My Portfolio / Showreel as a videographer

I am used to saying that cinematography for fiction and documentary are different professions.

In the first case, one should know the organizational rules of lighting, camera movement, stability etc and follow them. Whereas for the second case, one should have a well-developed sense of creativity and quick orientation. If there is a conflict between technically excellent and catchy shots, the documentary videography prefers the second one.

In the case of fiction, the technical problems are not reasonable as it’s possible to re-stage and try many times. This principle is not possible to use for a pure documentary. In short, the cameramen of a documentary shouldn’t act with the principles they are used to using in fiction production.

The documentary film cameraman should possess skills in the following categories:

• Action
• Interview
• Position
• Lighting
• Sound
• Cameraman as an editor
• Camera movement and shot sizes

I worked with several cameramen/videographers. Some of them were able to get what I wanted from them but they could come only to the shootings that were planned weeks ago – many workplaces. Some of them were used to fiction cinematography and couldn’t give up with excellent lighting and stabilization which resulted in the loss of excellent unique situations.

So I came up with the idea, that the documentary film directors must be able to shoot the film themselves unless they’ve found a cameraman corresponding to their creative needs and unless they have enough money to hire the cameraman to be available any single moment when the situation is calling. Later on, I was involved in some documentaries the authors of which needed my shooting style – beautifully capturing the unique situations from life.

If you want to see more about my videography, I suggest also checking my upcoming film (Purification) trailer.

More about the film PURIFICATION – here.