Tips to start making a little production?

Question

So I have to make a little commercial for a class at my college and it is a video of about 1 min. I already have the idea of how all is going to be but I'm worried that at the moment of the edition the quality of the takes sucks. There's no big equipment, just an i5 computer, a GoPro Hero 4 and a couple of phones that record at 4K. No lightning, or anything... I would like to get some tips to make it look as professional as it could be and no too amateur. It's just video, no voice or dialogs. I'm also using a couple of luxury cars, I want to take good takes of them since I want to record 'em at night and I think lightning there is going to be a problem. Any tips?

Answer 1

Here are some tips for making your video production look as professional as possible with the equipment you have:

1. Plan out your shots and compositions carefully. Think about what you want to include in each shot and how you want to frame it. This will help you get the most out of your limited equipment.
2. You should use a tripod or other stabilizing device to keep your camera steady. This will help you avoid shaky footage and improve the overall quality of your shots.
3. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to add visual interest to your shots. This could include shooting from high or low angles or using close-ups and wide shots.
4. Make sure you have plenty of light. If you are shooting at night, consider using additional lighting sources, such as portable lights or even phone flashlights, to illuminate your subjects.
5. Pay attention to the audio quality of your shots. Make sure that any background noise is kept to a minimum and that your audio is clear and easy to understand.
6. If you are using a GoPro, consider using a gimbal or other stabilizing device to smooth out any camera movement and improve the stability of your shots.
7. Consider using editing software, such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut, to polish your footage and add any additional effects or transitions.

I hope these tips are helpful! Good luck with your video production.

Best,

Erik L.

Answer 2

The biggest thing you can do is to bring lights. Any lights. They can be cheap flood lights from a home improvement store if necessary. Also buying still white boards (coroplast, foamcore, even presentation board) and you may be able to bounce and diffuse the available light (like street lights)

Also avoid doing handheld shots. Bring a tripod, sandbag, clamps so you can mount and stabilize your camera.

Finally review the rule of thirds so that your composition stands out. https://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds/

Good luck!