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.