Client Requesting Many People on Screen in Sync

[nedcam]

I assume that some of you have been requested to do this before so I'd appreciate any advice. A client has employees all over the globe and wants them to do a Skype video, or I suppose it can just be a captured video, saying something that is THE EXACT SAME LINE as everyone else, then wants them to be in their own box (ala Brady Bunch) but may want up to 40 frames. Think of it as a mosaic.

I will instruct them to look at the camera for 5 seconds before and after delivering their line, add a smile at the end. I will send out instructions as to framing, background,etc and may send out a 10 second example of me doing it so they know the pacing. I believe the line is just five words.

My question is: If the client wants a LOT of people simultaneously on screen do you know of any templates? Any advice? Is there any appreciable difference between having them do a Skype session vs just doing a video and sending it? I realize with Skype we can "direct" them a bit.

Many thanks,

Ned

 

[keylight]

Video would be better quality, but you'll get clips in a lot of different formats, different framing.... That can be a big pain to work with. Oh, and some clips will be perpetually "in the email" or done very hastily after you've asked for it a hundred times.

If I was doing this, I'd skype individually with each person so I could direct them to move the camera up, down, left, right, in, out.... to get the framing right, then play the the audio sample with a countdown (3, 2, 1, line) over skype so they can say the line in unison with the sample (preferably with them using an earbud type headphone to hear the audio).

Then I'd just record each skype session. In the end I'd have video in all the same format with all the same framing that I could crop and put together in AE without much trouble. With a grid of say 42 videos (7x6) each video will be shrunk down enough so that the low resolution of skype won't be a huge issue.

I wouldn't bother trying to get multiple people to skype all at once. You'll lower the framerate and quality on your end, and with latency, you'll never get them to say it in unison. Doing it individually also lets you compose the final grid as you see fit. Maybe you don't want a full grid. Maybe make a grid in the shape of a logo or 2013, or whatever works for the intended purpose.

Years ago I did video interviews with subjects located half-way around the world by sending a local crew to the location, and then calling in conduct the interview. Didn't have the benefit of skype at the time, but it made all the difference to be able to talk to the crew over the phone during setup and shooting ("need a CU for this question, a WS for that....), and actually ask the subject of the interview the questions (and followup questions). So being a part of the process for each person saying the line will give you a lot more control. And being a part of each recording means you can schedule each person for a block of time that they'll usually show up for.

Good luck, and I hope you can share your end result. Would be fun to see!

 

[nosys70]

depends what you get. Do they have skype and a decent camera ? and a good mic ?
do they have video conference system ? If you request a clip from a video camera, expect many format/resolution/frame rate....
40 frames on one screen must be hires or else you got a something like a 100 pixel by 80 pixel, that is smaller than your avatar picture on that site.
They could do this from an iphone and mail you the video directly.
the best would be to create a web page with explanation and sample and a capture windows (possible with flash or http://www.seetheface.com/siteclip/pricing/ , http://nimbb.com/ or http://hdfvr.com/features) so you get directly the result.