A little tutorial and b-roll video of an Old Fashion Cocktail, made by Jinzhu, and shot by Katie
3 Tips for Directing a B-Roll Short Film:
1. BE CLEAR - So I did not actually shoot this B-Roll, it was my lovely wife Katie that did the cinematography, honestly she directed most of it as well, with just me to support, and Shawn for lighting and manly sensual humming at the end of the video. One of the things when partnering with a team is to be clear. I was Katie's first B-roll shoot so I had to be clear in my guidance, while still giving her the freedom to create and put her own style to the footage. One thing I did that was exceptionally (big word) helpful was to use another camera to show her my ideas, and test out views. I also played backup B-roll cinematographer but made sure she got the main shots.
2. BE KIND - Well, in my case, if I was not kind in my direction, it would not be happy times for me for a very long time, being that Katie is my wife 😍 But, for anybody else, motivations for being kind is that they may want to work with you again; it makes the shoot more enjoyable and feel less like work; and your team is more likely to accept and want to properly execute your ideas.
3. BE POST-TI-TIVE - So, that was meant to be like a pun... Moving on, it's not always the case, but remember that you can usually fix anything in post (usually). It is of course always better to get the shot the first time, but if not, Post is where you get to stretch your own creativity and put your creative touch on the footage. Use music, SFX, in-post zooms, and creative cuts to keep the video alive. Another thought.
Music Licensed by Artlist: Artlist.io