Infomercial Shot With HPX300

Spotlight Media

Spotlight Media

Well-known member
This is our first infomercial that we have ever produced. First it will be on the web and then will go to TV. I thought I would let folks here rip it apart (constructively of course) before I continue with making a few more adjustments.

Do any of you seasoned guys have any advice for me when I go to create the TV version? It will air in HD. Right off the bat I can see that it is darker once it was compressed. I did very little color correction, I used the 3 way and made sure the whites were not blown out (using Range check in FCP)

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.vimeo.com/12746610
pw-clenamine
 
Yeah I thought about that after the fact. I should have put a diffuser on it at the very least. And dude, what the heck is a China Ball?

Thank you... very helpful. Please keep it coming. Jmarkam I am checking out that link right now.
 
A china ball is a chinese paper lantern. You can get them at import stores like Pier 1 for about $10 for a 20" diameter one. Use them with high CRI compact fluorescent bulbs, tungsten bulbs get too hot for the light output. They make a very nice soft key/fill source.

Personally I liked the lighting overall, not overlit and flat. Had a very nice 3D depth quality to it and a good contrast range. The backlight was a little hot. The look could very much depend on monitor setup on a computer, but mine is calibrated for video reference. Might want to raise your black level just a smidge for broadcast to bring up some shadow detail in the blacks.

I would have had the trainer moving or doing something active through several shots taken from different angles with some cutaways to avoid the jump edits and make it a little more dynamic. His testimonial was pretty long for a static shot.
 
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Cool, now we both know what a China ball is, I saved the URL for future reference with the recommended bulbs etc... Gotta give it a try especially in tight quarters.
 
Nice job. But forget the China Balls. Don't we give enough money to China already?

I use them for when I don't know which direction I will be shooting. Also I think they're a fire hazard. What I think the major issue is:

LACK OF MAKE UP on Jay

I carry a make up kit the size of a small tackle box. Although I don't know what I am doing I have watched a zillion make up ladies in action so here's my two cents:

Go to a Walgreens cosmetic counter and ask the counter woman (make sure you deal only with a female) and ask them to set you up with Light, Medium & Dark powders for Black & White people, so you'll have 6 total, then label each accordingly. They'll sell you a brush but I never feel that's enough, I REALLY cake it on with pads. But make sure on your HD monitor that it is "blended". Summer makes this more critical with humidity. I also have a fan during the humid system that is aimed at the subject which the soundman controls.

That to me was your problem, plus any backlight for a bald guy (Black or White) should be lower than normal, more of a shoulder/temple light than a backlight. China balls for interviews to me are not controllable enough, but to each their own. Better yet with bald guys indoors: lose the back light and kick them off the background by lighting the background brighter, rather than a traditional back light, plus make up, lots of makeup for bald guys. The scalp is very oily. So to me it's not the type of light, or direction of light as much as it is: MAKE UP! I was trained that lack of powder if the client can't afford a make up person will ruin our good camerawork, so that's why I invested in my kit. Plus, it looks good to the client and makes the talent feel more secure.

But all in all it was a good job, my only issue was the shiney hits on Jay.
 
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