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Drone Videogrpaher – Video Production in the Sky

In the last several years there has been madness around drone video production and photography.  As a videographer, I am constantly asked for drone video footage. At times the drone video footage is appropriate, but at other times the use of a drone is only reflective of an appetite for the latest fad.  In this article I will discuss when it is appropriate to use drone for filming or video/photo production, few simple safety rules and regulations, and how to get those cinematic shots.

When to Use drone videography

Clearly, drone footage is highly desirable, and it certainly adds production value simply unavailable to a low budget filmmaker or videographer just a decade ago.  However, I can think of only a handful of films in which drone footage was an actual scene. One being Denis Villeneuve’s “Sicario”, where the scene is a convoy of agents crossing the border.

Drone video footage is most effective as an establishing shot or a transition.  Realistically, a drone video in the final edit will unlikely be longer than 10-15 seconds.  Majority, of scenes in films and corporate / event video productions are composed of medium shots where people either talk to each other or physically interact.  For such shots a good camera on a tripod or gimbal will do. A good example of an establishing shot is the clip below

Within a few seconds the viewer has a good idea that the film will take place in a city and during winter.  Without a drone, the same information would have to be described using several shots.

An example of a good transition is the clip below where we show few trucks leaving their base and going out on an assignment. 

The shots prior to he drone shots convey the story of workers getting ready and shots after the drone shot convey a story of these men at work.  The drone shot gives a completely different perspective than the other shots, hence it serves its role as an ideal transition.

Commercial vs Recreational Drone Videography

There are two uses of a drone that clearly have to be distinguished when talking about rules.  One is commercial work, where the aerial videographer is getting paid for his/her work. In such a case, the drone operator needs to be certified through FAA (part 107) as an unmanned pilot.  For recreational use, such as filming one’s vacation or private party, the pilot only needs to register the drone with FAA and the cost is currently only $5. The FAA has a list of rules that need to be abided by all unmanned pilots.  In this article I will point out to three main ones; flight is restricted to only 400 ft, pilot cannot fly 5 miles from the airport, and a drone cannot be flown over people (unless they are crew and have shelter to hide). The first two rules are usually programmed in the drone control application.  In other words, the drone will recognize airport controlled air space and will not fly there, and it will not fly over 400 ft. However, the last rule, flying over people is the one that is most often violated by the recreational drone pilots. It is very important to know that the last mentioned rule is also the one that the FAA is most strict about and heavy fines can result from flying over people.  Rember, you can get away with it during the operation but the footage does not lie.

In addition to FAA rules, each city/county has its own rules that may restrict drone flight.  As Chicago Aerial commercial videographer I understand that city only allows me to fly over the property for which I have written permission to fly over.  In a busy city this creates real restrictions. It is also important to mention that drones operate on the same frequency that are used by most wifi systems.  Hence flying in highly populated areas with corporate offices (Chicago downtown i.e.) create real risk. There is potential that the drone could lose its frequency and fly away.

Think Simple When Using Drone for Videography

Once the rules are considered and the effectiveness of aerial shot is understood, a drone is a great tool for video and film production.  If there was going to be one lesson that I have learned as a filmmaker and a videographer that I would like to pass on to in this article is that of simplicity.  Simply, the viewer should be focused on the scene that is framed not to the motion of the drone. Beginner aerial videographers tend to fly too much around the subject they are filming.  For example, the first 35 seconds of this clip we have at least 5 changes of direction and pace which in my opinion are disruptive to the viewer.

Yes the effect is cool and the scenery is gorgeous but the abrupt changes in the flight path speeding up and slowing down (in post production) takes me out of the viewing experience.  I am more focused on what the drone is doing than the actual scenery. However, lets consider the following drone clip:

In this video we have a change of direction but there is a poetic simplicity to it.  First 18 seconds the shot is framed around the human subject and then gently moves to frame the waterfall.  This is a well thought out drone shot that frames two subjects continuously (man and waterfall) with no interruption.  The last shot is likely most cinematic (1:34 to the end) where the drones simply flies slowly forward.

Conclusion

In conclusion, drones are a fantastic tool for filmmaking and video production.  However, the footage is mostly effective as an establishing shot and transitions in the majority of film/video productions.  Lastly, drones have potential for high risk and therefore many rules have to be followed in order to assure safety in capturing those stunning shots. 

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Time Lapse Videography- How to Compress Time

As a videographer, I am always trying to effectively tell a story. I have discovered that one of the most effective storytelling tools in video production is the time lapse. 

With a time lapse you can compress a long and static event into a short engaging video clip. An effective use of a time lapse videography is a party like the clip below where people mingle around but don’t do anything too interesting to capture as video clip. As a single video shot this would be as interesting as watching grass grow.  However, when compressed into about 3-5 seconds the video clip is engaging, and it tells a story without boring the viewer.

Consider Your Subject for your Time Lapse Videography

When making a time lapse there are few things to consider. First, what is it that we want to focus on.  The image that we want the viewer to lock on should be still or slowly progressing/regressing. On the other hand, the figures or characters moving around will be moving fast and so we want to blur them out. In video production of a time lapse this is achieved through motion blur with the use of a slow shutter speed. The shutter speed in the above mentioned video clip was set at 1/3 sec and we get a ghosting effect of the people.  Hence, the viewer perceives the activity but is focused on the aesthetics of the room and people who are still or moving slow. 

Add Movement to your Videography

Another important element to consider when setting up a time lapse video is movement. As discussed earlier, repetitive movements like people mingling around should be blurred.  However if we want to add drama to the video we can SLOWLY move the camera to the point of focus

Or we can SLOWLY move around the subject like here.  The movement should be just above the threshold of being noticed because this type of movement is effective if it is felt rather than seen. 

The slow dramatic movement of the camera in a time lapse is achieved by using a mechanized slider.  The slider moves the camera progressively from start to end point every time a picture is being taken. 

Alternative Methods of Time Lapse Videography

As a videographer and a filmmaker, I don’t always set up a traditional time lapse where camera takes picture over set period of time. Sometimes I will film a long video clip knowing that I will manipulate the time. For instance, I will speed up a gimbal video clip to make the a scene more dynamic. An advantage of this video production technique is that I can slow down the clip at specific moment to highlight something interesting.

There are also some very sophisticated time lapse techniques where the slider movement and or speed of the time lapse change over the course of time. These type of time lapse video productions require careful planning and tools like a computerized application that can control video production sliders or dollies.

In sum, a time lapse is a video production technique that can show something otherwise boring in a new, fun and engaging way.  And yes, it can even make watching grass grow exciting!

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Videographer and The Art of an Effective Interview

My bread and butter as a videographer (especially a Chicago videographer) is filming interviews and testimonials. I have filmed hundreds of such interviews, I have worked with other videographers setting up interviews and I have seen many more video interviews all over the web. Over this time I have learned a few important keys to making a good and engaging interview.

Be Brief

First point, be brief. When I set up a video production interview I usually end up talking to my subject for 30 -40 minutes.  However, an effective interview video with one subject is 1.5 minutes to 2.5 minutes. When I get a response from my subject that is long, verbose, and it feels like he/she is wondering with an idea, I let them finish, complement them on how good their response was and ask them to summarize it in 2-3 sentences. Sometimes it takes a few takes. Hence, allow 40 minutes for an interview. 

Make the Video Production Interview Conversational

Secondly, make the interview conversational. There is nothing more boring and flat than reading off questions to the subject.  As humans, we are social beings. Yes, the subject understands that ultimately he/she is talking to an imaginary audience and he/she is just being filmed. However, I have seen shy people open up to me when I engaged them with a conversations. They forget the camera is pointing at them and give me content that is riche and personal. At times, as videographer, you can’t engage in conversation or you don’t feel comfortable doing it, and prefer just attending to the gear. If this is the case, it is worth bringing another person to whom the subject can talk (and engage). 

Use 2 cameras for your Video Production

Always use at least two cameras for your Video Production.  Having multiple angles makes the editing much easier.  You can easily cut the interview and jump from one camera to another during the transitions.  Cutting interview filmed with one camera creates distracting jump cuts. Additionally, having multiple camera angles makes the video more dynamic. Sometimes, I even add a little slider movement like in this video to add more dynamic feel to an otherwise static shot.

Sound is Huge for Quality of your Video Production

The sound quality is huge. In my video production I use high end lavalier microphones. The lavalier mic is close to the subject and you get much more voice signal and less environment noise. Truthfully, most viewers watching these types of videos will not be able to tell difference between a video shot with a $30k camera and something shot with a smartphone. However, bed sound is immediately noticeable. Bed sound screams “amateur” video. If you don’t have a good lavalier mics you can use a shotgun mic. Ideally, you want to get the microphone as close to the subject as you can. You can mount such microphone on a stand and run the cable to the camera. Mixing of the sound is also crucial. To get that professional sound quality you always want to add a little compression to the sound, so the loud parts are attenuated and quite parts are turned up. I often use a little EQ to remove the low end of the sound spectrum. When mixed with some music, the voice that is compressed and lightly EQ will cut through the mix easier.

You will need Good B-Roll for engaging Videography

Lastly, to make a video interview engaging you need to have something visual to cut to. Often this is B-roll. B-roll shots are visuals scenes that support the story the subject is telling. However, sometimes I use photographs from the subject and build a collage that visually tells the story. When I do this type of a collage, I actually prefer photos that are not taken professionally, as they better represent the reality of the person being interviewed.  

In sum, a video interviews need to be cut to about 2 minutes, they need to be conversational, recorded with good sound and multiple cameras to dynamic . When done well, they are one of the more powerful marketing tools for any business, product or service.

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