So our group has two options for the overall direction of
our documentary. Our main topic is stand up comedy. The first is to go the
normal documentary route and conduct interviews, get B-roll, and so on and so
forth. I like this option because, as a DP, I get more control over my shots
and I was planning on going all out for this project regardless of what I’m
filming. The main issue with this direction is that it might not be a 10-15-minute
documentary. Even though we have 5 minutes of breathing room, I’d like to shoot
for the full 15 minutes just to be 100% sure the film has what it needs.
The second option leans more towards a mockumentary film
where we take someone, an actor, and document them making an ass out of
themselves while performing stand up comedy for the first time. This would be
the funniest thing to see. It would be very enjoyable to watch, but I’m not
sure how to feel about making a “Borat” movie. I wouldn’t get to flex my
muscles as a DP much since I’m just recording one man in the real world. I like
to set up lights and shoot plenty of beautiful B-roll shots. I like applying
those skills to every project I work on.
I can see a hybrid between these two ideas. Start off
normally and introduce the film as a doc on stand up comedy, interview other
stand-up comedians, then introduce our actor who will be performing stand up
comedy for the first time. I want to capture a comedian’s process before they
go up on stage. It could work…or not.
One thing that makes me work better as a cinematographer is
competing with myself. When I DP a film, I want to make the current film I’m
working on look better than the last one I made. My last film was my 302 doc Feast
Coast and I feel extremely proud of my work in that film. I want to
pull out all the stops for my 495 film though.
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