Camera Functionality

1.  Video setup

2.  VCR (tape) setup

3. Light Setup

4. Sound Setup

5. Displays

6. Warning Systems

6. Automatic Setup

Illustration Display Field

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Preparing Yourself for the Shoot

1. Know the location, purpose and operation of all of the controls on the camera. Communicate with other members of the crew and reach a consensus of what you want to shoot. This might include the main action, the main characters and the main scene as well as supporting details. These secondary and peripheral details ( "B-roll’ or "cut-aways") flesh-out your story and provide background details that are interesting and significant as well as being extra footage that is needed by production.

3. Always keep an eye and ear on the reporter to get an idea of what to expect.

4. Plan ahead so that you capture all of the important aspects of the story. This will involve several steps:

a. Establish the scene with wide shots that encompass the big picture.

b. Capture details with tight shots.

c. Expect to interview people who are involved in some way.

d. Plan scene-setters to establish interesting details that affect the main story.

e. Be ready to capture the action at any moment.

f. Plan to tape or exclude whatever sound is available, either close-up or background. You will achieve this with the microphone set-up described in Section II.

g. Expect the unexpected: be ready to adjust your plans. Be ready to abandon, adjust or delay your plans depending on whether they are now relevant. Good judgement and decisiveness are your best suites.

h. Determine your equipment needs. The main needs of the shoot are: 1) a tripod, 2) a light kit, 3) a variety of types of microphones (lav [lapel clip]), boom [overhead], line [hand-held]) and cables, 4) rain protection for the camera, 5) a spare battery 6) spare video tapes 7) headphones to ensure sound integrity, and 7) a roll of masking tape to trim the floor cables.

i. Arrange your set. This will require several considerations:

   i) In an interview, endeavour to capture people such that eye contact is on a level plane. They might stand on something to appear taller or sit down to equalise their line of sight, rather than having to look up or down to converse.

   ii) In an interview, draw an imaginary line of sight that intersects in the middle. Position the camera (s) so that the lens is over the shoulders of the interview participants intersecting in the centre. Speakers should appear to be looking at each other as seen by the camera lens(es). By shooting over the shoulders toward the centre, people will appear to be looking at each other, rather than off into the distance.

   iii) Position microphones with the following in mind: Keep them still; any peripheral movement is amplified and recorded. Keep them off the floor as they pick up foot shuffle. For fixed-position mics, use masking tape to fasten the cables to the floor to avoid people tripping on them.

   iv) Try to hide lav mics in clothing, such as, the back of the collar, in a pocket or under a lapel.

   v) Hold hand-held mic just under the mouth of the speaker and a few inches away to minimize the amplification of breath

j. Minimize camera shake by leaning against a building or other stationary object, holding your arms close to your body, sitting down, or using a tripod.

Other topics in this section

Preshoot checklist

Other Equipment check

After the Shoot

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