Need quick advice please

ryan brown

ryan brown

lOwEr CaSe Member
I'm on hold to shoot a red carpet event of the opening of a Forest Whitaker movie tomorrow night. I've never shot red carpet before, and need to figure out everything I can as soon as possible.

Here's some info:
The host who's hiring me is doing so one her own (she's the only one I've talked to anyway, no producer or EP have contacted me), and she's looking for a "one man band", so I'll need to handle audio too. I don't know about rate yet, I don't know what I'm supposed to bring as far as gear, and the host hiring me is really bad at communication. Basically I know nothing and it's like pulling teeth trying to get info. All she said is she's waiting on PR to confirm if the big names are going to be there. If so, we're going to shoot it; if not, she's not going to bother.

My biggest concern/question is this: I want to be prepared with the proper gear, what should I do? The event is TOMORROW evening and I'm still not confirmed. I have an EX3 package on standby with wireless mic, sticks, batteries, media, LED and more. Basically a full ex3 red carpet package ready. BUT, will that suffice, or will I look like a fool showing up with an EX3? do I need to look at renting a varicam package for an event like this, or ex3 should be fine? Also, any ideas on what a day rate should be for something like this? Last time I worked with her was on a small reality pilot she was funding herself, I shot on my 5D and charged her $500 for my rate, and another $800 for my sound guy and a second shooter

Any and all info much appreciated!

-brown
 
I'm sure there will be people their shooting on a variety of cameras, including DSLRs, so don't worry about your EX3. I don't know if you'll need the stix but a monopod might come in handy. Are you going to be asking questions from behind the camera or is someone else going to be doing the interviewing? Besides making sure you have reduces (XLR incase of too much radio interference, back stick mic incase someone drops yours, etc.,). I haven't done any red carpet/interview line things for a long time but it will probably be a scrum so be aggressive and be ready to use your elbows.


-Andrew
 
I edited for TV show that regularly got red carpet stuff. 'Red carpet' as in all major film festivals, premieres and promotions of all sorts (such as one you mention with Forest Whitaker) etc.

In short; you won't look like a fool. The host/journalist is the one who grasps everyone's attention. Nobody cares whether you shoot with ex3, varicam, or cell phone (and I mean it).

I wasn't myself there, but from I heard and saw, there is no such thing as 'standards' for equipment on such events. If the host is happy, you should be happy. And, since it's red carpet, it'll be done fast & furios, meaning too much gear could slow you down and actually be disadvantage as you need to ready to shoot at any time. Usually they (big names) just pass by and you hope you can get someone's statement. If it was something arranged, for example 1 on 1 interview, you would already know of it.

Just make sure you arrive there earlier, as getting a nice spot in crowd is pretty hard (and everyone wants to get a nice spot, no?).

Hope you get something useful from this. :beer:
 
Great info guys, and much appreciated. Between this info and the other I got from another fellow DVXuser, I think I'm all set. I sent an email to the host offering an EX3 package for cheap, and a varicam package for not so cheap, and I've got audio taken care of. I feel much more comfortable with a general knowledge of what I'm getting myself into, and I now have that:beer:
 
Take the sticks, though I doubt you'll be able to use them.
Protect your spot- it's your territory.
The carpet should be lit, probably tungsten, be sure you have gels for the LED for her.
Get a sense from the talent (since she's paying) how much she wants to be on camera- should you start on a 2 shot and push in? On some but not all interviews? Pull out for questions? If so, do it quickly, smoothly and confidently, but you don't want too much zoom in/zoom out...
If she wants to be on for questions, try to get a little more to her side instead of over her shoulder, though you may not have much room to the side.
She's holding the mic, right? If so, coach her on keeping it equidistant from her mouth and the subjects- not one inch from her mouth and 3 feet from theirs.
If she doesn't get a chance to ask questions, keep it as close to the subject as possible.
If you're in the middle of a good interview and the background sound (like adjacent interviews) is too loud, put your hand under her elbow or forearm and gently lift her arm up and closer to the subject.
Run the mic on both channels, with one higher and one lower so if it spikes, the editor can use the lower one.
(Obviously) monitor your sound- it may be more challenging than the image.

Have fun, be flexible, give her what she wants and don't stress!!! About 20 years ago, I actually had a gonzo reporter somehow persuade security into letting me backpedal on the carpet in front of Anjelica Huston at an Oscar party-all the other shooters are looking at me like WTF!?! I just shrugged... that's why I say be flexible!

You've already worked for her for $500, but ask her for $700 for this.

Good luck, let us know how it goes! :thumbsup:
 
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