I'd Skip This Reel in Five Seconds

Want to save yourself years of figuring this stuff out on set? The full cinematography curriculum and hundreds of breakdowns are waiting. https://www.patreon.com/c/wanderingdp Someone sent in their cinematography reel and we went through every single shot. Most of the fixes come down to two things: where the backlight should have been, and why the framing feels like a grip's choice. Want your work broken down? Submit through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/wanderingdp Framework and more: https://tinyurl.com/thewanderingdp Timestamps 0:00 - Intro and Patreon 2:09 - First look at the reel 2:49 - Lead with your bangers 4:00 - Get an editor, nobody watches two minutes 5:07 - White room: shears, clipping, too wide 6:09 - Steadicam dinner table: lost the eyes 7:54 - Headroom and pushing light from ground level 8:55 - Hallway corner: ratios and grip's choice framing 10:18 - Soft hub: soft on face, hard on body 11:28 - Practical lamp: set your roll-off first 12:31 - Outdoor couple: frontlit vs backlit 15:04 - Conveying the feeling vs showing the sunset 18:19 - Bar scene from the front: hardest blocking setup 19:59 - Shallow depth and pulling talent out 20:31 - Car interior: boom down, longer lens 21:08 - Soft hub the window light 21:50 - Car scene: separation and ambient 23:47 - Tracking shot: where's the face? 24:59 - Bedroom scene: same front-coverage problem 27:26 - Wrap up: three things to fix today #Cinematography #ReelBreakdown #lightingtips FAVORITE GEAR FOR 2026: Youtube Set Up: Key Light: https://amzn.to/45OMZl3 Key Light Modifier (the MOST IMPORTANT part): https://amzn.to/37q342T Edge Light: https://bhpho.to/3md0QYW Negative Fill/Acoustic Bonus: https://amzn.to/37oCQ0E Room Tone Light: https://bhpho.to/3jk4XAr MUST HAVE Lights: https://amzn.to/465p3ZD Digital Audio Interface: https://amzn.to/35kvoB6 Preamp: https://amzn.to/4mOgIR2 Mic: https://bhpho.to/37tlQpX Stands: https://amzn.to/2HjhqYa Mic Stand: https://bhpho.to/3omZk8v Sound Blankets: https://amzn.to/37oCQ0E Computer Monitors: https://amzn.to/3kmIhkk Pen & Tablet: https://amzn.to/2IGF8Of SD Cards: https://amzn.to/31ulDz1 Apple Boxes: https://amzn.to/3ma0X7A Speakers: https://amzn.to/34igTyi COMMERCIAL GEAR FAVORITES: Camera: https://bhpho.to/3jgpHsV Matte Box: https://bhpho.to/35nyILO 4x5.6 Filters: https://bhpho.to/2Huz5M3 Camera Control: https://amzn.to/3ocAGqU BEST On Board Monitor: https://amzn.to/2FM72r4 Dailies SSD: https://amzn.to/2FSpAGk V-Mount Batteries: https://amzn.to/3m6xrzl Fluid Head: https://bhpho.to/2TfkCGx Tripod Legs: https://bhpho.to/37v9Kws Wireless Video System: https://bhpho.to/3kl1qTM Diopters: https://amzn.to/35k3vc9 SharkFin: https://bhpho.to/37sO97U Camera Backpack: https://amzn.to/31uGgeu Monitor Arms: https://bhpho.to/34htyBy Gimbal: https://bhpho.to/3dQwXdY 3 Axis Wheels: https://bhpho.to/31rhf3O FOLLOW ME: Website: http://www.wanderingdp.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingdp