video presentation software

[morten]

Hopefully someone here can help me:

I'm doing this huge presentation at a theatre in about two weeks. It contains both images, video and audio and has to be controlled based on the host. It's a talk kind of like "Inside the Actors' Studio" but live and the different clips and images have to be brought up on a huge screen when they are referred to.

I know there are programs out there that can do this but I don't know what they are called and which one to use. The whole thing will be running off a laptop.

any ideas? I'm in desperate need of help here

mor10

[Steve_Arm]

The less painful one would be PowerPoint.

[Cynic821]

Powerpoint can run video?

Morten: are you on a PC or mac?

[Steve_Arm]

Yes but just run it. No VCR controls unless you use a ActiveX control or program it.

[Larry Rutledge]

I've never used it, but what about Serious Magic's Visual Communicator (http://www.seriousmagic.com/products/vc/index.cfm)?


Visual Communicator makes video creation faster and easier than traditional video editors because it was designed for inexperienced users who know literally nothing about making videos. From business announcements to student video reports, your presentations will have the visual impact of a real TV newscast.

[morten]

I'm on a PC. My main concern is to have a system that I can control without the controls being visible on the feed going to the projector. It's been so long since last time I used PowerPoint and I'm just wondering what else is out there. What I remember of PowerPoint is that it's a little too cookiecutterish. The stuff I'm making is looks more money and I don't want powerpoint to kill it.

NOTE: not to state the obvious but when I say "presentation" I mean that it'll be displayed in a room with about 300 people and must be controlled in real time because it's a loose conversation between actor and host. I think the trickiest thing will be all the triggering and ordering (because I have a feeling they'll be jumping all over the place and I'll have to constantly change the order of the images and videos)

[Larry Rutledge]

Did Visual Communication not do what you want? Powerpoint has the ability to show it's slide interface on one monitor and the slide only on a secondary monitor (out to a projector).

Have you tried doing a search for Presentation Software? I know there are lot's of programs out there that do what you want. You also might want to check Church Worship software. We use that at our church to display video clips, sermon notes, scripture, song lyrics, etc during a church service and it has the dual display feature so a secondary operator can manipulate it on the fly.

Hope it helps,
Larry

[mikkowilson]

Another option would be to use classic video production techniques.

Hook up a video mixer to your projector and feed it with the following:
A laptop running powerpoint for your still media. - you can call up any slide directly by typing in it's number and hitting enter. Just have a numbered slide list prepared in good time.
A DVD player with all your video clips, for example in their own chapters. Find one that you can turn the on-screen disply off. Again have a numbered list ready.
OR
A Computer running a video editing program like Premiere. Set timeline markers at your key points and send the output to the video mixer through a DV deck or camera. You can jump to the start of any video clip and control it as it rolls.
OR
Some other video server/playout system. Your milage will vary.

The video mixer is a key element however you do it, it allows you to fade in/out your source or between them. It's essential for a clean presentation.



And yes, it is possible to do it ALL through powerpoint with a celverly designed presentation and numeric direct access.


Whatever you do, but sure to test EVERYTHING well well in advance.

- Mikko