Adapting Your Cinematography Plan | Notes from Set

What happens when you fly to Spain to shoot on a mountaintop… and the airline loses your lights? In the premiere episode of Notes From Set, director and cinematographer Cody Ball breaks down the making of his feature documentary, “Speaking for Earth”, a film about the human desire to reach beyond our planet and make contact with another civilization. From shooting tripod-heavy compositions under massive skies to navigating crowdfunding, 0% interest credit cards, hospital scenes, lost gear, and creative burnout, Cody shares the hard-earned lessons behind bringing an ambitious documentary to life. This is a candid conversation about control, collaboration, resilience, and what it really takes to finish a film when no one is paying you to do it. Cody is an Emmy-winning director and cinematographer based in Brooklyn, NY. His documentary style is guided by the desire for context, heart, and intimacy. He has lensed documentaries for Netflix, BBC, Vice, Paramount+, PBS, & Vox, and has screened his work at film festivals across the US and UK. His branded projects have earned recognition by Adweek, Digiday, Gerety, and Cannes Lions. Cody’s background in sound design and editing informs how he shoots--with an awareness of how each decision contributes to the larger picture. However, don’t be alarmed if he takes out a recorder and starts capturing strange audio for his collection. Cody is a proud member of the Documentary Cinematographers Alliance and the Video Consortium, where he is putting effort into programs and initiatives that support the documentary community at large. Currently, he is part of a small team running a global documentary mentorship program sponsored by Sony. Lastly, he is an FAA-certified commercial drone pilot. SUBSCRIBE TO ADORAMA CINEMA: 🎞️ https://www.youtube.com/@AdoramaCinema ___________ ✘ FEATURED GEAR: Canon EOS C70 Digital Camera Body, RF Mount https://www.adorama.com/cac70rf.html Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless Camera https://www.adorama.com/car8.html Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Lens https://www.adorama.com/car1628.html Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM Lens https://www.adorama.com/car3514.html Manfrotto 504X Fluid Video Head with Aluminum Twin Leg Tripod and Mid-Level Spreader https://www.adorama.com/bgmvk504xtma.html Used MeFOTO Road Trip Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Kit, 61.61" Max Height, 17.63 lbs, Black https://www.adorama.com/used-mefoto-road-trip-carbon-fiber-travel-tripod-kit-6161-max-height-1763-lbs-black/p/tpdmfc1350 Used Aputure Light Storm 600d Pro Daylight LED Light, V-Mount https://www.adorama.com/used-aputure-light-storm-600d-pro-daylight-led-light-v-mount/p/lthapd126a2c amaran Ray 360c 360W RGB Full-Color Point-Source COB LED Video Light https://www.adorama.com/apray360c.html Advantage Gripware 6x6' Light Grid Cloth Butterfly Fabric, White https://www.adorama.com/adm060654.html Glow EZ Lock Octa Quick XXL Softbox With Bowens Mount (60") https://www.adorama.com/glsbez60octa.html Matthews 40x40" Matthbounce Floppy https://www.adorama.com/mt159136.html Matthews 40" C+ Stand with Turtle Base, Grip Head and Arm, Maximum Height 10.5', Supports 22 lbs., Black https://www.adorama.com/mtb756140.html Matthews Medium Duty Maxi Steel Kit Stand, Maximum Height 113.5" (9'5"), Supports 25 lbs., Chrome https://www.adorama.com/mt387485.html Used Glide Gear TMP 100 Video Teleprompter for iPad & Smartphone https://www.adorama.com/used-glide-gear-tmp-100-video-teleprompter-for-ipad-smartphone-sku1722159/p/us1722159?srsltid Sennheiser MKH 8060 Short Shotgun Microphone https://www.adorama.com/semkh8060.html Sony MDR-7506 Professional Folding Headphones https://www.adorama.com/somdr7506.html K-Tek 2'.7" to 9'.2" 5-Section Aluminum Avalon Series Boom Pole (No Cable) https://www.adorama.com/ktke110.html H&A Boom Pole Holder https://www.adorama.com/habph.html #DocumentaryFilmmaking #IndieFilm #adoramacinema ___________ 𝔸𝔻𝕆ℝ𝔸𝕄𝔸 ⫸ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@adoramanyc ⫸ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adorama/ ⫸ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/adorama/ ⫸ Twitter https://twitter.com/adorama MORE 𝔸𝔻𝕆ℝ𝔸𝕄𝔸 ⫸ Shop online https://www.adorama.com/l/Video/ ⫸ Shop in-store https://www.adorama.com/g/nyc-store ⫸ Rent https://www.adoramarentals.com/ ⫸ Business https://www.adorama.com/business/solution/video/ ⫸ Blog https://www.adorama.com/alc/category/video/ ⫸ Print https://www.printique.com/ ___________ More of Cody Ball Website: https://codyball.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmball_ Directed by Ryan Johnson www.ryanjohnson.work ___________ Deepen your understanding of filmmaking; we can't wait to have you back!