TOM VENESS

I have around £1500 English pounds to spend on a digital camera and seeking advice as to which camera people see as the best for the money. I don't want to go out and spend £3000 at the mo and want to work up to that standard. I have seen and used the Canon xm2 and really like it. Has anyone else used it and liked it? Can anyone reccomend as similar priced model that is good? Thank you

Thank you. It's a shame I was in New york last week and these would have probably been more avialable to me there, but I will try and hunt them down. Dont' worry about about too much information. I need more information as there is so much about cinematography and filmmaking to learn. So thank you for your time Tom

Do you know a website where you might be able to obtain some of her work. I live in England and can't seem to find anywhere

Thank you this is more what i was getting at. i've heard alot about Maya Deren looking forward to seeing some of her work

Thnak you for the help. Don't think i explained myself too well, but thank you for your time.

I'm training in cinematography at univeristy. Next year we have to make films either by ourselves or in groups of two or three. I'm very interested in telling stories visually and wondered if anyone had any ideas or examples of how this has been or could be done . I've seen "Nocturne" a short film by Lars Von Trier which i think succesfully does this, but wondered if anyone could help. Thank you

I am shooting a sequence between two dancers. I'm shooting in a black studio with a black curtain in the background and on the floor. I want create an effect where the light only shows minimal parts of the dancers bodies and the rest is predominantly in darkness/shadow. Does anyone know how you would create this affect? Where the position of the lights would be? We have are using pulsar lights and we can't have any lights on a rig only on stands. If you put the light to the side or behind the dancers Ive been told it gives them more of an edge light and if you edge them from both sides but add no front light you can achieve a semi silouhette, revealing figures and movements without revealing details of their faces and wardrobe. Where would the lights have to be positioned to achieve this? Also I am shooting the dance movement a seqeunce at a time. Shooting the whole scene with a master shot then using pick ups when necessary to mix it up. I want to design the light into the movement and been told to put the lights on a rig, but the studio has none. I had an idea to put the light on a dolly and move it around the dancers at a high speed. Would this create modeling and movement in the light? Thank you

Ok thank you. Its all a matter of cost at the moment

Thank you everyone really appreciate the advice

Thank you Leon.

So what are currently the best DV cameras around?

Would you say that the XL1s and XM2s are not good cameras? Have you used them? Thank you for your time really appreciate it

thanks guys really appreciate. The problem i am having though is when you shoot a master, because the sequence in performance will move so fast and then when you use a pick up shot?

Sorry plus how does this method relate and work in regards to editing Thanks

I need to buy a top of the range digital camera. I want to buy a Canon xm2 as i dont think my budget can stretch to a Canon XL1s. Has anyone used either one? What do you reckon I should do? Thanks

Thanks David So you mean shoot each section with masters. Then add some pick ups in with it? What if the piece is meant to jump quite quickly?

Has anyone seen "FLEX" by Chris cunningham. The cinematographer is Alex Barber. Its so beautifully shot has anyone any idea how he shot it or how you would shoot it? You can see the work at http://www.director-file.com/cunningham/540.html Thanks

I am studying cinematography at university. I am shooting a film in two weeks. I have spent the last few weeks organising visual material for the film. I am filming two people in a chreographed dance sequence. The piece will appear quite abstract as it starts off quite serene and then becomes very violent and agressive. I am shooting this in a studio space with soft lighting showing small amounts of their bodies. The problem is how to plan the shoot in regards to the editing. The director is working with a choreographer who will plan all the movements of the dancers. The movements in post production will be slowed down, sped up, morphed etc. Is it best to shoot each set up with one shot and then cut it for the editor? Then next shot-cut it etc etc. So you shoot then stop, shoot then stop. Dont want one continious tape of movement without any cuts in it. Any suggestions Thank you

I have a problem im shooting a Film at University. The opening shot is a car driving through a tunnel at night. The car then drives through some streets at night. I have very little if no money, but I want a shot from the front of the car as it drives a long so you see whats ahead of it. Is there any equipment used, any good camera technique methods etc.... Thanks

Im training in cinematography at university. We have very basic panasonic camera to use, but im planning to buy my own. Im shooting a film in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know how to create a grainy affect with digital? not sure if ive used the correct terminology. Want to create something very similar to what Anthony dod Mantle used for "Festen", "Julian Donkey Boy" etc. I want it to appear quite abstract so you see the image, but it appears quite grainy and raw. Thanks

Im training in cinematography at University. One scene for a film I want to shoot is in a black studio. Im filming two people together in a cherographed dance sequence. i want it to be mostly dark, but with minimal light on their bodies. So half the screen is in darkness but the other other half we see their bodies in a soft light. Does anyone one know the best way to achieve this? way the lights would be set up etc. Please see example from Chris cunninghams " Flex" shot by alex Barber. Chris Cunningham Image at bottom left of screen Also are there any decent cheap lights that you can buy? What are the best lights to use for soft lighting? Any help would be appreciated thank you