subject: What does 'Cinematic' mean? [print this page] What does 'Cinematic' mean? What does 'Cinematic' mean?
The question is often asked, "what is the difference between a cinematic wedding video package and an ordinary wedding video package?"
The answer is; the cameras, and how they are used while filming a wedding.
Cinematic wedding films are captured on the latest professional end photography cameras or DSLR's, the favourite at the moment being the Canon 5D Mark 11. As with photography, a wide range of lenses can be used with the video function and the same effects these lenses apply to photography, also apply to video. The video is High Definition (1920 x 1080), widescreen (16:9), and makes use of its 35mm sensor with stunning image quality akin to cinema images. These cameras provide a much higher image quality than normal video cameras, but it takes a skilled cinematographer to use one.
Video cameras have auto focusing, auto exposure, a zoom button, custom video functions and convenient audio controls. The new DSLR cameras do not have these video specific functions. Every shot filmed with a DSLR camera must be manually adjusted for correct focus and exposure. Shots that follow action must continually manual focus to keep the focus correct. On a TV set, this is the full time job of a focus puller. But at a wedding, your cinematographer does this role as well as the job of cameraman and director. While a candid cinematographer will never verbally direct for film, they are keeping track of what shots they have captured in detail and are matching and capturing shots while visualizing the edit so that a wedding film cuts together a story of the day rather than a selection of random shots.
So should you invest in a cinematic package or stick with ordinary video?
Aside from the technical complications, cinematic wedding videos are vivid, saturated in colour, are far superior in image quality, would be considered the latest in future proofing your wedding video and thanks to professional lenses, they contain the type of shots where the subject is in focus while the background is fully blurry. Cinematic also means very stable moving shots created with cranes, jib arms, steadycam apparatuses and mini tracks. Additional lighting is usually employed off camera for very pleasing and subtle visual effects. Cinematic wedding packages will have at least 2 cinematographers and use up to 4 cameras at any one time. While professional wedding Videographers will place cameras as unobtrusively as possible, remember there are photographers as well, so this is not a package for the camera shy. Given the additional resources required with a cinematic package, the cost is substantially higher than a Videography package, but the results are stunning.
Video cameras are not quite as sharp, not quite as vibrant in colour, they don't use the high end lenses that the cinematic cameras use and therefore the blurry background and sharply in focus subject effect is not as easily achieved. The advantage of using a normal video camera is all the normal video functions are available offering far more flexibility in shot variety including zooms and pans. Importantly for candid videography, a video camera provides the ability to follow action in a single shot. While we are zooming and panning and keeping a nicely framed shot of the action, the professional videographer will have the camera automatically following focus with him. The job of a videographer is far easier than cinematographer and you will generally get more candid moments captured with a standard video camera. Given most cinematic packages include at least 2 cinematographers, it is possible you could receive the same volume of candid moments captured at your wedding with a cinematic package, with the added bonus of extra cameras capturing reaction shots during ceremony and speeches. My recommendation for anyone not camera shy, is to future proof your wedding video with a cinematic package, but the margin for error with these cameras is huge, so make sure you choose your cinematographers selectively.
