Video Promo for Theatre

[cknapper]

Hi all,

 

Ive been asked to do a 3 min promo video to promote the things we do and put on at the theatre,

 

This needs to tell people what there missing if they don't come and how the place works, and offers they can get.

 

This will run on a DVD loop and be taken to outdoor events we do.

 

I have some ideas (Theatre auditorium leading into Box office the booking tickets into famous people who we have had shows we do then onto selling Panto) but never done anything like this, only video stuff behind dancers and the FOH upcoming show TV.

 

Has anyone done anything like this before and what did you put into this.

 

Thanking you in advance

Carl

[Ken Coker]

The old "speeded-up fit-up" always seems to work.

There is a walk through of the LPH here which may be of use.

If you're as sad as I am, put "Avolites" into a YouTube search........may give some ideas.

 

Cheers

 

KC

[Thomas1987]

Have a look for any uni students who may be interested.. I know theres the old adage about media students, but some of them can do an absolutely cracking job. Some would do it as part of a university project, whilst people who have just left may just want the experience! Not necessarily paid either... I notice you're in Crewe. Try the University of Central Lancashire in Preston for example... I can give you contact details of tutors there who can pass it on to the students...

 

Other than that, yeah the speeded up load in would look good, remember a range of shots to keep it interesting, e.g. from a wide shot of the venue to a mid shot of the sound desk, to a close up of a hand on a knob or fader...

 

Best editing software is Final Cut (without going into the realms of Avid etc....), and Studio 2 (if you can ...obtain it) has some amazing additional footage effects. Obviously needs a mac to run though ;)

 

If you need any advice send me a PM, as its my kind of thing! :)

[paulears]

The old "speeded-up fit-up" always seems to work.

This kind of thing?

[scottmcleod]

Lots of smooth moves or fixed shots are your friend. A good tripod is a MUST for something like this. Camera dollies are fairly easy to make and don't take too long to set up... http://www.indiesnap.com/straight.html -- Indiesnap sells a bunch for not too much money at all. (but gives you the idea of what it will do).

 

Plan your lighting well, lay out your storyboard ahead of time (but if you get ideas, shoot them!)

 

Wide angle lenses are probably also a good investment, though keep an eye out for lens flaring. The Raynox 6600 series Wide Lenses are pretty affordable (~100$), and give the manufacturer's versions a run for their money...

 

Again, a bored film student or media student will probably be your best friend at this point...

[smalljoshua]

The old "speeded-up fit-up" always seems to work.

This kind of thing?

A nice example of a fit up but it seems too fast for my liking.

 

Nice theatre though. My local Pro venue.

 

Josh

[Modge]

This is BUG's effort, featuring mainly events stuff rather than theatre (It's touch and go which they do more of, but events makes for better footage). BUGs are a student's union to put this in persective, though they do have a couple of theatre's.

[sah1510]

Not meaning to bump you thread here, cknapper, but I am currently involved in the making of a promo video for my schools website, so all of this info is really helpful, keep it coming!

 

From what I have seen in other promo videos, an earth zoom (

) directly to your location looks great and very professional. It can be done by filming google earth, or, if you have the money and knowledge can be done well in After effects (like in this tutorial).

[Bobbsy]

It strikes me as a bit unfair to ask somebody who isn't a regular producer of videos to make a promo so maybe the previous advice about finding a media student to so it for you is your best bet. However, if you want to give it a go (and it might be fun) here are some suggestions:

 

1. Talk to the person who asked you to make the promo and find out what THEY are expecting. In this case they're the client and it's no sense producing a speeded up video of scene changes if they are expecting slow mixes between shots of actual shows.

 

2. Once the "brief" is pinned down, sit down and come up with a "shooting script" planning the shots you need, any commentary or music you might want and so on.

 

3. Don't be scared to stage things especially for the camera. Results will often be better than just standing back trying to get something.

 

4. When shooting, every shot should have a beginning, middle and end. For example, if the shot is a pan from the lighting rig down to the stage, hold the rig static for ten seconds or so, do the pan in one fluid movement, then hold the stage static for at least ten seconds again. This gives you room to edit. The same applies to zooms etc.

 

5. Notwithstanding point 4, not every shot needs to move. Static shots cut together nicely are very effective.

 

6. Use a tripod. Rent/beg/borrow a good one with a fluid head--these can make even an amateur look pro in terms of smooth moves. If you can fake up some kind of dolly, this can make the difference between the "pro" look and home video...but it's harder than it looks to keep it smooth...a fluid head tripod can really help with this too.

 

7. Make sure you get plenty of close ups/cutaways/cut-ins to make your edit interesting and cover transitions. The close up of a hand moving a control is just as important as the wide shot of the change of lighting state on stage. No matter how many cutaways you shoot on the day, in editing you'll want more! It's amazing how long it takes somebody to walk across the stage or move a flat when you're trying to edit something down to 3 minutes....and the cutaways are what let you shorten things smoothly.

 

8. Beware "crossing the line" and changing the "action axis". If Joe is carrying the flat left to right in one shot, don't have him moving right to left in the next.

 

9. Keep your editing as simple as possible. A perfectly timed cut is better than a dissolve; a smooth dissolve is better than a silly digital effect. Effects don't make programmes exciting, whatever the "Yoof" department at the BBC may think!

 

10. Pay attention to any sound used in editing. A quick cross fade can help smooth over jarring transitions...and even help you ignore a dicey video cut.

 

11. I won't try to advise on the "best" editor as that's pretty subjective. (I use Premier Pro at home and have used everything from a razor blade on 2" tape up to a Quantel Editbox at work) but, from what I can see the "Magix" video editor is about the easiest one there is to learn...and it's very cheap and does everything you could possibly need.

 

Have fun and post a link to you finished product on Youtube!

 

Bob

[techymatt]

also on the note of filming a get in what about doing time lapse photography, as I know this works well as well for promotional videos

[Bobbsy]

With respect to those advocating a speeded up get-in or scene change, those don't seem to fit the brief the OP gives. My reading is that the want a promo for the theatre, not the technical crew!

 

Bob