VIDEO CINEMATOGRAPHY? NOT VIDEOGRAPHY?
THE NEW VIDEO TREND
THAT I'M NOT BUYING INTO
My two cents on Wedding Cinematography
So the new wave that has flooded the wedding video market for the past three years, which is steam rolling ahead, is called "WEDDING CINEMATOGRAPHY." Which, is a complete oxymoron. Cinematographers first of all shoot on film, exclusively are associated with the motion picture undustry, and have a deep understanding of how to capture story, and to present it effectively. Wedding Videographers I repeat, WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHERS, are not any of that. Wedding Videographers a.k.a "Wedding Cinematographers" shoot everything on video, are associated with the wedding industry, not the movie, and most have no idea what story is and how to apply effectively wtih camera techniques.
Now, really why do I have huge problem with them? Well, to start, it's because I came from the movie industry, as I was once a screenwriter. And it just bugs me when other industries borrow movie terminologies in order to boost the marketability of their work. But I have an even bigger problem because:- Their Wedding Videos hardly include the entire wedding ceremony. In fact, a 7 or 8 minute wedding video will probably include 45 seconds of the actual wedding ceremony!
- While the video is photographically appealing, most shots are manufactured, meaning they really didn't happen naturally, but were directed.
- Choice of shots: There are too many getting ready shots tossed into the entire video. I mean really, what's more important...shots of the couple getting ready, or the wedding ceremony? Pretty easy one there.
- The videographer is missing the entire MEANING of the wedding day....Some videos make weddings even feel like it's an unhappy occasion, with the choice of over dramatic music overlayed on the vows. I mean, we're talking "phantom menace, star wars music stuff..."
- Overuse of montages. Wedding Cinematographers turn your wedding day into a series of music videos that are basically a series of shots, that over uses transitional camera shot techniques, to give you a 7 to 8 minute commercial of your wedding day. Montages are supposedly only used to signify a passage of time, they are not supposed to be used to tell a complete story.
- LACK OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF STORY. In screenwriting, we call it the Three Act structure. Where the beginning is Act One, middle, which is Act Two, and Act Three, the end. For some reasons, these wedding cinematographers wannabes, screw up the entire timeline. They will take the thank yous during your reception, and use them as voice overs during the beginning of the video. They will show shots of you getting ready, at the end of the video. Argghh..... They are literally taking shots that should be reserved in Act Three, and putting them in Act One. Imagine watching the ending of a movie, before seeing the beginning? Yes, that's what it's like.
This is probably the best cinematography video which I found which you can take a look at. It includes the best story telling out of all the videos I have been looking at:
NOTE: I DID NOT SHOOT THIS WEDDING
NICE, BUT WHERE'S THE WEDDING? oh wait, you may have missed all 10 seconds of it.
ISN'T A WEDDING VIDEO SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE THE WEDDING CEREMONY or be based around the ceremony, even if they are highlights?
You can find more videos here
The videos, like I said, are very well shot, exposure, camera shots, and editing are very well done. EXTREMELY! It's a commercial quality music video I have to say. But do these wedding videos tell you truly what went on during your wedding day? No it doesn't. Does it truly document your wedding ceremony, so that when you view this video ten years from now, you can say, "That's exactly how it happened." You can say, "I think that's how it happened..." No... All of that good stuff, ended up on the editing room floor. Too many "Wedding Cinematographers" are trying to cram an entire wedding day into three and a half minutes....
UPDATE: I have been informed by Segej, the author of the video above, that he does include a 45-60 minute video of the wedding day unlike other Wedding Cinematographers.
In fact, most of these shots in here are setup. The zipping of the dress, the putting of the earring on in the mirror, the fastening of the buckle, the best man helping the groom put in his overcoat, all manufactured, and may have been taken once or twice to get the shot done.
I swear, the blood is shooting out of my eyes and into yours right now. The art of wedding videography is supposed to be the documentation of the wedding day. Not a manufactured product so that every wedding video looks the same....because every wedding couple does exactly the same rehearsed thing.
What's strange is that many of these wedding cinematographers, probably struggle on what should be the easiest thing to do. Which is, capturing the wedding ceremony in it's fullest, and keeping the audience glued to the screen throughout the entire 12 to 15 minute wedding ceremony. That is just a matter of knowing when to cut to each camera, and feeling how long each shot should be held so the viewing audience won't get bored. It's simple to do... I challenge the wedding cinematography world to post the long version of their wedding ceremonies online. A real time, live cut...if you must. Lets see how good their edit is, when 100% of each camera shot has to be called upon to be used.
Now here is an example of one of my wedding videos:
THIS IS MY WEDDING VIDEO
It's simple, it's straight forward, I leave not a moment on the cutting room floor. My weddings are shown entirely from beginning to end, and my philosophy is to let the actual nervousness and tension of the wedding ceremony, combined with the happy moments, keep the audience glued to the screen, ultimately driving the story forward. At the end of the video, family members can actually feel as though they were there in the front row watching their friends or family get married. Well, they kinda were, as the cameras had the best seats and ears in the house. Story drives everything forward, filled with real moments, not a series of shots, edited well together to a form a music video.
Now I guess you're probably wondering, "Hey Steve, I know you have a problem with Wedding Cinematography, but the shots are really nice, can we at least do half of those shots?" The answer is yes. In fact, if you want your wedding video to look that, I have no problem creating one that is very similar, or even better. It just takes a lot of time, and that transfers into a lot of money. More so, it takes a lot of your time as well. Let me further explain.
I'll share with you a little movie knowledge right now. Did you know it takes about 1 or 2 days to shoot 1 minute of a movie. Yes. That long. And it's not fun. When getting these shots for your wedding, it will literally take you close to 1 day, to obtain all these shots..and that's more money for you. Then, on your wedding day, there will more shots to take... And it's just not one take by the way. It's handful of them. Take one, take two, take three...you get the drift.
When I came from the movie industry and submersed myself into the wedding industry, I had to go through the same battle of balancing effect, story, and wedding moments. I did not want videography, to hamper wedding moments. Production is never glamourous. It's tedious, hard work, that is very uncomfortable. And wedding picture taking, and video, can sometimes get in the of way of what is turly important....you and your fiance.
So the solution I came up with, was simple. To keep it simple. To keep everything simple. I would DOCUMENT your wedding day like a talk show....throw in a few setup shots, but that was it.
Just my two cents.
Steve Young
The Hawaii Wedding Reporter
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com
UPDATE: I have been informed by Segej, the author of the video above, that he does include a 45-60 minute video of the wedding day unlike other Wedding Cinematographers.
In fact, most of these shots in here are setup. The zipping of the dress, the putting of the earring on in the mirror, the fastening of the buckle, the best man helping the groom put in his overcoat, all manufactured, and may have been taken once or twice to get the shot done.
I swear, the blood is shooting out of my eyes and into yours right now. The art of wedding videography is supposed to be the documentation of the wedding day. Not a manufactured product so that every wedding video looks the same....because every wedding couple does exactly the same rehearsed thing.
What's strange is that many of these wedding cinematographers, probably struggle on what should be the easiest thing to do. Which is, capturing the wedding ceremony in it's fullest, and keeping the audience glued to the screen throughout the entire 12 to 15 minute wedding ceremony. That is just a matter of knowing when to cut to each camera, and feeling how long each shot should be held so the viewing audience won't get bored. It's simple to do... I challenge the wedding cinematography world to post the long version of their wedding ceremonies online. A real time, live cut...if you must. Lets see how good their edit is, when 100% of each camera shot has to be called upon to be used.
Now here is an example of one of my wedding videos:
THIS IS MY WEDDING VIDEO
It's simple, it's straight forward, I leave not a moment on the cutting room floor. My weddings are shown entirely from beginning to end, and my philosophy is to let the actual nervousness and tension of the wedding ceremony, combined with the happy moments, keep the audience glued to the screen, ultimately driving the story forward. At the end of the video, family members can actually feel as though they were there in the front row watching their friends or family get married. Well, they kinda were, as the cameras had the best seats and ears in the house. Story drives everything forward, filled with real moments, not a series of shots, edited well together to a form a music video.
Now I guess you're probably wondering, "Hey Steve, I know you have a problem with Wedding Cinematography, but the shots are really nice, can we at least do half of those shots?" The answer is yes. In fact, if you want your wedding video to look that, I have no problem creating one that is very similar, or even better. It just takes a lot of time, and that transfers into a lot of money. More so, it takes a lot of your time as well. Let me further explain.
I'll share with you a little movie knowledge right now. Did you know it takes about 1 or 2 days to shoot 1 minute of a movie. Yes. That long. And it's not fun. When getting these shots for your wedding, it will literally take you close to 1 day, to obtain all these shots..and that's more money for you. Then, on your wedding day, there will more shots to take... And it's just not one take by the way. It's handful of them. Take one, take two, take three...you get the drift.
When I came from the movie industry and submersed myself into the wedding industry, I had to go through the same battle of balancing effect, story, and wedding moments. I did not want videography, to hamper wedding moments. Production is never glamourous. It's tedious, hard work, that is very uncomfortable. And wedding picture taking, and video, can sometimes get in the of way of what is turly important....you and your fiance.
So the solution I came up with, was simple. To keep it simple. To keep everything simple. I would DOCUMENT your wedding day like a talk show....throw in a few setup shots, but that was it.
Just my two cents.
Steve Young
The Hawaii Wedding Reporter
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com
posted by Steve Young @ 2:11 AM
5 Comments:
At Saturday, August 01, 2009,
louie jerome said…
First time I've been here. I enjoyed the read. Gave me some fresh ideas.
At Monday, August 03, 2009,
LDL said…
Great website..
At Monday, August 03, 2009,
gucci mens shoes said…
this is a great ideas,i want learn more
At Friday, August 14, 2009,
Sergej Torkunov said…
Hello!
great site!
This is my video here above :)
I have nothing against, is on the contrary thanks for an appreciation of my work.
I simply would like to add that this video not the only thing that the groom and the bride receive.
2 videographers shoot all wedding ceremony from 8 am till 23 pm.
From this stoff we cut a film of 45-60 minutes
It also is that about you speak. There the reporting from a wedding-day with the tears, natural emotions and everything that you list.
This short video is only a gift from us for bride and groom.
I apologise for my English
best regards
Sergej Torkunov
At Friday, August 14, 2009,
Steve Young said…
Thank you Sergej, thank you for telling me this. I had a feeling you were unlike other wedding cinematographers. I will update my blog informing them that you do give much of their moments to them.
At Wednesday, December 30, 2009,
Sample Wedding Speech said…
This is a very beautiful webpage. Just want to mention, that the right wedding speech is very important, too.
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