IndianWeddingSite.com presents the highly sought after cinematographers at Fandango Studios. With a personal goal to never make two films that are anything alike, Fandango Studios guarantees to deliver a film that is uniquely your own. Find out more about the team and view some of their wedding highlights in our Vendor Spotlight.
Where are you based and do you travel for weddings?
We are based in Miami, Florida. Yes, we travel.
How long have you been in business?
I come from a filmmaking background and 2010 is our second full year producing wedding films. (We're proud to have won The Knot's Best of Weddings for 2010, and I just learned we won again for 2011. We also won the 2010 Bride's Choice Awards at WeddingWire/Martha Stewart Weddings.)
Describe a memorable wedding you covered.
Wow. That's hard to do. I guess it would have to be my first South Asian wedding. Blew me away. I felt like I was in another country. I fell in love shooting South Asian weddings. I love the colors, the ceremonies, everything.
What sets your cinematography apart from others?
I've been told no two of our films are alike. This is because I edit from the heart and I try to capture the essence of the couple, party, energy, etc. I prefer this than following a set approach, which would pretty much bore me. I love the fact that all weddings are different. I use high end graphics, the kind you see on TV, quality wise. I'm also an award winning filmmaker, and my feature Phoenix Falling is currently in post production. Here's the trailer:
What is your favorite part of an Indian wedding?
That would be different for each wedding. I always like discovering something new; like when I shot my first Baraat. I liked embellishing the footage with stock sound effects like the horse neighing, trotting, etc. Anything to bring the footage to life.
What should South Asian couples look for when choosing a cinematographer?
Look at lots of samples. Make sure they're recent. Do they have backup equipment? Do you like their style? Does it move you?
What can couples do during the planning process to assist you in delivering the most optimal results?
Tell me what type of music they like. Preferably provide me with a bunch of favorites on a CD, so that I can choose. Also, tell me which of my samples they liked, and which they didn't. Give me a schedule of the day. Give me a list of their vendors. Be themselves.
What is involved in creating a SDE (Same Day Edit)? Is this a popular option?
A well done SDE is quite challenging, yet very rewarding. I start days or even weeks before by studying the schedule, talking to the couple, attaining a handful of music to choose from, and creating the opening "credits." During the morning prep / ceremony / baraat shoot I'm actually editing in my mind as I shoot. I pay attention to what my partner is shooting so I can look for certain shots later on. Then I need several hours to edit a nice cinematic clip on my laptop. I burn a DVD and screen it during the reception. It's fairly popular. This is a recent SDE we produced:
What equipment do you use when creating your films?
DSLR cameras, which use interchangeable 35mm film lenses. They use these in broadcast TV shows and in films. I use a glide cam for fluid movement, a slider for slow camera movement and a crane if it's wanted or needed. Broadcast quality digital recorders are used to record the vows, toast, etc.
What is your favorite reaction from a couple after they have received their wedding film?
When they cry watching their movie.
