How to Run a Camera Test (and Why Pros Never Skip Them)

The useful part

You have to do the obvious things, like cast your roles, list your shots, and find and lock your locations. They sound technical, maybe a little boring, and like something only studio productions can afford. Cape Town-based DP Gray Kotzé, who runs the educational YouTube channel In Depth Cine and has been nominated for a SATFA for Best Cinematography, breaks down camera tests in a video.

How it works

• We'll cover what camera tests are, why the pros swear by them, and how to run one on an indie budget..
• If you talk about a creepy old school, how do you convey that it's creepy and old?
• A writer creates a world, and it's up to the director and cinematographer to capture it.
• Plenty of indie crews think they've "tested" because they powered everything on at the rental house.

Details worth keeping

There is so much to think about when you're prepping a film. Camera tests rarely make the list on an indie. On many productions, though, they should be non-negotiable.