Production - Using the Sony a6400

 For our final project, one of the biggest improvements from our midterm was switching cameras. Instead of filming on an iPhone, we used the Sony a6400. This decision significantly improved the overall cinematic quality of our film.

During our midterm, some shots looked flat and overly bright, especially in low light scenes. Since our film is a crime/mafia genre set mostly at night, lighting and shadows are extremely important.

The Sony a6400 allowed us to:

- Capture clearer footage in low light

- Adjust ISO

- Control Shutter

- Use proper focus settings

- Create a more cinematic depth of field

- Stable Shots

Using a gimbal paired with the Sony A6400 made a noticeable difference. Instead of handheld shake, the gimbal kept our shots smooth and controlled. This was especially important for: Walking shots, Following characters to the car, and Movement near the bridge.

The smooth motion makes the film feel more professional and intentional. In our midterm some shots felt rushed or unstable. The gimbal helped eliminate that problem and made tracking shots look clean.

We also used a tripod for steady shots when still. Like over the shoulder shots and establishing shots.

Audio quality is just as important as visuals, especially since we added more dialogue

By attaching an external mic directly to the camera, we captured clearer and more focused audio compared to using a built in or individual microphones.

While we still had to be careful about background noise, the mic made voices sound sharper and more defined. The individual mics we used in the midterm you could sometimes hear clank against another object and make a noise, so the switch the external mic should of eliminated that problem aswell.