Tips & Tricks for beginner film makers!

Hey guys, today I thought I'd do some research on the DSLR camera which I am using to film my thriller. Obviously, I NEED to know how to use the camera but I want to know how I can use this camera without making it obvious I am a beginner when it comes to film making so, I've been on youtube watching a range of videos about the camera and different effects, settings and ways to use it. I thought I'd link them because they are very handy for people like me!

 One of the first videos I came across was called 'How to achieve a film look' and I thought this sounded perfect and is perfect for what I am looking for. This covers the basic settings of the camera settings to a achieve a common style and some effective editing techniques. Obviously I can't learn everything in 1 day so this is just a few tips and tricks to get me started. I especially like the three way colour corrector part of this video; as my thriller will be filmed in the dark, I think this editing technique will be very useful if we want to change the lighting or make some shots more highlighted than others.


Another video which I was intrigued to watch was called 'Top 15 Mistakes Beginner Film Makers Make'. Not all of the points mentioned in this video relate to what I am doing however a couple of them were very interesting and are good tips to help me prevent wasting time in post production when I realise I have made a mistake. For example:

• Poor shot composition - I need to ensure there is no dead space in shots and use the rule of thirds when shooting to find balance and symmetry in my compositions.
• Depth is important in shots to build layers and makes them more dynamic and rich.
• Try not to include unnecessary insert shots if they don't add any tension or information. Only have insert close up shots on important areas and objects because by using a close up or insert shot you are telling your audience to pay close attention to it.