Actuality Films: Professional Cinematography

Our goal is integrity, which is doing what we said we were going to do, when we said we were going to do it, and delivering at-or-above the client's expectations; which are set during the initial consultation and meetings up to and during the event. Our prime directive comes from the client, either to be unobtrusive if the client seeks an objective cinematic view of the event, and/or to be "in the mix of it" should the client desire a subjective cinematic perspective of the event.

Our criteria for payment: 1/4 up front upon booking with us (non-refundable), 1/4 on the first day of production, and the remaining 1/2 on delivery of the post-production end product. The client has the right to cancel services up 24 hours prior to the event, forfeiting only the down-payment. Once production begins, if the event is cancelled due to weather, etc., the client only forfeits 1/2 of the proposed payment schedule, as the post-production end product will not be delivered. All fees prior to the event are used to cover personnel and equipment which must be reserved so as not to be used on another project during that same period of time.

Even though we specialize in High Definition (HD) moving pictures, we're well-capable of providing photographic services, or a mix of photo and video/digital cinematic coverage of your event/project.

We're not Hollywood (yet), but we do provide a surprisingly-high level of service and end result, at prices most individuals, families, and businesses can afford. If it's beyond our capabilities, we're happy to recommend higher-levels of DP (Director of Photography) and/or Cinematographic services, so you can focus on your project and get'r done.

Here's an example of WHY you might need our services: It's been shown that videos can increase the number of business profile clicks by more than 30%, business calls by 18%, website visits by 55%, incidence of purchase by 24%, according to a report by PRWeb. (more links and references demonstrating *why* digital films are essential to holding your audience's attention are included at the bottom of this page)

Also, most types of advertising are not effective on today's audience. Succinct video content filmed cinematically is appealing to everyone with a TV, monitor, or smart-phone. Reading websites on smart-phones is a no-go, so do yourself a favor and feature a professionally produced cinematic short-film representing you, or your business, so you can leverage today's technology and cater to today's audience.

In addition to doing our own post-production in-house, we also offer services to edit your home movies shot on HD video cameras and DSLR's (like the Canon 5D, 7D, 600D, etc.); all editing done on Adobe CS5 Master Collection digital non-linear editing systems. Save yourself time, money, and frustration while trying to do this all yourself; put our talented team to work for you, now you're an Executive Producer!

Ask yourself, and then ask our competition. . . what do you need, and can your chosen provider reliably deliver to-or-above your expectations?

1. Camera stabilization (uniquely essential to cinematography and moving pictures in general)
a. Ask the competition about their capabilities in reference to:
i. Manfrotto Fluid-Head Tripods (panning and tilting require fluid-heads to evoke the elegance of cinematic features)
ii. Steadicam coverage of activity (fluid, steady any-which-way camera coverage for moving scenes, sports, events)
iii. Crane/jib shots (up, down, and around movement of cameras)
iv. Dolly shots (linear movement of the cameras)
v. P.O.V. (Point-of-View) shots
vi. Car Mounted shots
2. Lenses (next to camera stabilization and movement, lenses create the "film" look, which differentiates your project from the ubiquitous "video camera" look)
a. Ask the competition if they have the ability to choose from 30 lenses, or if all of their scenes are shot on the same lens.
b. Ask the competition about prime lens use, vs. zoom lenses as per the specifics of your event/project
3. Microphones (it's the sound which makes talking pictures)
a. Ask what microphone should be used with respect to your particular event/project
b. We have an assortment of condenser, dynamic, shotgun, lavalier and broadcast mics, wired or wireless, depending on the occasion and setting
c. 3-D sound available, @ additional fee (not suited for most budgets)
4. Lighting (Cinematography is Painting with Light)
a. We use Lowell Pro, Lowell Omni, and Lowell Tota lights, ranging from 250-600 watts per bulb, with a variety of scrims, diffusion, dimmers and flags to control the light.
b. We also use reflectors as a light-replacement for times when the situation does not allow for standard gaffing.
5. Color Grading & Color Correction Services
a. Ask the competition about:
i. In-house color grader?
ii. Applied to each clip/scene or to the entire footage? (or both?)
iii. Is this included at an additional fee? (ours is included free on every project)
6. Production Effects
a. Cinematic 24 frames-per-second, standard NTSC (29.987 frames-per-second), Slow-Motion HD 720p (60 frames-per-second), Twixtor Slow-Motion (up to 1,000 frames-per-second, simulated)
b. Time Lapse Cinematography with an Intervalometer
c. Slow Motion Capture
d. High Dynamic Range Cinematography
e. HD Panoramic Photography
7. Final Product Deliverable:
a. Electronic deliverable (available in many formats)
b. DVD
c. Blu-Ray
d. Various HD formats for websites and social networks, public or privately available
e. The ability to deliver multiple copies, professionally packaged

General information we'll need to know when you contact us, in order to give you an accurate proposal and the lowest cost possible:

1. What kind of budget are you working with?
2. Payment terms: 1/4 up front upon booking with us, 1/4 on the first day of production, and the remaining 1/2 on delivery.
3. What are your expectations for the event/project, and could you describe the desired outcome? (i.e. what is to be filmed, over what period of time, and what expectations do you seek in terms of the end-result, length of the final product, format of delivery)
4. Is there something similar to the outcome/deliverable you're seeking to acquire? (style, theme, or content wise?)
5. Does the event take place Inside and/or outside?
6. Power (ex. 600w lights, extension cords, etc.)?
7. Expected timeframe of deliverable? (i.e. when would you like it finished and make the final payment?)
8. What time does the event begin?
9. What time can we begin setup?
10. What time approx. will it end?
11. What is the address and telephone # of the venue?
12. Is there a secure location at the venue to stage our equipment?

Read below for the various areas of interest through which we can best be of service to you:

Real Estate and Landscapes:

1. Cinematic representation of coming home
2. Standard indoor/outdoor photographic coverage
3. Standard indoor/outdoor video coverage (still camera shots)
4. Advanced indoor/outdoor photography
5. Advanced indoor/outdoor cinematography (moving camera and visual effects)

Bands, Comedians, and Live Events

1. Webpage introductory video
2. Video for Single Song
3. Filming Live Events
4. Cinematic representation
5. Documentary Film

Businesses:

1. Video Resume
2. Website introductory video
3. Cinematic Experience to capture the essence of your business, offered on your website
4. Marketing video
5. Product Catalog
6. Customer Service
7. Business Milestone
8. Holiday Party
9. TV Commercial
10. Documentary Film

Family:

1. Events/ Banquets/Retirement Dinners
2. Birthday Parties
3. Family History
4. Family History with Interviews
5. Family Reunions
6. Sporting Events
7. Holidays
8. Baptisms (no circumcisions, please!)
9. Bon Voyages
10. Homecoming
11. Graduations
12. Capturing the cinematic representation of your gallery opening, premiere, or recital

Individuals:

1. Video Resume
2. Interviews
3. Portfolios
4. Facebook & Webpages
5. Showcasing your hobby, craft, or artistic skills
6. Capturing the cinematic representation of your gallery opening, premiere, or recital

Think you can do it yourself for less? Good Luck!

Here's a sample of the cost (new) and the rental rates for equipment (from Rule Boston Camera Rentals) which we don't have to rent:

Canon 5Dmk2 (Cost New: $3,000, Cost Per-Day to Rent: $300 Collateral Security Deposit)

Canon 7D (Cost New: $2000, Cost Per-Day to Rent: $200 Collateral Security Deposit)

Canon 600D (Cost New: $1000, Cost Per-Day to Rent: $125 Collateral Security Deposit)

Lenses (specified by project, Cost New: $300-$2000, Cost Per-Day to Rent: $100-$500 depending on lens Collateral Security Deposit)

Microphones (specified by project, Cost New: $300-$3000)

Steadicam (Cost New: $2,000, Cost Per-Day to Rent: $300 Steadicam Operator Collateral Security Deposit)

Jib Crane (Cost New: $1,000, Cost Per-Day to Rent: $250 Collateral Security Deposit)

Manfrotto 501 Fluid-Head Tripods (Cost New: $500, Cost Per-Day to Rent: $75 per-camera Collateral Security Deposit)

Post-Production Services & Experienced Personnel... Priceless.