FAQ & Preparation on Shoots

What to Wear on a Film or Video Shoot?

Less patterned or pattern free for standard definition video and may work well for HD video or film. It's best to have a few outfits chosen in advance to discuss with the producer, director/director of photography / camera person / videographer or crew if you can. Colors enhancing your complexion are also desirable for wardrobe, but every rule can be broken (and often for advertising or attention getting or entertainment or in relations to costumes for feature films, programs, character roles etc).

When in doubt, ask the cameraman, DP or videographer or makeup artist what works - even call or discuss it before the shoot. Bring several outfits for your video or film shoot. Don't be afraid to ask the director of photography or cameramen for advice as well if there is no make up person available. Also, if you're darker in complexion, avoid bright, and near white, brighter / pastel garments on a video or film shoot outside under direct sunlight or high contrast lighting (video and film cannot handle dramatic ranges in contrast). You can all us in advance at (720) 299-2084

Should I have a script? Can Mister Photon Media Provide a Script?

A script in some for is critical for any cinematographer or videographer or cameraman to guide your company along in production under many circumstances or at least an outline of ideas & goals. Our cameramen can help you draft up a script outline with questions, shot lists, locations, and all the details directing on-camera talent. Either split page script, story boards, or outline can be drafted by our camera operators and your company can help as well with input. If your not a skilled writer, relax and leave the scripting to our camera crew. Interview questions are also important to think about in advance and possibly a teleprompter if your person addressing the camera cannot easily read their lines. Our cameraman Nick & crew can help you every step of the way.

Planning Shots for the Editor.

Using the script on production in ideal for guiding the cameraman or camera crew to complete a video productions or film productions message (our Colorado camera crew and Colorado cameramen are also editors, so we can put together a shot list for your shoot. Think of each video production as a story from start to finish, or a complete idea, or ideas that the cameraman must convey to your audience. Our Colorado videographers and directors of photography can help guide your production from scene to scene, as well as take the clients input and complete the video production. For continuity, think of a scene composed of a shot, or group of shots in sequence that are dependant on a flow of a program. What's the goal of the advertisement, corporate video? message? Who's the audience, and what do they need to think about or how can you compel them? How did the actor get there? what occurred? what are the smaller details that happened, what time of day, where is the shot? Think of a video or film program in who? what? where? why? how? or what your trying to sell or communicate.

What and Who to Prepare for a Video or Film Shoot?

It's always good to have a shoot schedule for the camera crew. Locations, schedules and company resources can all be arranged by our videographers and directors of photography. Our cameramen can coordinate your office, facility and all the other elements so that time and money isn't wasted by your company, or ours. You can also help our camera crew out by joining the pre-production process. Have your resources from actors, people in your company, any props, locations, products or anything else to be on camera ready, and if possible a back up plan. Also have permission or permits if you are shooting on private property that is not yours. Larger HD video or film or television crews, ENG or EFP or other production crews will attract attention as well so having permission, locations arranged, and any needed permits (if you are in a area that needs a permit) to be a perfect idea. Airports, public buildings, in streets, government buildings among other places are locations often needing a permit & permission. Business will not let a camera crew or person simply to walk in or film typically. so get their permission. If it's your private property, then no sweat. We can help you prepare & plan in advance as well.

How to Budget, Get Film and Video Permits, Get Permission, Planning??

If your planning a video production, film production, or media production and shooting is involved at a public place, it's advisable to get a permit prior to camera crew (or get permission from Business for the camera crew to shoot your video/film production). Our Colorado cameramen can call and arrange film and video permits with the city or county you are producing your program in. Our Colorado cameramen also can help you get permission from property owners and managers so that the video or film production goes without surprises.

Leave the footwork to our Colorado camera crew to research film and video permits. We have obtained permits and specialized camera support crew for video and film productions, with the clients peace of mind, in mind throughout Colorado's major cities, and counties. Our Colorado cameramen can help you with research, and all the details needed for a video or film production. Additionally, our cameramen can help you obtain talent for your shoot here in Colorado or help with the resources, direct company members to address the camera assisting in all the production aspects you need, or just provide a reliable crew or crew member to assist you if you're a production company.

How to Choose Film or Video for Your Production. What Format to Choose?

Videotape or tapeless video is the cheaper format to produce than a film delivered project. Commons video camera formats are: DV, DVCAM, DVC Pro 25, HDV, Betacam SP, HDV Disk, DVC Pro 50/SD, P2, D SLR HD, XDCAM, HDCAM, DVC Pro HD, and HD Disk + other high definition cameras.

Our cameramen have shot and produced all these formats as well as film, and digital still formats. More expensive to produce is motion picture film, ( 16mm, super 16mm, 35mm, 65mm and super 70 ), due to the longer production times needed for the camera crew, cost of development, transfer, printing, and other factors. If in doubt, ask one of our cameramen in advance to determine what format is the best for you.
Please contact us and we can arrange a format to your preference or recommend one - Nick - or (720) 299 2084

As a producer and client, you can interact with our camera crew easily providing direction as well to our listening to our directors of photography advice on your video production; our camera crew is flexible to work with. Our cameramen are formally educated in film and video production and we can help you establish a scene, with an establishing shot, fill in the scene with cutaway shots, shoot broll, establish shot pacing, and shoot conclusion shots or transition sequences. Your video production or film production will never end up in limbo, or leave your audience disconnected with an our camera crews shooting for you.

Our cameramen are also editors as well, and know the importance of a complete shot. Best exposure throughout the cameras movement, best camera composition, the best pacing, the best audio, and capturing the message in each shot. Our cameramen always stay focused on your shoot, with the maxim of the video or film production relying on the best camera footage. We can also think up shots, stories, messages, advertising ideas and other needed elements on the spot as well as you camera crew, so don't worry to much.