We've all been there. You're watching a film or a TV show and see an amazing shot playing. How hard could it be to reproduce that?

You set up your camera and start shooting, but when you're finished, the result looks nothing like a "real" movie. Learning how to make cinematic video may be more difficult to do than you first thought.

In this article, we'll show you how to make cinematic videos. While none of these tricks will be the magic bullet that takes you from being an unknown director to Quentin Tarantino overnight, they can add up to make a big difference to your footage.

1. Think Before You Shoot

A camera operator and a camera --- Unspash

One of the easiest things that you can do before filming is plan, plan, and plan some more. If you just grab your camera and press the record button, things aren't going to work out very well.

Before you even begin shooting, you can start to plan your shot. Do you want to shoot at a shallow depth of field, or will you be filming in bright sunlight in the middle of the day? In the latter case, you'll need an ND filter.

Will you be using a tripod or will you be holding your camera? What about sound? Do you have a microphone or are you going to be filming in a really noisy area?

Film productions spend a lot of time planning everything because they know that's how to make cinematic video shine. They don't just start filming and hope for the best.

Instead, production teams do everything possible to eliminate any uncertainty. The actors know where to stand, the camera operators know where the action will take place, and all of the other departments work together perfectly.

2. Edit at 24 FPS

The vast majority of films and movies are shot at 24 FPS (frames-per-second). Not only does this closely resemble the "frame rate" that your eyes see in, but it's what viewers expect films to be shot in, as well. If you're delivering in 48, 60, or any frame rate other than 24, your film won't look the same as "proper" films.

Our eyes and brains have been trained to expect 24 FPS by hundreds or even thousands of movies throughout the years. YouTubers or gamers may say that 60 FPS is the best, but trust me, 24 FPS is where it's at for cinematic video footage.

3. Shoot With a 180-Degree Shutter Angle

A camera shooting a scene --- Unsplash

This may sound confusing, but perhaps you know "shutter angle" as "shutter speed". A shutter angle of 180 degrees means that your shutter speed is double your frame rate. When shooting at 24 FPS, your shutter speed should be 1/48. This is another area where your brain has been trained by the cinema that this looks best.

A faster shutter speed is not always how to take cinematic shots like a pro, however. Images will look far too sharp and have a "freeze-frame" effect. If you're shooting slow-motion, you'll need to increase your shutter speed.

Related: Common Shutter Speed Mistakes That'll Ruin Your Photos

4. Add a Cinematic Crop

We've shown you how to make footage look cinematic on set---but what if you want to know how to edit cinematic video?

Adding a cinematic crop is one of the easiest things that you can do in the editing bay. Suddenly, you'll be a "real filmmaker". Viewers will faint at how professional your film is, begging you to share your secrets on how to make a cinematic video.

I'm joking, of course, but adding a cinematic crop does make a bigger difference than you'd think.

Once again, it comes down to "real movies". Big-screen films are shot at an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Your widescreen computer monitor is 16:9, maybe 16:10. Converting your film from a "standard" widescreen to the ultra-wide ratio of the big screen makes a big difference---even if you have to fake it with a crop.

5. Choose the Right Music

Music can make a massive difference to the feeling of your film. After all, music is used in films all the time to manipulate your emotions.

Classical music in a sad scene, dance music in a party scene. Think about how to make your video look cinematic by taking a closer look at how the music brings the subjects in-frame to life.

Who knows? This just might be your chance to collaborate with a film composer. Nothing beats starting from scratch.

6. Slow Things Down

A filmmaker using a Steadicam --- Unspash

Movement can transform your shots from being static and boring to lively and exciting. Jumping around all over the place, however, will make your viewers want to throw up.

Film productions spend large sums of money on all manner of dollies, tripods, jibs, cranes, and gimbals. You don't need to spend money you haven't got, and it doesn't mean you can't make a cinematic video on a budget. It simply comes back again to thinking before shooting.

Slow, smooth, and deliberate movements are the key here. Use a fluid-head tripod or a budget gimbal to get a taste of how to take cinematic shots like the big boys.

Related: How to Shoot Slow-Motion Video

7. Use Color Grading

A film shoot in progress --- Unsplash

Our final tip here is to color correct your footage. Ever notice how films like The Matrix lean more towards the color green, or how old wild west films have a more yellow-brown tint to them?

While color grading and correction are entire industries in their own right, you can do something about it on your own using a color correction tool such as DaVinci Resolve, even if you're not experienced in the edit suite.

Getting your shots correct in-camera will make the biggest difference if you want to learn how to make cinematic videos. If you start your scene with a really jaundiced shot because your white balance was off, it's totally possible to fix this in post-production. If you get it right while filming, though, it will save you a lot of time later on.

Learning From Professional Filmmakers

Ready to start? We can show you how. To make a cinematic video is to immerse the audience in a totally new world. From pre-planning to color grading and more, there's plenty you can do right now to match the professionals.

Learning how to make cinematic videos is only the first step. Once you've got your dream shot in the can, the real fun can begin.