Studio Help

[Jeff Kelley]

Ok, I do understand everything that was said. Here is what I did.

I told my boss (and his boss) that the cost of such as set up could vary anywhere from $2000 to $200,000 depending on what we have to do. If we just want to shoot web stuff, a hi end consumer camcorder would be enough. What was needed it a definite plan, goals, a solid idea of what we hope to do and accomplish and than figure out w budget to accomplish these goals.

So, after some serious talk, we have decided that for the time being, the web is what the company is most interested. So what I recommended was a nice camcorder and Adobe Premiere. Start there and see were that takes us.

So now, anyone who has any information that might help me in purchasing a camcorder, I’d appreciate that. I am NOT asking you to tell me which one to buy, but some idea of the type of things I should look for in a camera. I would also like it to be known that the more I can justify all this, the more toys I will have to play with, so I need to really talk it up.

Hey, thanks everyone.

http://www.willinois.com

[Nick Griffin]

I have to say that this plan for getting started with just a few components is much safer and more reasonable than what had previously been discussed. However I think you and your company are better served by starting with a camera which can do much of the professional stuff and won’t need to be one of the first things replaced should this effort get more serious.

Others will, no doubt, have other opinions, but my advice is to start with a Canon XL-2. Reasons in its favor are the numerous pro features: Interchangeable lens, Balanced XLR audio inputs, real time code, time lapse, variable shutter speeds including clear scan and more. The XL-2 is a LOT of camera for the money and widely available so it’s heavily discounted. To bring the price down further you might also look into this camera on the used market, ie.- eBay, used departments at B&H, Calumet, Adorama, etc. Just be sure to make low hours of usage a prime consideration.

Besides a camera and NLE software you will need / must have a tripod (again used is a good way to save money), one or more lights and an off-camera microphone. I recommend that one of the simplest and least expensive forms of lighting is a Lowell Tota-light that you can kick into the ceiling, thereby raising the light level of the entire room while still appearing like conventional lighting. A large sheet of white tagboard (available at any art supply store) can be used as an inexpensive reflector to open up shadow areas — something which will be very important on close-ups.

The off-camera mic is needed for decent quality on anything except ambient/room sound. If your subjects (kids) will tolerate it a lav mic clipped 9 to 12″ from their mouths will produce excellent sound quality. If there are multiple kids consider a handheld omni-directional mic either held over top of or placed within the scene.

Now come to think of it, you should try Mark’s original suggestion of using an experienced pro, if only for the first few of these video projects. You could learn a whole bunch from observing and be more likely to have a better video product at both the beginning of the process and down the road.

[Mike Cohen]

…and don’t forget that given a room full of kids and an adult with a video camera, expect the kids to look at the camera more than the Mr Potato Head. You want the play room to be as cozy as possible. Consider a child-height table, bean bag chairs, plush carpeting. A tripod will get you solid shots, but you might need to get down on the floor with the camera as wide as it will go and find camera angles that are compatible with a 3 year old playing with toys.

Soft light is best, you don’t want a 650W arri pointing at a toddler – god forbid a lamp blows. Mommy won’t be happy.

Speaking of Mommy, will she be there or are these kids being locked in an office?

Have you tested this theory of videotaping kids playing with toys in your office?

Technology is readily available and easy to get. The process is what you need to figure out.

Mike Cohen

[Jeff Kelley]

Thanks all. Let me explain a little.

We are an educational toy company so we do have places the resemble play rooms. Also, we have our photographer whom we have a very good relationship with that will help if we needs sets, such as classrooms and such.

Things like, hiring a professional and such is out of the question. We have a creative director who insists on doing everything himself and a CEO who is pushing to do everything in house. (He is even trying to get us to bring Photography in house for Packaging and catalogs, which is a story for another day).

I’ve already got the go ahead to purchase Adobe Premier and they are just waiting on my recommendation for the camera.

Sound is what I’m worried about the most. Poor sound on video ruins the whole thing.

PLEASE keep you advice and suggestions coming. You probably can tell I’m in a bad spot, the company spending a lot of money on my suggestion.

http://www.willinois.com

[Paul Hudson]

Jeff,

You are right to be concerned about audio. So many forget the importance of sound. The eye will almost always follow the ear. With the right sound, recorded on location, and in the post process, you can make someone believe almost any video effect.

Remember this comes from a DP of over 25 years so when I give this much credit to sound it is not lightly done.

As for cameras, I recommend the Panasonic line. Like the HVX 200, HMC 150 or the better HPX 500. The tapeless format it efficient and handy.

Compared to the price we paid for cameras only a few years ago these cameras are all inexpensive.

Paul Hudson
Lizardlandvideo.com
Phoenix Video Production

[Nick Griffin]

Jeff-
You’ve gotten several pieces of good advice from this thread so here’s one that may also be helpful: DON’T BUY Premiere until you go to the Premiere forum and ask for specific advice on configuring a system to properly handle it.

All NLEs, not just Premiere, put extreme demands on the computer and its storage. Not having a CPU that’s fast enough, not having enough RAM and utilizing disks which can’t transfer at the speeds needed for video, along with other factors, can make your system useless. Get this stuff straight because there’s a lot more to putting together a functional editing system than simply buying software.