Shooting a Live Show for Comedy Central

[Eatsnax]

I will be bidding for a job to shoot a performance of a Comedian, that will probably be sold to Comedy Central. He wants to make sure that the quality is top notch. I've never produced a thing like this before. I know that I will have to rent extra cameras and equipment and personal.

The show will be done in a pretty large venue, but not really big. They will most likely have lighting for the stage and possibly house lights at the venue. I'm sure I can tie into the sound board to the camera to get audio from there.

I own an HVX - 200. I would renting other HVX's also. Should I stay away from the HVX? Should I rent other cameras instead? Do I need a lighting truck? Should I get other mics? Any suggestions would be awesome since I think I have a grasp on what I need to do, but to make it perfect I do not.

Thanks.

 

[grinner]

You are in over your head, I'm afraid.
No need for a lighting truck as the stage has battons and lights. If you are the director, you'll call the shots here.
I'd live switch it with three cameras, recording each camera to an iso so cutaways are vailable later on. I'd leave the HVX at home, use 3 studio cameras and master to Dbeta. They'll want a Dbeta master in the end.
Your audio will come from the board... his hand held. You can clip him as a back up but most comedians actually use their hand helds in their act so I'd talk it over with him first.
From what I see, three freelance camera operators while you are on the switcher is all ya need while there.

 

[Eatsnax]

Thanks for the reply, when you say studio cameras, what do you recommend? And why not the HVX's? Is it because it doesnt record on Dbeta? Can't he just transfer to Dbeta later? Are there other reasons that you don't want the HVX?

Live switch? I was planning on editing it in FCP using multicam.

You said record three cameras into an ISO? What is an ISO.

Thanks again.

 

[Steve House]

Thanks for the reply, when you say studio cameras, what do you recommend? And why not the HVX's? Is it because it doesnt record on Dbeta? Can't he just transfer to Dbeta later? Are there other reasons that you don't want the HVX?

Live switch? I was planning on editing it in FCP using multicam.

You said record three cameras into an ISO? What is an ISO.

Thanks again.

ISO stands for "ISOlated." Recording ISO means you record the total program with each camera so even though you're editing on the fly, you also have all the outtakes in case you need them.

In addition to grabbing stage audio from the house system, don't forget to mic the audience for reactions, laughs, and applause.

 

[Eatsnax]

Steve, yes I will I have a sound guy coming in for that. What do you think of HVX for the shoot and transfer to DigiBeta afterward. It should be fine, you think? Any info or suggestions would be great.

 

[Steve House]

Steve, yes I will I have a sound guy coming in for that. What do you think of HVX for the shoot and transfer to DigiBeta afterward. It should be fine, you think? Any info or suggestions would be great.

I can't comment on the suitability of the HVX, I really don't have anything to go on. Why don't you get in touch with Comedy Central's technical standards people and just ask them about their required delivery formats and whether the HVX cameras meet their standards? A simple phone call should be all it would take to get the definitve answer straight from the horse's mouth. Whatever you do, don't just go on speculation from people on an internet discussion group.

I will say this ... given the competitive market for new programming, anythig you do will have to meet the same technical and artistic standards as a program produced by the network itself if you hope to have a sale. Lighting, picture, sound, etc, will have to be fully up to professional broadcast standards in every respect. Actually look at their standup concert programming critically and think about what you'll have to do for yours to look AT LEAST as good in every respect. You can't afford to compromise on any detail without risking the sale.