My own personal camera is the Canon 60D EOS DSLR. I've owned this camera for 4 years and love shooting on it. The colour quality is exactly what I look for, nice vibrant colours which Canon is known for but I've even managed to remove this in post-production on projects when it's been required. However, the issue with this camera is that it isn't full frame and so the quality of the image is reduced compared to the Canon Full Frame DSLR's such as the 5D or 6D. As I wanted to test as many cameras as possible and I needed to film 2 interviews anyway I took this as an ideal opportunity. I was brought on by Derek Boyes to film a behind the scenes for his short film Last Night and chose to film it all (minus one interview) on my 60D. The main interview which I shot with Jemma as practice as DOP and Director was with Natasha Rose Mills who was the leading character in the film. Myself and Jemma traveled over to Milton Keynes to meet Natasha and interviewed her, the main aim for this was to ask Natasha about the film, her experience and her character in the film. With the filming I learnt very quickly that I can't change shot in camera with the matt box connected to the rig as it restricts the lens zooming forward more, as well I took one of my LED lights and a diffuser for additional lighting. Since I wasn't able to recce Natasha's house prior to the shoot, I had to quickly recce and evaluate the location for issues and the best place to film. Annoyingly, there wasn't a location relevant to the film (as it was all filmed in a forest) so we chose to go with a setting that was more appealing than relevant and went with Natasha's living room.
One of the camera options that I've got for the documentary is the Sony PMW-EX1R XDCAM EX (Sony EX for short). These are the standard cameras for TV Production and we've been using them since our first year of University. I've worked with these cameras many times before and I'm confident with them. While testing the camera there were 3 main things I needed from it:
- Colourful and high quality footage
- Useable with my Rig
- Able to change the look for interviews (E.g. Zoom in and blur background)
When testing, I first started by trying to connect the camera to my rig. This caused issues straight away, first of all the matt box couldn't be connected to the rig without losing the access to the focus and zoom ring, although the camera does come with it's own matt box connected to the camera so this wasn't a complete put off by the camera.
I connected the rest of the rig together and then found that with the cage around the camera (added for extra support and to add on a external screen and microphone) and found that I couldn't connect the follow focus properly or use the camera LCD screen with the braces around the rig. All this together took me well over an hour to set up and ideally I wanted this to only take 10-15 minutes at most so that set up could be nice and easy for the shoot.
Although I found that the camera doesn't work with the rig, there is a Fig-rig available through the Tech Store for me to use instead so I went on to test the operating and quality of the footage with this camera:
As you can see from the footage, the colour quality isn't as colourful as what I would like, although this could be fixed in post I'm aiming to have a camera which can get footage that requires very little grading in terms of colour. Also, I can't achieve the blurred background that I want for the interviews and also the footage does become rather grainy, after speaking to Fergus (technical tutor) he explained that the cameras are over 8 years old so the sensors have been used over and over every year so they are becoming worn out. However it is possible to change this and get high quality footage out of them. However, they aren't good in Low light conditions and this will become an issue as I'll be filming the performance and will require a camera which works well in low light.
One camera that I have always been interested to use is the Black Magic Mini Ursa. A High quality film camera which I've seen being used of highly professional commercials and films. I first saw this camera through the YouTube channel Film Riot and loved the way it operated, it's excellent for handheld however, it does look like a VERY professional camera and the most complex camera I've used myself would be the Panasonic DVX200. This camera is for very expereinced professionals from what I could tell from the review:
Although Film Riot give a very detailed review and even show the quality of the footage, I wanted to look into this camera myself and luckily Sam Creamer owns this camera and gave me a quick run through of the camera and advice with operating it.
Sam explained that the camera is amazing for footage, you can film in Video, Film and High end Film which all change the quality. He explained he usually shoots on Film option as Video isn't great and more for BTS footage if anything and the High end Film option is for in you're planning on doing a lot of grading in post-production. Sam's biggest advice to me was NOT to go handheld with the camera, after picking it up I found it's incredibly heavy and not something you could do without a rig. Also, my own rig wouldn't be able to handle this as it's built for DSLR cameras so I could need to rent another rig and possibly even an Easy-Rig to help operating due to the weight.
Sam went through the different codex the camera offers and options and most of which I hadn't heard off. Sam explained that the camera is complicated to operate and wouldn't advice me using this as it's a camera for experienced DOP's which have been working with high end cameras for many years. He told me "It's very unforgiving if you make a mistake" so if you're not aware of what you're doing with this camera then it can cause serious issues on the shoot and ruin the footage altogether.
Sam Creamer is one of our Tutors at TV Production. Sam has already shot 2 Feature Films and a number of Documentaries through the course with my tutor Helen Curston. I've been fortunate to work with Sam with 'The Making of Red and the Kingdom of Sound' which he was the DOP for and he's just recently completed 'Untold Stories: A History of Black People in Kent'.
Speaking to Sam, I asked for advice on being a DOP for a documentary and how he plans out the visuals, what he uses and how he decides on the visuals. He explained that he doesn't do any paperwork such as storyboards or shot lists, he will go off the script and breakdown the shots he needs from there and work with the Director to ensure he's getting the correct shots and it all works with the story.
Sam explained that when shooting an interview, he'll often shoot with one camera. Although many people will tell people to shoot with two to get the coverage, he explained that you can get the different coverage and shot variety with one camera simply by using the time in between the questions being asked to either change the shot by zooming in/out. However, Sam also explained that listening to the questions is the way to decide when to change shot and what shot to go to. If it's a personal question and the answer could be deep and meaningful, zoom in and get closer to the interviewee, if it's a question about the story or something which could have cutaways in then go to a wide or stay on the shot.
Sam said that if the question is very personal, for example with Tanya and our documentary, when she's asked about her being bullied, Sam suggested that's a good time to ask to cut filming and change lens's, not only to get a different look (for example with a Prime lens) but also it gives the interviewee a few more minutes to think through their answers and could lead to a better answer. This is if I have a camera with interchangeable lens's however.
Above is my groups pit for our project. Each of us split our roles into our own slides to explain our ideas for the project. My slides are:
- Style
- Interview filming
- Tone
- Kit Choice
Style
Through my research into documentaries I found that interview led are better for observational. Jemma wants the documentary interview led which helps me a lot when deciding the style of filming. From watching Raise by Queers and Jim & Andy The Great Beyond I really liked the idea of the handheld footage over stabilised footage for the documentary, I feel it gives more of a observational and also fits better with the documentary. Also from watching RuPaul's Drag Race and my own experience with filming a Drag Queen performance with Steal the Style I know that I'd want to film the performance with Tanya as if it was a music video but this will require more research as I'm still not 100% satisfied on this idea and really need to plan it out more.
Finally I added in that I want to do experemental sequences and the idea here is that since we're following Tanya on this journey and it's so new and different I want to do some different filming here to go with this different story, what I'll do yet though I'm unsure.
Interview Filming
We have 3 different interviews, main one being our Drag Queen Tanya (Miss Zodie) who will have classic interview styles but a mixture of interviews, one in Drag and then going with the style from RuPaul's Drag Race of out of Drag, this being to reveal Tanya as a female Drag Queen. As well I want the actuality style footage interviews we see in Raised by Queers this is all to tell the story of Tanya. With our contributors from the Straight community, we're expecting them to have a negative opinion of Tanya or a different opinion so I think the straight angle, locked off interview I found in Jim & Andy and Dreams of a Life makes them stick out and would benefit the documentary in being different but working with the theme as well.
Although a reality entertainment show, RuPaul's Drag Race is one of the biggest shows and so well known for Drag Queens. Having done it's tenth season of Drag Race and with RuPaul also creating Drag-Con, RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars as well as growing in fame and bringing Drag to mainstream media and recognised as a true talent and career. Drag Race currently has all 10 seasons on the streaming service Netflix and the queens who have been on the show (even if they didn't win Drag Race) have ended up touring around the USA and even across to the UK and around Europe.
I thought that Drag Race would be ideal to watch for interviews and performance with Drag Queens. As the programme follows 14 Drag Queens from the USA compete against each other each week (episodes are separated weekly) to win $100,000 and become the next Drag Queen superstar, this is done through a series of challenges which is judged by the Host and Creator RuPaul but also by 3/4 other judges. There are always 2 challenges with each show, a mini challenge at the beginning and then a big challenge at the end. With each week you have a winner of the week and then you have 2 of the weakest Queens who then have to do a lip sync battle to avoid elimination. The loser leaves the show and this continues till the final.
With RuPaul's Drag Race, I'm looking more into the interview styles and performance filming as the way actuality is filmed throughout this programme is similar to what I've already research with previous documentaries.
With my role as DOP, the choice of kit is hugely important for the look and tone of the documentary. Many students in my position would simply go for the kit offered to them at their University but I want to look through all my options of cameras I've both used and am aware of.
Canon 60D EOS DSLR
My own personal camera, the Canon 60D is a handy little DSLR which shoots in full HD, 1080p by 1920p. It takes EF lens's and shoots both videos and photos, unfortunately it is a cropped frame DSLR so not as good quality as the Canon 5D/6D (Canon's full frame DSLRs). It's light weight and easy to operate and change between photo and video options. However, with it being a cropped frame this doesn't allow a lot of light into the sensor and it does lower the quality of the image slightly. Below are two versions of the footage, one being raw and the other being graded.
RAW:
Above is my summer project from the beginning of the course. I filmed the entire project on my own 60D, I didn't grade the project as I didn't know how to do so 3 years ago. But you can see it has a nice colour to it as Canon is known for its colour quality.
Graded:
Above is a short film I helped film, all done with a Canon 60D but with graded footage. As it can be seen, the skin tones aren't as natural, more pink and red due to the low quality of the image. Although this a good camera, I don't believe it would be a good option for the documentary.
Canon 5D EOS Mark 4
The Canon 5D Mark 4 is the latest model of the 5D Range of DSLRs made by Canon. This is their most expensive and professional Full Frame DSLR. Allowing the user to shoot video timelapse, 4K Footage, high quality photos and can shoot 100fps is HD 1080x1920. This camera also offers exceptional auto focus through the touch screen lcd screen, simply click the area to stay in focus and the camera will track the movement and keep in focus.
The quality of the cameras raw footage is very high quality. Footage below can show this;
RAW:
This footage is RAW and already it looks 100% better. The colour quality of the camera is also really warm and vibrant as well as being high quality. What's also good about the camera is that it films in 4K which allows the editor to punch into the footage and change the framing of an interview (for example) and not lose the quality of the image. I learnt this from working on a third yar project last year called forever HOME where we filmed on this camera.
Graded:
The high quality footage with simple grading adds to the quality and really brings out amazing footage. Also being a small DSLR it's easy to operate handheld. The biggest issue with this camera is the audio isn't amazing on it and if you require a microphone it can't be via XLR cable as it doesn't have that option on the camera. So, audio needs to be recorded separately.
Sony A7S Mark ii
This small but high quality camera is one I've enjoyed using for a very long time. Although a Sony E Mount you are able to get an adapter for Canon EF Mount Lens's which I've often done as I only have Canon lens's. This camera is also very good in low light situations and comes out with excellent footage. The Sony A7S ii also shoots 4K and high shutter speeds like the Canon 5D Mark 4 but the difference is that the Sony has the option of 'Uncompressed' footage where as the Canon does not.
RAW:
Above is the RAW footage from the Sony camera. Although it can come out in Slog (allowing more work in grading) it can be turned off but often still has a rather grey and cold look. As already explained this can be fixed. As we can see from the graded footage below:
Graded:
As you can see, grading can change the milky V-Log footage you get and lets you bring out the colours and the detail more in the footage. However, it's not as warm as the Canon footage and still looks a little cold but does look incredible with the quality.
Panasonic DVX200
Newest cameras available through the Tech Store at TV Production, the camera allows high frame rate, 4K Recording with V-Log and also a built in stabilizer which is built into the camera. I've used this camera a good amount through my second year, it's a really easy camera to get to terms with and has all the settings on the body. You cannot change the lens however the zoom is excellent for long shots as well as the depth of field is really nice (not as good as a prime lens however). Below is a short film I shot on the camera:
This footage is slightly graded, it's got a really nice colour, the grade allows us to bring out the colour. It's nice to operate and easy to set up and the quality is excellent.
Canon C300
The Canon C Range are amazing cameras which Canon has released. The Canon C300 is a high quality film camera which films in 4K, C-Log, high frame rate and also has XLR input so that a shotgun microphone or connect a radio microphone. This camera has been used by many different companies and is the preferred camera for the highly popular film company Film Riot as well as many companies who shoot festival and event videography. Below is the raw footage from the camera:
The footage in the video is both with C-Log but you can still see some nice colours in it. Mixed with grading you can really bring out the colours more and this is something I really want with the footage, as the LGBT Community uses rainbows in their logos and parades. So nice bring colourful footage is what I want from the footage to mix in with the theme of the documentary.
My own personal camera is the Canon 60D EOS DSLR. I've owned this camera for 4 years and love shooting on it. The colour quality is exactly what I look for, nice vibrant colours which Canon is known for but I've even managed to remove this in post-production on projects when it's been required. However, the issue with this camera is that it isn't full frame and so the quality of the image is reduced compared to the Canon Full Frame DSLR's such as the 5D or 6D.
As I wanted to test as many cameras as possible and I needed to film 2 interviews anyway I took this as an ideal opportunity. I was brought on by Derek Boyes to film a behind the scenes for his short film Last Night and chose to film it all (minus one interview) on my 60D. The main interview which I shot with Jemma as practice as DOP and Director was with Natasha Rose Mills who was the leading character in the film. 
Myself and Jemma traveled over to Milton Keynes to meet Natasha and interviewed her, the main aim for this was to ask Natasha about the film, her experience and her character in the film. With the filming I learnt very quickly that I can't change shot in camera with the matt box connected to the rig as it restricts the lens zooming forward more, as well I took one of my LED lights and a diffuser for additional lighting. Since I wasn't able to recce Natasha's house prior to the shoot, I had to quickly recce and evaluate the location for issues and the best place to film. Annoyingly, there wasn't a location relevant to the film (as it was all filmed in a forest) so we chose to go with a setting that was more appealing than relevant and went with Natasha's living room.
