How do you make a low-budget project look big-budget?

(This entry cowritten by Larry Boothby, DP on “High Roller.”)

There’s no better way to improve the look of a project than by shooting it on film. Film has a much richer palette for a DP like me to work with, and in my estimation, still is the best way to shoot for a project bound for the big screen. Sure, high-def can look great, too, and is probably the way to go when you’re headed directly for TV (and won’t need to create prints for theatrical exhibition) and are very-cost conscious. But there’s still really nothing sexier than film.

 

Yes, film is expensive, but there are creative ways to get the most out of each foot you shoot. An interesting approach that my DP and I came up with when we shot High Roller was the “diagonal dolly.” Simply put, we set up dolly track diagonally across the line of action, allowing both a wide shot and a tight two-shot to be accomplished in the same take. In many cases, this removed the need for coverage, and added a lot of interest over a static camera. Another thing we did was stage scenes in depth, and allow the actors to work themselves toward the camera. Again, very efficient, even it requires a bit more planning for blocking, lighting and audio. Finally, putting a mirror in a scene offers a lot of opportunities to use reflections, which allows actors to work away from the camera and still capture their performances. Plus, mirrors are handy for bouncing light.

 

So if you’re looking to spice up your low-budget production, don’t dismiss film out-of-hand. It’s still the best-looking solution out there, and with a little planning, can be just as cost-effective.