Starting a New Feature

P

ptalsky

Veteran
Hi all,

In the spirit of SouthBySouthwest's (Sean's) current thread on the shoot he's got going on currently, I thought I would start one a bit earlier to cover the planning phases of a feature I'm starting in a couple of weeks.

It will be a four week shoot, all in one location - yes you heard correctly - one location. For the first time in my career I'm going to set up and stay set up. Yay!

I'm using this opportunity to expand my kit a bit - so let me summarize what I currently have and chat a bit about the things I'm thinking about adding. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Current Kit:

Shotguns:
Senn. 416
AT 4073a
AT 897

Hyper/Cards:
Schoeps 441
Oktava with hyper cap
Rode NT5 (pair) (cards)

Lavs:
B6 x5
COS-11 x3
EMW x1

Misc. Mics:
Electrovoice boundary mic

Wireless:
Zaxcom x1 (for wireless boom) (with SD MM1)
Lectro x2 (R400a's + LMA's)
G2's x3 (base-station and battery operated Rx's)
Listentech's x6 (Comtek equivalents)

Recorders:
Boom Recorder
HD-P2
TC Slate

Mixers:
302
Alesis FW 16

Lots of other little stuff (blimps, shockmounts, booms, etc), but that's the key components.

Here's what I'm looking to add:

Lectro Venue+6 VRS modules+4 more LMA's - will give me 6 Lectro wireless (also just picked up a Lectro 201/200c for $500). I'm going with the wideband version because I want to go with a mix of block 25 and block 22. Adding sharkfins, stand, cables to remote out the antennae. I also have 2x RF Multi's so I can chain in the Sennheiser basestations if needed, as well as the Zaxcom Rx. I've got a rack case to rack up all of the wireless (including a drawer for the Tx's).

TC Sync box: Looking at either the Denecke or the Horita - right now I use the slate as my TC source which is a really poor option given how easy it is to turn it off by accident. Going to send TC to the camera on one channel to help automate sync in post.

Audio/video Baluns: I'm still debating whether I'll send audio via wireless to the camera for a scratch track or go with a baluns-based system so we can feed video village and then also send to the camera. Any one have any feedback on this?


The shoot plan:

Primary recorder: Boom Recorder, recording mirrored to external hard drive (turned in daily for primary sound delivery)
Backup: HD-P2 rolled up Boom-L, wireless summed-R

Mini notebook running Lectronet to monitor Venue wireless.

Mostly single boom with a hyper or card depending on the skills of the boom op (still TBD)
All talent wired (maximum of 7 speaking in one scene, mostly 4-5 speaking)

Lots of scenes around a dinner table - throw in the boundary mic for additional coverage

One large party scene - throw in a couple of plant mics for additional coverage.

That's it for now. I'll update as we move forward in pre-production and during the shoot. Please let me know if you think this is useful, and also if you have any suggestions, comments, ridicule, etc. :-)

Thanks!

Phil
 
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I would go with the Denecke SB3. I like Horita but the only portable generators they sell are TC only. For a bit more (OK like a third more) the Denecke will give you a very stable low jitter word clock also. THat should improve stability with the Alesis and make using multiple interfaces, on the next bigger show!, a lot happier.
Cheers
SK
 
I would suggest a different backup recorder. You could get a used 744t and then use that for the tc generator to BR and slate. If there's a need for a remote, it's easier to lug around. I am also a fan of power independace. How about floating a 30ah battery? I l know the alesis is prob ac only, but you could use an inverter. If you dont know, floating the battery means it is getting power/ keeping charged while powering your equipment as long as you don't draw faster than it charges. Probably use an inverter for the alesis. Maybe a pure sign wave so you can charge the computer clean. If the wrong cord gets pulled, your stuff is safe. Psc flexmounts or make your own( I made them for $20 each) to hang antennas or mount plant mic
 
TVSound, thanks for the feedback. I've been thinking about a battery back up/power feed situation, but most of my equipment is AC today (computer, mixer, wireless, etc.) so I've been leaning towards some larger UPS's (1500VA) to use instead of the more traditional cart power systems.

As far as the recorder goes, I've been thinking about a 702T, but replacing the HD-P2 isn't as high on my priority list because I rarely do bag work, and it is "good enough" for the type of work I do. I've looked at used 744's and the price is still pretty high on them (3-3.5K range). Now, I'm the king of the bargains, so if I see one at a price point I can't resist... ;-)

Shawn, it's going to be a DVX100 - probably with the 35MM mount and lenses. Makes the shoot much easier - I know the DVX well.

TV - how did you make your own flexmount? I saw those and while they aren't hugely expensive, they aren't cheap.

Scott, is there any benefits of the Denecke over the Ambient sync box? BTW, you are more than welcome to come by the set if you don't mind the schlep to Palo Alto. You were there the first time I used my Lectros, you could be there the first time I use my Venue. :-)

Thanks for the feedback all...

PHil
 
Oh, and my "antenna stand" arrived today. It's actually a light stand (specifically a DJ light stand). The thing weighs a ton. I was going to get a sandbag for it, but I really don't think I'll need it, especially since all I will be hanging is 2 sharkfins and maybe an additional antenna for the IFB. It is seriously bottom-heavy. But, it was cheap - $40 on eBay (less the 30% discount that you can get from Microsoft on ebay purchases - ask me if you don't already know about this - it's awesome...and no, I don't get referral fees, so there's no conflict here.) And the "light" mounting screws fit the sharkfins perfectly (and it even has holes drilled in the cross-bar at the right distances - I already measured).

Phil
 
ptalsky said:
TVSound, thanks for the feedback. I've been thinking about a battery back up/power feed situation, but most of my equipment is AC today (computer, mixer, wireless, etc.) so I've been leaning towards some larger UPS's (1500VA) to use instead of the more traditional cart power systems.
Click to expand...

You could also go the portable venue route. I use a PSC powerstation to power my cart. When i was putting it all together i was under a time crunch. Sucker was around $700. if i had time i would have made one for $200. It saved tons of time and work. simply going from one room to the next, there is no power down, fighting for AC and power up. Also, for exteriors, i can power 6 411s, FR2, FF400, Octamic, bcf2000(with ac mod or have also used inverter) for 5 hours. i have a second laptop battery so computer is self powered for these set ups. I have used for exteriors where DP felt bounce and nat light would work. They could have taken out the genny, but it would have been only for me! If i was the source of noise on a track i was making, i would have been pissed.

ptalsky said:
As far as the recorder goes, I've been thinking about a 702T, but replacing the HD-P2 isn't as high on my priority list because I rarely do bag work, and it is "good enough" for the type of work I do. I've looked at used 744's and the price is still pretty high on them (3-3.5K range). Now, I'm the king of the bargains, so if I see one at a price point I can't resist... ;-)
Click to expand...

B&H has a used fr2 with timecode for $1k


ptalsky said:
TV - how did you make your own flexmount? I saw those and while they aren't hugely expensive, they aren't cheap.
Click to expand...

google "loc-line" then get appropriate screws from home depot or hardware store to mount batwings or shockmounts and spring clips. i used washers and screws to secure loc line to clamp. a little epoxy and done. takes a little figuring out, but was fun.

Denecke vs. Ambient. both are great. multiple ambients can be calibrated using Master Clock. Denecke is US based and easy to get on the phone.
 
Okay, I can finally update this thread, since the new toys are starting to arrive.

Last week the Lectro 201/200 arrived in great working order only in the wrong block (the eBay ad said block 22, it's actually block 21). Getting a bit of a refund from them to cover the error. :-)

The Venue arrived today and OMG, what a sweet piece of equipment. I just finished installing the VRS modules and testing it and it is really amazing. Again, I am blown away by the quality of the Lectro equipment.

The Zaxcom set also came back from Zaxcom today re-calibrated, cleaned and spiffed up. They are really nice folks there too - if only their products weren't so darned expensive. :-)

Tomorrow two more VRS's arrive, along with my other sharkfin and another LMA (my block 21 stuff) and finally the antenna cables arrive on Friday. I'm re-building my cart on Saturday (really more of a re-laying out of it given all the new equipment). Then we move to the location on 11/5 and start shooting on the 6th. I cannot wait to try out all of my new toys (we're going to run a few tests on the 5th after we load in). I'm also totally amazed that we're going to be in the same location for 3 weeks - just switch off and cover my cart at the end of each night and head home, switch on the next day and go. Such luxury. :-)

Hopefully I'll be able to post a couple of pictures of my new cart this weekend.

Phil
 
Phil, sweet! I want to see pics of the cart and pics of this all in action.

Requests:
-Pics of cart
-Pics of boom op in action
-Pics of where you hide wireless transmitters
-Pics applying lavs in the bosoms of luscious actresses
 
Phil,

Sounds like you had an early Trick'r Treating with lots of goodies. Glad to see things are going well. Is this all night shoots or partial day/night? I know you have your usual work during the day, but wanted to know.
 
Director's dad is going to be my boom op on this one - he boomed for me on the previous feature I did with them and was really good - he listened and learned a lot. I'll have to re-train him a bit, but I know he can do it (and the price is right for them...) ;-)

I'm sure you can drop by the set sometime if you want to say hi and check things out...

Phil
 
ptalsky said:
Director's dad is going to be my boom op on this one - he boomed for me on the previous feature I did with them and was really good - he listened and learned a lot. I'll have to re-train him a bit, but I know he can do it (and the price is right for them...) ;-)

I'm sure you can drop by the set sometime if you want to say hi and check things out...

Phil
Click to expand...

That could work well, because he would personally care to get good audio!
 
ptalsky said:
Director's dad is going to be my boom op on this one - he boomed for me on the previous feature I did with them and was really good - he listened and learned a lot. I'll have to re-train him a bit, but I know he can do it (and the price is right for them...) ;-)

I'm sure you can drop by the set sometime if you want to say hi and check things out...

Phil
Click to expand...

Sweet deal! I guess not one person is going to give trouble to the soundies, not one bit when the father is the ear of the entire set. Yeah I'm coming down to the set, just hang out and adapt with the sound department.

So I just glanced at the equipments listed above and boy, there's going to be lots of redundancy. An extra 302, extra pair of schoeps, extra pair of NT5, an extra 4073a, plus some extra Lectro's in Green. I SO want to see the Venue.
 
Alan H. Chang said:
So I just glanced at the equipments listed above and boy, there's going to be lots of redundancy. An extra 302, extra pair of schoeps, extra pair of NT5, an extra 4073a, plus some extra Lectro's in Green. I SO want to see the Venue.
Click to expand...

Actually, not a ton of redundancy, most of the extra stuff won't come out of the cases (but will be there, just in case). :-)

The only thing "extra" that I'm going to have is a couple of R400A's in block 25 - those I'm going to put up for sale at a good price. Don't need them any more.

BTW, has anyone used block 470 from Lectro yet? I've got two more slots in my Venue and I was thinking of trying it out, but want feedback first.

Phil
 
Well, if you're using them. I'm just letting you know that I can bring those along as well. I'm familiar with those mics so it's good to have another set of ears. Fill those slots up.
 
Peanut gallery is filling up. We are looking forward to your posts. The tool set looks solid. I am a lot green up here.

Best,
Baker
 
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