Do Do Hold the camera steady. Check the sun or lighting is behind the camera –or your film will be dark. Take spare batteries and mini DVs/DVDs. Hold your microphone out of sight, but close enough so that the sound is recorded properly. Avoid background noise like traffic. Check there are no cables trailing on t he floor which could cause accidents. Don’t Don’t Don’t zoom in and out when filming – your film will look awful. Don’t play your film back during the shoot (you may record over it! Don’t let anything creep into your shot that you do not want, like your hand! Don’t film too long shots. very important: Don’t do any dangerous or high shots. Please be careful with your camera. Please watch out: camcorders may be easily stolen.

It’s important not to cross the “line of vision” when filming two characters talking to each other. You have to place your camera (or cameras) in the “same side” of the “line of vision”. In the picture, camera A takes a LONG SHOT which shows both characters. Cameras B and C face an only character each, and take MID SHOTS, OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOTS and CLOSE-UPS of this character. When filming, a camera mustn’t film another camera. Keep cameras, microphones and spot- lights out of sight. A B C

When you shoot, be careful with the composition of you frames: Leave room in front of moving subjects. Always remember THE RULE OF THIRDS: draw an imaginary tic-tac-toe on your frame, and place your focal point any point where the lines intersect. Indoor scenes are often shot using a three light arrangement. The Key light is the main source of light. The other two lights are used to give a 3D effect.

ACTORS go to their places, with the props. CAMERA OPERATOR sets up camera for the first shot. SOUND TECHNICIAN holds micrpohone still and out of scene. DIRECTOR checks actors are ready and shouts: “SILENCE ON SET”. CO presses ‘record’ on camera (REC will appear in red on the screen) and shouts: “CAMERA ROLLING”. D shouts: “ACTION!” Actors then count to 3 in their heads (not out loud!) and then start acting. D when finished, counts to 3 in his/her head and then shouts: “CUT!” CO presses ‘record’ to stop recording.