DVX100Shooter
Veteran
My question is kinda long but I figured I better explain the situation and layout so I can hopefully get some good responses.
Once a month I do shoots in a nightclub. My camera is hooked up to the "house" projector so I can project the image of what I am shooting on a really big screen (120-140") on the front wall. The stage is along that same wall. So when I am shooting the act, I can just tilt the camera up to that screen if I wanted to do so.
My issue is this. The club purposely turns down the main house lights during the performances and I have to use whatever lights I bring with me to light the acts on stage whether it be a stand light or on board camera light.
I have been forced to shoot in regular 60i mode with the gain bumped up to 12db and that is with a 250 watt diffused light! The reason I need to bump up the gain is because I have to project that image onto that screen. With no gain, you can't see hardly anything on the screen. It looks fine on my LCD screen on the camera though. I would rather shoot in 24p mode but as we all know, I am going to have a good considerable amount of light aimed at that stage for 24p to look good. I am guessing the owner of the club could make some adjustments with the projector to make it brighter but they will have to remember to put the settings back after the show and I doubt he is willing to fool with the projector like that every time I am in there shooting.
Another problem I noticed last night is that extra light is spilling onto the screen which in turn is making it difficult for the audience to see anything. Yes my light has barn doors and it was diffused but the light was still spilling over.
So basically I need to figure out light placement within the club. I need to be able to light the front of that room/club up bright enough for my camera and flag off the extra light so nothing spills onto the screen. I am recording to tape and projecting the image onto the screen at the same time which is resulting in an image problem. Because I have to project the image onto the screen in 12db gain, while recording to tape, the footage looks bad when you play the tape back meaning its to grainy.
Last night I had the light high on a 7 foot pole which was next to the camera. Would it be best to go up to the upper level of the club and mount the light up there and aim them downwards. I may have to set up a large flag on a c-stand to control the spill if I go that route.
I am open to any suggestions. I am thinking 1-2 lights that are placed well and flagged would be great but I am open to other suggestions.
Additional info. The club looks like a big box with a partial upstairs. When you walk in the front door, your literally on the dance floor and that is also where the acts are performing. The audience fills out the seats from the middle back. This is all in one big room with an upstairs that overlooks the bottom half.
Once a month I do shoots in a nightclub. My camera is hooked up to the "house" projector so I can project the image of what I am shooting on a really big screen (120-140") on the front wall. The stage is along that same wall. So when I am shooting the act, I can just tilt the camera up to that screen if I wanted to do so.
My issue is this. The club purposely turns down the main house lights during the performances and I have to use whatever lights I bring with me to light the acts on stage whether it be a stand light or on board camera light.
I have been forced to shoot in regular 60i mode with the gain bumped up to 12db and that is with a 250 watt diffused light! The reason I need to bump up the gain is because I have to project that image onto that screen. With no gain, you can't see hardly anything on the screen. It looks fine on my LCD screen on the camera though. I would rather shoot in 24p mode but as we all know, I am going to have a good considerable amount of light aimed at that stage for 24p to look good. I am guessing the owner of the club could make some adjustments with the projector to make it brighter but they will have to remember to put the settings back after the show and I doubt he is willing to fool with the projector like that every time I am in there shooting.
Another problem I noticed last night is that extra light is spilling onto the screen which in turn is making it difficult for the audience to see anything. Yes my light has barn doors and it was diffused but the light was still spilling over.
So basically I need to figure out light placement within the club. I need to be able to light the front of that room/club up bright enough for my camera and flag off the extra light so nothing spills onto the screen. I am recording to tape and projecting the image onto the screen at the same time which is resulting in an image problem. Because I have to project the image onto the screen in 12db gain, while recording to tape, the footage looks bad when you play the tape back meaning its to grainy.
Last night I had the light high on a 7 foot pole which was next to the camera. Would it be best to go up to the upper level of the club and mount the light up there and aim them downwards. I may have to set up a large flag on a c-stand to control the spill if I go that route.
I am open to any suggestions. I am thinking 1-2 lights that are placed well and flagged would be great but I am open to other suggestions.
Additional info. The club looks like a big box with a partial upstairs. When you walk in the front door, your literally on the dance floor and that is also where the acts are performing. The audience fills out the seats from the middle back. This is all in one big room with an upstairs that overlooks the bottom half.