A wise man once said;

“It’s very important that we nonessential mistakes twice. That’s a big part of improvement.”

Passionate about filmmaking, and you want to improve? You did well clicking on this link because, in this article, I will share with you 06 tips from the most famous filmmakers to help you improve. Let’s get straight to tip number one;

1- Work on Storytelling

Storytelling is one of the pillars of cinematography, along with composition and lighting. It’s a skill that every cinematographer needs to develop. The best way to tell a story is through visuals.

We use our eyes to process information, so when you look at a picture, your brain tries to make sense of it. You may not be consciously aware that you are doing this, but it always happens. This always happens and can be so powerful in helping to craft a narrative because it makes use of this natural tendon. Gordon Willis adds;

“Good storytelling. I always said that you could photograph a good story badly, and it wouldn’t matter, but you can shoot a bad story well, and it’s not going to help the story at all. It’s not. But you get the two together, and it’s great.”

2- Add Some Mouvement

Find a balance between camera movement and stillness.

Most of your shots serve several purposes: to create a sense of motion, lead the eye, and establish a point of reference.

To add some camera movement, the camera should still be in most of your shots. But sometimes you should use camera movement. Experiment with different pans (horizontal or vertical) and tilts (a pan that starts in one direction and moves in another). And consider using dolly shots (the camera follows the action while being dragged on wheels) when you want to show an object or character moving through space.

Don’t overuse these techniques. However — they can quickly. However, distracting if overused or misused.

Haskell Wexler; 

“Camera movements are used to lead the eye, to give people a feeling – an emotional one, a logical one, a dramatic one – just the way lighting and framing are.”

3- Better Lighting

Lighting is one of the essential elements in filmmaking. It makes your film look more professional and can also make your audience feel sure about your movie.

Lighting can be used to guide the eyes of your audience to someone or something in particular. The lights said a lot about your film’s genre, but it is also essential to convey an emotion. So learn the different types of techniques necessary for the use of lights.

Bonus tips: Use the correct lighting for your video: depending on what kind of message you want to send. For example, if you’re going to make a horror film, use low-key lighting so that it gives off an eerie vibe. If you want the audience to focus on one person or object on the screen, use high-key lighting so that it becomes more prominent than everything else in the scene.

4- Explore the angles

We cannot talk about cinematography without mentioning the different types of angles and how they can be used in your film.

Try different angles and see which one best fits your story.

As you already know, filming a low character will make him look dominant, and the opposite will make him gloomy, sad, and trim.

The rule of thirds – When you divide your image into thirds from left to the right, you have four equal parts. The rule of thirds suggests that placing your subject at one of those points will make for a more interesting shot.

Leading lines – A line that leads your eye through the shot can be compelling. It can be used as a point of interest or help direct the viewer’s eyes toward something significant within the frame, like an actor or object of focus.

Shallow depth of field – This technique blurs parts of a scene and makes subjects stand out more. It also creates an air of mystery and intrigue when applied correctly!

5- Manipulate with audio

The most important thing to remember when you’re filming a scene is always to be thinking about your audio.

The camera will capture whatever happens on set, but the viewer’s experience will be determined by what they hear.

Having the right sound for your scene could make the difference. The sound makes you feel fear, suspense, and every kind of emotion there is. In horror movies, for example, you will never have the same sensations if you mute the sound. I can guarantee you that.

Audio plays an essential role in filmmaking because it allows viewers to understand what’s happening in the scene, which can make all the difference between a good film and a great one.

There are many ways to improve yourself as a filmmaker. But the only sure way remains practice. Learn all kinds of techniques you want, and read all the articles with the tips and tricks, but all of this won’t get you anywhere without Practice.