Fremont, CA, USA – Friday, June 14, 2024 – Blackmagic Design today announced that the upcoming film “Fake Boyfriend,” a Bollywood romcom from noted director Sam Dsouuza and Mumbai based A6 Productions, was shot using Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro and Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K digital film cameras. Color correction for the film was done using DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, color grading, visual effects (VFX) and audio post production software.
“Fake Boyfriend” was shot on a tight budget but still aimed to capture beautiful high quality images that have become globally expected with Bollywood films.
The film tells the story of millennials on a journey of discovery across some of the most beautiful landscapes in India and their struggles with friends and family as they grow and learn. Starring Tanishq Shukla, Payal Kaushal, Saurabh Sharma, Upaasna Rath and Kajal Thakur, the film was directed by popular filmmaker Sam Dsouuza, aka Saurabh Kaul, and produced by A6 Productions owner Anju Dhingra. “Fake Boyfriend” was shot using both the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro and Pocket Cinema Camera 4K.
Using the Blackmagic Design cameras’ ability to capture high quality images, low light capabilities and ease of use with post production workflows, combined with their small design giving the ability to shoot in nearly any location, Dsouuza was able to carefully plan the entire production.
He explained: “In essence, our strategy for shooting the romcom revolved around thorough planning and preparation. Despite the challenges posed by the low budget, our meticulous approach enabled us to overcome obstacles and deliver a polished and entertaining film that exceeded expectations.”
The Pocket Cinema Cameras were used in preproduction during location scouting, allowing the film crew to know well in advance that they could get the needed shots while staying within budget. “We conducted extensive location scouting to find picturesque yet cost effective settings that would enhance the romantic atmosphere of the film. Every aspect of the shoot was meticulously designed and choreographed beforehand, from the blocking of scenes to the emotional beats of the characters,” he continued.
Targeting a younger audience for the film, Dsouuza’s vision was to create a visually captivating experience, aiming for a glossy and vibrant aesthetic.
He explained: “The Pocket cameras played a crucial role in achieving this vision. The Blackmagic RAW recording format provided flexibility in post production, allowing us to manipulate colors during the grading process. Additionally, the integration with DaVinci Resolve Studio greatly facilitated the post production workflow, enabling us to finetune the visuals to perfection.”
Though shot with beautiful landscapes as settings, the heart of the film is about the emotional interactions between the young stars and their families. This includes close ups in well lit settings, as well as a number of low light night scenes. As with many romantic comedies, the characters find themselves in quiet settings and action scenes, such as a fight scene in a billiards center or moving vehicle shots.
Dsouuza explained how he used the different camera models: “The 6K and 4K cameras served different purposes on set, each offering unique capabilities tailored to specific shots and scenes. We primarily used the 6K for capturing high resolution footage, particularly for scenes requiring intricate detail. Its higher resolution allowed us to maintain clarity and sharpness, enhancing the overall visual quality of the film.
On the other hand, we turned to the 4K camera for its versatility and practicality in various shooting scenarios. Its smaller form factor and lightweight design made it easy to use. The 4K camera’s cropped sensor proved advantageous in low light situations, allowing us to adapt to challenging lighting conditions without sacrificing image quality.”
Two scenes in particular showcased the advantages of using the Blackmagic Design cameras on “Fake Boyfriend.” A scene where Tanishq, one of the film’s main characters, confronts his father, was shot at night using a single light bulb for lighting along with the backdrop of the city lights of the city of Rohru.
“The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K’s low light capabilities allowed us to capture this mesmerizing scene with just a single light bulb illuminating the character. The camera’s dynamic range ensured that we could capture the intricate details of both the character’s emotions and the atmospheric cityscape, creating a visually stunning and emotionally resonant moment,” Dsouuza continued.
The second scene showed the character Yash carrying his love interest Pihu up a mountain. This required the camera operator to also climb the mountain, and a heavy and large rig would have made the shot nearly impossible.
“This shot, which showcases the breathtaking scenery of the mountainous landscape, was made possible by the Blackmagic Pocket camera’s lightweight design and versatility. Despite the challenging terrain and lack of proper roads, we were able to navigate the ascent with ease, thanks to the camera’s portability. By using lightweight accessories and minimal equipment, we maintained flexibility and mobility while capturing this awe inspiring moment. The result is a visually striking sequence that highlights the beauty of the natural surroundings and the strength of the characters’ connection,” Dsouuza said.
Dsouuza explained further what he was able to accomplish using Blackmagic Design cameras and DaVinci Resolve Studio for the film: “In the world of filmmaking, time translates directly to money, and staying within budget is paramount to the success of any project. As a director, I had to consider technical aspects to streamline our production process and minimize potential issues. Ultimately, by leveraging the capabilities of the Pocket cameras, we saved both money and time, enabling us to deliver a high quality film within our indie budget constraints.”
About Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com