ALASKAVIDEOSHOOTER.COM is a blog about documentary filmmaking, video production, and the gear that makes it possible.

The blog is edited by Slavik Boyechko, co-owner of Video Dads LLC, which provides video production in Portland Oregon and in Alaska, as well as Gear Dads, a site about videography and video production equipment.

If you're interested in video production services in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, or anywhere in the U.S., contact me here or email slavik (at) videodads.com.

Archives: aside Posts

There are lots of filmmaking tips and lectures out there, but typically they are for narrative or fiction films, which can be difficult to apply with documentary filmmaking. But here’s a good lecture about editing, that I think has good lessons for documentary editing.

The main principle is that each scene needs to have someone or something change, and that change is what makes viewers “lean in” and pay more attention. In documentary, after you’ve already collected all your footage and you are building a story around that, one way to create change is to edit from wide shot to close ups, from b-roll movement to still reflection.

During editing, whenever I’ve run into an important moment in an interview, I like to visually emphasize that important moment by avoiding distracting b-roll that visually says something else. So, apart from showing just the interview, I go to a close up of the subject in a b-roll shot (of them ‘reflecting’ and not talking), or a close-up of an object or hands, or a steady shot of a scene that emphasizes the reflection or thought. This is why you shoot rack focus close-ups of leaves, trees, buildings, out-of-focus subject walking away – for these moments.

mushroom-hunter-forest

Music is important too, obviously. But when you’re collecting b-roll, the important thing is to shoot as wide variety of focal lengths and shots as possible, so you can cleverly illustrate the change that comes through in the interview. …

The good news is, when you don’t need a shoulder rig, you can use this thing to protect your family.

PBS shared the Metalhead video this week! A behind the scenes post is forthcoming…

Post by PBS.

48hrfilmfestival

It sells out every year. So go, get your tickets now, drive to Bear Tooth and buy them. Show starts Thursday, October 10 at 10:30pm.

25 teams of filmmakers spent last weekend writing, directing, acting, and editing their short masterpieces. 22 teams submitted a film in time.

More info at this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/anc48hourfilm

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Probably the funniest (unintentional) kickstarter video ever. Wow.

Today I turned 30. It’s been almost exactly 10 years since the last time I had a blog – and let me tell you, 10 years later, “blogging” has changed a lot. I think?

internetgrandma

Anyway, 10 years ago, my blog was about living in the Bronx and all the weirdness that arises from living in the Bronx. Blogging made me take note of what I was doing each day, and I remember a lot more from that year than from the rest of my 20s.

So, here’s to the new blog, to being 30, and to remembering what happens this year and beyond.

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