Hi - second request for help in 24 hours ... one day I will be able to help others.

I'm working on a project with young people making a film about an old Fun Park. A lot of the film will be shots of buildings showing how they have been left in a terrible state by the council. Does anyone have any advice on filming buildings - for example some poeple seem to be against panning and in favour of well framed shots. Any imaginative ways of getting good looking shots?

Thanks for all your help. It's invaluable.

Robin

Phew - big question.

Think about the rules of compostion the stills people use very well... rule of thirds, sight lines and all that sort of stuff. Same things work well.

Panning is cool, but then you have to think about how the composition changes through the pan. Pan slowly too and in one direction only.

Changing the focal point in a shot can be a good effect - eg start close on barbed wire then shift focus to infinity to show a derelict building.

For long shots show buildings at an angle, this helps to give a good impression of the size and structure of the building.

Include close detail shots too to add interst, like maybe pigeons, or the detail of a gutter or gargoyle ect...

If you can get a good establishing shot say from a tall building nearby or if there are hills surrounding the area of the town or city where the park is, you could do that. Shots of graffitti, broken windows, boarded up doors and windows, masonry falling away, twisted metal and depending on how 'gritty' you want to make it - show empty cider bottles, syringes etc lying in an area where DAO's hangout - just don't go there at night time. Is there anyone living nearby who remembers the fun park, did they go there as a child or did they work there? Would someone from the local council be willing to do an interview on camera?

Mark and Nikosony give some great advice. Another point is to try and film it, if possible, when there is a side light from the sun on the building. It will look more 3D than if the light is frontal or shooting it in shade

Don't forget to ask around the Area to see if anyone has any old Cine Film or Video of it in its heyday then you will have a before and after comparison for a better impact.

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Viking Video

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