Tracking shots are an essential tool for all filmmakers; they allow you to immerse your audience in the film by moving with the action. This short guide will give you an idea of how to effectively implement this type of shot.

Wheels in Motion

How the camera moves is a fundamental element of any type of filmmaking but is highlighted in the making of feature films, as camera movement is a way of adding energy and maintaining the flow and pace of a film.

The majority of camera movements may be almost unnoticeable as they primarily reflect the small movements made by the actors on screen. However, when characters move or travel you will have to move the actual position of the camera to allow the audience to follow them.

This is the tracking shot and is often achieved in video production by using a slider, track or dolly to smoothly move the camera to various positions.

Blocking

When blocking the actors in a scene the camera operator rehearses the majority of tracking shots that require the use of a film dolly well in advance. The reasoning behind this is that if done in the ‘spur of the moment’ during a shoot without any prior planning a dolly motion will not remain fluid and operators will usually use a track to keep the camera movement smooth.

The trick to most feature filmmaking is to lose the audience in the film. To fully achieve this they need to be unaware of the camera’s movement and so the use of a track is useful to help keep the subjects in focus and to prevent any shaky motion, providing instead a smooth, sweeping movement that follows the action but does not draw attention from it.

To achieve this effect you will need to start thinking of the camera as another actor in the scene and consider how it reacts in relation to the other elements.

The key here is to rehearse the tracking shots several times to ensure that you capture everything that you need to in the frame whilst meeting the technical requirements of the shot.

Point-of-View

Whilst rehearsing the tracking shot you will also need to consider the perspective of the camera in connection to the characters in the scene.

You can position the camera to follow actors from behind, to lead in front as they walk towards the camera, to follow them from the side as they walk or any other position that you can think of.

These individual positions give the audience of each scene a different perspective and can be used to make them empathise with or see things from a certain characters point of view.

Different shots have various requirements to achieve and this is something that you need to keep in mind when planning the camera movements in the scene. For example, side tracking shots are primarily used to include a greater amount of environment or multiple characters within the frame and because of this they usually require the use of a large production area.

Into Position

Whilst filming a tracking shot, one favoured option is the use of a wide-angle which will enable you to remain close to the actors whilst reducing the noticeable movement of the camera.

Another key reason behind rehearsing tracking shots is to ensure that the camera operator or assistant is pulling focus correctly; this can be marked out along the track or filming path to ensure that no mistakes are made during the shoot and to allow for easier re-takes.

If you are unable to use a dolly or a track, using a tripod with a hydraulic head is a favoured option, allowing for smooth motion in the camera that is best suited to smaller movements focused on a character. The ability to remain fluid throughout shooting will make the difference when creating a flawless tracking shot.

Where to Buy

Sliders are a great way to achieve tracking shots and come in a variety of sizes to suit the length of shot that you require.

When searching for sliders one of the top results are Konova sliders. These sliders are versatile, sturdy, affordable and a great choice for both amateur and professional filmmakers. They were specifically designed with DSLR filmmaking in mind but these sliders can support much greater loads. Follow this link to find more information about the
Konova
Sliders.

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This the the very talented Rosalee O’connell performing her newest song, “Save Your Breath”. The music video took just under an hour to prepare and shoot (a new record) and Rosalee’s voice was amazing.

We shot the music video as part of a series of videos called “Young Musos”.

Let us know your thoughts on her performance and the music video itself.

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are usually able to film, record audio and edit all under one roof. This may help other companies or businesses that need an advert, for example, to be created for them as it means they only have to use one company to bring about the tasks they need completed such as audio recording and editing. This would make it easier as it would mean that they could get a direct cost for the whole job and they wouldn’t have to keep searching for other reliable places to do other tasks they needed completed.

Also having one company do the whole job for you can be beneficial as it means that there will not, unless asked for, have to be any transfer of footage or audio back to a company before the final piece is created. This would save a lot of time as it means it can go straight onto a drive to be edited and then sent across to the client as soon as it is finished.

Furthermore, having it all produced by one company is beneficial as it also allows you to build a work relationship with the people working on the task. It is crucial you can trust the people producing your work as you want to feel reassured that it is going to be produced to a high standard. More over, it can also work the other way round, the company producing the audio and film want to make sure you are happy with it and they can do this by getting to know you more and finding out what you want and aspect from the overall task.

However, there can be some downsides to using a small audio/video production company. Sometimes, depending on what audio/visual company you use, there could be someone working there who only specialises in audio or film but is able to half do the other. This can lead to the job not being done properly and not being the quality you expected.

Fortunately, Small video/audio production companies usually have someone in charge that can, or can hire someone who can, complete the task to a very high standard, insuring that you get value for money. If you would like to enquire about using NoStairway Media you can contact us here at www.nostairway.com or you can tweet or facedbook us, @nostairway on twitter and Nostairway Media on facebook.

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HD DSLR cameras in Video Production- How popular are they?

The initial HD DSLRs were never intended to be used primarily for video and were not popular for that reason. It wasn’t until Canon introduced it’s 5D Mark II  and 7D models that HD DSLR video recording really took off and started to turn heads. Canon eventually provided manual control of video, but it wasn’t until early 2010 that they released manual audio controls. Ever since then, the 5D has found its way onto film and TV sets and it has influenced many people involved in media production to invest in one. Canon has now brought HD video to the majority of its DSLR line. More and more manufactures are now also providing HD video on their DSLRs. In fact, HD video is becoming a standard in DSLRs and this means that DSLRs are being used more often in Video Production.

Manual Focus

Most DSLRs need you to manually focus them. Even DSLRs that offer automatic, continuous focus during video recording tend not to be the best. However, having a camera you can manually focus is not at all that bad, you just need to know the basics about the camera,different lenses and how you focus a camera.

One of the best lenses for Video Production is the SMC Super Takumar 50mm lens. The Takumar 50mm F1.4 is a fast normal lens produced in two “Super” versions as well as two versions with Super-Multi-Coating.
The first “Super” version (introduced in 1964) has 8 lens elements (listed separately). All subsequent versions have 7 elements. The 7 element Takumars have the infra-red focusing mark to the left of the numeral ’4′ on the DOF scale. The 8 element version has the mark to the right. This lens is good because once focused, the quality of the shot is very high.

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Music Production

Music Production is the process of producing a piece of music for an advert or for an artist’s e.p./album/single, etc. If you are recoding a song with lyrics, a record producer would normally manage it. This may include him/her being critical, choosing instruments to use in the piece and contributing to song arrangements. The process of producing an artist’s new song normally entails planning, writing lyrics or hiring a lyricist, writing the score for the accompaniment, choosing the instruments that you wish to be included, recording the piece and editing it. This process can be very long as displayed by some popular artists, it can take them a year if not more to release a finalised album.
If you want to produce your own good quality music you are best putting your money into recording it at a studio as this way you are getting a guaranteed good quality piece of music. The importance of quality has defiantly been over looked by many who are trying to record their music on webcams or phones and although some cannot afford to record in studios there are sometimes competitions for them to on twitter. (@nostairway) However if you can afford it or can save up to afford it, it is very worthwhile.

What is it like for an artist recording audio in the studio?

Recording music can sometimes be quite stressful for an artist as they are determined to get it right in just a few recordings. On the other hand, it can also be an enjoyable experience and very fulfilling when the final record is produced. In my opinion, when I recorded at nostairway I enjoyed it a lot as it was far more professional than doing a recording in your bedroom and the final piece was much better quality than that of the ones I had recorded previously on my webcam.

Apart from music and voice over, what other types of audio recording are there?

Another common one is ADR or Audio Dialogue Replacement which is another type of audio recording  similar to that of voice over. It can also be called by some ‘Dubbing.’ Dubbing is a post-production process used in filmmaking and video production, in which vocal recording occurs subsequent to the original recording stage. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers speaking another language, this is particularly seen in many adverts as it is cheaper than re-recording another advert. Dubbing is also used in animation, the voice is recorded by an actor/actress and the animation is made to look like it is saying the word or phrase the actor records from that particular moment.

Another type of audio is sound effects; these may be  recorded for a production at a theatre, a film, an advert, a radio programme, anything that involves audio. Sound effects  vary for the situation and are most popular nowadays in theatre productions such as pantomimes.

If you wish to inquire about audio production and recording your own audio, contact us here at nostairway media: http://www.nostairway.com/contact

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What Can You Do To Increase Your Chances Of Being Employed In The Film Industry?

Start from the bottom, do not expect to be going straight into the biggest production. Take anything you can get, even if it is a small production or an independent film, having the chance to be involved in a film is great and allows you to not only increase your experience and knowledge of the industry whilst putting what you already knew into practise but to build up your portfolio and make you more employable.

Make a showreel of your previous work and send it to as many companies as possible, make sure you include your best work and don’t make it too long as you want to keep your potential employees interested. Take a look at our previous blog for more information on Showreels: Showreels, Are they important?

If you are a director or part of the backstage crew needed for film, try getting an apprenticeship or internship with someone that is in your sector of the film industry. Although this is normally unpaid work, it again, helps you build up your portfolio which will increase your employability chances. If you would like more tips take a look at this clip: 

Watch this video on YouTube.

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Why should I have a Corporate Video for my company?

A Corporate video allows your target market to connect with your company. It is very valuable to have a good relationship with a perspective customer as it allows them to feel satisfied and secure when using your company/corporation. The key benefit however is that having a Corporate Video helps with your SEO.  SEO stands for Search engine optimization which is the process that affects where your companies website is visible on Google. In general, the earlier on the search results page your company appears, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine’s users. This means that SEO heightens the potential for more new customers.

Why is it important for a Corporate Video to look professional?

Firstly, if you ask one of your employees to film a corporate video on their phone it is not going to be the best quality and you must expect that this will divert potential customers away from your service/business; not only will the picture be bad quality but also something that many people forget is important, the sound. Many people underestimate the importance of sound quality nowadays. As long as the picture quality is high, many over-look that the sound is also affecting the overall video and chance of sale. If you were watching a video that was trying to persuade you to trust their company but couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying, would you put your trust in them?

Having a Video produced professionally allows all these problems to be avoided. Having a Corporate Video that is sharp and polished reflects your company well. Hiring a company to produce a Corporate Video is a great investment as it shows your company is reliable and has professionalism. Take a look at this clip of an example of a good Corporate Video ↓

If you would like to enquire about producing a Corporate Video take a look at this website:‘Corporate Video Producer’

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Also known as Audio Branding, a Sonic Logo  is the use of sound to reinforce a brands identity. Sonic branding is vastly becoming a vehicle for conveying a memorable message to targeted consumers. Logos have been key to corporate branding for many years; we all recognise the blue Facebook rectangle without reading the white title. Now that visiting a web site has become more of an interactive experience, sonic branding is playing an essential part of any corporate identity. Sonic Logos usually consist of a short series of notes or a musical piece that is played beside the visual logo to strengthen their memorability. Research shows that a campaign backed up with a sonic logo is far more effective than just having a visual logo on the page. It’s almost impossible not to mention Intel ,for instance, when hearing the five note sonic logo that goes with every ad.

Why have a Sonic Logo?

Having a Sonic Logo increases the chances of your brand being memorable. It adds another form of identity to your company and the more ways potential customers can identify your brand, the more likely they are to remember you when they need to purchase something or use a service your company offers.

What examples are there of companies that use Sound Branding?

There are millions of different audio brands all over the world. You may not realise it but every day you are almost guaranteed to hear a type of sound branding. A few examples of companies that have Sonic Logos would be; Direct Line, LG, Nokia, T-Mobile, McDonalds and Phillips. Take a look at this clip put together about  ‘Sound Branding.’

If you are interested in using sound branding for your company/brand then why don’t you visit a site dedicated to producing them? soniclogo.com

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A showreel, or a reel, is a short videotape containing examples of your work for showing to potential employers. Many different people such as actors, voice over actors, directors and costume designers have showreels to display their work to a potential employer.

Why are they so important?

With so many people trying for the same job it is becoming increasingly harder to be employed, especially in industries such as the performing arts. Having a showreel shows off your talent by demonstrating the previous work you have done and the skills you have; having a professional showreel gives you an advantage when it comes to getting the job.

How do I make a good Showreel?

If you really want to impress your potential employers, having a showreel created by a Professional company is key. A good showreel would include, as I said before, a variety of clips from your best pieces of work, a relevancy to the job you are applying to, yourself (subject to job) and your name. Your showreel should also not be too long, you want to be able to keep the potential employer interested throughout. It is not necessary, if you have carried out many jobs, to include every single one as this should be displayed on your CV anyway, but displaying your best work is a good way to impress the employer. An example of a good reel is Nostairway’s- Zara Boland’s Showreel as it features all the aspects of a professional reel. This reel was created here at Nostairway Media. Other examples include the Web Video Reel and also Lyn Harvey

For more information on producing the perfect showreel, take a look at How to – Blog. This blog goes into more detail about producing Showreels and may help you if you are considering making one.

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is one of the most interesting areas of media because there is a lot to learn when it comes to doing Voice Overs.

The only experience I have had with Voice Over Production was when I was at school producing a scripted Voice Over for an advert, and even that was quite challenging, so I am looking forward to seeing how a professional Voice Over is produced at No Stairway Media. Although it may seem quite a basic career, many, including me, have underestimated the work that goes into producing a Voice Over in a Studio. I used to think that it was quite an easy task to complete but hearing about Voice Over Production today has changed my mind completely. Many people are commonly misguided that Voice Over is an easy way into the media career, unfortunately, I have already learnt that this is not true. The few people that are successful in this career have not started in Voice Over Studios, many were previously journalists, actors or media specialists who have knowledge in this particular field. For more information and tips check out the last blog Voice Over Production.

If you would also like information on this career from a professional actor then I would recommend reading this page, http://education-portal.com/articles/Professional_Voice-Over_Actor_Career_Information_and_Requirements.html it explains the requirements for this career from an actors point of view.

I am really looking forward to seeing exactly what goes on into producing a Voice Over in a Voice Over Studio regarding the technology used and the production process. As an outsider to this division of the media, it will be interesting to see the behind the scenes work that goes into making a voice over and how long it takes to record a Voice Over for a single advert. Often, you would not get the chance to experience all the work that is put into producing a Voice Over and to be given the chance is a way for me to learn more about the career path I want to take after I leave school next year.

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