Making movies at home can be a lot of fun, but it can also be discouraging when you realize most film gear is over $100. Everyone’s gotta start somewhere, though!
You may not look around your house right now and see film gear galore. However, this video from YCImaging proves that anyone has the means to create a pretty decent DIY film right in the comfort of their home.
Check it out below:
Homemade Dolly
This is perfect for when you don’t have a gimble/dolly/slider—just find something with wheels! It could be a swivel chair, rolling suitcase, or rolling cart.
When using this tool, make sure you’re on a flat surface such as a hardwood floor.
To minimize impact on your shot if your rolling tool goes over a bump, place a towel underneath your camera when you put it on the roller. This will lessen the chances of getting shaky footage. The towel could also double as a tactic to frame your shot.
This hack combined with the stabilizer tool in your editing software is sure to make your video look smooth as butter.
Credit: YCImaging
Lens filtration using pantyhose
The video mentioned a filtration tactic called “black pro mist." The black pro mist lifts the contrast ratio in your shot and “blooms out” highlights, but pro mist costs about $120.
If you’re ballin’ on a budget, you’re gonna need a handy film hack to recreate that professional cinematic look. To achieve this filter, cut out the bottom of one of the legs on a pair of pantyhose (if you don’t have any around your house, they’re a couple of bucks at your local drugstore). Once you’ve cut it, stretch it out and place it around the lens—the longer the stretch, the better the shot looks. Finally, place a rubber band around the lens to hold the DIY filter in place.
Shaping light with cardboard
This hack is extremely simple. All you’ll need is a piece of cardboard and some scissors. It makes manipulating the light in your shot easy and costs you zero dollars. Marvel has nothing on you!
Remember that the shape you cut into your cardboard should be pretty simple. You can cut out a star or diamond, but the edges will be very soft. Cutting a diagonal or vertical thick line shape can create a makeshift sun-through-blinds effect.
Adding light to your shot like this is an effective way to communicate what the audience should focus on.
Credit: YCImaging
Mounting a small light anywhere
If your light source is small enough, velcro strips and command strips are an incredible way to mount your lights. It’s a pretty straightforward hack, and you most likely have one or both of those things in your junk drawer.
Or, if you want to be a little fancier, you could tape some silverware to a surface and use the magnetic back of a light to attach it.
For example, a car windshield. Lighting the inside of a car is difficult, and your built-in car lights most likely won’t suffice. But all you have to do is tape a metal butter knife to the windshield, and now your magnetic light will stick. What a simple way to get a lighting setup in a difficult location!
Have any more fun DIY filmmaking tricks? Let us know in the comments!
Source: YCImaging
