{"id":59229,"date":"2015-07-23T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2015-07-23T14:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=59229"},"modified":"2015-07-23T08:42:09","modified_gmt":"2015-07-23T13:42:09","slug":"3-rules-for-shooting-action-sequences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/3-rules-for-shooting-action-sequences\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Rules for Shooting Action Sequences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shooting action sequences takes a special set of technical and creative skills. Here\u2019s how to get it right every time.<\/h2>\n

Most genres have distinct looks to them \u2014 whether it\u2019s the bright skin tones of comedy films, back-lit silhouettes in horror, or pale green color palettes often associated with sci-fi. But perhaps the most distinct looking genre of them all is action.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are exceptions to every rule, and you should never shoot a certain way just because that\u2019s what other filmmakers do. Though as a starting point, it\u2019s helpful to learn the fundamentals of constructing a scene in any given genre (in this case action) so you can eventually put your own spin on it.<\/p>\n

So before you go out and shoot your next action piece, be sure to consider these key points to make sure you\u2019re getting the best result:<\/p>\n

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Contrast is King<\/h3>\n

\"Shooting<\/p>\n

An action film without contrast would be like a comedy with no jokes. Action movies need to look intense and edgy<\/strong>, and one of the best ways to achieve this feel is by creating a lot of visual contrast in your scenes.<\/p>\n

Always be on the lookout for ways to add contrast while shooting. Frame your shots to capture higher dynamic range scenes. Light those same shots to get your shadows darker and highlights brighter.<\/strong> And in post, color grade accordingly to maximize the work you\u2019ve done on set.<\/p>\n

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Change your Shutter Speed<\/h3>\n

\"Shooting<\/p>\n

Most of us have had it drilled into our heads that we should always shoot with a 180 degree shutter. For those of you that shoot on DSLRs, that effectively means you want your shutter speed to be double that of your frame rate. So at 24p, you\u2019d set your shutter to 1\/48 (or 1\/50).<\/p>\n

That said, many action sequences call for you to bend the rules and crank up your shutter speed. Rather than shooting at 1\/48, try shooting at 1\/125 and see what happens. Every movement will become more pronounced and even subtle camera moves will be intensified.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s a helpful video from Smiv<\/a> that touches on the ins and outs of shutter speed.<\/p>\n