How to make video look more like film

How to make video look more like film. 

Shallow Depth Of Field

There are a number of key variables that need to be right in order to make video footage look more like film. These are the most important elemants you need to get correct in order to acomplish this effect. 

1: Depth of field
Many new film makers believe that having a shallow depth of field is the single most important element to achieving a film look. Though it can be an important feature it is not the mort important. Whether you have a shallow depth of field or not can all depend on the shot and the overall look you are hoping to achieve.  Longer lenses will give you a shallower depth of field than wide lenses will. And fast lenses are also good to achieve this look. 

2: Frame rate
Make sure your frame rate is at 24 frames per second. This is because the earliest films were shot and projected at this rate so viewers have become acustomed to it. Your camera should always  be set to this rate unless you are filming in slow motion, then you will film at a higher frame rate. Using a normal frame rate will create a natural motion blur which makes the film more realistic. 

3: Shutter Speed 
Your shutter speed should be set to exactly double that of your frame rate. So if you are shooting at 24 frames per second make sure your shutter speed is a 1/48. Having the wrong shutter speed can be damaging to your footage. If its too slow your footage will look like it is strobing as the images trail off throughout the screen. And if the shutter speed is too high your image will look like its been speeded up, almost as if its in fast forward. Sometimes you do want to have the shutter speed at an unusually high or low setting as it is a technique sometimes used to get a specific effect.

4: Camera movement
Camera movement is one of the most important aspects to getting a film look. There isnt a specific movement that will make your film look more cinematic, but if you place more importance on the movement shots the more cinematic the film will feel. Make sure you use the right type of camera movement for each scene, if the scene dosent require a handheld shot then dont use one.

5: Highlights
A big giveaway of video footage is blownout highlights. As digital cameras have much less dynamic range than film, they are prone to blowing out the bright areas of the frame. When this occurs on film it if fairly pleasant to look at and many directors will intentionally blow out some shots to get a stylized effect. On video blown out highlights look really bad as the light doesn't bloom or roll off the same way as it does on film so the image looks harsh and synthetic. To deal with this make sure you dont overexpose anything in your frame, unless it needs to be blown out as it is so bright e.g. the sun. You can bring your exposure down so that the bright areas in the frame still hold detail, creating a better image.


6: Framing
Framing is an important aspect to get a cinematic look. Without proper framing all the other features are pointless. Good framing will not only make the video feel more filmic but it will also create a better look for the film as a whole.


7: Lighting
Lighting can make a massive diference to your shot nop matter what camera you use. Some low budget films are shot without giving much thought to lighting, this is a huge giveaway of amateur production. You dont need to spend loads of money on lighting especially if you have a low budget, but you need to make it look as professional as possible. No amount of colour grading will be able to svae a poorly lit shot. Make sure your shots are exposed properly but also lit in a way to set the tone and mood you are looking for.

8: Colour correction
During post production you can do a lot to make your video look more filmic. This includes using colour correction. Ideally you want to decide on a look and then colour grade your image. A mistake that occurs fairly often is when filmmakers over-do the colour on their film. They will apply heavily stylized looks to every shot and make a look that is more like a music video than a film. It is good to make your footage look as natural as possible at first, when you reach your white balance and exposure your most of the way there. Most films are not that stylized as they usually have accurate colours and so are not covered in a wash that makes the film feel unnatural. You can add warmth or colour down your footage as needed to suit the mood of your film, just dont m
ake it over the top. Films can be noticeably lower contrast than video and you can use post production to achieve this look. You could reduce your contrast setting and then lift your black levels just a little.