Recently, we released a new video for Real Turf Solutions, a landscaping company that has us do all of their production work. In this video, titled Powering through Winter, there was a short shot with a very unique look. We have had some people ask how we achieved the effect which was captured 100% in-camera. We'd love to say that it was a well planed cinematography technique, but we'd be lying. In truth, it was, as many great shot are, created purely by chance. Now that we have discovered this effect though, we will be looking for new ways to use it in future productions. So what is this effect and how did we do it? We'll show you that in this article.

A drone can give you unique and epic shots for your projects. However there are times when using a drone just isn't possible or practical. The area you are filming in might have laws preventing you from using a drone. Other places, such as dense woods might make it impossible to fly a drone safely. Then there are events with large crowds where flying a drone presents safety and even legal issues. If you are filming near airports, you will likely be in a no-fly zone for drones. So how can you get smooth overhead shots in these situations? Today we'll look at an alternative to drones which can come in very handy on your projects.

The 15mm rail camera rigs are sometimes described as "Barbie for filmmakers." A rig allows you to add a wide range of equipment to enhance your camera's functionality and make it easier to capture amazing shots. It provides a more stable platform for filming than can be achieved just by holding the camera directly in your hands, but it still allows some motion which is great for making more intense, dramatic action shots. It gives you a handheld look without excessive jittering and shaking that would distract the audience. When you want to be completely stable, a rig can easily be mounted to a tripod or other support. We have been using a camera rig for years in many of our productions, and even though we now have motorized gimbals and steadicam systems, we still find our shoulder mounted camera rig very useful in many situations, such as shooting exciting action shots. It also provides a great deal of extra versatility that other supports can't. A rig is, in our opinion, the best support platform to start out with using, and one you will continue to find use for throughout your production career. We won't cover every accessory you can mount on a rig, but lets look at some key elements of a camera rig that you should remember as you build your own!

Never give up on your talents, you may find opportunities in the most unexpected places.

"Lawn Maintenance" and "Cinematic".....Those two things have nothing to do with each other right? I thought the same thing too when I went to work for a landscaping company, Real Turf Solutions, back in September 2018. In fact, I had hardly bothered mentioning my camera skills much, if any, when applying. Those would surely be useless in this new, labor-intensive job

Mixing and mastering music is a complicated art. There are many factors you have to take into account and pay attention to. One thing that can be easily overlooked is the fact that different speakers produce sound differently. The way a track sounds on the headphones or speakers in your studio may not be the way it sounds if you play it in your car.  

Landing a good, hard hit during fighting scenes can be difficult to pull off unless someone is willing to get hurt or you have access to experienced stage fighting actors. Staged punches, kicks, and other hits often look to be just that- staged. They may appear slow or might not connect with the target just right. Don't throw the towel in yet though! Here's a quick and easy trick to help you get those fight scenes knocked out! 

Versatile, high-quality, lightweight, reliable, rugged, affordable....for filmmakers, these are qualities which we would use to describe an ideal piece of filmmaking equipment. It's no surprise that DSLRs are a staple of the filmmaking community. While they are most common among indie filmmakers; it is not unheard of for a DSLR to be on-set in a major motion picture production. DSLRs fit most any skill-set when it comes to their operation. Beginners can use the basic features of a DSLR with sharp results, while experienced users can delve into the settings to produce stunning shots.

DSLRs can be outstanding filmmaking tools with the right skills and equipment to use with them. We're going to share some tips and tricks that can help you get more out of your DSLR camera! Most of this advice can be applied to all DSLRs!