Why you probably don’t need the amazing MoVI camera stabilizer
Posted in Cameras by Brandon Li On April 7, 2013
The blogosphere is blowing up with talk of the new “game changing” stabilizer from FreeFly Systems: the MoVI. It is a camera stabilizer based on the latest technology used for cameras on quadcopters. It’s a smaller, lighter, and easier-to-use version of the
How to film your Vegas fling and get away with it
Posted in Cameras, Final Cut Pro X, How To, Post-production, Sony RX by Brandon Li On February 26, 2013
Last fall, I was approached by VivaVegas.tv, a Las Vegas events promotion company, to create a branded video about one of their nightclub parties at Haze. I’ve never had a particular interest in shooting at clubs, or events of any kind, because
The $350 docu-filmmaking kit: Depreciation is Wonderful
Last week, I went out with some friends for yet another night on the town. I brought along my Sony NEX-5n with a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 pancake lens and made the short “Tuesday”. I recently discovered that this combo can be bought
The holy grail: turn your NEX camera into full-frame for $600 (and use almost any lens)
A revolution is about to hit the mirrorless camera world. NEX is now full-frame. Your NEX-5n videos will now have the same shallow depth-of-field, wide angles, and amazing low-light performance of a Canon 5d MKIII. How? A new spin on some
“Roadside” – Impromptu GH2 Short Film
I’m currently on a reality shoot in Texas and had my Panasonic GH2 along for interviews. During a drive from San Antonio to Austin, I got an itch to go jogging and pulled off at a random exit. I noticed the wind
Handheld Filmmaking with Dual Cameras, Part One: Production Gear
Posted in Cameras, DIY, Dual-Camera Shooting, Field Audio, How To, Sony RX by Brandon Li On December 10, 2012
I’ve been doing a lot of “dual-cam” documentary shooting over the last several months. By dual-cam, I mean filming two angles at once by operating two handheld cameras. The main advantage of this is being able to record both characters in a
Filmmaking with just one lens
While it can be tempting to bring a wide arsenal of lenses on a shoot, sometimes you really only need one. Being restricted to a single focal length forces the filmmaker to think creatively about framing, and provided you’re using a “normal”
Steadicam shooting without the Steadicam
Posted in Cameras by Brandon Li On October 1, 2012
Ever wanted to get that cinematic Steadicam look to your walking shots without using any gear other than your camera and your bare hands? I’ve developed a technique for shooting smooth tracking shots by stabilizing in post with Adobe Premiere CS6 Warp
How to Shoot a Vegas Music Video During Your Bachelor Party
It could have been a standard-issue bachelor party in Vegas. Eight of my best buds, each one a perfect casting choice for any comedy beer commercial, shared two rooms in Bill’s Gambling Hall and Saloon and planned to do everything everyone else