HOW TO OPERATE A FILMING CAMERA

Before filming, the first thing we need to do is choose the location to install the camera.

Since we chose the traditional broadcast TV format, I chose the camera placement according to the original The 180-degree rule. According to Jourdan Aldredge (2021), I drew an imaginary line between my two speakers and placed the two cameras on the same side of this 180 degree line. I adjusted one camera for a wide angle and one medium shot of my guest speaker.

After completing the recording, I continued to apply the 180-degree rule, I adjusted the camera to shoot a few close-ups of the lead presenter for the purpose of continuous cropping to fool viewers of the video shot with 3 cameras.

After choosing the camera position, I proceed to set up the parameters in the camera. The first step is to check the battery and SD card and then proceed to delete all data in the memory to avoid running out of battery, running out of memory capacity midway through the recording process.

Then I proceeded to set up the basic parameters for filming such as 1920x1080 frame, frame rate: 25 frames/second, output type: MOV.

Then I proceed to adjust parameters such as white balance, gain and frame alignment. I applied the rule of third adjust the camera frame.

Then I proceed to focus. To adjust the focus, I switched to assist mode and zoomed in on the subject in focus. Adjust the ring until green lines appear on the object, then stop.

I then used the Zebra Pattern to check for areas of glare on the subject's face, avoiding the appearance of blind spots.

After completing the camera setup, I set up the mic. I used 1 camera to record main audio and 1 camera to record backgroud sound for social media ver. Because there were two people talking, I set up two mics and recorded at the same camera to control the quality at the same time.

Finally, we pressed record at once to get started.

Reference:

1. Lancaster, K. (2018). DSLR Cinema, A beginner’s guide to filmmaking on a budget. 3rd Edition. London. Routledge.

2. Aldredge, J., 2021. Understanding the 180-degree rule in film | Vimeo blog. [online] Vimeo Blog. Available at: <https://vimeo.com/blog/post/180-degree-rule-explained/> [Accessed 8 July 2022].