Monthly Articles

Video and More

Video and More - Apr05

Hope everyone is in full swing for your latest productions, whether it be that new audio recording or your video creations. Well, many thanks to those who have taken time to once again email me with comments and questions. Before dropping a tip or two on clothing selections for your video, here’s something that came my way last month. Someone asked me why after they got their finished video (DVD) there seemed to be color changes in their clothing in each scene. I was told that they shot their video at a major church venue and it was done so by using three cameras. According to the trio, they used the existing church stage lights and pretty much retained the look of the church as their backdrop (set). Although I did not personally view the video, one of the most common problems such as this is caused by not using matching cameras. Just because a production is shot by three cameras doesn’t mean that the outcome will be top quality. Each camera will read different color tones, for example, in one shot the gentleman in the trio told me his suit jacket looked almost maroon, however, it was actually brown, but on another camera shot, the one that was the ISO or the full stage view, it looked almost black. A problem like this could be avoided if a little homework is done on the production company and the equipment they will be using for the shoot. I later found out that the entire video “a full concert” only cost $800.00. I hate to sound so harsh; however, you get what you pay for. Saving a few bucks cost this group perhaps a great deal of TV exposure and has given them a very unprofessional look overall.

Now here comes what is a vital tip and something that should not be overlooked when shooting your next video...

In your pre-production meeting(s), your producer should explain that you would look much better in the finished video if you would wear more "video-friendly clothes." As an artist, you should not wear clothing that is extremely light i.e. all whites or dark. Clothing such as this can cause contrast problems and loss of detail. A gray or brown suit is better than a black or dark navy one, and of course, small patterns are a no-no. Plain white shirts and blouses should be replaced with more earth colors or pastels. With this said, the entire set needs to be taken into consideration as to create the separation between you, the artist, and you surroundings.

If your production is one that requires lav mics, say in an interview portion of your production, women should avoid exaggerated necklines or large necklaces that may look good from a distance, but can interfere with a microphone. They also can, and do so in most cases, draw attention away from your face and can be distracting to the viewer.

Feel free to drop me a question at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or if you need assistance in creating that award-winning video, I’m at your beckon call.

Don’t forget… I’ll keep the lights on and the cameras rolling!