Top Ten Tips for Creating a Cinematic Style Video
Ben McElroy of Massachusetts based McElroy Films explains the top elements to look for in cinematic style videos when hiring a video production company.
Leominster, MA (PRWEB) February 9, 2010 — The recent movie making excitement in Massachusetts has started New Englanders thinking about translating their lives in slick Hollywood fashion. Wedding, corporate, nonprofit and music videos can all be approached in cinematic style. Video production companies, such as Massachusetts based McElroy Films, are now producing videos using techniques from the movie industry.
“The demand for better looking video is on the rise and Hollywood films are synonymous with a high quality look. Movie industry techniques can be found in most high-end video productions. Cinematic style wedding videos are so popular I now refer to them as ‘wedding films’ to distinguish them from other wedding videos.” explains Ben McElroy of McElroy Films.
“Recently we were approached by NIKE who specifically requested the use of the Canon 7D. The Canon 7D is a new High Definition Digital SLR camera. They wanted the cinematic look of this camera. Clients are starting to think differently about video. They want the look and quality of a Hollywood film but not all of them are clear about what elements they are looking for. I work with them to get them the look they want.”
McElroy explains the top elements to look for in a cinematic style video:
- Storytelling
Cinematic films require pre-production, including research and scripting. Most use interviews, voice-over narration, or both. The video production company you hire should have a skilled producer to write a compelling script, create interview questions that bring out emotion and drama, and who is able to put interviewees at ease so they come across in the best way possible.
- Imagery
The videographer must be familiar with film industry standards for subject placement and composition. The filming should not only be visually beautiful, but capture true emotions. It is the feeling the audience gets from watching a film that will compel them to take action or connect them to your story.
- High Definition Equipment
Not all “high-definition” equipment is the same. To create a cinematic style video, HD cameras with 1920×1080 resolution need to be used. Most modern HD cameras shoot in “progressive mode”, which is essential for encoded video on the Internet.
- Lighting
Lighting is an important element for cinematic videos. The right lighting creates the mood and depth seen in Hollywood films.
- Movie Industry Speed
Hollywood uses a 24 frames per second (24p) frame rate. This eliminates the amateur “home-movie” look and will automatically give a professional cinematic feel.
- Glidecams and Dollies
The use of Glidecams gives a smooth cinematic look. It allows the camera to stay steady even while the videographer is walking or running. A dolly allows a camera to move smoothly to and from a subject.
- Professional Audio
Sound quality is essential to creating a cinematic video. Wireless microphones, booms and a good audio technician should be used on productions to create crisp, movie quality audio.
- Multiple Cameras
Having multiple cameras allows the production company to have a variety of camera angles and perspectives to work with when editing a cinematic video. The final product will have a more interesting and realistic look.
- Music
Good quality music from a music library is another important element in cinematic videos. Music helps to move the video along and sets the mood for different scenes.
- Cinematic Editing Techniques and Special Effects
All movies have a movie “trailer” which shows exciting highlights of the full-length feature film. Video production companies can borrow this technique from Hollywood when editing your video. Popular techniques for cinematic videos are color correction, black and white and soft focus.
About McElroy Films
McElroy Films LLC is a professional high definition video production company serving Massachusetts and New England. Specializing in corporate, educational, non-profit, wedding, independent filmmaking and music video production, McElroy Films provides a high quality product at a fraction of the cost. McElroy Films prides itself on its client-driven results and boutique-like service by affording each project the attention it deserves.
Cinematic Wedding Videos
Not all weddings are “Cinematic”. There are specific things to look for. Including the following.
- Story Telling
- Imagery
- High Definition
- 24 Frame Per Second (FPS)
- GlideCam
- Professional Microphones
- Multi-camera
- Pre-Interviews
- Editing Techniques
First and foremost behind every great cinematic wedding is good story telling.
These types of wedding videos require a certain level of “corporate video” pre production. Just like a corporate video these types of wedding videos require research and scripting to a certain extent.
The production company needs to have a game plan. Most cinematic wedding have interviews or narration. The interviewees need to have the right setup questions to yield great answers. A skilled producer should write a list of pre-wedding questions that capture emotions and compassion. Once the correct answers are given they are generally overlayed on the wedding footage and are edited in an elegant way.
Cinematic wedding also require great imagery. Shot composition and subject placement within the frame must adhere to industry rules and standards. The videographer needs to have a good eye and someone that pays close attention to detail. Talent from the film business and television are some of the best for the job. They have been cultured to capture shots that will bring to life feelings and emotion.
Some technical aspects of cinematic wedding videos are the use of pro video tools. High Definition cameras in the last few years have endured a huge surge of innovation and hype. Prices have allowed consumers to buy up “HD” cameras at a huge rate. However this has also made it affordable for want-to-be filmmakers to use low quality equipment for business. High-end production companies generally spend anywhere from 25-50 grand to get set up with the right equipment for video production. Video resolution is key. Most affordable cameras shoot in 1080 but there’s a big deference between 1080i and 1080p. I wont go into detail in this entry but all HD is not a one-size-fits all.
Another way to judge cinematic weddings is the frame rate. In Hollywood there’s only one frame rate they use for television and movies. This is twenty-four frames per second (24p). Good cinematic weddings use this frame rate. It gives the picture a more natural look and takes away the home video look. Another great tool for videographers is a Glidcam. It’s and ingenuous tool that keeps the camera balanced when you walk or run. It is basically like mounting your camera on a gimbal. They use them in movies and TV shows. Pro audio is essential to any cinematic wedding. Even if there’s great shots and nice editing, if the video has poor audio the whole piece will suffer. Make sure to have wireless audio during the ceremony. Also, make sure to have the videographer patch into the soundboard at the reception to capture all the speeches in perfect clarity. Shooting your wedding with multiple cameras can be great. 
Especially during the ceremony when you have both the bride and groom. It’s nice to have one camera on the Bride and the other on the Groom capturing both sets of emotions. It also comes in handy during the reception. One camera can capture cocktail hour while the other camera captures the formals. It’s just a great idea to have two cameras if you can afford it.
Pre-interviews can be fun and exciting. Capturing the essential people such as the Bride & Groom and the parents talking about how great and exciting their wedding day is going to be. These interviews make for interesting editing and tell the story of the wedding day.
One of the most popular cinematic editing techniques is a wedding highlights video or a “movie trailer” of the wedding day. These are generally filled with nice aesthetic detail shots of the bride and groom throughout their wedding day cut to music with special effects. Music is another way to add real production value to your wedding video. Not just popular music but good quality music from a music library. Music helps to move the video along and sets the mood and tone for certain scenes. Special effects can also add to the value of a cinematic wedding. The use of black&white filters, color correction, soft focus and other filters can really add to the overall look of the video.
Hopefully this gives you an idea of what to look for when searching for a cinematic wedding video. If you have more questions feel free to email me at ben@mcelroyfilms.com.