Shooting question... Stupid question...

[Justin Marx]

Hey all, I've shot a lot over the last 7 months, but never for a reality show.. Any ideas on shooting with available light? should I set my zebras to like 85%/90%? Expose for the faces, blow out the BG? or ride the iris to what my eye thinks is good? I just HATE zebras when you cant control lighting! They never seem to go away..

Would love some pointers from some peope who have shot some reality stuff.. It's supposed to air on the comcast on demamd dating series soon..

Thanks guys and girls!

BTW we are shooting with the HVX in the DV mode if they changes anything?

[Shooter]

The zebras do not know what you are shooting and do not care if it is a reality show or a home video.

They are there to give you a reference to levels that you desire and set. eg your upper whites (90-100%) or your skin tones (70-85%) or even your blacks (0-10%)

At the end of the day it is your eye that will determine what you want and what you get.

[Capt Quirk]

Shooter is right, the zebras are there to warn you what is likely to be outside of what you desire. Set the camera to get the important stuff right. Got stripes all over that actor's face? If everything else looks good, send him to make up and knock that shine down. It may be called a reallity show, but it is anything but. They are scripted and directed, just like fiction.

[BenB]

Reality Show is a fancy spin on what they really are, "Extreme Game Shows". Every reality show has winners and losers, thus, it's a game show, and has little to do with reality.

The Osbornes, THAT was a reality show! Ozzy for president!

[TedRR]

If you don't have time for great lighting or light meters, I'd set the first Zebra at 70%. Then a "General" rule is Caucasian's face will be "about 70%" so let the first zebra or two show on the face highlights and you should be fine.
There is much more to shooting great video, but this should give you a starting point.
Running and gunning sucks, but sometimes that's all you get. So you better know your camera and have a bag of tricks to overcome the "impossible".

[Justin Marx]

Thanks guys..

[TedRR]

Just tonight I shot for a Country Music show, walk and interview, no monitor, (almost never do that), and just a camera light with Dimmer, (almost never do that either). I couldn't have done it without the adjustable zeebras.

[Justin Marx]

See I like to use the Zeebras when I can play with lighting.. but if I'm outside the blown out sky and the properly exposed face makes it distracting to see the mass of zebras.. Make any sence?

[doccutter]

Uhhh, how do you set the HVX zebras to less than 80? This is a serious question, since I'm always accustomed to 70 for my lower Z's. Is there a way?

[SurJones]

Justin I know exactly what you are saying. I deal with this all the time. I think the best thing to watch to get a hold of how to deal with it, is to watch MTV. it seems they shoot outside reality shows a majority of the time.

Doc: On the HVX, in the menu you can choose the to manually adjust the settings level.

[Justin Marx]

Thanx Sur, I have watched many, but I guess that answers my question.. They mostly look like CRAP, so I guess the object is dont blow out the persons face you are shooting and let everything else go BLAH.. I'll let you guys know how it goes.. I havnt shot DV in ages! I'm going to miss being able to watch the clips after I shoot..

Thanks again..

[SurJones]

Justin, GOOOOOD LUCK! Oh man DV.. such a shame but we'll have to wait for our beloved CinePorter to come out. As for the MTV shoots. I think they face the same decisions you find yourself in and end up just saying what you said in your last statement. Better the focus (face or people) being in key and SCREW everything else. I think that they make millions off those shows, they must be doing something right ;)

[J P]

I agree to set your Zebra 1 to 70 to find exposure for skin tones. I also set Zebra 2 to 100 so I know what is blowing out, and I switch between the two.