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  • Writer's pictureGerry

Film it again, Sam

What you may not know about Rob Phillips is that he’s very pro-active in the filming of amateur dance and dramatics in the area. He has a team, including our Jackie Williams, to help in the recording of these types of events. Why a team? Well Rob explains here:

“John recently sent out my multi-camera rendering of 'Spanish Rhythm' from last year's Show at Llandudno, in his regular Covid 19 cheer-up contributions, and since then I have been asked by Gerry to give a short account of how I film these four-camera shoots using the Casablanca system. Previous versions were Linux based but now they are all Windows based.


The four camera footages run simultaneously in perfect sync and you pick the scenes you want by clicking on them and the system lays them down in the order selected. I usually work in a 60 minute session – a bit like doing a live mix. The system can take up to six cameras if needed.


Below are four screen-grabs which give some indication as to how the system works: As you can see in picture 1 there are four screens showing on the Quad-cam set-up. Top left is the Background camera, this is the footage that has the direct feed from the sound desk and forms the backbone of the film. The other three feeds will be entered as inserts.


Top left is the Background camera, this is the footage that has the direct feed from the sound desk and forms the backbone of the film. The other three feeds will be entered as inserts.





This shows the quality of the shots you select and the frame selected is highlighted. You can even pause the process if you need a break!





Storyboard: This sample is from a three camera production and shows the 'storyboard' which is how the finished mix looks and can contain hundreds of inserts. The clear frame is the background camera and the frames with the rectangle in them are the inserts.

The other odd Icons are where some digital correction has had to be done after mixing.


(above) A close up of the previous picture and the names at the bottom of the frame are the camera identities – R is my close up shots, W – the wide shots, T – Tricia's shots. The wide shot icon indicates slight colour adjustment, and on Tricia's shot the icon represents lighting correction. You can play the end result after the mix (prior to any colour correction etc) and stop it at any point where the mix is not as you would like and by going to 'Range' you can adjust any of the inserts (reduce or increase) or even remove the insert at that point.

But, When it's gone it's gone! When you're happy with your storyboard you can create the whole thing into one scene which can then – in the case of a musical show, be split up to each act or performance. Such things as applause, or even audience responses are added later in the audio-mix set-up. I enjoy doing this work even though at times working with theatre technical staff can be fraught with difficulties!

Jackie has helped me with many of these shows - I put her and Tricia up in the circle 'Cams 3 & 4' with strict instructions to stay on wide and frame as necessary (I don't believe in unattended cameras) only moving-in when there is a single performer and keeping to full body length at that. I am at the back by the sound desk with the audio feed and doing the close-ups and my 'Cam 2' next to me is to keep on wide the whole time except as mentioned when there is only one performer and full body length and proper framing maintained at all times. - Rob

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