Ishtar Belly Dance Video Production Book Cinematography 437 Nadia Casey
Ishtar Belly Dance Video
Production Book
Cinematography 437
Nadia Casey
Script
This project does not have a script in the traditional sense of
the word as it will be cut as best fits the music. It will be a promotional
belly dance video for the troupe Ishtar, to be about one minute. Using
the music provided by Mohammad, the “Veil Dance”, cutting between
each of the dancers and group dances in a sensual setting with a
Middle Eastern motif.
The purpose of this video is to promote the upcoming dance
show by using vibrant colours and movement to highlight the talent
and beauty of the dancers. The setting will emphasize the cultural ties
to the Middle East by using a dark and mysterious studio setting with
some exotic pieces, and juxtapose that with a belly dancer performing
by the beach and dancers in their everyday rehearsal setting to
connect the reality, the sultry/exotic and also grounding the piece in a
framework that is natural and Vancouver centered.
Limitations
• No money
• School/dance/work rehearsal schedule leave little time
available
• Schedule of dancers (only available one night a week, must
accommodate work/rehearsal schedule)
• Lack of crew (due to everybody busy working on their own
projects or doing what they do to get away from it all)
• 7D only available for a few days (as well as limited time with
other equipment)
• Must be cut to this particular song (company’s needs)
• Must be no more than one minute (company’s needs)
• The follow focus is broken
• Limited knowledge
Assets
• School equipment for free
• Amazing dancers with their own costumes
• UBC Theatre department
• Access to free studio space at film building
• Access to volunteer crew
• I only have access to a zoom lens on the dates I plan to shoot
• Dancers willing to bring food to feed crew (always appreciated
and money saver!)
Creative Material
My inspiration for this promotional video includes the following
photographs. I want it to be simple and seductive, with the dancer
front and center. I want soft lighting that compliments the dancers but
also some contrast to give it an artsy, mysterious feel. Some Middle
Eastern touches, such as the torches I have procured, will add to this
by setting the dance within an exotic space without having to look
cheesy as a green screen or high key situation could. I would like to
intercut the sultry, dark studio look with high key dance rehearsal
shots to show the transformation of the dancers.
I plan on using a fog machine in parts of the studio to
emphasize the mystery, although if it ends up looking like an eighties
music video, I will not use said footage.
I also plan on intercutting some silhouette shots at sunset of
one of the dancers, Danielle.
I only have access to the 7D zoom lens, so I will be using that.
Here are some images that I want to emulate:
Location and Scout Notes
Studio- space is available and perfect for studio set up with
Dance Studio- space is not very aesthetically pleasing, ergo a lot of
close ups to avoid seeing the room; black and white to avoid the ugly
wall colour (must be in studio as only time available is during their
rehearsal as they are there six nights a week at the moment)
English Bay- perfect for silhouette; sunset is at 6:08 pm
Creative Approach
My creative approach is to have a lot of quick cuts from one fluid
movement to the next. I want to studio to feel very intimate and
seductive, with the focus on the dancer. A lot of close ups and some
inserts of veils and hand undulations in slow motion will add to the
fluidity and seductiveness of the dance.
As the vibrant colours are already available, I want them to pop on
the screen. By having a dark background, this will be more
accentuated.
Equipment List
Canon 7D
Manfrotto tripod
12x12 solid black
Flags
Nets
Silks
Reflector
Fold-up dolly with track
4x Kinos
1K HMI
650
450
200
C-stands
Light stands
Sandbags
Crew List
Sophia- 1st Ad
Michael- Key Grip/Gaffer
Steve Benson- Grip/Gaffer
Cast List
Emily
Yumi
Danielle
Vanessa
Natalie
Saba
Roud
Lisa
Shooting Schedule
Monday, March 7th, 5 to 10:30 pm
(UBC Film Building Studio Setting)
Set up equipment for studio 5-5:30 pm
Dancers arrive and to make-up at 5:30 pm
Individual dancers from side, lighting tweeks and shoot 6-7 pm
Individual dancers from in front, with lighting tweeks & shoot 7-7:30
Close ups 7:30-8:30
Group dances 8:30-9:30
Slow mo 9:30-10:00
Wrap up 10-10:30 pm
Tuesday, March 8th 8:30 to 10 pm
(Dance rehearsal at Manitoba Studio)
Set Up 8:30-9pm
Group Practice wide shot 9-9:20 pm
Light adjustments and shoot MS, different angle 9:20- 9:35 pm
Light adjustments and shoot CUs 9:35-9:50 pm
Wrap up 9:50-10 pm
Saturday 2 to 5pm
Wednesday, March 9th 5:15 to 6:30 pm
(English Bay with Dani)
Set Up Frame and Rehearse with Dancer 5:15 to 5:50 pm
Shoot silhouette shots 5:50- 6:10 pm
Wrap Up 6:10 to 6:30 pm
Conclusions
The filming process was very different from what I had
expected. As far as using the film building, the building manager
never came by to turn off the smoke detectors, so we were unable to
use the fog machine. Also, when we went to take out equipment,
almost all the sandbags and c-stands had been taken, even though
we had requested a sufficient number. So there were two sandbags
left for me. We created sandbags using paint cans, string and
garbage bags.
As far as filming the dancers at their rehearsal the following
night, the choreographer would not allow me to set up until the last
minute and then got into a fight with some of the dancers, so I ended
up having 15 minutes to shoot everything. The dramatic and negative
energy threw me off and I did not take the time to make it as beautiful
as it could have been. In retrospect, I would have seen if I could use
a different room also, as that one had so much extra junk in it that
was distracting in the frame.
The shots on the beach were unfortunately cancelled due to
rain and because the 7D was not available, nor were the dancers, it
was not picked up at a later date. I did not make a Plan B, which is
slightly ridiculous given that it rains in Vancouver 75% of the time!
Some gifts included finding the awesome Middle Eastern
torches that were in the studio to rent for free at the UBC Theatre
department. That really added to the ambiance and the entire shoot
would have seemed vacant without them.
Obviously the talent was a real gift, and the ability to use UBC’s
resources for free.
If I were to redo this project, I would definitely find indoor
alternatives for all my outdoor plans. I would also have made the
most of the dolly by getting a lot more dynamic shots. A lot of my
footage hovers around the subject without much interesting
movement. I would also have taken more time regardless of whether
others wanted to rush.