Filming a play...

[dantewaters]

Got this e-mail from a friend -

I want to put you on contract for our church youth day program. We will be doing the play David and Bathsheba; and I would like to have it privately screened before November, for DVD sale We would also like it recorded during Youth Day Please write up a contract that you'll see as suitable, I'll review it and pass it on to our board for approval. I'd like to begin taping in September and to be done by the end of October.

- Summary -

He basically wants to shoot a play and then sell the play at a youth event 2 months later.


I was typing this and decided to ask you guys what I need to put down so that this event can run as smoothly as possible.

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Now if we are filming an actual play it can be more time consuming as well as costly, simply because during a play (I would assume this is before an audience) you have very little control over the actors and their performances
as well as other quirks.

The most cost effective method is to have the play filmed as if it were a movie (not necessarily at different locations) in a controlled environment
so if there are mistakes we can fix them before they even enter the post productions room.


Production Schedule - Exactly when we will be shooting, and a break down of each of the scenes

Script overview - Have to look over the script to get a run down of what shooting will entail
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Help what else do I need to cover?

 

[dantewaters]

bump

 

[egyptianboxer104]

You've got a good start. Also mention audio problems that may occur from a play performance. Auditoriums are notorious for terrible echos.

Possible second camera, lighting, and thats all.

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

I was typing this and decided to ask you guys what I need to put down so that this event can run as smoothly as possible.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now if we are filming an actual play it can be more time consuming as well as costly, simply because during a play (I would assume this is before an audience) you have very little control over the actors and their performances
as well as other quirks.

The most cost effective method is to have the play filmed as if it were a movie (not necessarily at different locations) in a controlled environment
so if there are mistakes we can fix them before they even enter the post productions room.

If the play is in front of a live audience, 3 cameras is the usual TV style, and during the production, someone telling the camera persons to move about change framing and focus, etc... and such needs a live feed to the control room...

For a 'movie' version of a play, sure one camera ... but still 3 would be good to have basic shots lined up for a particular scene... which means you have to analyze the play and come up with a shot list... just like a movie...

As an added legal note, get releases from all participants and their parents/guardians if they are minors. The other legal issue would be the play itself...

As noted the audio in normal auditoriums is really crappy for 'film' productions. I don't know what resources are available, but perhaps a large number of racks with heavy blankets like one uses for moving. Place said blankets around as much as possible, cover walls, whatever... Test before hand and see with sound processing tools can compensate for in the environment. If it is not a live production, perhaps lavaliers on the speaking characters for a particular shot. The problem there is that the movement of the character, clothing, etc is all picked up too... If you can get the 'noise' down to 'low' level, perhaps one can add 'ambient' noise of a reasonable type to bury any unwanted audio.