TV in an outside scene

[feliziano]

We have a Panasonic DVX100B and we want to record some shots wich include a TV screen. The time we want to do this is 12:00 A.M., so we can only see the reflections on the screen, but not the image that is in the screen ¿How can we see the image on the TV? Should I do this in postproduction? Could we modify the image on the screen (colour, contrast, etc) in order to see anything?

 

[FallenWyvern]

Although I've never tried what you're attempting, I can at least give you my instincts. Make sure, and I want to stress this, MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE, that whatever is on the screen is darker (like, either desaturate the image or put on X-files or something.) and LIGHT your crew. Light will be easier to see with contrast. (as in you're brightly lighting the reflect-ee, and it's bouncing off a dark reflector, the TV.)
I'm SURE you don't need to do this in post, as it would probably come off cheesy. Also, the darker the surrounding room, the less interferance you'll have from other objects. If it's 12 AM windows will be dark, and objects in the room should have little light bouncing off of them to cause problems.

So basically that's my tips. Dark image on your screen, very well lit subjects. Oh and make sure this is a glass screen, obviously.

 

[feliziano]

Lots of thanks for the answer.
I didn't explain myself clearly: this scene is in the outside, in a swimming pool. So there is too much light to see the screen well (I can't see anything really, only the reflections on the screen).
Thanks and forgive my poor english.

 

[DivotDan]

Maybe you need to get a big diffuser to keep some sunlight off the TV. I would that should help a ton.

 

[feliziano]

In fact, we have a very big umbrella wich gives shadow in the place where is the tv, but it doesn't seems to do anything.
Thanks for the answers.

 

[morisato]

The umbrella is probably in the wrong place. I bet you put the umbrella over the TV to block the sun from hitting it. What you need to do is place the camera where you want it and look at the reflection in the screen. Have a buddy walk around until you can find what angle the TV is reflecting and place the umbrella in between the TV and your buddy. There's a mathmatical equation for this but you can just eyeball it. Once the umbrella is in the right place, it will look a lot better, but you probably still wont be able to see much. The surrounding light (the sun) is so much brighter than the TV can output, but placing the umbrella in the right place would be a start. #2 is to put on something BRIGHT and not DARK as Fallen suggest. You want to increase the light output of the TV as much as possible and putting on a bright image helps a little. The 3rd thing I would try, which I'm not sure will work is to stick a VERY BRIGHT light right behind the camera and point it at the TV. I have no idea if this will help or hurt, but it's something I would try and see what happens. Other than that, the only option which will work is a huge diffuser over the ENTIRE SET and not just the TV. I'm talking about the background too. If you're shooting inside an empty pool and all you see in the background are the pool walls then you can pull it off. Just go buy huge sheets of white fabric and cover the pool.