Shooting a Semi-Pro Soccer Game

Mark Harris

Mark Harris

Pain in the ass
I've been asked to organize a shoot of a semi-pro soccer game. I am told about 3K people in the crowd. They are asking for 3 cameras, which strikes me as not enough. I'm thinking one up high, one at each goal and then two following the ball, one from either side of the field... We will stream the one up high to the web live. But then, they want the game cut together from all of the cameras.

So 5 is what I'm thinking.

I have about two months to plan this, so will be researching it hard, but wanted to see if anyone here has had this kind of experience and can make some suggestions on shooting this kind of event.

Thanks!

M

P.S. - I didn't really know where else to put this question but technical...
 
If you want good coverage 3 cameras definitely wont be enough. I would go with a minimum of 6, preferably 8.
1 on either side of center field up in the stands with long lens
1 at either end of the field up in the stands with long lens.
1 handheld on either side of the field on the sidelines.
Here's the rub. Unless the operators on the side lines are REALLY fit you should have 2 cameras roving on either side of the field. A soccer ball can travel from one end of the field to the other very quickly so your guys would have to be very fit and fast to get down there in the action. If you have 2 handhelds on either side they can take half the field each and you will get better coverage. While the ball is at the opposite end a camera could be getting crowd shots or sidelined players, coach etc.
 
Depends on what they want. If they want something that looks like a professional soccer game then ozdoc is spot on. Otherwise 3 cams is do-able.

1 in the stands is a must and one field level. The other can be used as free cam for crowd, coach, bench, off field action.
 
well, they asked for 3, but I would like to push them a little to get the most professional looking product I can.

I'm also just extremely worried about not getting good coverage with out a lot of cameras out there.
 
Mark,
Where is the shoot going to take place. I have an HVX and will also have a stabilizer by the time your shoot starts. I'm working on a short that requires a soccer field and a crowd. So maybe we can help eachother???? send me a PM if you are interested.
Thanks,
Luis
 
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Here in Europe 5-6 is normal for coverage. 8+ for livegames. You can do a short report with 3, but no professional looking full-game edit. In Soccer the ball moves much more than in a sport like American football, where you have time to get to a position between plays.
If they only give you budget for 3 your plan will work. They get what they pay for. Just make sure the guy high up knows soccer and can follow as the "safety-cam".
 
Just a small suggestion:

I Don't know if you intend to shoot this in Hi-def, but if you do so, I suggest that you use 720p 60 or 720p50 for the detail cams- you're not doing live editing, are you? In that case, you can get those smooth slow motion shots of the tackles, dribbles and strikes.

Also, if you go HVX, Make sure every camera gets two firestores, (change during half time)or at least 15x 8gb P2 cards (each camera) for continuous recording, or a Media manager for every camera to dump cards on location for rotativity. (don't forget the possibility of extra time ! that goes beyond 120 min!).

Maybe The New JVC H200 would better suit you sports needs, if, of course, you don't go Firestore on HVX?
 
yeah, we have no HD requirement on this. But I agree on the frame rates, so I make just catch some shots that way as we go along, on the sly. Maybe just fill couple of 8gig cards.

And we are sticking with the HVX because that's what we know. And I don't want to throw any more variables into this than I have to, considering the whole thing is a variable right now.
 
mark,
Also keep in mind that if you are shooting HD, when it comes to doing some stabilizing on After Effects or Shake, you have extra room on the frame to play around. So consider 720p60f.
 
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