Daily Productive Sharing 1239 - Film the Impossible

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One helpful tip per day:)

The YouTube documentary channel Yes Theory is known for its cinematic exploration of the world—and much of that magic is thanks to their cinematographer, Cory Martin, who recently shared his philosophy on filming:

  1. Whether capturing extreme endurance feats in Project Iceman (which won an Emmy) or blending into the background to film serene landscapes, Cory’s “superpower” is his presence—his ability to truly be there.
  2. “I didn’t want to live like that. I wanted to make my own way,” he said, explaining why he dropped out of his education major in his final year of college.
  3. A chance project with Yes Theory took him to Bolivia, where he met Thomas Brag and Matt Dajer. What began as spontaneous travel vlogs soon evolved into deeper, more human-centered storytelling.
  4. “When you go to a place like Syria, you don’t just bring back footage—you bring back a whole new perspective.”
  5. He knew the risks. “There was a 90% chance the drone would crash,” he laughed. “But we needed the shot. And we had backups.” “We carried a whole box of Lacie drives,” Cory said, “because once we had the footage, that was the mission. If we lost it, everything was gone.” Every file, every card, every frame was backed up three times.
  6. During a shoot in the Arctic, the team got caught in a blizzard. Crammed inside a tent, cold, exhausted, and uncertain, Cory faced one of the hardest moments of his life. “That’s when I realized: this is what people need to see. This is the truth. This is the hardest part of the journey. If I don’t capture it, the story’s incomplete.” That moment taught him something critical: the most powerful footage often comes from the most uncomfortable situations. As a documentarian, it’s not just about beauty or thrill—it’s about being there, especially when it’s hard. “That experience changed how I see everything,” he said. “The best stories often come from your most difficult moments.”
  7. He always chooses to be fully in the moment—but that moment can’t be forced, it has to be earned.
  8. “When you walk into a room, people have to immediately feel: ‘I trust these people,’” he said. “We’re not here to hurt them. We’re here with honesty and warmth. That’s important—so important.”
  9. If you want people to open up about their pain, trauma, or truth, the camera has to disappear. “It’s a togetherness,” he said. “Let them lead—you follow.”
  10. This is the “invisible work.” Viewers may not notice it in the final cut, but it’s the heart of everything.
  11. For Cory, technical perfection matters less than being always ready.
  12. Filming around the world—often without permits or press credentials—teaches you how to stay low-key, pack light, and be prepared. “I never want to look like a filmmaker or media person,” he said. That means: no Pelican cases, no production labels, no bulky gear.
  13. In every location, they connect with locals—editors, friends, or friends of friends. That changes everything. Locals know what’s safe, what’s not, what’s worth seeing, and what to avoid.
  14. At borders, you must never say you’re media or filming. You’re visiting a friend—period. Have a name and address ready.
  15. If your bag looks small and neat, you’re far less likely to get stopped. That visual impression can save you hundreds of dollars and major hassle.
  16. “People will always watch you,” he said. “If you show up with a camera—especially somewhere unfamiliar—they’ll stare. But it’s not just that they’re looking. It’s how they’re looking. That tells you everything.”
  17. The line between curiosity and caution can be subtle—a glance, a vibe. Some are simply wondering what you're filming. Others are silently saying: you shouldn’t be here. “In some places—like parts of Iraq—you’ll get cold or suspicious looks at first. But if you smile, they smile. Then they offer you tea.”
  18. “The way I walk, the way I talk—it helps break the ice. I respond with excitement, I smile first. If they smile back? That’s the green light.” The best footage often comes not from hiding, but from building trust. Respect the space, read the energy—and always, always: smile first.

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Youtube 上有个走访世界各地的纪录片频道 Yes Theory，制作十分精美，这离不开他们的摄影师 Cory Martin。最近他分享了关于拍摄的理解：

  1. 无论是在 Project Iceman 中掌镜记录极限耐力挑战（并因此获得艾美奖），还是在镜头背后隐身以捕捉自然场景，Martin 的“超能力”是他的“在场感”。
  2. “我不想那样过。我想走自己的路。”他说。于是，在大学最后一年，他放弃了教育专业。
  3. 他参与的一个项目碰巧是和 Yes Theory 的合作。他们当时在玻利维亚拍摄，Cory 带着相机一起去了。就是在那里，他遇见了 Thomas Brag 和 Matt Dajer。从那时起，他们一同成长。早期的旅行内容，渐渐演化为更深入、更具人文温度的故事。
  4. “当你去到叙利亚这种地方，你带回来的不仅仅是影像，而是一种全新的视角。”
  5. 他明白当时的风险。“90% 的几率会摔机，”他笑说，“但我们需要那个镜头。而且我们有备份，所以我们就拍了。” “我们有一整箱的 Lacie 移动硬盘，”Cory 说，“因为镜头一旦拍到了，就是我们的命。如果丢了，一切就完了。” 所以他们把每一个文件、每一张卡、每一帧素材都做了三重备份。
  6. 在北极拍摄时，Cory 和团队遭遇了暴风雪。挤在帐篷里，寒冷、疲惫、前路未明，这是他人生中最艰难的时刻之一。 “那一刻我意识到：人们需要看到的就是这个。这才是真相。这是旅程中最难的部分。如果我不拍下来，故事就缺了一块。” 那个时刻教会了他一件重要的事：最有力的镜头往往来自最艰难的情境。作为一名纪录片创作者，不只是记录美丽或刺激，而是即便不舒服，也要在场。尤其是——正因为不舒服，才要在场。“那次经历改变了我看待一切的方式，”他说，“最精彩的故事片段，往往出自你最挣扎的瞬间。”
  7. 他总是选择那个“当下”。而这个当下无法强求，必须靠挣得。
  8. “你一走进房间，对方必须立刻感觉：‘我信任这些人，’”他说。“他们不是来伤害我的。他们是真诚的、友善的。这点很重要——非常重要。”
  9. 因为如果你想让人分享他们最私密的经历——痛苦、创伤、真相——你就必须让摄像机“隐身”。你必须让他们忘了它的存在。“这是一种‘在一起’的感觉，”他说，“让他们引导，而你跟随。”
  10. 这就是“无形的工作”。观众在最终成片中可能察觉不到，但它却是全部的核心。
  11. 对他来说，比起技术的完美，最重要的是“永远准备好”。
  12. 当你在世界各地拍摄——通常没有拍摄许可或媒体证件——你很快就会学会如何悄悄行动、精简装备，并做好一切准备。“我从不想看起来像个拍片人或媒体人。”他说。这意味着：不要用 Pelican 保护箱、不要贴制作标签、不要带着巨大器材。
  13. 每到一个地方，他们都会和当地人建立联系——修片人、朋友、朋友的朋友。这会改变一切。他们知道哪里安全、哪里不行、什么值得看、什么该避免。
  14. 过境时，你“绝不能”是媒体，绝不能说你在拍电影。你只是去拜访朋友。就这样。准备好一个名字、一个地址，随时可以提供。
  15. 如果你的背包看起来小巧、利落，你被拦下的可能性就小很多。这种视觉印象能帮你省下几百美金和很多麻烦。
  16. “别人总会盯着你看，”他说，“你带着相机出现——尤其在一些对相机陌生的地方——别人一定会看。但关键不只是‘他们在看’，而是‘他们怎么看’，这会告诉你很多信息。”
  17. 好奇和警惕之间的微妙差别，有时只是一个眼神。有些人是在想你在拍什么，有些人则在默默告诉你：“你不该在这里。” “我们去过一些地方——像伊拉克的一些区域——一开始对方的眼神冷漠甚至警觉，但你笑了，他们也笑了。然后他们请你喝茶。”
  18. “我觉得我走路的方式、说话的方式有助于破冰。我会先兴奋地回应、先笑。如果他们也笑了？那就是绿灯了。” 最棒的画面，往往不是靠隐身拍到的，而是靠让人卸下防备。尊重场域，感受氛围——永远，永远记得：先笑。

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