Zahi Farah

Hello.

I know, pretty raw question. I'm a filmmaking student (wow, lucky me :P) and I would like to start gathering some knowledge about cameras. Where should I go? Like, would you advise me to stick around on these forums or would you say they're too advanced for me?

Let me explain myself better (maybe that'll help), I don't even know which brands are good or why they're good. I don't know the difference between ARRI Film & AATON Film. I have no clue whatsoever.

So assume I have 0 knowledge but I'm willing to educate myself. Where do I start? With what?

I have some knowledge about photography, I know about lenses and how they work and such. But I wouldn't call myself a professional, at best a amateur.

I would really appreciate your opinions as to how I should start learning about this. Consider me a blank book that I need to fill, it needs to be logical and efficient. I will handle the self-preservation required in order to keep up with technology as it advances.

Thank you for your time, I hope this makes sense.

Peace.

I think he's pointing out that the UK film & TV industry is heavily oversubscribed in people from film schools & media courses wanting to work in it.

Oh, well that's okay I suppose. I don't "have" to work in the UK. I can try getting work somewhere else...

Still wondering abt the school and all though, which was kind of the main question.

Peace.

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Why are you doing that?

Worry less about the course, and more how you're going to apply it once you've done it.

P

I'm sorry, I don't quite get your point.

Can you elaborate please? Thx.

Hey guys,

I'm going to MFS in September for a BA in Practical Filmmaking, could you gentlemen (and ladies) tell me what you think of it or have heard about it? Any information would really be appreciated at this point.

So far it seems really good and its exactly what I was looking for, in theory, but of course there's no way to be sure and at the end of the day, its what you make of the place, not what it does for you. So if your in the industry could u tell me what you think of a student that came out of MFS? If you've been there can u tell me what its like? Have you ever heard abt it through someone? Anything really :)

Also, I'm still confused whereas I'm going to chose practical filmmaking modules or cinematography ones; advice is welcomed!

Thank you for ur time,

ZF.

PS: This is their website , and that's the degree I'm aiming for. Peace.

Zooming is no less amateurish than using a dolly or crane. In the wrong hands, any tool becomes less effective.

 

Kubrick wasn't an exception by using zooms unless you look at the reserved manner in which he used them. Many directors used the zoom out of financial necessity or for convenience. Using a zoom in lieu of physically moving the position of the camera has gone out of style, and as a result isolated zooms can feel dated. An example of a modern director using zoom for a specific purpose would be the zoom/dolly shot in 'Goodfellas' at the end of the diner scene with Deniro and Liotta. It was so effective that other directors jumped on it, making it a bit of a visual cliche.

 

In decades past, there was a lot of great zoom work. Nicholas Roeg ('Walkabout') embraced the zoom in a very expressive way. Sven Nykvist did some beautiful work with zooms (see Bergman's 'Cries and Whispers'), following emotion in a very precise and graceful manner. 'Easy Rider' has some complicated zoom work, zooming in and pulling focus onto moving motorcycles from another moving vehicle.

Ah! Thanks for the info mate :)

Kubrick used the zoom as did directors during the 1960s and 70s. It has gone out fashion (it was the shallow DOF of that period), but it's still there today, often buried within the camera moves and the action, so that it's not obvious. Its use is extremely common in television and is used on many sports programmes.

 

It can still be a very effective if used with thought and care. The problem can be overuse or inappropriate use.

Thank you.

Hi guys,

I know the question might sound silly to 99% of you but its a bit of a mystery to me.

I heard that zooming-in is a very amateur thing to do, apparently only a few directors have done so in very specific situations (I think Hitchcock?). So I was wondering, do you ever zoom-in/out instead of using a dolly? And if so, why?

Thank you.