HELP need help with first concert shoot tonight!!!!!

[ryanschindler]

I am shoot with 1 other videographer. I have a Panasonic HMC-150 and two canon T2is at my disposal and 2 videographers. I am going to set up the HMC in the back, and have both the T2is up close for close ups and things of that nature.

What i'd love is if anybody has any sort of shot list for shows they've shot, it'd be really helpful. Thank you so much.

 

[gerbenzomp]

I've shot many live shows with multiple T2i's, and unless you know the setlist in advance and have seen multiple shows of the band you're going to shoot, it's going to be hard to stick to a shot list. Live shows are often just too inpredictable. Of course I can say a few general things that apply to every live-shoot:

* start and end each song with an establishing/overview shot (the HMC in your case)
* try to have one camera focus mainly on the singer, so every time the singer starts singing you can immediately switch to the singer. Especially at the beginning of a song
* the other T2i should focus on instruments that are prominent in the song at that moment (keyboard-riff, guitar-solo). Viewers want to see the thing they hear.
* if a song is slow, take your time for each shot (maybe even pans/zooms/fade-overs), if it's a fast song fast cuts work best
* as for lenses: get your fastest lenses out . An f1.8 prime is preferable over a f2.8 zoom lens with IS: you're gonna need al the light you can get. And often a little shake just adds to the dynamics
* if you have the chance: try to get one camera up onstage with the artists: this provides a completely different and interesting POV. The viewer feels like they're on stage with the artist, looking at the audience. Great way to get audience shots over the shoulders of the artist, or nice bokeh shots of the stage lights
* audio: a zoom h4n with the two XLR ports connected to the soundboard, and the XY-mics to pick up some of the room ambience & audience works great. And you can always decide not to include the room ambience.
* put the HMC on a tripod, and use the T2i's handheld, this way you can create a nice balance between information (overview cam) and dynamics (t2i's close-up)
* stay alert for anything that happens on stage: if a singer goes into the audience, be sure to have one camera following him/her
* and most of all: keep an eye on what the other cameramen are doing: if cam 1 is filming the singer, film the bass-player

Anyway, this is my approach. Others might have a different style/approach.

 

[vision_filmz]

I've shot many live shows with multiple T2i's, and unless you know the setlist in advance and have seen multiple shows of the band you're going to shoot, it's going to be hard to stick to a shot list. Live shows are often just too inpredictable. Of course I can say a few general things that apply to every live-shoot:

* start and end each song with an establishing/overview shot (the HMC in your case)
* try to have one camera focus mainly on the singer, so every time the singer starts singing you can immediately switch to the singer. Especially at the beginning of a song
* the other T2i should focus on instruments that are prominent in the song at that moment (keyboard-riff, guitar-solo). Viewers want to see the thing they hear.
* if a song is slow, take your time for each shot (maybe even pans/zooms/fade-overs), if it's a fast song fast cuts work best
* as for lenses: get your fastest lenses out . An f1.8 prime is preferable over a f2.8 zoom lens with IS: you're gonna need al the light you can get. And often a little shake just adds to the dynamics
* if you have the chance: try to get one camera up onstage with the artists: this provides a completely different and interesting POV. The viewer feels like they're on stage with the artist, looking at the audience. Great way to get audience shots over the shoulders of the artist, or nice bokeh shots of the stage lights
* audio: a zoom h4n with the two XLR ports connected to the soundboard, and the XY-mics to pick up some of the room ambience & audience works great. And you can always decide not to include the room ambience.
* put the HMC on a tripod, and use the T2i's handheld, this way you can create a nice balance between information (overview cam) and dynamics (t2i's close-up)
* stay alert for anything that happens on stage: if a singer goes into the audience, be sure to have one camera following him/her
* and most of all: keep an eye on what the other cameramen are doing: if cam 1 is filming the singer, film the bass-player

Anyway, this is my approach. Others might have a different style/approach.

Great post, but to add to that is make sure to get some crowd reactions. Yes you have the band, and instruments but you need to show close ups of the people and their expressions. Filming this in 60p for slow mo would be great, good luck