Shot down from Hollywood producer for my HDSLR, "camera not for reality shoot"

JoeJITSU

JoeJITSU

Veteran
Shot down from Hollywood producer for my HDSLR, "camera not for reality shoot"

She only wants a camera with timecode, doesn't pull focus and either DV tape or P2 card. Is it time for me to sell my 7d and get a HDV camcorder again? I make more money with reality shows and I'm thinking it might be best since Hollywood is still tape based.
 
The client is always right....that's how I would look at it (though they could be a bunch of dwindling morons). :)
 
rent or buy used, but I wouldn't get rid of the 7D. NYC used market is having a surge of people trying to get rid of their older HD/HDV camera's... I see hvx200's for as little as $1200.
 
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Efexone said:
rent or buy used, but I wouldn't get rid of the 7D. NYC used market is having a surge of people trying to get rid of their older HD/HDV camera's... I see hvx200's for as little as $1200.
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$1200??
WOW!
Let me know if you see anymore.
Here in cali the cheapest is about $1900.
 
Have reality shows gotten that cheap that you have to bring your own camera to get a job? Any of the ones that I see that occasionally show the camera crew are still lugging full size broadcast cameras. Granted I don't watch the genre as a rule and avoid the obviously low end stuff. Cool(or Sad) that being based in L.A. allows them to be called Hollywood Producers no matter what they are making.
 
dop16mm said:
Have reality shows gotten that cheap that you have to bring your own camera to get a job? Any of the ones that I see that occasionally show the camera crew are still lugging full size broadcast cameras. Granted I don't watch the genre as a rule and avoid the obviously low end stuff. Cool(or Sad) that being based in L.A. allows them to be called Hollywood Producers no matter what they are making.
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Yeah, wth? Is this a spec pilot or something?
 
The short answer is yes. We shot for a national reality show and they wanted the footage blown from P2 to either DVCPro or MiniDv. Believe it or not. Their producers were not all that swift either. It ended up the NYC producer asked me to produce the segment. She couldn't get the shoot under control.
 
Maybe it has something to do with the established workflow that they've already got in place? If their production company is still geared for tape and P2, maybe that's why they're looking for something like that in particular.

In any case, I guess it doesn't really matter. I agree with the rent/buy used sentiment.
 
I'd have to agree with the client. Reality is a genre suited better to cameras with auto-everything. No one wants to miss that big moment of betrayal or whatever because you need to focus
 
JoeJITSU said:
Yea,unfortunately most are still DV based from what I heard. EIther that or P2 cards. I have worked already with 3 hollywood producers and that is what they prefer.
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More than likely, HDV on DV tape, not DV. Tape has major advantages for reality TV stuff and the P2 workflow is pretty easy and safe. Many reality production companies own gear and if they're geared up for P2 or HDV and it works for them, then that's what they'll want to stick with, regardless of what others are doing. I believe The Hills is still shot on a standard definition camera, or if it's not, it sure was up to not that long ago.

Having someone (besides the camera operator) pull focus on a reality show is unheard of as is "auto everything" on cameras used.

As for timecode, it's more of a necessity for double system sound than anything else.

A 7D is a bit of a specialty camera and is not ideally suited for run and gun documentary style work which a camcorder or ENG style camera would be.
 
Being used in commercials is no where close to the shooting style needed for reality TV. And besides, GETTING timecode requires an extra device (at what cost?) and is not a built-in part of the camera, to say nothing of the fact that a 12-minute record time and SD card shooting isn't really a proven workflow in that format.

But even if the client's criticism wasn't valid, it's still the client and you give the client whatever he/she wants (within reason of course).
 
Reality shows use shoulder-mount cameras like VariCam 2700; HDX900; HDW950. Almost every show I work on at least has a couple of crews working HDV / P2HD 1/3" form cameras as well. TLC has been running complete shows on these, but it is the exception to not have 2/3" 4:2:2 recorders as the ACams. Now, on a show like MadHouse, we ran HDX900s and there were DSLRs doing specialty-cam work (like time-lapses). RED cameras were brought in for a couple of days for show open and promo footage. But these cameras really have very limited use on unscripted shows as they don't lend themselves to very, very long unbroken takes on 10 to 12 hour days. In my mind, P2HD is the best format for the work and it is encouraging to see more shows moving to the 2700 and 3000 heads.
 
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