Video Tips & tricks - Using High End Production Equipment CRANES-DOLLIES--35mm-LENS
Why believe what we tell you?
We've been doing video production for nearly 20 years and have been providing Video Production in Melbourne for 10 years!
So lets get down to the main points covered in the Video.

In this edition we discuss high end video production equipment. We'll look at large and medium scale camera cranes, dollies and tracks and 35mm lens adaptors.

Cranes can make the difference between a boring and lifeless shot and an exciting shot as movement is essential to engaging the eye.

Camera cranes can offer visuals usually only found in cinema and broadcast and bring productions to a higher level.

The crane itself can swing from the ground to its maximum reach. They can also swing 360 degrees and the camera attached to the crane can pan tilt and zoom.

The large crane RCM used has a nine metre arm. It is used for real estate external shots, on shoots that require capturing large objects like planes or trucks as well as pieces to camera by presenters.

Smaller cranes are effective for use indoors and quick outdoor setups as they are easier to move around a location with.

Dollies and tracks offer great camera movement. They can move towards or away from a subject or from side to side.

Dolly shots can be used for interviews to reveal more of the background and create engagement.

RCM uses dollies and tracks for real estate interiors and can also ramp these shots.

Dollies and tracks can offer fluent movement to all shots whether they are indoors, outdoors, interviews or product shots.

Dollies and tracks are quick and easy to set up and a cost effective way to lift production values.

35mm lens adaptors allow 35mm lenses to be attached to high definition video cameras.

35mm lenses give a shallow depth of field, meaning the background is out of focus and the subject is in focus.

35mm lenses give more of a film look and focus the eye on a chosen subject.

Compared to a 35mm lens, the stock lens on a high definition video camera will deliver a flat, less appealing image without a clear focal point.

Using 35mm lens adaptors does take longer as lens and camera position changes are frequent but the end results are undoubtedly better.

Video production companies have access to these tools but most don't use them. It is important to hire a company who uses cranes, dollies and 35mm lens adaptors regularly as the operators and crew's experience makes all the difference.

Video Pre-Production essentials

In my opinion, pre-production is the most important phase. If you don’t set a solid foundation, everything later is on shaky ground.

Here’s a rundown of what happens in the pre-production phase and why:

Planning: The goal here is to establish goals, funny as that sounds. What is this video supposed to achieve? The simpler your answer, the more likely you are to have a good outcome. When you have multiple objectives things quickly get convoluted and complicated.

Scripting: This is where your video takes form and where you have to do the heavy lifting. Even if your video is unscripted, this is the point where you will make critical decisions. What will people talk about? For how long? What emotion should they convey? How does it all tie together? Without a solid plan on paper, you have no compass when the camera finally rolls.

Story-boarding: If you take the time to plan out what the audi-ence will see in each shot, you can make the most efficient use of your cam-era time. This step also helps reveal any holes in your script — places where it’s not clear how to visually represent what’s being said in the audio

Revisions: It’s wise to build at least two rounds of revisions into your script-ing process. It can take time to develop a workable script, but the pay-off is well worth it. A little polish here can make all the difference in the quality of the final product.

Budgeting: Many people want know to how much a video will cost, even before any critical decisions have been made. Unfortunately, it’s usually impossible to answer this question in anything but the most general of terms. The best way to work is to hire a producer and/or writer to develop the core concept. Then and only then can you determine what it will take to get there.

Scheduling: Just as a video’s budget is determined by the concept, so is a production’s schedule. Most projects will require a wide array of people and equipment, all of which need to be scheduled. While you may not always have the luxury of starting the pre-production process early, advance planning usually results in a better product. Ideally, you would allow 3+ months for short-form video and 6 months for long-form pieces. If you aren’t able to plan ahead, you be prepared to pay more or accept somewhat lower quality