DSLR Filmmaking Kit in India

Embrace Video's DSLR Rig (Mattebox separately available)

For the last 2 years I ve been searching for DSLR filmmaking kit in India. Alibaba dotcom also known as Cinecity in Chandigarh was the only online store where DSLR filmmaking kit in India perhaps existed. But they don’t ship in India. I ve requested them several times for a DSLR rig, Camera Slider, Pocket Crane (or Arm jib), but they just don’t ve the right to sell in India. Bad luck for me and equally for those like me in India who are dreaming to buy a DSLR filmmaking kit in India.

Nakul's Design: Camera Slider

Eventually I was ready to buy from US or Singapore and ready to bear the mountainous price. But it was last week, when I was trying the keyword “DSLR Filmmaking in India” on Google search engine as a part of the SEO programme of this blog, and then I saw an Indian site called EMBRACE VIDEO owned and managed by Nakul Sood. Voila..!!! I saw all the DSLR filmmaking accessories in his website and the price was remarkably lesser than the international prices (almost ONE THIRD). So I immediately called him up and fixed a meeting on last Sunday (19th Feb 2012). His factory cum office was located @ F-43 Noida Sector8, INDIA .

God must be Crazy!!! I was shunned, shocked, taken-aback, stupefied or aghast to see those DSLR filmmaking kit in Nakul’s factory. He has:-

• · DSLR rig 
• · DSLR camera slider 
• · Pocket Crane/Portable arm jib 
• · Tripod-Track Dolly upto 20 feet 
• · Steadicam Full gear 
• · Steadicam CASPER(handheld) 
• · Matteboxes 
• · Follow Focus 
• · Boom Mics (his own creation for DSLR filmmaking) 

Embrace Video's Steadicam CASPER

I tried all his equipment at his place. It was the nicest experience I had ever had. Thanks Nakul Sood..Thanks EmbraceVideo.com and Thanks GOOGLE.

DSLR filmmaking kit in India-Jai HO

EDITING RULES : DSLR Filmmakers' Report

Film/Video editing is an Art as well as a Science. We need to master both the Art and the Science with rigorous practice and Observation. Editing is all about making multiple decisions at one time: decision about what shot to use and what not to, how long it should be, how should it appear, what should be the color, brightness, contrast, How is the audio and a lot of other relative decisions. Some important decisions are mentioned below:-

1. When cutting from shot to shot, have at least a 30% change in shot size. Wide to Medium is good. CU to wide works. Medium to another Medium of same angle looks weird.

2. Try to cut on a motion to hide the edit. A raised hand, a head turn, a slammed door.

3. If you think a cut is too long…you’re right. It’s too long.

4. If a scene plays great in one shot…leave it alone. You don’t have to cut to CU, reverse, wide, medium. Let the story tell itself.

5. Overlap any action by 4 or 5 frames. Someone turns their head in a medium shot, on the next shot start the head turn 4 or 5 frames earlier (then the previous shot) and for some ridiculous reason it looks and feels right.

6. Don’t go bonkers over every cut. Often performance trumps continuity. Now if the lead actor’s shirt is a different color in two consecutive shots…you’re on your own!

7. With DSLRs you can scale a shot up to 40% and still have adequate sharpness if you need to reframe or make a medium shot a close up. Sneaky but it works all the time.

8. As much as an editor feels he is saving the film, he’s probably not.

There were a couple other people involved before he started editing.

9. Anyone who says “We’ll fix it in post!” needs to be made aware that they need to get it right during shooting.

Last by no means the least learn how to put "Filters in order". To learn how to put filters in order visit my previous post.

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