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Editing for large plasma screen installation – HELP!
Firstly, I’d like to say this is a great forum. I can’t beleive I’ve never seen it between the After Effects and Avid forums. I’ll definitely frequent here more often.
Problem (or Opportunity, depending how you see it):
I’m editing a 7 min piece for a museum installation that will be viewed on a 103 in plasma in a small “theater.” I don’t think the idea behind the mega-screen is just so everyone can easily see it, but more for a in-your-face WOW factor. The program is intended to be an inspirational, high-energy, extreme sports themed, or concepted, piece targeted at teenagers.
It will be in HD, but most of the b-roll footage of the action sports is standard def, which sort of limits me to picture-in-picture, non full-screen editing techniques. The interviews are all HD.
I’m a bit intimidated and somewhat blocked right now as to how to treat this program with such a large “canvas” to work with. I am graphically creative and adept, but to sustain this for 7 minutes is proving to be rather difficult – there are only so many combinations of squares and rectangles to use, and most shots only last 2 to 5 seconds. I’m also playing with typography with video as well, which is helpful, but mostly for transitional segments.
I was at NAB 2007 and saw the Panasonic P2 presentation (they used about six 103 inch plasmas) and thought it was very well done – been trying to find a “bootleg” of it online for ideas, but no luck. I’d love to see it again if anyone knows where it is.
Have any of you more experienced pros out there worked on projects like this before? I’d love to see some links and here some suggestions on how to step out of this 4:3 27″ box I’ve become so comfortable with.
Apologies for the long-winded question, looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thanks,
Craig
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15 Replies
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Just leap, brother. 4X3 is square. 😉
7 minutes is a looong time and you can easlily itroduce a handful of different looks. The simplest one is a letterboxed split screen. Everyone has seen it, won’t freak anyone out and is the most plain vanilla pip thang goin, imo.
I have a few different box looks on my reel if you’d like to pick em apart:
https://grinnerhester.com/demoreel07.wmv
you are on the right track as far as quick cuts. Not just flying text but other elements flyin’ around helps loads too. Lil lines, lil empty squares, animated edges, digital goings on like tc countdowns and such… All depends on the vibe of the piece but in a 7 minute video, I’d find a good 3 or 4 looks to repeat. More tan that and it’ll get chaotic, less and your having folks walk away on ya before it’s done.
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As usual grinner is on the right track for you. My main job is building digital signage for the Big Marquees here in Las Vegas, after a long career in 4X3 land of broadcast TV, so I have worked in both worlds. Make it memorable is the key phrase I have heard my entire career. Ya really can’t say much more than that.
Try not to have boxes with the key video elements popping around all over the screen, try to make the outside edges more eye candy than critical information, so the audience is not having to move their heads and eyes back and forth to the point their necks get sore.
Don’t hide the product in the production, but other than that.Dive in and have fun.
Charlie
ProductionKing Video Services
Unmarked Door Productions
Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada -
Thanks guys for your input and positive coaching! I’ve been playing around with a couple things, I like the lines and empty boxes ideas, as well as keeping the eye candy secondary. That’s enough to get me going and out of my rut. I have a good eye for design, but always need ideas to make it happen.
Anyone else, please feel free to add your ideas too. (The main theme to this video I’m doing actually is about how anyone can have ideas, kinda ironic that it blocked mine…)
Appreciate your help!
Craig
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[Craig Hirshberg] “(The main theme to this video I’m doing actually is about how anyone can have ideas, kinda ironic that it blocked mine…)”
Don’t feel bad. We all get creative block at times, ya gotta have someone to bounce ideas off so you can get the brain back to full speed ahead.
Charlie
ProductionKing Video Services
Unmarked Door Productions
Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada -
Under similar circumstances I typically try to come up with an animated background which can be used as a theme throughout…it helps to make the empty space outside the PiPs look integrated.
You can also use some reinforcing text in that extra space…for museums, dates and other graphics like maps, etc can pull the thing together and make it look as if keeping the video restrained in those little boxes is exactly what you wanted to do…
TimK,
Director,
Kolb Productions,Creative Cow Host,
Author/Trainer
http://www.focalpress.com
http://www.classondemand.net -
What format of HD are the interviews?
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720p/23.976 shot with Varicam
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Sorry to get all technical on ya since this is an art of the edit forum, but what are you going to do about the mismatched frame rates and scan methods?
if you know what you are doing, cool, please disregard, if not I can offer a few suggestions.
Jeremy
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Jeremy, as of late, I would never assume that I know what I’m doing. Our company’s just now making the switch to HD, so we’re open to suggestions.
Right now, I’ve brought the SD Beta footage into the Avid at it’s native dimensions, but “force-digitized” it at the same frame rate (23.976) into it’s own separate project. Then I open that bin up from the HD project and go from there (for an offline). Also requires me to resize the footage to 4:3 dimensions – I foresee issues with this later…
As far as what to do later, I’m completely open to suggestions. Figured I’d jump that hurdle when I got there.
I’d love to hear the “correct” answer to this problem. I’ve done research on it before, but haven’t received any solid, definitive answers.
Thanks,
Craig
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When you capture SD 29.97 and force 23.98, does it make everything slow motion like FCP does?
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