Choosing the right size camera crew
There is a lot of planning and preparation
involved when it comes to creating a video. When you are planning, you must
consider what size crew you will need to get the best results possible for your
project. This post will walk you through the process that goes into choosing
what size production crew you will need.
Single Camera Operator
For the vast majority of our video work, a
two-person crew is the bare minimum. There is just too much work involved to
ensure that both sound and vision come out perfectly. However, there are a few
instances where you can get away with just a single camera operator who will
also operate the sound equipment.
2 Person Crew
A two person crew (director/camera operator
and camera operator) is a great place to start for an average project based on
interviews and most corporate interview work.
It’s perfect for talking head style interviews, as two cameras can be
operated, giving you options to cut between angles and give you much more room
to edit
3 Person Camera Crew
We firmly believe that every crew should
have a director on set, someone to keep
everything on track and someone to defer to with tricky decisions. But it’s a
great idea to have at least three crew members on set to make sure no aspect of
the production is left unattended. Two focused camera operators give the editor
more cutaway options and footage to work as well as less pressure for someone
to monitor the shots on two cameras. If you’re looking to shoot an interview
but need to ensure the shoot runs smoothly with the best possible footage, we
suggest a three person camera crew. The additional member can do the odd jobs
that pop up on a crew; charging batteries, moving lights, and applying make-up.
The Rest of the Crew
For simple things like an interview or a
bit of B-roll, a larger crew than 3 will be overkill. However, the more people
on camera at once, the more camera operators you will need. For a TV interview
chat with say, 4 participants, you will need at least three camera operators
and a director, and the scale just gets larger as the production gets bigger.
For example, a sound recordist is required if your video will feature more than
2 speakers. A gaffer (electrician and lighting expert) may be required if the
filming needs a specialist shot, like large outdoor scenes or shots on a moving
car. Production assistants, runners, camera assistants will all get involved as
the project gets bigger and more complex.
What You Need to Know for Successful
Multi-Camera Live Video Streaming
if you have an upcoming event and you want
live video streaming, you’re thinking about the end product: you want your
event up on the web, and you want people to see it. But before that can happen,
there are an awful lot of moving parts that have to come together. And there’s
a lot that can go wrong. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your event
is successfully live streamed.
What is Multi-Camera Live Video Streaming?
Today, anyone with a cell phone can live
stream an event. But while cell phone video streaming is easy, it doesn’t
provide anywhere near the professional look your corporate or institutional
event requires.
Multi-camera live video streaming uses
video from several live cameras, and switches between those video feeds to
create a highly produced, highly professional live streamed broadcast
Of course the success of your live
streaming depends on having good cameras and good camera people. But most of
the work actually happens before the event – and this is where things can go
wrong.
Set-up
Your video crew will schedule three or more
hours before the event, for set-up and testing. This can be done the day before
(if the room is available) or day of. Exactly how much time is needed depends
on the number of cameras, and on whether your video crew is also doing lights
and audio.
WORKING AS A CAMERA OPERATOR
What Does A Camera Operator Do
Film and video editors and camera operators
manipulate images that entertain or inform an audience. Camera operators
capture a wide range of material for TV shows, motion pictures, music videos,
documentaries, or news and sporting events. Editors take footage shot by camera
operators and organize it into a final product. They collaborate with producers
and directors to create the final production.
Duties
Film and video editors and camera operators
typically do the following:
Shoot and record television programs,
motion pictures, music videos, documentaries, or news and sporting events
Organize digital footage with video editing
software
Collaborate with a director to determine
the overall vision of the production
Discuss filming and editing techniques with
a director to improve a scene
Select the appropriate equipment, such as
the type of lens or lighting
Shoot or edit a scene based on the
director’s vision
Education
Most editor and camera operator positions
require a bachelor’s degree in a field related to film or broadcasting, such as
communications. Many colleges offer courses in cinematography or video-editing
software. Coursework involves a mix of film theory with practical training
Training
Editors may complete a brief period of
on-the-job training. Some employers may offer new employees training in the
type of specialized editing software they use. Most editors eventually specialize
in one type of software, but beginners should be familiar with as many types as
possible.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Certification is a way for editors to
demonstrate competence in various types of editing software. To earn certification,
video editors must pass a comprehensive exam. Candidates can prepare for the
exam on their own, through online tutorials, or through classroom instruction.
Types Of Camera Shots To Consider When
Filming Church Services
As a camera operator for your church, you
can make your message even more powerful by taking some time to consider the
goal of each sequence of a service. Are you trying to evoke emotion? Do you
need to emphasize the scenery behind the pastor? What’s the theme of the
pastor’s sermon?
As you’ll see, just like in reality, the
closer you get to your subject, the more personal it feels. Your distance to
your subject is just one element that can entirely alter the impact of each
frame.
The way you frame your shot is often just
as important as the subject of what you’re shooting.
How To Film an Event
How you film an event can either make or
break that event. If we watch closely events like those organized by TEDx, we
will realize that these events are not shot haphazardly, but are directed in
various ways to really embrace the nature of the speech given, the speaker’s
expressions, as well as the audience’s reactions. The same goes for
entertainment events, sports events, etc.
Write a Plan
Shooting an event can get really tricky.
There’s usually something that’s the center of the event, whether it’s a
performance, a speech, a prize-giving, etc, as well as the audience or crowd,
and the atmosphere of the event. Each of these elements has to be included in
the plan with the right balance so as not to waste any of your assets.
Keys to A Successful Event Video
One of the keys to success in capturing an
event on video is the formation of the right crew for this particular event. A
director, cameraman, or sound engineer might be great at their job and highly
qualified, but nothing works without them having the right specialty. Just like
a heart surgeon would not perform plastic surgery, you have to make sure the
team you pick for your sports event is specialized in such events, which would
substantially differ for example from a conference on astronomy.
Live Event Camera Set-up
The first thing you have to make sure is
available while shooting your event is the variety of angles. Whether you are
using one camera or more, you need to make sure the organizers take into
account this issue while setting up the stage or the hall where the event is
taking place. Also, if there are seats for the audience, it would serve you
best to secure a seat in middle for front shots.
Camera Positioning
When you position the camera, you have to
know what your limitations are. If you’re only using one camera, keep it close
to the stage, because if you’re only shooting the event from one spot, it
should obviously be focused mainly on the main performance. However, if this is
the case, then you should at least manage to get a sliding deck so that you can
move smoothly from one angle to another without causing any disturbance to the
video or any rigid movement.