Anthony Fratto

The Beauty of Glacier National Park

Hey Designers! A while back our dev Cameron made a post covering our experience in Montana this year. If you haven't read it, give it a look here: www.rigdesigner.com/posts/plGsDIhe/visiting-glacier-national-park-and-seeing-the-northern-lights Here are some pictures I took from the trip! I love reflecting on them. Every time I do, I still can't believe I got to witness the beauty of Glacier with my own eyes. If you haven't gone, GO! Keep shooting, Ant

Lighting Psychology: Building Our Stories With Intention

Hey Designers! Many experienced filmmakers would argue that lighting is the most impactful design element in production. It has immense power in setting the emotional tone for a film or a shoot. Different lighting techniques can be utilized to evoke emotion from your audience. Soft shadows and high-key lighting can promote feelings of warmth, comfort, and ease. On the other hand, harsh shadows and low-key lighting can convey different emotions like loneliness, intimacy, tension, etc… the possibilities are infinite. Certain emotions are often associated with specific lighting choices but that doesn’t mean they’re restricted to them. In the all-time classic, “The Truman Show”, the director Peter Weir utilizes high-key lighting to illuminate Seahaven, the town Truman resides in. The landscape is brightly lit, the world seems to be at peace, and everyone around Truman is insufferably pleasant. This is a complete contrast to his internal dialogue which screams horror, anger, and lostness. This striking contrast helps to pull in the audience and encapsulate them in the film. It allows us to relate with Truman. Maybe there have been times in our lives when the brightness was too much! This is what makes cinematography beautiful. As creators, we have the freedom to tell our stories as we please, and we can make them relate to our real life experiences. If you can recall intentional lighting choices or techniques that you’ve recognized in any of your favorite films, feel free to drop them down below. I’m always interested in films or moments that have left an impact on you guys. *The images attached are from the 1998 American psychological comedy drama film ‘The Truman Show’, written and co-produced by Andrew Niccol, and directed by Peter Weir.

The Power of Film Emulation

Hey Designers! In my filmmaking journey I've been obsessing over my color grading lately. I'm constantly trying to find ways to elevate my footage and get the colors to pop. I stumbled upon a short film that utilizes my Sony ZV-E1 and I instantly thought to myself, I'll have what they're having! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BGZe_H71t8 Attached above is a film by Adorn Films that I've absolutely fallen in love with. The colors are so vibrant yet not too invasive. The shots look straight out of heaven. Adorn incorporated a film emulation tool called Cineprint which was vital in the creation of this. I've known of it for a while now and after years of contemplation, I decided to try it out after watching this video. Cineprint is a collection of PowerGrades & LUTS that allows filmmakers and colorists to recreate 16mm and 35mm film. The film emulations were developed by Los Angeles-based cinematographer Tom Bolles following an extensive camera test of various film stocks and digital cameras shot in January 2023. The film was produced and scanned at Fotokem, to ensure the photochemical & scanning color science of the emulations is of the highest, industry-standard quality. When you purchase, it comes with a powergrade and a PDF that explains the purpose of every node in the grade. Reading the PDF as I make subtle changes to my grade has given me an order of operations and has equipped me with a deeper understanding of color grading in general. My work is improving drastically! Feel free to check out Cineprint on Tom Bolles website here: https://www.tombolles.net/ If you know of any other film emulation tools, drop them in the comments! I'm curious to see what you guys like to use to compliment your footage. Keep shooting, Ant

Intro to Rig Designing! 🗲

Hello, world! 👋 So, you're interested in building your dream camera rig? At Rig Designer, our goal is to streamline the process for you. Crafting your rig is like putting together the perfect playlist – it's all about personal style and functionality. As cinematography connoisseurs, our rigs allow us to capture moments just as we envision them. With the right combination of components, you can tailor your rig to suit your shooting style, preferences, and creative vision. These components are often interchangeable and serve varying purposes. It's the time to embark on an exciting journey into photography and videography customization, unleash your creativity, and capture moments as you desire! Head to the Builds tab to look for rigs already prepared by fellow Designers. From there, you can purchase an entire rig presented piece by piece, take specific products from a rig, and build your own entirely. Have fun, and if you have a rig already, feel free to share your masterpiece with the community! Keep shooting, Ant

Understanding Framerates in Filmmaking

Hey Designers! In filmmaking, the frame rate—measured in frames per second (fps)—determines how many individual images are displayed per second in a sequence. Choosing the right frame rate can drastically influence the aesthetic and emotional impact of a film. Having this knowledge in the bag will get you far! Here's a breakdown of common frame rates and their specific use cases. 1. 24 FPS: The Cinematic Standard (Shutter Speed - 1/48 or 1/50) Use Case: Feature films, narrative storytelling, documentaries. This frame rate is widely considered the "golden standard" for cinema. It mimics the way the human eye perceives motion, giving films their distinctive "cinematic" look. The subtle motion blur of 24 fps feels natural and has been used in Hollywood for decades. Directors often choose this frame rate for its timeless and immersive qualities. 2. 30 FPS: Smooth and Professional (Shutter Speed - 1/60) Use Case: Television shows, reality TV, online video content. With slightly more frames than 24 fps, 30 fps offers smoother motion, which is ideal for broadcast television and online platforms like YouTube. It’s particularly popular in content requiring clarity and realism, such as live events or sports commentary. 3. 60 FPS: High-Motion Clarity (Shutter Speed - 1/120 or 1/125) Use Case: Sports, action sequences, video games, VR/AR content. At 60 fps, motion becomes incredibly fluid and lifelike. This frame rate is often used for sports and video game recordings, where viewers need to track fast-moving subjects. It’s also a staple in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), providing a sense of immediacy and immersion. 4. 120 FPS and Beyond: Ultra Slow Motion (Shutter Speed - 1/240 & Beyond) Use Case: Commercials, music videos, high-speed action shots. Higher frame rates like 120 fps, 240 fps, or more are commonly used for slow-motion effects. Filmmakers can capture intricate details of motion—like a water droplet falling or an athlete mid-leap—by slowing down playback while retaining smoothness. This technique adds drama and a sense of wonder to visual storytelling. 5. Unconventional Frame Rates Use Case: Creative experimentation and unique visual effects. Some filmmakers experiment with non-standard frame rates like 48 fps (used in The Hobbit trilogy) or variable frame rates to achieve specific artistic effects. These can create a hyper-realistic or surreal aesthetic, although audience reception to such choices can vary. The choice of frame rate depends on the story you're telling, the platform where the content will be viewed, and the emotional tone you wish to convey. While 24 fps lends a filmic quality, higher frame rates are better suited for realism or slow-motion effects. Understanding the psychological and technical impacts of different frame rates empowers us to elevate our visual narratives. You'd be surprised by how different your footage will look with different frame rates. I've attached a video by Potato Jet that does a great job of showcasing different framerates and their use cases. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6HZPmSlS5c As always, I'm excited to see what you guys produce! Keep shooting, Ant