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I'm doing a promotional video for a bar

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blakroc
Posts: 2323 - Karma: 28
This is my first one I just got my t2i yesterday and don't have alot of expirence shooting . I'm going to be inside, it'll be dark and I'll have my fifty. I know I can make a good video but if anyone has any advice I'd love to hear it. I've never filmed with a fifty before, obviously i'm going to have to auto focus it at all  times but should i keep anything in mind perticular? and if you've ever done one or have any examples post up?
Dec 2 2010 8:12PM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,089
How much are they paying you? I will provide tips accordingly.
Dec 2 2010 8:16PM
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Coalescent
Posts: 4871 - Karma: 2,063
why don't you get some lighting and not use autofocus all the time? Autofocus on the T2i sucks for video IMO
Dec 2 2010 8:36PM
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kzrstf
Posts: 2778 - Karma: 695
its kinda weird that you got hired for doing a video, while youre saying you dont have a lot of experience shooting...

anyway, for the best quality, try to keep the iso low (1600 at max)

dont use auto-focus while recording

if its kinda dark, keep the aperture wide
Dec 2 2010 8:42PM
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blakroc
Posts: 2323 - Karma: 28
ok i just read that again, i know it sounds kind of noobish. i meant manual focus i know using auto focus on the fifty in the bar would look horrible. and the iso because its dark wouldn't it be better to keep it at 3200? and how do i adjust the apeture while shooting video? i only see exposure and for some reason even when the exposure is as far up as it can go auto exposure still makes it brighter. And 300$.
Dec 2 2010 9:32PM
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Coalescent
Posts: 4871 - Karma: 2,063
Don't shoot in 3200. Don't shoot in 1600. Don't shoot in 800 if you don't need to. The higher the ISO, the more grain you will see in your footage.

Please read the manual.
Dec 2 2010 9:41PM
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TheGreen
Posts: 504 - Karma: 41
hold the AV +/- button and rotate the dial. But if you meant while filming, just don't do it it's gonna look awful.
Dec 2 2010 9:50PM
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blakroc
Posts: 2323 - Karma: 28
so filming the whole thing in auto would look decent?

Dec 2 2010 10:03PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
why did they hire you....
Dec 2 2010 10:05PM
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blakroc
Posts: 2323 - Karma: 28
to clarify im refering to auto exposure, but they came to me because they really liked our website and video we've already made. i just got this camera yesterday and havn't even got a chance to read the manual yet because of my exams, i have filmed lots before i just used the auto settings though before.
Dec 2 2010 10:15PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
I dont want to sound like an asshole but not knowing the basic about shutter speed, aperture, iso, and just shooting manually is a pretty big sign of a beginner. I would love for you to shut me up and show me one of your videos though because maybe you have some good stuff.
Dec 2 2010 10:18PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,240
1080 24p
1/50th
f 1.8
iso 800, 1600 MAX

get a 169 or 196 or whatever LED panel light off of ebay (search led lights on cheesycam.com, you can find ones that are highly recommended) and use this to help offset the low light.

keep your camera steady as possible, otherwise your video will strobe like a mofo and come out looking like crap. Tripod it up at all times
Dec 2 2010 10:29PM
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kfilenda
Posts: 509 - Karma: 72
um...I dont believe you can autofocus in movie mode.
Dec 3 2010 1:03AM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
technically you can but it looks like you let a baby be in charge of pulling focus.
Dec 3 2010 8:56AM
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kfilenda
Posts: 509 - Karma: 72
haha okay, good analogy
Dec 3 2010 9:13AM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
I shot a concert the other night at 1600 on a 50 1.4 on a 7D, and I was really surprised by how little grain there was, even uncompressed.  I probably wouldn't shoot that way for a commercial video, but it can be done!
Dec 3 2010 9:57AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
i think you have two apparent options if you're planning on keeping the contract -

first one is spend as long as you can reading the manual, playing with your camera, and coming up with a concept for filming that will work as a promotional video, then try to film it well enough to get that across. skip classes to work hard on it.

The other option I see is that your concept could be people at a bar handing off the camera, taking pictures, etc. Therefore the concept makes up for your lack of knowledge and skill.

That's a stretch, but seriously dude - if you don't know how to use your gear to make a worthwhile commercial, I don't know why you accepted the job. It's worse to be hired to do something and then either make the client pay for a bad product or have to give up your contract than just saying "no" to begin with.

either way, good luck.
Dec 3 2010 12:12PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
This is why it's getting tougher and tougher to have smaller clients shell out more for a professional to do the work. Not to knock you, but you're asking for advice on NS for a paying job. Just something to think about.

I'd take Twoods advice and go for a more hands off approach. If you don't have much camera/production knowledge, come up with an idea that's creative that involves less production. Maybe incorporate a flip cam or something, go pros? a night from the eyes of a bar goer maybe? Otherwise, if you aren't comfortable with the t2i you may end up with a half assed promo. Not really a camera you can just point and shoot with. Good luck.
Dec 3 2010 12:51PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
sick idea, i would also recommend incorporating something like this
Dec 3 2010 1:19PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
If you don't know how to use your DSLR, why don't you film the thing on a camera you DO know how to use?

Also, no offense, but I don't know how you're even going to pull this off. Lighting mechanics are a beast to tackle in itself, and you don't even understand the most basic aspects of your camera. I can tell you right now, that unless the bar has a ton of windows and you're working in direct sunlight, it isn't going to work. Even then, you would STILL need lights or reflectors of some sort. Right now it sounds like you should either be working on that camera that you are apparently knowledgable at using, or subcontract the work out to somebody who actually knows what they're doing.
Please please don't be that guy who fucks over experienced videographers by charging less for some amateur video with no supplemental lighting and pointlessly shallow DOF.
Dec 3 2010 2:47PM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,089
it's only going to get worse. That's why I'm always harping about producer skills being more important than camera skills. Even 5-10 years ago before all this pro level equipment was affordable camera ops wern't making very much money, maybe 40k a year if you worked for a tv station or something. Making the phone calls and doing the legwork of setting up gigs is far more important than delivering a nice product, (and you get paid more than twice as much, even tho it sucks and is not as fun to make a deal vs. hit record) I bet the video will come out alright, not perfect, under lit, soft focus (like every dslr video). But the important thing is you're getting paid and can use it to build your portfolio and move onto other clients.


So OP, my main tip would be to cash the check ASAP, and in the contract outline exactly how much work they are paying for in hours. Or you will be making a thousand changes later for free. Oh, and for the love of god use a tripod. Also don't let them pressure you into using copyrighted music, you will get thrown under the bus if the record label comes knocking.
Dec 3 2010 3:57PM
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