I have spent my whole career as an editor. I just said "HA!" and slapped my hands together in one single clap. Nobody in my corporate editing room cared. Except me. I cared. Beautifully put, Jesse! I've been recently thinking a lot precisely about how what I see lacking a lot everywhere today is intention vs the shaking of the shiny new object (be it crazy drone footage, crazy slow motion or crazy whatever the fuck) Intention. Sure, the slow-mo is cool, but why is it there? What were you trying to achieve beyond us seeing there is slow motion there? Love the video, Jesse.
This video is a needle in a haystack. Too many creators on RUclips and especially TikTok are focused on maintaining their viewers' attention span, which is no more than a mere couple of seconds sometimes. Thanks for creating this video Jesse.
I like to play a drinking game where every time someone talks about “editing for retention” or “retention filmmaking” et al I take a shot. I am currently deceased from alcohol poisoning.
Yeah man. I'm glad I found this channel early on in my time filmmaking. I'm always looking for folks who can acknowledge the technical mastery of a French New Wave film, and incorporate that mindset into their process. An ability I only plan to further develop. On god.
I laughed so hard at the _"shooting weddings on a 12k camera strapped to a gimbal on a drone at F.95 shooting 240fps, and cut that s**t to the beat of the hottest synth-wave track"_ part.....overdimensioning who? 😅😂🤣
I work as an editor in the TV industry and OH MY DAYS! IT'S SO GOOD TO FINALLY HEAR SOMEONE SAY ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE!!! The constant 8k RUclipsr filmmaker video type tropes are tired and boring and just not accurate to the real TV and film industry. Loved your delivery style and just how down to earth you seem. Really refreshing to watch, thanks RUclips recommendation!
What kind of TV industry? Cause there is TV and TV shows. Both are not the same. I have been forced by TV to cut to the beat and to the rhythm. Ever heard of trash TV and reality TV? They are using more youtube tropes than youtubers themselves.
@@Leprutz I've worked in reality, entertainment, factual, social media producing for TV, development for factual and I now create trailers/promos for TV shows (where to be fair we cut to the beat as it's part of the trailer editing tropes.) Jesse's point is less that he's giving rules to be stuck to 100% of the time, more don't feel like you have to do what the RUclipsr filmmakers tell you to do. Be free to flex and do what works for you. I feel a lot of RUclips video tutorial type videos give these "golden rules" of filmmaking and it means everything on RUclips and social media looks and feels the same because they all do the same thing. TV and movies have a lot of variance. That's all. Like how in the mid-2010's it was all teal and orange grading on RUclips filmmaker videos, dialled up to 11.
This is a filmmaking channel that we don’t deserve. It’s videos that only exist if he has something to say, not just to upload for the week or stretch a list to the number 10.
To me, the mark of a great filmmaking video is one that makes me want to try out filmmaking myself, and this video definitely does that, but on another level: the thought going through my mind wasn't "I'd love to try making something with this expensive gear", it was "hmm, I wonder what I could create with what I already have lying around" You're encouraging a mentality I absolutely love: whether it's a filmmaker, or a photograph, you shouldn't see inferior gear as a handicap preventing you from achieving your best, you should see it as an opportunity to add a different flavour to your work. Learn to use its quirks to your advantage
Great points! One thing I would add - autofocus. I'm frequently surprised at the amount of filmmakers (and even working DP's) who use autofocus/don't even know how to pull focus manually, or when a new cinema camera is launched and people either complain about the lack of autofocus or its limited functionality. To me pulling focus is always a deliberate choice akin to framing or focal length - the flavour you can add to a moment by how fast or slow a focus pull is or who is in focus and who isn't is being completely lost by letting your camera automate those decisions.
For sure. Autofocus on my cam is a lifesaver for my YT vids and I even love it for corporate gigs, but only because I can’t afford an AC all the time. But I love pulling focus myself. I feel so attached to the image and don’t really have time to overthink it.
As a filmmaker you not only don't need it but it is even more harmful than useful. As an event shooter it is very useful. If once shot a wedding without autofocus and it was possible but stressful. I personally have never shot a shortfilm without manual focus pulling.
I complain about autofocus because I want the camera to focus on the eye perfectly when doing something else doesn't add to the story, and I often turn it off for deliberate decisions and stuff that is too difficult for a camera to do (for example the sky sometimes)
It depends on the film you are making. I shot my last film using it extensively, because I had to do everything on the film, and there were a hell of a lot of shots to get every day. Once the camera got the focus, I turned the autofocus off so it wouldn't change mid shot, but it was a life saver. So never say never.
A breath of fresh aiiiiiiir. So bored of seeing “how to film RUclips vids” n it’s just someone like “cut every four seconds, oh and hack the algo with this”. Been looking for something like this for a while! Thanks for the honest and insightful and inspiring video! Excited to binge watch more! Have a lovely day!
Ugh I hate the talking head trope of jump cutting to a slightly more zoomed in frame, then jump cutting back again. Like, really? You don't trust us to keep watching if you don't jolt our eyeballs out of our heads? 😒
as a fledgling youtuber, I will say getting a little control of depth of field - along with lighting - was a big zero-to-one for me. I have a small, cramped work space, and the 50 millimeter lens makes it look way better. I imagine that like anything, once you learn more, you're more interested in individual choices, and I'll fully admit shallow DOF is probably the "speedy double kick lick" of filmmaking 😜
Videos like this have made me realize that I've focused purely on presentation and centering my content around making it visually "marketable". Your points underscore my need to improve as a storyteller to be set apart from person that's "gonna be replaced by AI".
You don't need a gimbal, you don't need music, you don't need off speed....you are the perfect antidote to all YT filmmakers out there. Love it and subbed!
You just make sense. That shouldn’t be something to call out but, on RUclips, I kinda need to say it. This is the most sound advice I’ve watched in centuries. I had no choice but to subscribe.
The heavier cam is so real. I didn’t realize that what I was missing until recently. Got me setting up v mount rigs for my mirrorless to help add weight and balance
Mr. Senko out here actually giving good advice. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you. The longer I work on set the more I realize how little most of these RUclips "Filmmakers" actually understand about the filmmaking process.
It’s nice to hear someone with similar ideas to mine (I’m very fun at parties). I’ve been saying the exact same thing about bokeh for many years. To take it one step further, I consider shallow DOF a storytelling tool just like any other. If you want to make a character appear isolated or in their own head, ripping them from the background with a T1.3 on full frame might do just the trick. Everything should be done with purpose. Every camera move, lens and lighting choice.
Thanks for saying what we've all been thinking. Really tired of hearing I need a camera that shoots raw and 8k to make short documentaries for youtube. I also am not a fan of the gimbal. Tripod all day long!
For me using a gimble is a way of telling a story. If I'm filming a professional contractor who is doing his job concentrated and with a lot of skill and precision I want my shots to be as steady and controlled. So I use a stabilizer. When I'm filming a documentary and telling a story on how someone is dealing with fear during there sport I'm using handheld shots. Just because it's more personal and gives the viewer a better connection with my main character. Same counts for drone shots as well.
Agree with you 100%. Dude is largely arguing against strawmen ("Don't use/do these"). Gimbals, drones, 120 fps, music, cutting to the beat, etc. --they all have their place, if used with intent and restraint. Luc Forsyth (Canadian documentary shooter on YT) has made similar points, but with much more nuance.
@@sihargreaves sure, but a tripod is a fixed point. Good luck chasing after a moving person with your tripod. It all depends on what you need to get done, what emotion you want to convey.
You are speaking about reality. The glorified bokeh thing helps people sell super-expensive lenses. Mostly, an F4 lens is good enough with a modern camera. Another thing is the holy prime lens approach. If you are making a video and you are filming yourself in cramped spaces, like your house, then using a 24-70 or 16-35 helps a lot. Subscribed, because I like your perspective and honest approach. Thanks for the video.
Thank you! 24-70 all day long. I don't think I've shot on a prime in a couple years. I understand the quality difference, but there are other aspects that I can affect a bigger change before I start sweating detailed lens characteristics.
At long last, a voice of clarity rising above the tumult of RUclips’s superficial landscape. Genuine and well-articulated, intelligent and fun. Cheers!
Thx for sharing! The short conclusion to this story is that you should not allow someone to create problems for you that you do not genuinely have. Solve obstacles as they arise.
I’m halfway through this video and I can already tell that you are an appreciator of meaningful films. I’m so tired of tik tok content and videos over in 10 seconds. Also, “cut with your gut” will be my new editing mantra. Fantastic work! Okay, now I’ll watch the rest of the video 😂
What you need really depends on your style. Doco style is one thing, but filming a romantic comedy handheld would just be odd and distracting for most scenes (Actually we used rails, not a gimbal, and some old school Steadicam). Every desired look has the right tools. That said, have never actually used or needed a drone, ever. Have something upcoming that has some drone but that's one day needing it over many years. But again, get what you will use all the time, what would cost more to rent (or you can't rent) vs. depreciation based on what you shoot and how you shoot it. We were getting into food, so we got moco. Most people don't really need moco (but you also might if you want gentle motion for interviews, and you do those a lot...).
@@jessesenko Yeah, I wasn't really arguing with what you said. I like you am tired of youtubers far less smart than you saying I need this or I don't need that so you do/don't as well. I even saw one who said Blair Witch shot on a handycam so that's all you need. Yeah, it's all you need if you are shooting a found-footage film and releasing it in the 1990s. Me thinks a Pantene commercial, or a tourism promo for Hawaii would be less pleased if you showed up with that, not just with the perception it would create of you, but the result. It even depends on what culture you are shooting within. Anglo Canada has always been more gritty and doco based, even its advertising. I don't personally like that, don't shoot that, but most here do. But try throwing hard light at an actress in Milan and you will be fired in an instant .
THANK YOU for this! I’ve started out my journey with an Osmo Pocket 2 and I think I have gotten great results so far, but something about my editing process started feeling off to me. I was just making boring montage music videos because I was editing to a beat. I did not give every motive the space it needed. What I take away from your video is this: Essence beats format. Good content makes a good video, not good images - good images will only enhance it. I think from now on I’ll try to use as little music as I can while focusing on the story I want to tell. I’ll only add it when I feel it enhances the experience. A good story will always be good on any camera - a bad story will even be bad on IMAX.
I worked at a marketing agency and they would bog down creativity for the same reasons that you argued against, and it just was really nice to see and hear your reasons for why they aren’t necessary. They let me go last year and it’s been so relieving to get out of those constraints. Thank you for this.
I come from an ad agency background too... i cut out a section about advertising in my last video because it was a bit harsh, lol. But in short it's hard for them to create great, original work because they're too busy looking around at what's cool to appropriate for their clients.
3:20 folks need to understand, handheld is fine if you can hold your camera stable enough and or fix it in post. Jitter was never an option. This is why he said, heavy cameras are simply easier to stabilize. He is on point with this.
This video is why I use to love RUclips so much. It was so well written, the opinions felt genuine. I felt like it was made for the love of creating and not to fulfill a sponsored post. Thank you for the refreshing video.
Even this video doesnt take it far enough. Whatever you do with any equipment - do it with intention. Before you use a tripod - think about, why you should use the tripod and not go for the shoulder, handheld, gimbal, drone, crane, dolly or whatever and obviously its the same for all the other types of equipment. Why should you use the 25mm instead of the 40mm or 85mm, etc.? Why should you shoot at T2.2 isted of T8? How (un-)clear do you need the backround to be? Why should you choose 48p over 24p for this movie? Should you go for 180° shutter? Or 90°? Or 360°? Why should your keylight come from x direction? Should it be hard or soft? In my world of thinking - if you want your films to be incredible - everything you do must have an intention.
Man loving this series. I feel like you're one of the few people on here not pushing all this gear thats gonna "level up" our videos and just dropping practical advise. Have been on the fence with investing in a gimbal and small drone but you convinced me to stick with what I got.
If it’s paid gigs, I’ll rent off of a friend (I don’t live near any rental houses) and when it’s annoying me to have to constantly pick it up, I’ll buy. Thanks for watching!
Working commercial and narrative DOP here, and bless you for sharing a rational, professional perspective on the craft and storytelling. You should tackle the 'color grading sucks now' and/or the 'lighting sucks now' fallacy-ridden arguments I've been seeing around the web.
The algorithm just served me up your channel and I'm delighted it did. Great video, Jesse!…Speaking as a very experienced film music editor, thank you for spending so much time talking about music in this context…I didn't disagree with anything you said, including choosing NOT to use music in certain cases. Best of luck with growing your channel, Jesse.
You know what? I respect the hell out of this video. I'm very much predisposed to agree with everything you said in it on account of my theatre upbringing, but I often find myself very frustrated by this current culture where nobody asks, "What can I do with what I have?" Great stuff, dude!
Thanks for the honesty. I'm studying Cinematography and in my country it's hard to find good advice because everyone is trying to do the "usual" things. I try to go against the current and this kind of information is gold. Keep it up 🙏🏻
Great video! Very level headed too, not really trying to make anything seem overly important. I reckon youtube filmmaking tips are very rarely actual filmmaking tips but RUclipsr tips, or at best commercial tips (I don't mean this as a criticism of YT / Commercial stuff, it's just a different thing to me personally). I always feel like whenever you watch a video, make sure you can either tell the quality of their work immediately (if you have the experience/eye for that), or that they are clearly in the industry first and RUclips after. Again, this is nothing against RUclips filmmakers, it's a cool thing in and on itself, and I'm sure many good directors and whatnot have actually made their way through RUclips too, so it's not always black and white anyway.
Finger snaps for the whole video! This has so many points that newer filmmakers or "creators" need to hear. Utilizing the skills you've cultivated rather than getting caught up in GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is always important. Also, the notion of trends driving what you create is a race to the bottom is important to hightlight. Lots of good stuff in this vlog, subbed!
Just got this in my recommended and I loved it! The final remark of focusing more on intentionality and being decisive is so so important. Sometimes it’s seems easy to “not make a decision” but it’s such a crucial skill to have! If you never make any decisions you just end up wading around in a muddy pool of mush
I always try to define a "director" in my brain vs a "videographer" and it always comes back to vision and being decisive about the choices that lead to it. Yes always asking "what do you want?" leads to that mush you're talking about.
I think this is the first RUclips video that I've watched where i checked the time code and was disappointed there was only a few minutes left of it. Really enjoyable video, thanks.
„if anyone will get replaced by AI, it’s an editor that cuts to the beat” 😂😂😂 Hate to admit but that’s me! I think this sentence will stick now, and your explaination was perfect! Also I wanna say, that I truly truly enjoy the way you speak. It feels refreshing because you’re not juiced up. You sound annoyed and I like it 😅 very good video, thank you! This makes me think
I shoot my own cooking videos for youtube (not this account) and i'd wanted to go to a 4 cam setup for coverage and b-roll but I only have 2 4K capable cameras and 2 1080p. I had been agonizing whether to buy 2 more cameras to shoot all 4K but in the mean time I decided to just shoot everything 1080p and it's the best decision i've made all year. If you need to shoot 4K or above to be able to reframe your shots in post, you should probably spend more time getting your framing better in camera before you hit record.
Absolutely! And I may start filming my talking heads for this stuff in 1080p, 4k is just too sharp as I age, lol... My new video talks about how I've never delivered a client project in 4k. 1080p is great. If you have 4k cameras, make sure those are the ones you're using to frame up shots you might want some flex on in post... good luck with the videos!
Loved the video! One element people often overlook is how overwhelming buying too much gear can be. I’m always buying everything up front and it does two things really well: 1. It raises the bar in my head to painful levels 2. It makes me lose focus. I already have to learn so many new things to make these videos that matter so much more than the gear. But it’s easier to focus on optimizing the menus in my fx30. Thanks for the advice!
i love love love this, just getting into film and this was so refreshing to hear. having to work so hard to come out of pocket thousands of dollars is really overwhelming at times. thank you so much!
Just nodding along while you are talking this whole time, as a commercial/film/digital content whatever director myself.. thank you for sharing this POV to the world. It is just so hard to get people to stop listening to youtubers and influencers these days
This was the best and most refreshing video I've seen in a very long time. I get so tired of videos constantly pushing the next piece of great or a certain look. I wish people would focus more of the creative aspect and this video spoke to that aspect! Well done!!!
The biggest gift you've given through this video is inspiration. I'M SO INSPIRED. So thank you. Subbed within the first third of the video and can't wait to watch the rest. I'm also stealing this idea and applying to producing music for my channel hahah
Here’s a cool idea. Instead of cutting to the beat cut in a polyrhythm. If your music of choice is in 4/4 cut to the beats in 3/4. Occasionally you will fall within the 4/4 beat which will be satisfying compared to the rest of it almost seeming off time.
Love every bit of this. When I started, I followed all the RUclips advices and marketings that it actually hampered my work. Now that I shifted my focus on the work itself, it feels much easier to progress. Thanks for this great insight!
#1 for adding music last. This is how all my videos are made. It's the content that is most important. The music adds an extra tonal layer (if required!). Really great video Jesse. I'm glad you popped up on my feed.
Thanks Pete! For creative projects music is sometimes first, sometimes last. For RUclips it always last unless for a goofy video opener or something I know the tone I want. Thanks for watching!
for the first tip, if your camera have a really horrible rolling shutter like ZV E10, you can use monopod for stabilize the footage a bit but still feels like a handheld footage. it just reduce and sometime remove the jelly wobbly effect from the camera
I started off editing social media style videos, doing all the hyper edits and now I'm going into the cinematic film space. This video was such a change for me and I loved it! I'm tired of putting graphics and cutting so clinically to the beat, I've begun appreciating letting a scene breathe and giving it time to marinate more - I love the fact that more and more people are looking for a smoother experience with content and film now rather than just having all these hyper cut and sharp videos being churned out!
I’m cutting some social media videos right now. It pays the bills sometimes! I just look for opportunities to try something or learn a new process to grow through it and back onto my personal work
@@jessesenko that’s what I’m doing too man! Funny because I have a friend that claims that by doing this I’m chopping and changing too much when I see it as learning new skills and resources to apply and refine my style
This video is exactly what RUclips needs to hear. I'm tired of the "cinematic RUclips lighting" tutorials or the constant bashing us with "creamy bokeh" videos. I shoot on a GH6 and I can still make great stuff because it's all about how to light for the scene, how to enhance your film with sound design and story/plot. Love this video
I moved away from conventional cinematography into aerial cinema. I'm from the background of a colorist and I'm trying to help teach common principles as well as those that apply specifically to camera and FPV drones, action cameras, cinelifters, etc. I really appreciate your take on fueling your creativity and not buying into the hype of influencers. I've held multiple production and post-production roles. I think I've found my niche in unique aerial cinematography. Would love to work with you on something someday.
@@jessesenko ayyy! I love your push for critical thinking and for people to make their own decisions instead of taking whatever youtube tells them. I am stealing (with credits) your idea that "cinematic" is a slur. :P
Damn this is SUCH a good video. Excellent work. Just got me like hyped about being a filmmaker again. I've thought about it multiple times in the week since I've watched it.
I haven't seen any other video of this channel but just by this little gem of content, I thought it was worth to subscribe and follow. This speaks a lot to someone, who lives in the global south just like me and can't afford too much gear. There is too much vices, trends and "must dos" out there nad it is always nice to find someone that is more grounded and just invites viewers to stop and think as real artists and creators.
Number 5... You described exactly my situation, writer, now director, working on the script of my first movie... And wasting a lot of time learning about all the equipment I need to buy right now... but I won't be shooting for months, and probably a lot of people with equipment will help, ha! Man, you nailed it with your advice, thanks.
The ending bro ! It was a killer ! But in all seriousness, thank you for being real ! you dont want go against the flow to shine out, your'e just spitting facts that others are really scared to actually admit. Subscribed !
I really resonate with the first section about the gimbal. I love making videos for my friends and I have been frustrated recently with how much I feel as though I have to stabilize in post without losing that handheld feel. I am going to try weighing my camera down! As for your music section, I heavily rely on cutting to the beat in the content I create. I’ve never even considered doing it another way. Silence is also scary to me but I think it makes sense to try and find longer moments that can just stay quiet instead of having music. I love this video. Lots of new things to explore. Thank you.
I've been shooting on my own for 10 years, did film/vidfeo work for a decade before that and this is the best, most sage advice that everyone needs to hear. Thank you for reminding me of what I already knew. It helps to hear it again.
In regard to short form content, as an editor, cutting to the beat is something i've had to practice getting out of. So instead of finding my music first, nowadays many times I create the edit FIRST, then i'll add the audio/sound design SECOND. I'll make some minor adjustments to the cut and audio if need be, but this method keeps me from feeling so tied down to the song choice(s). It also allows me to feel more free in how i want to approach each video from a sound design standpoint. I'll still cut to the beat from time to time because clients (corporate ones, specifically lol) love it, but when it comes to my own work, it's a different story
Great advice. Ultimately... do what's right for the shot, story, type of video/film/commercial. Are you shooting a wedding? Handheld is a thing in the wedding world and so is a gimbal. I've used both in the same video. Realestate? Probably not handheld. But that's OK. You're doing what's right for the shot/project. Narrative? Rarely a gimbal unless you're tracking a subject walking and even then... what's the mood of this walk? If the scene is tense, gimbal is likely not the right tool for the job. If the mood is dreamy... maybe a gimbal is the right tool. I've been wanting to do video like this for a while. I just hate being in front of the camera so thanks for doing it for me so I can comment on it and share my thoughts this way. lol
Agree! I often shoot stuff that's never going to go onto my reel or portfolio... gotta do some of the cheesy stuff, but you're right... to use the right thing for the project. I was telling someone else that when i use a gimbal, it's really just to mimic another style of shot... a dolly/jib etc. Thanks for watching, Jim!
I want to say THANK YOU for this video! I'm new to the world of film-making, and am currently working on a new 10-15 minute video. One of those things I keep thinking is 5, "if I get a camera, instead of my phone, I'll film more!". But will I at this stage? Probably won't, and I don't need to spend the money yet. For where I'm at, and what I'm currently working with, my phone does the trick. But I think it's like with you were saying with a steady-cam or music, it's use or non-use is a creative and artistic choice and there is no "one size fits all" solution when it comes to filmmaking.
As someone who was into photography for many years and was always a film buff. Yes, keep practicing with your phone (more power to you!) but you can grab a dirt cheap (or even free) old DSLR, even if just for stills to start seeing the world through different lenses and see what aperture, shutter speed and white balance does to the light hitting the camera.
I've been in "analysis paralysis" about my content/film dreams because I have the funds/means to get anything that's flashy; but I usually find when I do that I get overwhelmed and isolate my potential and it dies. I think simplifying the process creates a hunger/yearning for improvement-learning. I realized this by watching your video. Holy shit, thank you!
absolutely excellent list!!! We probably started around the same time. My first prosumer camera was an HVX200 and then I got the 5d2. It was so groundbreaking at the time, but I slowly learned that shallow depth of field is overrated. On one hand the internet has progressed and democratized the medium, but it's also diluted it down to gimmicks, tricks, and gear. Storytelling with a personal point of view feels more rare and at worse a lot of content feels soulless. Shout out to the french new wave. Hopefully we can continue to build the new wave of youtube
LOL, I remember the HVX200... we stole the one from the ad agency I was working at to shoot a 24 hour film contest film... I thought it would be cool to shoot it on my parents' farm and get an aerial shot from my dad's dinky little airplane (pre drone). My camera man had the hard drive against the wall of the plane and the vibrations corrupted the file :(.... we think gear/tricks/ai will better the human creative experience, but it just always comes back to stories and ideas.
Thank you for this and thank you RUclips for this. I've been so excited about film making and I've been learning so much for this next project (the biggest one I've done) but that research has brought me down the soul-sucking "filmmaking RUclips" videos. It made me feel so worried about doing it wrong or not being good enough -- especially all of those "short film mistakes" and "cliches that will ruin your film" and "best 2k setups for XYZ camera" videos. Seeing this brought me back to the soul -- the art -- that I wanted to make in the first place. Got me excited to be working on a project again. It won't be perfect, but it'll be a hell of a lot more fun and creative. :)
Thanks! Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Squarespace. :) I’ve already said no to so many reviews asks, lol. But I’m trying to figure out my best approach to making this channel sustainable.
I think people who agree with you (including me) have one thing in common and it's that we have learned to love and embrace the fact that we're human in our work. Extremely shallow depth of field, very smooth movement, perfectly synced music, etc. are definitely on the other side of that, because we kinda start to operate like machines.
Jesse, what a breath of fresh air your channel is. I love the analytical, philosophical nature of your videos. Watching this one has led me to watching many others and each has left me with things to question and consider. I’ve laughed a lot too! Somewhere along the line, most of what the algorithm sends my way has has become a cookie-cutter stream of gear reviews and content for the sake of content with little depth. Finding your channel has been a welcome reminder that I should dust off my subs list and seek out those who speak to craft and technique rather than gear. Keep up the great work and I look forward to watching more! Greets from Vancouver. Sub’d.
Thank you. I’d love for you to expand on this in the future for the simple reason that you know what you are talking about, and we all need some deinfluencing on this.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
"If there's anyone that's gonna get replaced by AI, it's an editor who cuts to the beat." Just taped this to the wall above my computer. Love it.
I have spent my whole career as an editor.
I just said "HA!" and slapped my hands together in one single clap.
Nobody in my corporate editing room cared. Except me. I cared.
Beautifully put, Jesse! I've been recently thinking a lot precisely about how what I see lacking a lot everywhere today is intention vs the shaking of the shiny new object (be it crazy drone footage, crazy slow motion or crazy whatever the fuck) Intention. Sure, the slow-mo is cool, but why is it there? What were you trying to achieve beyond us seeing there is slow motion there?
Love the video, Jesse.
As an editor who has been cutting to the beat for over a decade, I’ve noticed a decline in clients recently.
This video is a needle in a haystack. Too many creators on RUclips and especially TikTok are focused on maintaining their viewers' attention span, which is no more than a mere couple of seconds sometimes. Thanks for creating this video Jesse.
Thanks Fredy!
I like to play a drinking game where every time someone talks about “editing for retention” or “retention filmmaking” et al I take a shot.
I am currently deceased from alcohol poisoning.
Yeah man. I'm glad I found this channel early on in my time filmmaking. I'm always looking for folks who can acknowledge the technical mastery of a French New Wave film, and incorporate that mindset into their process. An ability I only plan to further develop. On god.
I laughed so hard at the _"shooting weddings on a 12k camera strapped to a gimbal on a drone at F.95 shooting 240fps, and cut that s**t to the beat of the hottest synth-wave track"_ part.....overdimensioning who? 😅😂🤣
🤷 ... regardless I think you'd have to be pretty wild to use synth wave on a wedding video...
@@jessesenko I wouldn't mind a Cyberpunk themed wedding.
Don't forget the softest light on the droniest of drones 😂
And finish it of with speed ramps in every other shot because it's cool to have motion sickness ;)
I work as an editor in the TV industry and OH MY DAYS! IT'S SO GOOD TO FINALLY HEAR SOMEONE SAY ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE!!! The constant 8k RUclipsr filmmaker video type tropes are tired and boring and just not accurate to the real TV and film industry. Loved your delivery style and just how down to earth you seem. Really refreshing to watch, thanks RUclips recommendation!
Thank you!
What kind of TV industry? Cause there is TV and TV shows. Both are not the same. I have been forced by TV to cut to the beat and to the rhythm. Ever heard of trash TV and reality TV? They are using more youtube tropes than youtubers themselves.
@@Leprutz I've worked in reality, entertainment, factual, social media producing for TV, development for factual and I now create trailers/promos for TV shows (where to be fair we cut to the beat as it's part of the trailer editing tropes.)
Jesse's point is less that he's giving rules to be stuck to 100% of the time, more don't feel like you have to do what the RUclipsr filmmakers tell you to do. Be free to flex and do what works for you.
I feel a lot of RUclips video tutorial type videos give these "golden rules" of filmmaking and it means everything on RUclips and social media looks and feels the same because they all do the same thing. TV and movies have a lot of variance. That's all. Like how in the mid-2010's it was all teal and orange grading on RUclips filmmaker videos, dialled up to 11.
@@thebenedit I get you. Feel the same.
It's the same with the overused term cinematic and it lost it's real meaning.
@@Leprutz 100%! We get briefs for trailers to make shows look 'premium' all the time! What does that even mean?? Haha.
30fps slowed to 24fps is so sweet. Just enough to add that bit of time shift and focus on the moment.
Subtlety for the win! Thanks for watching, Richard!
There’s something about your pacing of this video that is therapeutic. Your calmly, un-rushed speaking is just so pleasant.
This is a filmmaking channel that we don’t deserve. It’s videos that only exist if he has something to say, not just to upload for the week or stretch a list to the number 10.
This is fantastic. The “I’m not corporate so I can say whatever I want” vibe is amazing
Thanks, however i was hoping we could find a minute to chat about Squarespace :)
@@jessesenko it does look like you need some betterhelp in your life lol
Anyone wanna play raid: shadowleague?
bro have insanely good and comforting vibe to his videos
To me, the mark of a great filmmaking video is one that makes me want to try out filmmaking myself, and this video definitely does that, but on another level: the thought going through my mind wasn't "I'd love to try making something with this expensive gear", it was "hmm, I wonder what I could create with what I already have lying around"
You're encouraging a mentality I absolutely love: whether it's a filmmaker, or a photograph, you shouldn't see inferior gear as a handicap preventing you from achieving your best, you should see it as an opportunity to add a different flavour to your work. Learn to use its quirks to your advantage
Great points! One thing I would add - autofocus. I'm frequently surprised at the amount of filmmakers (and even working DP's) who use autofocus/don't even know how to pull focus manually, or when a new cinema camera is launched and people either complain about the lack of autofocus or its limited functionality. To me pulling focus is always a deliberate choice akin to framing or focal length - the flavour you can add to a moment by how fast or slow a focus pull is or who is in focus and who isn't is being completely lost by letting your camera automate those decisions.
For sure. Autofocus on my cam is a lifesaver for my YT vids and I even love it for corporate gigs, but only because I can’t afford an AC all the time. But I love pulling focus myself. I feel so attached to the image and don’t really have time to overthink it.
OH MY GOD, RIGHT???
As a filmmaker you not only don't need it but it is even more harmful than useful. As an event shooter it is very useful. If once shot a wedding without autofocus and it was possible but stressful. I personally have never shot a shortfilm without manual focus pulling.
I complain about autofocus because I want the camera to focus on the eye perfectly when doing something else doesn't add to the story, and I often turn it off for deliberate decisions and stuff that is too difficult for a camera to do (for example the sky sometimes)
It depends on the film you are making. I shot my last film using it extensively, because I had to do everything on the film, and there were a hell of a lot of shots to get every day. Once the camera got the focus, I turned the autofocus off so it wouldn't change mid shot, but it was a life saver. So never say never.
A breath of fresh aiiiiiiir. So bored of seeing “how to film RUclips vids” n it’s just someone like “cut every four seconds, oh and hack the algo with this”.
Been looking for something like this for a while! Thanks for the honest and insightful and inspiring video! Excited to binge watch more!
Have a lovely day!
Everyone’s looking for a trick! And as soon as something “works” it doesn’t any more. Thanks for watching!
@@jessesenkoSo true, it all boils down to practice and experience :)
i just enjoy his sultry sassiness
Ugh I hate the talking head trope of jump cutting to a slightly more zoomed in frame, then jump cutting back again. Like, really? You don't trust us to keep watching if you don't jolt our eyeballs out of our heads? 😒
@@rhythmandblues_alibi aymen. “Cinematic vlog ep.2” vibes
I immediately liked the video based on the thumbnail alone. Speaks volumes.
Saaaaaame!!!!
I have to agree. Then he delivered.
Agreed!!
as a fledgling youtuber, I will say getting a little control of depth of field - along with lighting - was a big zero-to-one for me. I have a small, cramped work space, and the 50 millimeter lens makes it look way better. I imagine that like anything, once you learn more, you're more interested in individual choices, and I'll fully admit shallow DOF is probably the "speedy double kick lick" of filmmaking 😜
Agree, but we cranked it all the way to 11 back then, lol.
Videos like this have made me realize that I've focused purely on presentation and centering my content around making it visually "marketable". Your points underscore my need to improve as a storyteller to be set apart from person that's "gonna be replaced by AI".
lol. You still gotta market yourself, but just don’t forget to feed your underlying practice.
The calm energy, the truth bombs, and the natural vibe made me subscribe. Keep going!
That slip into “You don’t even have to listen to me” 3/4th’s in - hell yeah man
You don't need a gimbal, you don't need music, you don't need off speed....you are the perfect antidote to all YT filmmakers out there. Love it and subbed!
Dude this video was like therapy. I just felt so relaxed and focused during this video
"What you need is better composition" - ❤
You just make sense. That shouldn’t be something to call out but, on RUclips, I kinda need to say it. This is the most sound advice I’ve watched in centuries. I had no choice but to subscribe.
The heavier cam is so real. I didn’t realize that what I was missing until recently. Got me setting up v mount rigs for my mirrorless to help add weight and balance
the final line is hilarious and TRUE
Mr. Senko out here actually giving good advice. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you. The longer I work on set the more I realize how little most of these RUclips "Filmmakers" actually understand about the filmmaking process.
One of the best youtube filmmakers that actually pay attention on the important things! Good job!
Thanks Simeon, appreciate it!
It’s nice to hear someone with similar ideas to mine (I’m very fun at parties). I’ve been saying the exact same thing about bokeh for many years.
To take it one step further, I consider shallow DOF a storytelling tool just like any other. If you want to make a character appear isolated or in their own head, ripping them from the background with a T1.3 on full frame might do just the trick. Everything should be done with purpose. Every camera move, lens and lighting choice.
Honestly at the moment you are by far my favorite YT Channel
Thanks Joseph. Means a lot!
Thanks for saying what we've all been thinking. Really tired of hearing I need a camera that shoots raw and 8k to make short documentaries for youtube. I also am not a fan of the gimbal. Tripod all day long!
For me using a gimble is a way of telling a story. If I'm filming a professional contractor who is doing his job concentrated and with a lot of skill and precision I want my shots to be as steady and controlled. So I use a stabilizer. When I'm filming a documentary and telling a story on how someone is dealing with fear during there sport I'm using handheld shots. Just because it's more personal and gives the viewer a better connection with my main character. Same counts for drone shots as well.
Agree with you 100%. Dude is largely arguing against strawmen ("Don't use/do these"). Gimbals, drones, 120 fps, music, cutting to the beat, etc. --they all have their place, if used with intent and restraint. Luc Forsyth (Canadian documentary shooter on YT) has made similar points, but with much more nuance.
Wouldn't a tripod be even more steady and controlled than a gimbal though?
@@sihargreaves sure, but a tripod is a fixed point. Good luck chasing after a moving person with your tripod. It all depends on what you need to get done, what emotion you want to convey.
You are speaking about reality. The glorified bokeh thing helps people sell super-expensive lenses. Mostly, an F4 lens is good enough with a modern camera. Another thing is the holy prime lens approach. If you are making a video and you are filming yourself in cramped spaces, like your house, then using a 24-70 or 16-35 helps a lot.
Subscribed, because I like your perspective and honest approach. Thanks for the video.
Thank you! 24-70 all day long. I don't think I've shot on a prime in a couple years. I understand the quality difference, but there are other aspects that I can affect a bigger change before I start sweating detailed lens characteristics.
I need to learn more of this attitude
At long last, a voice of clarity rising above the tumult of RUclips’s superficial landscape. Genuine and well-articulated, intelligent and fun. Cheers!
Thx for sharing! The short conclusion to this story is that you should not allow someone to create problems for you that you do not genuinely have. Solve obstacles as they arise.
Agree!
5. You don’t need a camera.
That really is new advice. Making a video without a camera is definitely filmmaking 2.0 😆
I’m halfway through this video and I can already tell that you are an appreciator of meaningful films. I’m so tired of tik tok content and videos over in 10 seconds. Also, “cut with your gut” will be my new editing mantra. Fantastic work!
Okay, now I’ll watch the rest of the video 😂
Thanks Sam!
What you need really depends on your style. Doco style is one thing, but filming a romantic comedy handheld would just be odd and distracting for most scenes (Actually we used rails, not a gimbal, and some old school Steadicam). Every desired look has the right tools. That said, have never actually used or needed a drone, ever. Have something upcoming that has some drone but that's one day needing it over many years. But again, get what you will use all the time, what would cost more to rent (or you can't rent) vs. depreciation based on what you shoot and how you shoot it. We were getting into food, so we got moco. Most people don't really need moco (but you also might if you want gentle motion for interviews, and you do those a lot...).
100%! It’s just being intentional with the story taking the lead. And then the tool’s will fall in line.
@@jessesenko Yeah, I wasn't really arguing with what you said. I like you am tired of youtubers far less smart than you saying I need this or I don't need that so you do/don't as well. I even saw one who said Blair Witch shot on a handycam so that's all you need. Yeah, it's all you need if you are shooting a found-footage film and releasing it in the 1990s. Me thinks a Pantene commercial, or a tourism promo for Hawaii would be less pleased if you showed up with that, not just with the perception it would create of you, but the result. It even depends on what culture you are shooting within. Anglo Canada has always been more gritty and doco based, even its advertising. I don't personally like that, don't shoot that, but most here do. But try throwing hard light at an actress in Milan and you will be fired in an instant .
THANK YOU for this! I’ve started out my journey with an Osmo Pocket 2 and I think I have gotten great results so far, but something about my editing process started feeling off to me.
I was just making boring montage music videos because I was editing to a beat. I did not give every motive the space it needed.
What I take away from your video is this: Essence beats format. Good content makes a good video, not good images - good images will only enhance it.
I think from now on I’ll try to use as little music as I can while focusing on the story I want to tell. I’ll only add it when I feel it enhances the experience.
A good story will always be good on any camera - a bad story will even be bad on IMAX.
I worked at a marketing agency and they would bog down creativity for the same reasons that you argued against, and it just was really nice to see and hear your reasons for why they aren’t necessary. They let me go last year and it’s been so relieving to get out of those constraints. Thank you for this.
I come from an ad agency background too... i cut out a section about advertising in my last video because it was a bit harsh, lol. But in short it's hard for them to create great, original work because they're too busy looking around at what's cool to appropriate for their clients.
3:20 folks need to understand, handheld is fine if you can hold your camera stable enough and or fix it in post. Jitter was never an option. This is why he said, heavy cameras are simply easier to stabilize. He is on point with this.
This video is why I use to love RUclips so much. It was so well written, the opinions felt genuine. I felt like it was made for the love of creating and not to fulfill a sponsored post. Thank you for the refreshing video.
Even this video doesnt take it far enough.
Whatever you do with any equipment - do it with intention. Before you use a tripod - think about, why you should use the tripod and not go for the shoulder, handheld, gimbal, drone, crane, dolly or whatever and obviously its the same for all the other types of equipment. Why should you use the 25mm instead of the 40mm or 85mm, etc.? Why should you shoot at T2.2 isted of T8? How (un-)clear do you need the backround to be? Why should you choose 48p over 24p for this movie? Should you go for 180° shutter? Or 90°? Or 360°? Why should your keylight come from x direction? Should it be hard or soft?
In my world of thinking - if you want your films to be incredible - everything you do must have an intention.
Man loving this series. I feel like you're one of the few people on here not pushing all this gear thats gonna "level up" our videos and just dropping practical advise. Have been on the fence with investing in a gimbal and small drone but you convinced me to stick with what I got.
If it’s paid gigs, I’ll rent off of a friend (I don’t live near any rental houses) and when it’s annoying me to have to constantly pick it up, I’ll buy. Thanks for watching!
@@jessesenko That’s a great protocol. Love it!
This is the most refreshingly sensible filmmaking advice I've ever seen on youtube.
Oh my god your editing/punctuation analogy is literal gold 🤯🤯🤯🤯
Working commercial and narrative DOP here, and bless you for sharing a rational, professional perspective on the craft and storytelling. You should tackle the 'color grading sucks now' and/or the 'lighting sucks now' fallacy-ridden arguments I've been seeing around the web.
Thanks! You mean like "everything's too dark"?
@@jessesenko Everything's too dark or Everything's too desaturated
The algorithm just served me up your channel and I'm delighted it did. Great video, Jesse!…Speaking as a very experienced film music editor, thank you for spending so much time talking about music in this context…I didn't disagree with anything you said, including choosing NOT to use music in certain cases. Best of luck with growing your channel, Jesse.
Awesome, thank you!
You know what? I respect the hell out of this video. I'm very much predisposed to agree with everything you said in it on account of my theatre upbringing, but I often find myself very frustrated by this current culture where nobody asks, "What can I do with what I have?" Great stuff, dude!
Thanks James! We’re too busy buying crap, we don’t have time to do anything with it!
Thanks for the honesty. I'm studying Cinematography and in my country it's hard to find good advice because everyone is trying to do the "usual" things. I try to go against the current and this kind of information is gold. Keep it up 🙏🏻
Glad i could add a different perspective! Really, i just watch a lot of old films 🤷
Great video! Very level headed too, not really trying to make anything seem overly important. I reckon youtube filmmaking tips are very rarely actual filmmaking tips but RUclipsr tips, or at best commercial tips (I don't mean this as a criticism of YT / Commercial stuff, it's just a different thing to me personally). I always feel like whenever you watch a video, make sure you can either tell the quality of their work immediately (if you have the experience/eye for that), or that they are clearly in the industry first and RUclips after. Again, this is nothing against RUclips filmmakers, it's a cool thing in and on itself, and I'm sure many good directors and whatnot have actually made their way through RUclips too, so it's not always black and white anyway.
Thanks Matt. I just want people to think about story and cinema vs trends and tech. Thanks for watching!
This was excellent! Great delivery and points made!
Excellent perspective. Took me many years, burn out, perfectionist mindset and wasted money to learn these lessons and it’s absolutely true.
Thanks! Keep pushing!
Finger snaps for the whole video! This has so many points that newer filmmakers or "creators" need to hear. Utilizing the skills you've cultivated rather than getting caught up in GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is always important. Also, the notion of trends driving what you create is a race to the bottom is important to hightlight. Lots of good stuff in this vlog, subbed!
Thank you!
Just got this in my recommended and I loved it! The final remark of focusing more on intentionality and being decisive is so so important. Sometimes it’s seems easy to “not make a decision” but it’s such a crucial skill to have! If you never make any decisions you just end up wading around in a muddy pool of mush
I always try to define a "director" in my brain vs a "videographer" and it always comes back to vision and being decisive about the choices that lead to it. Yes always asking "what do you want?" leads to that mush you're talking about.
oh and dude, just realised i'm a longtime sub and watch your AE videos all the time!!!
@@jessesenko Haha thats awesome! Explains why I thought the small bits of animation in the video looked sick LOLOL
I think this is the first RUclips video that I've watched where i checked the time code and was disappointed there was only a few minutes left of it. Really enjoyable video, thanks.
Thanks! And I was terrified when I uploaded it since it’s the longest I’ve done by a lot!
„if anyone will get replaced by AI, it’s an editor that cuts to the beat” 😂😂😂 Hate to admit but that’s me! I think this sentence will stick now, and your explaination was perfect!
Also I wanna say, that I truly truly enjoy the way you speak. It feels refreshing because you’re not juiced up. You sound annoyed and I like it 😅 very good video, thank you! This makes me think
I shoot my own cooking videos for youtube (not this account) and i'd wanted to go to a 4 cam setup for coverage and b-roll but I only have 2 4K capable cameras and 2 1080p. I had been agonizing whether to buy 2 more cameras to shoot all 4K but in the mean time I decided to just shoot everything 1080p and it's the best decision i've made all year.
If you need to shoot 4K or above to be able to reframe your shots in post, you should probably spend more time getting your framing better in camera before you hit record.
Absolutely! And I may start filming my talking heads for this stuff in 1080p, 4k is just too sharp as I age, lol... My new video talks about how I've never delivered a client project in 4k. 1080p is great. If you have 4k cameras, make sure those are the ones you're using to frame up shots you might want some flex on in post... good luck with the videos!
Loved the video! One element people often overlook is how overwhelming buying too much gear can be. I’m always buying everything up front and it does two things really well:
1. It raises the bar in my head to painful levels
2. It makes me lose focus. I already have to learn so many new things to make these videos that matter so much more than the gear. But it’s easier to focus on optimizing the menus in my fx30.
Thanks for the advice!
i love love love this, just getting into film and this was so refreshing to hear. having to work so hard to come out of pocket thousands of dollars is really overwhelming at times. thank you so much!
Thanks! It's you that has something to say, not a specific camera or software!.
Just nodding along while you are talking this whole time, as a commercial/film/digital content whatever director myself.. thank you for sharing this POV to the world. It is just so hard to get people to stop listening to youtubers and influencers these days
Getting harder to find these diamond types of videos amidst all the others. Good Stuff.
This was the best and most refreshing video I've seen in a very long time. I get so tired of videos constantly pushing the next piece of great or a certain look. I wish people would focus more of the creative aspect and this video spoke to that aspect! Well done!!!
The biggest gift you've given through this video is inspiration. I'M SO INSPIRED. So thank you. Subbed within the first third of the video and can't wait to watch the rest. I'm also stealing this idea and applying to producing music for my channel hahah
Here’s a cool idea. Instead of cutting to the beat cut in a polyrhythm. If your music of choice is in 4/4 cut to the beats in 3/4. Occasionally you will fall within the 4/4 beat which will be satisfying compared to the rest of it almost seeming off time.
Love every bit of this. When I started, I followed all the RUclips advices and marketings that it actually hampered my work. Now that I shifted my focus on the work itself, it feels much easier to progress. Thanks for this great insight!
#1 for adding music last. This is how all my videos are made. It's the content that is most important. The music adds an extra tonal layer (if required!). Really great video Jesse. I'm glad you popped up on my feed.
Thanks Pete! For creative projects music is sometimes first, sometimes last. For RUclips it always last unless for a goofy video opener or something I know the tone I want. Thanks for watching!
You are the man for this video! I'll use my camera until it falls apart. Keep it up and be intentional folks 💯
for the first tip, if your camera have a really horrible rolling shutter like ZV E10, you can use monopod for stabilize the footage a bit but still feels like a handheld footage. it just reduce and sometime remove the jelly wobbly effect from the camera
like hold it like a glide cam, right?
@@jessesenko yep! use a cheap monopod or take of the center tube of your tripod to turn it into make shift glide cam
Finally- someone who speaks my heart.
Why did I just see you here?
Enjoyed this tremendously. "If anyone is going to get replaced by AI it's an editor who cuts to the beat" 👌Lovely stuff. Subbed.
I started off editing social media style videos, doing all the hyper edits and now I'm going into the cinematic film space. This video was such a change for me and I loved it! I'm tired of putting graphics and cutting so clinically to the beat, I've begun appreciating letting a scene breathe and giving it time to marinate more - I love the fact that more and more people are looking for a smoother experience with content and film now rather than just having all these hyper cut and sharp videos being churned out!
I’m cutting some social media videos right now. It pays the bills sometimes! I just look for opportunities to try something or learn a new process to grow through it and back onto my personal work
@@jessesenko that’s what I’m doing too man! Funny because I have a friend that claims that by doing this I’m chopping and changing too much when I see it as learning new skills and resources to apply and refine my style
This video is exactly what RUclips needs to hear. I'm tired of the "cinematic RUclips lighting" tutorials or the constant bashing us with "creamy bokeh" videos. I shoot on a GH6 and I can still make great stuff because it's all about how to light for the scene, how to enhance your film with sound design and story/plot. Love this video
Thanks Jeremy!
"The gear is not going to make or break what you want to say" Love it.
I moved away from conventional cinematography into aerial cinema. I'm from the background of a colorist and I'm trying to help teach common principles as well as those that apply specifically to camera and FPV drones, action cameras, cinelifters, etc. I really appreciate your take on fueling your creativity and not buying into the hype of influencers. I've held multiple production and post-production roles. I think I've found my niche in unique aerial cinematography. Would love to work with you on something someday.
This video, tone, and thoughts are phenomenal! Thank you for putting it out here! So many quotable moments!
Thanks Man! I’ve watched your channel over the years so it’s nice to hear from you!
@@jessesenko ayyy! I love your push for critical thinking and for people to make their own decisions instead of taking whatever youtube tells them. I am stealing (with credits) your idea that "cinematic" is a slur. :P
Damn this is SUCH a good video. Excellent work. Just got me like hyped about being a filmmaker again. I've thought about it multiple times in the week since I've watched it.
Thank you! Your comment got me hyped to make another vid!
I haven't seen any other video of this channel but just by this little gem of content, I thought it was worth to subscribe and follow. This speaks a lot to someone, who lives in the global south just like me and can't afford too much gear. There is too much vices, trends and "must dos" out there nad it is always nice to find someone that is more grounded and just invites viewers to stop and think as real artists and creators.
Limits let you focus on creativity! Thanks Marlon!
Number 5... You described exactly my situation, writer, now director, working on the script of my first movie... And wasting a lot of time learning about all the equipment I need to buy right now... but I won't be shooting for months, and probably a lot of people with equipment will help, ha! Man, you nailed it with your advice, thanks.
totally. the more gear you get, the more time you gotta spend learning it vs working on your actual film!
Thank you Jesse. The marketers have been winning these arguments for too long. Buy what you need.
The ending bro ! It was a killer !
But in all seriousness, thank you for being real ! you dont want go against the flow to shine out, your'e just spitting facts that others are really scared to actually admit. Subscribed !
I loved this video. Nothing like most RUclips fair in this genre. You’re delivery and presence are exceptional.
Thanks Tom!
I really resonate with the first section about the gimbal. I love making videos for my friends and I have been frustrated recently with how much I feel as though I have to stabilize in post without losing that handheld feel. I am going to try weighing my camera down! As for your music section, I heavily rely on cutting to the beat in the content I create. I’ve never even considered doing it another way. Silence is also scary to me but I think it makes sense to try and find longer moments that can just stay quiet instead of having music. I love this video. Lots of new things to explore. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and Good luck!
I haven't REALLY liked a 'content' for a long time, this is definitely one of the ones i love
Hope your journey is a good one
Glad my “content” “contained” something for you, lol. Thanks for watching!
I've been shooting on my own for 10 years, did film/vidfeo work for a decade before that and this is the best, most sage advice that everyone needs to hear. Thank you for reminding me of what I already knew. It helps to hear it again.
Gotta get this out even for myself to say out loud and not get distracted by everything else! Thanks Matt
my goodness you're the type of filmmaker I aspire to be. Looks like you're in Toronto would love to take you out for lunch/dinner sometime!!
In regard to short form content, as an editor, cutting to the beat is something i've had to practice getting out of. So instead of finding my music first, nowadays many times I create the edit FIRST, then i'll add the audio/sound design SECOND. I'll make some minor adjustments to the cut and audio if need be, but this method keeps me from feeling so tied down to the song choice(s). It also allows me to feel more free in how i want to approach each video from a sound design standpoint. I'll still cut to the beat from time to time because clients (corporate ones, specifically lol) love it, but when it comes to my own work, it's a different story
Great advice. Ultimately... do what's right for the shot, story, type of video/film/commercial. Are you shooting a wedding? Handheld is a thing in the wedding world and so is a gimbal. I've used both in the same video. Realestate? Probably not handheld. But that's OK. You're doing what's right for the shot/project. Narrative? Rarely a gimbal unless you're tracking a subject walking and even then... what's the mood of this walk? If the scene is tense, gimbal is likely not the right tool for the job. If the mood is dreamy... maybe a gimbal is the right tool. I've been wanting to do video like this for a while. I just hate being in front of the camera so thanks for doing it for me so I can comment on it and share my thoughts this way. lol
Agree! I often shoot stuff that's never going to go onto my reel or portfolio... gotta do some of the cheesy stuff, but you're right... to use the right thing for the project. I was telling someone else that when i use a gimbal, it's really just to mimic another style of shot... a dolly/jib etc. Thanks for watching, Jim!
A beginner like me stands to learn so much from you Jesse. Your future is bright homie! Keep being your creative and authentic self
Thanks Matty!
I want to say THANK YOU for this video! I'm new to the world of film-making, and am currently working on a new 10-15 minute video. One of those things I keep thinking is 5, "if I get a camera, instead of my phone, I'll film more!". But will I at this stage? Probably won't, and I don't need to spend the money yet. For where I'm at, and what I'm currently working with, my phone does the trick.
But I think it's like with you were saying with a steady-cam or music, it's use or non-use is a creative and artistic choice and there is no "one size fits all" solution when it comes to filmmaking.
As someone who was into photography for many years and was always a film buff. Yes, keep practicing with your phone (more power to you!) but you can grab a dirt cheap (or even free) old DSLR, even if just for stills to start seeing the world through different lenses and see what aperture, shutter speed and white balance does to the light hitting the camera.
I've been in "analysis paralysis" about my content/film dreams because I have the funds/means to get anything that's flashy; but I usually find when I do that I get overwhelmed and isolate my potential and it dies. I think simplifying the process creates a hunger/yearning for improvement-learning. I realized this by watching your video. Holy shit, thank you!
Thanks! Gotta balance the external voices with your own
This is my new favorite filmmaking channel. Thanks for being real!
absolutely excellent list!!! We probably started around the same time. My first prosumer camera was an HVX200 and then I got the 5d2. It was so groundbreaking at the time, but I slowly learned that shallow depth of field is overrated. On one hand the internet has progressed and democratized the medium, but it's also diluted it down to gimmicks, tricks, and gear. Storytelling with a personal point of view feels more rare and at worse a lot of content feels soulless. Shout out to the french new wave. Hopefully we can continue to build the new wave of youtube
LOL, I remember the HVX200... we stole the one from the ad agency I was working at to shoot a 24 hour film contest film... I thought it would be cool to shoot it on my parents' farm and get an aerial shot from my dad's dinky little airplane (pre drone). My camera man had the hard drive against the wall of the plane and the vibrations corrupted the file :(.... we think gear/tricks/ai will better the human creative experience, but it just always comes back to stories and ideas.
...cutting on the beat. I really loath it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights.
Thank you for this and thank you RUclips for this. I've been so excited about film making and I've been learning so much for this next project (the biggest one I've done) but that research has brought me down the soul-sucking "filmmaking RUclips" videos. It made me feel so worried about doing it wrong or not being good enough -- especially all of those "short film mistakes" and "cliches that will ruin your film" and "best 2k setups for XYZ camera" videos. Seeing this brought me back to the soul -- the art -- that I wanted to make in the first place. Got me excited to be working on a project again. It won't be perfect, but it'll be a hell of a lot more fun and creative. :)
Best speach I’ve heard since dinosaurs hands on! So refreshing - please continue and never ever coop with any brands/corporation.
Thanks! Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Squarespace. :) I’ve already said no to so many reviews asks, lol. But I’m trying to figure out my best approach to making this channel sustainable.
Love this video, the delivery, deadpan humour, original perspective & final words made me lol. Easy subscribe, look forward to more!
I think people who agree with you (including me) have one thing in common and it's that we have learned to love and embrace the fact that we're human in our work. Extremely shallow depth of field, very smooth movement, perfectly synced music, etc. are definitely on the other side of that, because we kinda start to operate like machines.
Your humanity is the best part... otherwise it's all paint by numbers.
Jesse, what a breath of fresh air your channel is. I love the analytical, philosophical nature of your videos. Watching this one has led me to watching many others and each has left me with things to question and consider. I’ve laughed a lot too!
Somewhere along the line, most of what the algorithm sends my way has has become a cookie-cutter stream of gear reviews and content for the sake of content with little depth.
Finding your channel has been a welcome reminder that I should dust off my subs list and seek out those who speak to craft and technique rather than gear.
Keep up the great work and I look forward to watching more! Greets from Vancouver. Sub’d.
Thanks so much James!
Thank you. I’d love for you to expand on this in the future for the simple reason that you know what you are talking about, and we all need some deinfluencing on this.
Will do! Didn’t expect this to do numbers. New for me 😬
Simply brilliant! Thanks for share it!
I was just having this conversation about a lot of these the other day. The camera spec thing is SO on point. Gained a sub after this one.