how to light podium speaker during Power Point

B

Blit

Well-known member
I need to video a speaker behind a podium (unless they wander!) commenting on a Power Point projection. The Power Point Screens will change about every five minutes and there will be several different speakers. Audience is about 150 in room normally lit by fluorescents but during this presentation lit dimly by an incandescent Chandelier. I ran a test, it is too dim to shoot with the light in the room.

I need to light the speaker without interfering with the presentation or audience. The speaker is behind a chest high podium. The podium is with the audience, not on a stage, and I must be careful running cords and interfering with people walking before and after the presentation. Camera is back in the audience about 50 feet.

Equipment: HMC150 on sticks, LCD Projector and laptop for Power Point, Mackie 1642VLZ3 Mixer, M-Audio Microtrack (second sound), Shure SM58 on boom for podium and just some Home Depot halogen work lights.

The presentation is during evening dark hours.

I am new to lighting beyond Key, Fill, and Back light. I am hoping for something simple to set up, use and break down that will allow people to be walking around without danger of burns or knocking over. Also should have a "friendly" appearence, not Hollywood. The Home Depot worklights might be frowned upon. But low $$$ solution would be great.

Thanks very much in advance for your time and interest in helping.
 
You should indicate what your final result will be. Is it to have the PP presentation on your DVD with commentary by the speakers at the podium?

Cheers.
 
Blit, you may be hit, to be honest. Just a little more info, what/who is the final video for? Are you going to have to shoot the presenter and the PP screen together, live? What kind of venue are you going to be shooting in?

I don't think that you should pull out the Home Depot work lights. What you may want to try and find is some type of spot light, like an ellipsoidal spot, also called a follow spot, and put it on the presenter. If you are shooting in an established presentation venue, they may have such a light. If not, they are rentable from local theatrical lighting houses, or you may be able to borrow/barter/rent them from a local community theatre, or other venue. Schools, churches, night clubs, live music venues, and some wedding reception halls have them. Work out some kind of deal with them. If that does not work, then break down, go on eBay and get at least one light, with a stand that you can set up and light the presenter. Even an open face quartz light, with barn doors and stand, would be an order of magnitude better than setting up a hardware store work light. You should be able to get that for well under a hundred bucks. As for "Interferring" with the show, well, get over that. I assume that you have been tasked with recording the show by those that are putting on the show. While yes, you should not be obnoxious about documenting the show, but remember, that what you you are doing is as an important an element of the event as every thing that happens. You are THE DOCUMENT of the event, and what you need to do a good job is important.

When running your cable to the lights, use the shortest cable run as you can. If your cable has to run across traffic areas, use cable protectors, or at the least, tape them down securely, and make sure that the are highly visible. What I have used is just good ol' gaffers tape and a type of security tape, that is security yellow with black stripes to cover the cable run, and then use safety orange pylons marking the outer edges of the run. At the point of the light, I sand bag the sh*t out of the stand, tape down the legs and use the safety tape to outline the edges of the stand. Make sure you have a safety cable on the light, to the stand, and that the stand is only extended to the height that is needed.
 
We need to know a few things.

1. How wide is the room?
2. How high is the ceiling in the room?
3. Is the screen directly behind the speaker or offset.
4. How far behind the speaker is the screen.
5. What is your budget. Saying $$$ isn't helping any.

Ideally, the screen will be above and behind the speaker allowing you to light from behind the audience and flag the output so it does not bleed to the screen. Or you can light from the sides of the speaker so that light goes across his/her face and is not directed to the screen. Or you could light from above if you have a high ceiling and access to hang something there. Last resort is to light from the camera position or near to it, and try to offset the screen way off to one side. Nearly any other configuration will have you washing out the screen. Been there, done that.

Try to limit the speaker from wandering if you can. I've used plants (green tall ones) to set boundary marks for presenters to keep them from wandering.

Do yourself a favor. Take a thumb drive with you and get a copy of the powerpoint on it. That way, when the inevitable happens, you'll have a clean copy of the slide show to use as inserts. If you get this, then the only people affected by a washed out screen will be those in attendance. Anyone watching afterwards will get a lovely presentation.
 
PerroneFord said:
We need to know a few things.

1. How wide is the room?
2. How high is the ceiling in the room?
3. Is the screen directly behind the speaker or offset.
4. How far behind the speaker is the screen.
5. What is your budget. Saying $$$ isn't helping any.

Ideally, the screen will be above and behind the speaker allowing you to light from behind the audience and flag the output so it does not bleed to the screen. Or you can light from the sides of the speaker so that light goes across his/her face and is not directed to the screen. Or you could light from above if you have a high ceiling and access to hang something there. Last resort is to light from the camera position or near to it, and try to offset the screen way off to one side. Nearly any other configuration will have you washing out the screen. Been there, done that.

Try to limit the speaker from wandering if you can. I've used plants (green tall ones) to set boundary marks for presenters to keep them from wandering.

Do yourself a favor. Take a thumb drive with you and get a copy of the powerpoint on it. That way, when the inevitable happens, you'll have a clean copy of the slide show to use as inserts. If you get this, then the only people affected by a washed out screen will be those in attendance. Anyone watching afterwards will get a lovely presentation.
Click to expand...

What he said!!! Absolutely get a copy of the PP presentation. Do everything to keep your lighting from washing out the presentation screen. The judicious use of a little black wrap may be in order, if there is a compromise with the lighting of the presenter.
 
Yes, get the PowerPoint *before* the presentation starts .. it's too easy to not get it later as the presentation ends. (Also make sure you get any embedded data like video clips if the presentation contains them.)

Forget the work-lights, they are not appropriate.

If you can't get lights with barn doors, get yourself some black wrap - or even home kitchen aluminum foil if you must (be carefull, it's reflective!) and some C47's (wooden clothes-pins) to allow you to mask the light from the screen.

Use longer cables if necesarry to avoid crossings. Remember to use propper gaffer's tape - not *uck tape!! - when you tape down your cables.


Your biggest challenge will be balancing the brightness of the speaker with the brightness of the screen (assuming they will be in the same shot together, at least in the wide shots). The screen will much brighter than you expect.
- See if you can turn down the bulb intensity on the projector (some have an adjustable level). Also set the color temperature of the projector as warm as you can - or you risk it looking very blue.
- Then light the presenter to match - try to keep the lights to the side or higher above (but still in front of course) so they don't blind him/her too badly.
- Turn *up* the ambient room lighting - perhaps even add your own light to the audience if you can if necessary. If the room is dark and the presenter is light too brightly, they won't be able to see anything and this will make them uncomfortable - by upping the audience light, the presenter will be able to see a little. Try it yourself and see what feels nice to be in and still be able to keep eye contact with the audience (very important to some speakers).


- Mikko
 
This kind of stuff is my bread and butter at work. So I've shot dozens and dozens of these in all manners of rooms. I remember having to post a video once that someone else from my office shot. Presenter at a podium on stage. Cameraman unaware what was about to unfold. Near the end of the presentation, a "surprise" award was going to be handed out. The person brought the award to the presenter from camera right... right across the VERY bright screen. The person receiving the award came from camera left. They met in the middle. So we had a room that was nearly blacked out, a screen which was light by the equivalent of a 5k HMI and two people standing in silhouette speaking to the audience.

I've seen it all when it comes to this kind of thing. I had to tell what is the equivalent of my CEO at work that she absolutely COULD NOT do a powerpoint on the screen behind her for a presentation 2 months ago. It was a panel of 5 in a room of 50+ people and the screen would have dropped to within 5 feet of their heads with a backset of less than 10ft. I told her if she wanted to be visible during the presentation (this went out live to 800 viewers) that she would have to forgo the powerpoint. Fortunately, she listened. And I was able to key with a 2k and fill with a 1k and shoot in HD and it looked lovely.

If you get resistance with this stuff, you can tell them what I tell them. You hired me to make you look good. You can take my advice and you'll look like an actor on TV. Or you can ignore me and you'll look like someone on COPS. Your choice.
 
mikkowilson said:
- Turn *up* the ambient room lighting - perhaps even add your own light to the audience if you can if necessary. If the room is dark and the presenter is light too brightly, they won't be able to see anything and this will make them uncomfortable - by upping the audience light, the presenter will be able to see a little. Try it yourself and see what feels nice to be in and still be able to keep eye contact with the audience (very important to some speakers).


- Mikko
Click to expand...


Write that down. Get the room AS BRIGHT AS POSSIBLE. Yes this is going to cause the powerpoint to be harder to see. Find a happy medium. And don't underestimate what a little diffusion can do on a light to cut down glare for the speaker. Looking at a 2k or more can cause eye spots for a speaker. A single piece of toughspun or soft frost can make a WORLD of difference without knocking down too much light.
 
More Information

More Information

Thanks for all the information.

I obviously need to give more complete info.

Room is a "Community House" about 100' wide by 250' long with a room width stage about 30' deep into the room. Height is maybe 25'. PP screen comes down in middle of stage. The stage is elevated about 4'. The podium is on the floor at the edge of stage right. Screen edge is about 10' stage left of podium and screen is about 20' behind podium, and elevated 4'.

True gaffers tape is currently used to tape down cables.

Presentation is given by my town's historical society four times per year on a local topic. A lot of work is put into creating these presentations, often more than a year of volunteer effort.

I can "Do" anything pretty much as far as the way things are set up mostly because I am the president as well as the volunteer video guy. Usually I have a pretty good amateur sound guy to help set up the sound.

Delivery of the final product is to our archives, to DVD for sale or lending, eventually to the web, and maybe most importantly to be included in various other productions ranging from our own to commercial films (I live in a very interesting place!). Production value does count.

Earlier shows were shot with a GL1 and on camera mic and although at least one filmmaker wanted some of it, they said it was just not good enough to use. So we are changing. Our sound is really quite good now, and lighting seems to be the key to good video.

The Camera is recording both the PP screen and the speaker with how much of each varying on the material.

With the main house lights fluorescents and the lights that stay on during the show incandescent on a dimmer (all the way bright is very dim) and the color of the PP projector light (who knows and not likely adjustable but I will check) I am thinking color may be a problem. I think for serious product forget about the PP projector because it will be replaced digitally. That leaves incandescent house lights and podium lighting.

Since I will be paying for this volunteer project I would like to keep the budget under $300. I can spend more but will need to save it out of beer money over time. This works because I am a very light drinker!

It was mentioned to brighten the room. The fluorescents are very bright and white, totally wash out the screen and I get many complaints to turn them off.

Question: What about a little reading light on the podium tilted to catch the speakers face. Too spooky except on Halloween? Or viable.

The PP presentation copy is obtained by our archivist and she "always gets her man".

Thanks again for all the help. Hope I am doing better with this info.
 
Ok, now we have something to go on! Let's look at the positives before we get to the issues.

1. You have some creative control
2. You have good separation between the speaker and the screen (count your blessings)
3. You have a vested interest in the production value
4. You have good sound.
5. You have the powerpoint presentations. (if you can try to get these created in 16:9 instead of the more common 4;3. It's a setting right on the main menu.

Ok, now for some issues.

1. You have mixed color lighting. This won't be too much of a problem. Custom white balance with all the lights that will be on during the presentation, and then DON'T CHANGE THEM.

2. You have no money. This one is going to cause some headaches.

3. You have a live, and interested audience. The presentation HAS to be viewable.


Here are my suggestions given where you are at:

1. Darken the room sufficiently for the slide show to be seen comfortably.

2. Forget recording the screen with the camera. Your production value will go to zero and it will look awful. Focus the camera on the speaker ONLY and do NOT let them wander anywhere the screen will be in the shot. Put up a barricade if you have to.

3. You need a tiny source of light (actually 2) VERY close to the speaker. So I would suggest something like the lowel ego light. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/379776-REG/Lowel__Ego_Digital_Imaging_Fluorescent.html

For $235 you get two fixtures, 2 stands, and two grip heads. Simply place these lights to the left and right of the front of the podium and you're golden. Since they are soft glow fluorescent, they can be placed below the shoulders of the speaker and still give a soft, even glow.

There are cheaper ways to get this same thing, and maybe even more effective ways. But you'd have to cobble it together yourself, or you'd need someone knowledgable with lighting. I've done the same thing with a cheap $15 par lamp and a piece of copy paper held on with scotch tape, but I don't recommend that in front of a live audience!

Others will have different recommendations, but I think you have to be aware of what you have and don't have. You don't have the budget to do a real spotlight and control it properly. You don't have the budget to do ceiling mount lights. You have a live audience so you can't use traditional softboxes. And you audience needs the screen to be legible so you can't just ramp up the ambient. If you do this right, you can keep the lights off-frame, get a head and shoulders presentation that's nicely lit, insert the powerpoint slides into the video at the appropriate times, and just go to town.

If you want to get fancy later, maybe you shoot this with a green or blue-screen background and you can digitially impose the speaker into any environment you want them to be in, including in front of the powerpoint slides.

Best of luck!
 
Great information for me.

The Lowell Ego Light looks like a great choice.

Question. Due to time constraints I try to shoot both the speaker and the PP if possible. The reason is we get the most requests for the show immediately following the presentation. I don't have ime to bring it into a NLE and edit. I want to transcode the raw video into a DVD immediately. Suggestions are welcome for how best to handle the camera and lighting when going back and forth between PP and speaker.

Question. Will the Lovells spill so much as to be shining into the sudiences eyes or so bright that they will bounce and distract the audience. Also are they dim enough that the speaker will be okay about them. And... finally, can a dimmer be added (can fluorescents be dimmed/color temp change?).

Whatever I rig, I am understanding that putting lights about 45 degrees either side of speaker at about waist level using equilevant of 200 watts tungsten each will do the trick (seems really bright?).

I am excitied to improve the video - no more filmakers saying what a pity about our video!
 
Good questions... one at a time.

1. If you are fighting turn around time, get a CHEAP camcorder, place it on a tripod at the back of the house, and set it to a fixed zoom to cover the speaker and the screen. Then use that for your fast turnaround. Instead of spending beer money, charge $10 a copy for them until the camera is paid for. Then use the money to improve other parts of production. Shouldn't even matter if you are 501(c) 3. This is capital expenditure and operating cost.

2. You'll need to arrange the lighting as best you can. This is a COMPROMISE solution to be sure. Your $300 budget doesn't leave much wiggle room. a Single decent spotlight would cost 3-5 times that amount.

3. These are ordinary CFL bulbs in the ego. You can get more from Lowes/Home Depot. If they are too bright, move them back some, or get dimmer bulbs. You cannot put a dimmer on these with CFL bulbs. However, you can get regular incandescent bulbs for these lamps, just watch the wattage.

And yes, 45 dergrees to either side should work nicely. I'd put one at 30 degrees (the brighter one) and one at 45 (dimmer side closest to screen) so get some modeling on the face. And you can back off the bulb intrensity to accomodate your needs.
 
Blit said:
The Power Point Screens will change about every five minutes and there will be several different speakers. Thanks very much in advance for your time and interest in helping.
Click to expand...

You mention screenS, more than one? Changing every 5 minutes doesn't sound right, the show might not fit on one DVD and if it does its audience will fall asleep.

My experience is, if this happens sales of a follow up would be in doubt. I'd opt for post editing to tighten it all up.

Would the panel be taking questions from the audience and have you got that covered?

Cheers.
 
Cheap camcorder in back of room is a great idea. I still have the GL1.

Different bulbs available for Ego lights is a great idea - stone axe dimmer.

Key at 30 degrees and fill at 45 to add modeling is a must try.


"Screens" = tiepo, only one screen thankfully.

5 minute slide = the shows are produced by different people each time and vary tremendously. Usually the slides change often enough that I video just them. For show Wednesday night the slides were just a back drop for the speakers until the last speaker who was a pro and had several illustrations for his few minutes.

I should have but never mentioned that the show is supposed to be one hour but often will run over by up to ten or fifteen minutes until we politely shut it down,

Questions to the speaker(s): The other channel is recording from the mic on the camera which is in the audience. We should always remind the speaker to repeat the question in all cases.

Thanks for your suggestions - it's like having Mr. Wizard (Rocky and Bullwinkle reference for the young crowd) answer my questions.
 
Another option you have - which defiantly costs more money; but does speed up the production immensely: is to place a scan converter on the VGA line to the projector, and then use a video mixer to switch between the camera and the projector picture on the fly - obviously then recording to an external recorder like a computer to burn the DVD - or if you are good, you can even go straight to a DVD to copy for dubs for sale immediately.

But to do that with quality is well beyond your volunteer budget.

- Mikko
 
Capturing and mixing the video opens up a whole new world. Most requests for the DVD come from people who are not able to make the show rather than those who want to own it after seeing it. I have never tested whether the audience would buy the DVD. Maybe if I get my act together and get both good sound and picture they would.

Thanks for so many great suggestions.
 
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