OT: Single camera shoot advice?

kentwolf wrote on 11/7/2006, 12:02 PM
I need to shoot (and later edit) an audition of an orchestra playing in a steep set of bleachers.

I plan to have an introductory/supplementary mini-interview with the director. Maybe 60 to 90 seconds.

It will be used as an audition for the orchestra to play in a particular event. They receive a lot of audition material, so I want this to stand out. It will be on DVD media for delivery.

Ideally, I would love to do this as a two (2) camera shoot; one camera to maintain the overall view and a second camera to show particular players.

I, unfortunately, will only have one (1) camera.

Would you all, in your experience recommend since I only have the single camera to simply keep an overall (group) view the whole time?

I would think it would be best to not have zooming, etc. This will be on a tripod, so I think I can get a good/stable group sequence.

Just wondering if you all in your experience would recommend anything different.

Thanks!

Comments

Pcamp wrote on 11/7/2006, 12:13 PM
If you can get them to play through the song twice - keep the camera on the wide shot with clean audio on the first take. Then shoot cut aways to cut in - CU's, pans, tracking shots (go wild) on the second runthrough.
rs170a wrote on 11/7/2006, 12:19 PM
I'm assuming the performance will only be done once in which case your thought (overall group view the whole time) is a good one.
If it's to be done more than once, you "might" be abl;e to getaway with shooting closeups the second night. Watch out for sync problems from night to night though as this could come back to bite you hard!!
It's still possible to get some closeups though, depending on how well prepared you can be. For example, are there rehearsals you can attend?
Having shot a number of stage plays with a single camera, I make it a point to attend at least 2 rehearsals so that I can figure out when & where the solos are and make some notes to remind me. I may even bring a cheap camcorder and shoot the rehearsal to use as a "study guide".
On the night that I shoot the performance, I will zoom in on the solo performer(s) knowing that I have a pretty good idea when I should start zooming back out to a wider shot.
Make your zooms nice and slow so as not to distract the viewing audience and you should be OK.

Mike