Shooting Day 1: Tripod Part Missing

    For filming, we would be using my mother's Nikon D750 camera, with her Manfrotto tripod. Not thinking ahead, I had not done any equipment checks. Due to this lack of checking ahead of time, I did not learn the tripod was missing the head until it was time to film. This meant that there was no way for the camera to attach to the tripod. 

    Adapting to our circumstances though, I did my best to use the tripod in its current condition. Despite lacking a head, it still had the base of the head which I could rest the bottom of the camera on when filming. I would however still need to maintain a firm, two-hand grip and wear the neck strap to ensure it remained as stable/level as possible.

(L) The first scene we tried filming - before Luise and Gabby switched - where I can be seen holding the camera on top of the tripod. (R) A later scene where I film a tracking shot of Jorge walking from the couch into and around the kitchen.

    Though this adaptation had relative success it brought about a bevy of issues. Some shots were shaky or unstable, many were not level, and the speed of tracking shots were inconsistent. Below, you can see how the lack of the tripod's head affected our shots.

When trying to track Jorge walking he was always toward the right side of the shot rather than in the center. His positioning within the shot implies speed, however, that is not intentional as he's simply walking. I could not track Jorge at the proper speed due to a lack of stability in the head - I was focused more on trying to ensure the camera did not fall. Additionally, the shot is not level, nor is it stable, as you can see the video shaking - a direct result of me needing to hold the camera.

In this still, from a shot where Jorge and Gabby are walking through the door, you can clearly see how un-level the shot is. This was not an "artistic choice," it was simply an error that occurred due to my inattention to detail and the tripod's lack of a head.

    As the cinematographer, it's my responsibility to check the equipment prior to the beginning of filming. I should've checked not only the quality of the equipment but also checked and ensured we had all the necessary parts. Additionally, I should've paid closer attention to the level/stability of our shots when filming - especially due to the fact we lacked a proper tripod.