say that music and cinematography are more similar in discipline than people realize, it is catching on

[@DylanDoFilm]

8:52 come onnnnn 😍. Another exceptional piece!

[@giordanobruno7943]

you got yo self a dime pieace over there, good job.

[@issamladdi]

Absoluty priceless video. Well done !

[@cleverghostchili]

Thanks! This one is finally starting to grow on me

[@stewartmoore]

Definitely going to have to watch more than three times to note down all the great tips and tricks!

[@cleverghostchili]

Make it 7

[@stewartmoore]

@@cleverghostchili will make it 8 just to be sure - 7 is a bit unlucky!

[@kyelight]

Great stuff as usual!!

[@IFILMYU]

Whatever the story, you make all of us fall in love with Chili.

[@cleverghostchili]

That’s a lot of competitors…

[@fidipunk]

Watching your videos makes me want to travel so much man

[@cleverghostchili]

Some of these shots are in my neighborhood! Always something to explore nearby

[@JaymesMedia]

Rule of fifth is definitely new to me, I’ll have to try it.

[@AllThingsFilm1]

Great suggestions and ideas. I've bookmarked this for inspiration and future reference. Oh, and I subscribed.

[@cleverghostchili]

Glad to contribute to the community

[@patrickcasella]

this guy is a legend. what a video!!!!

[@cleverghostchili]

@@patrickcasella you’re too kind

[@888berg]

Amazing!!!! BTW where is this filmed? Looks awesome :)

[@cleverghostchili]

Jiangxi in China, very beautiful country

[@888berg]

@@cleverghostchili Thanks Mate - your talent amplifies that :)) more plz :)))

[@evayap_]

stunning images which perfectly illustrate your wise words as always

[@cleverghostchili]

gotta still find ways to improve

[@rockindude3001]

This almost breaks down to: be great in every creative department! I feel it would be a true statement. All of your additional nice little tips are worth their weight in gold. Maybe all of this boils down to "be deliberate in your creative decisions" "make choices on purpose for the emotions you want to evoke and the story to tell". Also: wonderful travel vlog! I'm curious how many shots (or what ratio) did you have to discard because of 'missing focus'? OR what would you say is 'missing focus' for you (clearly some shots are not bang-on but it almost doesn't matter too much)? Cheers and keep up the excellent work!

[@cleverghostchili]

maybe only 2% will specifically be discarded due to missed focus. I would say having a good monitor is crucial but it's usually not a problem for me, missing focus is when the frame is so off that the composition is lost. There's one scene in this video with the light peeking through the branches where i missed focus, but i kept it in. Missing focus can also be a creative choice, there are fashion photographers that do it, then you have deliberate ear focus in cinema which makes the face less sharp for closeups. I personally don't mind a little missed focus esp with zeiss lenses because of their out of focus transition / field curvature, makes it look pleasant to my eye (like when leaving the restaraunt at the end)

[@rockindude3001]

@@cleverghostchili just 2% is crazy. I asked because I noticed how 'technically' a shot here and there was not in focuse but how I did not care...which surprised me tbh. But I get it, since I almost did not notice, it did not break immersion. Only because I actively looked for in-focus-out-of-focus shots I noticed. Now I kind of want to see how you work a lens with ugly fall-off and bokeh! Maybe it is you way of pulling focus and not the nice lens? 😊

[@cleverghostchili]

@@rockindude3001 i also shot the majority of this video at f5.6 so it was considerably easier, if it was f1.4 it'd be like 8%. I mention this in the previous video, but missed focus blends in specifically with handheld because of the motion blur/rolling shutter, thats why i often shoot wider apertures handheld and deeper on sticks. If you miss focus on sticks like for a film, it'd be much more distracting

[@lifeafterwork_62]

i love the footage at 9.33

[@cleverghostchili]

@@lifeafterwork_62 I like that shot too, it makes for a great wallpaper

[@anirudhtd7193]

Another helpful vide from Ghost

[@cleverghostchili]

Glad to be able to offer my insights

[@redfoxcreatives]

Came out of nowhere. Your style is fun to watch. Great tips too! Although I think you invented the rule of fifths! I’ll try it :)

[@cleverghostchili]

It's for cinemascope like 2.39 aspect ratios, I haven't tried it for taller formats but I can't envision it looking as good

[@viktar_dr]

Great video, great tips. Now almost everyone on youtube try to add hashtag "cinematic" to video and that it)) But cinematic is it a lot of things in videomaking process

[@alanalgee]

Love the videos and always feel a joy when I see a new one appear! Also a fellow Fp 28mm user so it’s a joy. Are you shooting 28 in s35 crop or full frame?

[@cleverghostchili]

@@alanalgee there’s only one or two scenes I used crop, maybe the window scene in the audio section. I find the increase sharpness unattractive unless it’s macro or landscape, however I prefer 28mm cropped so it’s a bit of a conundrum

[@Joe.Blackwood]

Your my new favourite youtuber! How does your camera shake look so natural and watchable, are you doing your monopod trick or is it the heavy Zeiss Otus? Are you slowing down 30fps to 24fps?

[@cleverghostchili]

@@Joe.Blackwood the weight definitely helps, some of these shots are with a rig some without. With a monitor and top handle it definitely improves. I would say the majority of shots are without monitor particularly the first waterfall sections, where the shakes are the most severe. It’s all just a lot of practice and technique. Soft hands and stabilization in post, most technique is on the hand supporting the lens, front heavy and utilizing gravity

[@pututnugraha9663]

What font that are used on video?

[@suyogmarlecha4466]

Dear Ghost, this does look like from a movie. The narration perfectly suited the narrative. Can you do a similar video on how to make the most of the Fp? How you exposed and shot this video?

[@cleverghostchili]

i sometimes expose for shadows, sometimes expose for highlights, but generally protect highlights in most scenarios. Is my audience interested in detailed technical videos, I'm not sure but I will definitely consider it in the future

[@suyogmarlecha4466]

@@cleverghostchili Thanks for your work. Yes...many will be interested.. in a similar style...the Fp is just so mysterious of a camera.

[@cleverghostchili]

@@suyogmarlecha4466 in the meantime I have an ongoing long term written review of the FP here: www.cleverghost.net/blog/sigmafpreview

[@suyogmarlecha4466]

@@cleverghostchili Amazing...thank you so much!

[@lifeafterwork_62]

I learn what you said: go out and experiment (thanks so much sir)

[@farosonico]

Do you crop your project for this aspect ratio?

[@cleverghostchili]

@@farosonico yes, also helps hone in on the ideal framing

[@EdProsser]

You look great in green.

[@cleverghostchili]

Oh, you.

[@e.adeloye]

Amazing

[@legalityoflife5741]

How do you stabilize Sigma FP footage?

[@cleverghostchili]

Heavier rig. My technique is optimized for a front heavy lens but it ultimately comes down to soft hands. This video is one of the less stable footage because I used a smaller setup, I recommend using about 0.25 strength perspective stabilization in Davinci resolve

[@sofasogood7164]

Your images speak for themselves, but it is always nice to also hear you narrate the process with such simplicity. Just one thing is bugging me and I cannot resist asking.. At 7:25 everything is perfectly exposed, how do you maximize the FP dynamic range (beside being talented) to achieve such balanced image? I usually end up sacrificing either the highlights or shadows in such instances. Anyways thank you for keeping youtube an interesting place❤

[@cleverghostchili]

I am usually on the cusp of clipping highlights and do everything to preserve the shadows in a situation like this, knowing full well I could just have a clipped silhouetted image, I believe it comes down to the grading, which I have optimized for, I detail it in my long term sigma review on my website, I also have a free power grade on discord

[@Vincenrob]

Thanks youuu

[@shueibdahir]

0:20 seconds in and I started smiling like crazy. My day just got a little bit better. By the way how come you shoot at high apertures most of the time? I hardly see you using the lens wide open

[@cleverghostchili]

@shueibdahir weaker NDs haha. Honestly I have been testing, these videos are also for me. My aspect ratio video I test sigma and Otus wide open. The blur video blackmagic and deep focus with milvus. This one sigma FP and Otus deep focus. You do get different renderings and it keeps things interesting. I think I should have added some blur or shallow depth of field, I actually prefer the rendering of the Otus wide open, but deep focus has its places, it’s not like you can’t get bokeh at f5.6. I’m rambling now, could go on for hours….general mindset is deep focus for stationary composed scenes and bokeh for handheld movement. This video i spent more effort on framing and deep focus makes more sense, think of a painting, the ultimate composition, no bokeh is necessary

[@avx111]

I really need to get a 28mm lens.

[@cleverghostchili]

@@avx111 I wish it was 35mm! 28 is ideal for travel

[@hugomalpeyre]

Take me instead of her on your next trip. I'm as cute and i will carry your camera and charge your batteries. Lovely footage. Goat of framing and editing. Thx

[@cleverghostchili]

Charge my batteries?? You can move in 😉

[@deardaughter]

03:31 Okay, what is up with there being so much Boston Red Sox gear in Asia?! Last time I went, I saw it everywhere! haha

[@cleverghostchili]

There is a bit of foreign glorification in China, I’ve noticed once obscure western brands move to china and rebrand as a luxury fashion line and MLB is one of them

[@area51pictures]

You're really missing out by having people not look at the lens. Not only is that not true, the opposite is true -- people looking into the lens is incredibly powerful and doesn't mean breaking the fourth wall (a term originated in theater) nearly as often as you think. See Jonathan Demme, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick... the list goes on and on. Agree about not telling them when you're rolling though. That's great. And for sure about dialogue-motivated "cinematography" being over.

[@cleverghostchili]

That's true, I was moreso thinking about the times when someone glances at the lens for no reason other than to ask "oh are you recording?" The advice is to mainly direct the subject to act normally and interact with the surroundings than be cognizant of it and freeze up on what to do. It's surprisingly difficult to coach an untrained actor to "act normally" and it's often more effective to tell them to just ignore you.

[@marciacano]

❤❤❤❤❤❤thankkkk youuuuuu

[@cleverghostchili]

the pleasure is mine

[@TerenceEnn]

Dang I want a sigma fp now

[@cleverghostchili]

@@TerenceEnn lowlight king imo

[@lifeafterwork_62]

Can you like my comment i want watch after work

[@cleverghostchili]

good one

[@barrydickenhurst8485]

This video literally said nothing.

[@cleverghostchili]

@@barrydickenhurst8485 😂 everything is demonstrated, try to keep up

[@aradarvid1750]

Not Much of help ... thank u for sharing beautiful imaging btw

[@cleverghostchili]

@@aradarvid1750 noted, I tried a broader approach here perhaps to its detriment

[@eucsvoboda]

owch my eyes, man its garbage

[@cleverghostchili]

@@eucsvoboda thanks for the algorithm boost