I just got done reading a fantastic article over on FreshDV. Kendal explores a lot of things I’ve thought but never been able to quite put into words.  In addition, he provides some inspirational backup in the form of quotes from fantastic cinematographers.  Go read it.

If it pisses you off then you need to go out and prove him wrong.

Of course, by proving him wrong – you’ll likely end up proving him right.

The central premise is that just because you have good equipment, that doesn’t make you a filmmaker.  Just because you make pretty pictures, that doesn’t make you a cinematographer.  Making pretty pictures with good gear isn’t enough – you have to practice your craft make good, defendable decisions, and understand why the decision you made work in that specific situation.

There is lots of room for experimentation, montages, test footage, etc in the world Kendal describes.  Just don’t (always) call those things “art.”

When I teach at both the high school and college level, I always ask the kids “What prevents you from producing films at the highest level?” I consistently get two answers:

1. Not enough time
2. Our equipment sucks

The not enough time argument is legitimate, I tell them.  While there is NEVER enough time to do everything you want when you are a filmmaker – the pressures of student life make those time constraints even more restrictive.  So #1 – check… not much we can do about that.

However – the second reason – Once I get that answer, I call bullshit and show them this:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ayz Waraich (@ayz on Twitter) is a fantastic up-and-coming filmmaker.  He is consistently honing and improving his craft.  He understands how his choices affect the story.  Everything on the screen helps move the script forward.  He is humble and thoughtful, eager to learn, and he shot that film on what is essentially a Sony Handycam.

It ain’t the gear, folks.  Its the person (or more often the team) who wields it.

So go out and prove Kendal wrong.  Go make a film and learn from it.  Then make another (and learn from it).  And another (and learn from it).  And another…

Two trailers from the same filmmaker, Ayz Waraich.
I’m not plugging him or his films, i don’t even know what they’re about, but what I think we should see here are two great examples of hooking people into a story. What may be more impressive than any of this is that Ayz uses a pretty basic, consumer-grade, auto-exposure camera (Canon HV20), but balances that out by employing cinematic conventions–dolly moves, tracking shots, crane/jib shots, a bit of overexposure, well-planned lens flares, and most importantly, GREAT lighting schemes (i really dig those flares from the flourescent overheads in the White Red Panic* teaser).

So remember, it’s not always what you’re telling your story with, but what story you’re telling.

White Red Panic – TEASER HD from Ayz Waraich on Vimeo.

*The White Red Panic trailer found courtesy of Stu Maschwitz’s awesome blog, ProLost

hey daddio! groovy hipster brent schools you on the realities of consumer hd. tune in or check out, hepcat!

ian thorpe from sidecar productions talks about good production audio and why it is important. special thanks to robert mason from doghouse productions for use of his studio!

donnie talks about the difference between consumer and pro cameras and why we should care