A perspective on Cinematic...

[SmilingOgre]

Ok, so I do respect the word for those who have reverence for it but......

I don't get it.

I like smooth movements in video. I appreciate a well framed shot. I appreciate a fresh perspective. I appreciate a lead in to a subject. I appreciate well exposed video. I appreciate a good color rendition. All of those things are postulates for good video. So what is this "cinematic" thing? I see a tapestry of opinions as I look around. I'm looking at a blackmagic pocket camera. It says it's cinematic, then I see a gazillion videos comparing it to different DSLR's with no clear qualification why it's cinematic. Am I being seduced by a meaningless word? "Oh look! cinematic! gotta have it!". I'm sure not being a film maker I'm missing some nuance.

 

[RadioFlyerMan]

Ok, so I do respect the word for those who have reverence for it but......

I don't get it.

I like smooth movements in video. I appreciate a well framed shot. I appreciate a fresh perspective. I appreciate a lead in to a subject. I appreciate well exposed video. I appreciate a good color rendition. All of those things are postulates for good video. So what is this "cinematic" thing? I see a tapestry of opinions as I look around. I'm looking at a blackmagic pocket camera. It says it's cinematic, then I see a gazillion videos comparing it to different DSLR's with no clear qualification why it's cinematic. Am I being seduced by a meaningless word? "Oh look! cinematic! gotta have it!". I'm sure not being a film maker I'm missing some nuance.

I compare the word “cinematic” to the non-quantitative way people describe wine. But then I don’t drink wine, and never use cinematic mode.

 

[SmilingOgre]

I compare the word “cinematic” to the non-quantitative way people describe wine. But then I don’t drink wine, and never use cinematic mode.

Lol, I rarely watch TV. I feel insulted. When I do, I see some things I like in regard to filming and others I don't. That's it. Pretty shallow, I guess. I appreciate "flat" or "raw" footage and I appreciate extended bit rates and the expanded colors available. I also appreciate some cameras ability to broaden the dynamic range. But when some producer starts turning people orange and claims that it's cinematic, I smack my head.

 

[THE CYBORG]

I attempted to look up the definition of cinematic from a variety of sources and am still no wiser ?

 

[Jet skier]

I heard one YouTuber say that if it looks cool it’s cinematic , I guess that’s simple enough

 

[Dale D]

Ok, so I do respect the word for those who have reverence for it but......

I don't get it.

I like smooth movements in video. I appreciate a well framed shot. I appreciate a fresh perspective. I appreciate a lead in to a subject. I appreciate well exposed video. I appreciate a good color rendition. All of those things are postulates for good video. So what is this "cinematic" thing? I see a tapestry of opinions as I look around. I'm looking at a blackmagic pocket camera. It says it's cinematic, then I see a gazillion videos comparing it to different DSLR's with no clear qualification why it's cinematic. Am I being seduced by a meaningless word? "Oh look! cinematic! gotta have it!". I'm sure not being a film maker I'm missing some nuance.

Ok, so I do respect the word for those who have reverence for it but......

I don't get it.

I like smooth movements in video. I appreciate a well framed shot. I appreciate a fresh perspective. I appreciate a lead in to a subject. I appreciate well exposed video. I appreciate a good color rendition. All of those things are postulates for good video. So what is this "cinematic" thing? I see a tapestry of opinions as I look around. I'm looking at a blackmagic pocket camera. It says it's cinematic, then I see a gazillion videos comparing it to different DSLR's with no clear qualification why it's cinematic. Am I being seduced by a meaningless word? "Oh look! cinematic! gotta have it!". I'm sure not being a film maker I'm missing some nuance.

Hi Smiling Ogre:

Google has 116,000,000 answers to this question, and this statement:
"A cinematic video is a video that resembles a film. Over the years, the movie industry changed quite a lot in terms of aspect ratio, color, and lighting styles. When we use the term "cinematic," this means it looks like an actual film we see in theaters." I also found these videos for starters to help.

For me, personally, it means a smoothly filmed sequence and smoothly filmed clips, calming music track, smooth editing, very "cinematic" like a Hollywood movie.

 

[SmilingOgre]

Hi Smiling Ogre:

Google has 116,000,000 answers to this question, and this statement:
"A cinematic video is a video that resembles a film. Over the years, the movie industry changed quite a lot in terms of aspect ratio, color, and lighting styles. When we use the term "cinematic," this means it looks like an actual film we see in theaters." I also found these videos for starters to help.

For me, personally, it means a smoothly filmed sequence and smoothly filmed clips, calming music track, smooth editing, very "climatic" like a Hollywood movie.

Thank you Dale,

It's like I want to embrace the concept but have some cynical baggage somewhere in my head.

 

[muchuckwagon]

To me, when you watch a video on Youtube there is a range in production quality from something that looks like it shot below 240p resolution by an excited chimp to a film released by a major movie studio. The closer a video is to the latter, the more cinematic it is in my book.

A simpler test - when you share edited drone footage with friends/family and they ask if you really did that yourself, you are inching closer towards being "cinematic" in my book.

 

[hiflyer201]

If watching gives you a headache...it might not be cinematic

 

[MavicAir2Marc]

...and shoot at 24fps to get that "cinematic" blur. ?

 

[Johnmcl7]

...and shoot at 24fps to get that "cinematic" blur. ?

That is the first thought that comes to mind when I see the term cinematic.