There is a lot of great content related to cinematography on YouTube. But, here’s one channel that always stands out at the top.
So, this entire post is mostly just an appreciation post. But, I do think you’ll learn a thing or two along the way.
I’ve spent a whole lot of time watching filmmaking YouTube. All different facets of it from After Effects, to lighting, to travel vlogging, and even the best way to rig your cell phone for a hyperlapse. I’ve seen just about every type of filmmaking-related YouTube post there is. It’s really a phenomenal community resource that all filmmakers could easily take for granted. We live in a world now where you don’t need film school. The tools and knowledge are all right out there in front of you for the taking.
There’s a filmmaking YouTube channel that has consistently been my favorite. The videos are always super succinct. Because they cover so much ground in such a short amount of time, each video is a treasure trove of extremely useful information from a professional.
After a pretty long hiatus, the channel has returned and is creating content again. And so far, they have all been fantastic.
The channel I’m referring to is KINETEK, a filmmaking channel hosted by cinematographer Matthew Rosen.
While there are many things to be learned from this channel, here are some of my favorites. Hopefully, after watching them, you’ll become a subscriber too. If you aren’t already, of course.
Using Mirrors Effectively in Your Cinematography
This is a great example of how you can find simple yet very effective breakdowns of extremely helpful techniques on this channel.
The idea of using a mirror in my shots for reasons other than just simple set design had never really occurred to me. The functional uses of a mirror in scenes that involve expanding the effects of a shallow depth of field, or for making locations look larger than they actually are, are all very interesting to me.
Maximizing Your Camera’s Dynamic Range
This video was actually my introduction to this channel.
Dynamic range can, at times, be a somewhat technical and hard-to-understand aspect of camera technology. Specifically, when it comes to ISO and how that shifts the shades of gray your camera can see, and how that relates to the other facets of the exposure triangle, deciding on a proper exposure for your given scene with dynamic range in mind can be a bit mind-boggling.
However, here, the subject is covered in an easily understood and matter-of-fact way that just kind of opened my mind to all of it (in a new way) when I first saw the video.
How to Shoot Rear Screen Projection
This is kind of where the KINETEK channel moves up to a different echelon for me. The lessons on the basics that Rosen covers are all phenomenal, but time and time again, his videos have covered techniques that I would have never thought much of otherwise.
In the above video, he covers the basics of rear screen projection. After watching this video, I felt like it was a no-brainer to have this technique in your toolset.
You can make your sets feel larger, create the effect of a shallower depth of field, and even create the feel of a bigger, different set than what you might have access to in a more practical manner.
Such a great video.
Additive and Reductive Lighting
I’ve never even heard of these terms before I saw this video. I’ve been familiar with the techniques — just didn’t know a lot of the specifics around them (as it relates to the differences between removing and adding light for a given effect).
Whether you’re bringing down the outside light (using gels or scrims) so you can use less indoors, or adding lots of light (using powerful HMI’s or the like) to get a proper exposure in an outdoor location, these techniques are an effective and budget-friendly way to get a proper exposure.
Ultimately, after this lesson, I just feel more empowered to think about these techniques when I’m breaking down a scene in pre-production.
Shooting Miniature Set Extensions
One of the shorter videos on the channel, this video teaches a really quick and simple lesson. If you want to add more to your visuals and would like to keep everything practical, consider adding miniature elements to your set.
This extremely creative technique has opened my mind quite a bit — particularly when it comes to product shots or studio based beauty work. By adding things to the foreground and background, you can make your set seem much different, or even larger, than it is.
I think more than anything, I just love this channel for its straightforward presentation of information. Every single one of the videos I’ve watched on this channel provides me with either new knowledge, or reinforcement and strengthening of knowledge I already had. It’s a great example of the power that a platform like YouTube can have for filmmakers.
These tips and techniques are real-world filmmaking techniques you can use to impress your clients or build a career with. The fact that this information is just out there and completely free is something that should not be taken for granted.
So, if anyone involved in the KINETEK channel is reading this — thank you, keep up the great work.
Top image via KINETEK.
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