Live music performance with one camera?

omar_

omar_

Well-known member
Hey guys, I got a very small gig to capture a live studio performance, but we only have one dvx. Do you think we could pull it off? We'll need shots of the band playing and various shots of the audience throughout. If so, what would you recommend. Should we keep it handheld and just edit it all later.

Forunately, I also have an older mini dv camera. I'm thinking to set the smaller mini dvsteady on a tripod in the back as the master shot on the band. This way I have something to cut to while I move around with the other DVX handheld.
 
It can't be done, not well, that is. You're talking about cutting your dvx footage with an older mini dv camera. I was where you are a year ago and I tried the same thing. Looked like crap. Can your shoot be done with one camera? Yes. Will it take a few days to get your coverage? Yes. If you have the time, budget and passion to do this I say go for it. But ax your older mini dv and be that director.
 
One thing you could do is film the audience shots from the opening bands with the DVX and use those for cut-aways for the main act.
 
I'm in a similar position. I used a old high -8 camera to shoot some footage while they were making their CD. Now i have a DVX and im going to shoot some live stuff. What i plan on doing is shooting wide screen with DVX. This will be their live/in between sets footage. During the "music video", i'll cut away to some of the old footage. I'll make this full screen but within the letterboxed bars. (lets not get into a 16:9 debate...im just stating that on a 4:3 TV, the picture is not going to be widescreen then cut to a picture that takes up the whole screen...thats ugly). I'll probably desaturate it a little bit so it looks very much like "home video" (maybe a little 16mm look as well...decisions decisions). I think this will give the group your shooting for a "down to earth/home town/independant/real/not plastic/we do it for the music/etc." look. The band im shooting made their CD in one of the guys' living room so it definitely gives towards tone to the video.
 
Rubop said:
I'm in a similar position. I used a old high -8 camera to shoot some footage while they were making their CD. ...
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I actually agree with you. I'm gonna do it and I'm probably gonna add a third older 3 chip mini dv cam. I think it'll work for this type of project. I'm going to handhold the dvx because I will probably use that footage the most.

I'll have secondary older mini dv cam handheld from another angle and I'll also have another older mini dv set as a wide shot whose footage will be used infrequently.

I'm of the mind set that crazy handheld stuff looks better for this project. I'm not that worried about using an older mini dv camera because a lot of the time when you do a good job people do not notice the quality difference. :nads:
 
how many songs do you have to cover?

how many songs do you have to cover?

if only one, then take your best hand held (shoulder mount) shot of them performing the song, then during other songs go for cutaways of the audience and of closeups or back/side shots of the band so that you can't telt that they're not playing that tune.
 
That's a cool idea :) Another thing you can do is rent a second DVX. They are pretty cheap these days, $125 or so per day, or see if a friend has one. Maybe the band can spring for it if you explain why.
 
I agree with getting your coverage of the audience and any other cutaway shots you can get before the band even hits the stage. How many songs are they performing? If several you can shoot one song wide for most of the song and then if you choose start zooming in for tight shots during the same song OR you can wait to the next song to get tights. If you are a GOOD editor you can "CHEAT" your edits and fool the audience into thinking you had several cameras. I know first hand because I have had to shoot concerts for the news where they only allow me to shoot say the first 2 songs and thats it. With only 1 camera I make it happen and the end result looks like a multicamera shoot. If your good with editing to music, it wont take a long time to put this together.
 
You need a lot of b-roll that doesn't give away the fact that it wasn't shot during the song. Get closeups of faces while playing, foot tapping, of a piano player from an angle where you can't see his hands, shots of the audience, etc. You can also cheat by getting b-roll closeups of actual playing, but then slo-mo it in the edit. So, you can get a closeup of the bassist plucking the bass strings (in real tight), but in the edit, slo-mo it so it is obviously not going to be synced and the viewer will be willing to go with it. Another thing you can do is to shoot PHOTOS too. Take 5-10 minutes and shoot a ton of photos, then you can use those in the edit with some pan/zoom motion/keyframing without worrying about the viewer having a problem with sync. Anyway, those are some of the tricks I use.
 
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