First thing's first. While it may look like this is a 3-camera shoot, it's just 2 cameras.
This was my first (official) live filming and commision and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
At first I just read briefs as they came up, not really thinking of applying for any.
Just thought of the site to be a great idea so I followed the happenings on it.
But when I read the brief for this one, I had an idea that I wanted to try, and if the idea was liked, well, maybe I could actually do it.
I wanted to hang a camera from the ceiling of the Roundhouse. Having been there before, I liked that it was ROUND... So I thought that hanging a camera from the centre of the ceiling would work out nicely because you'd get half the screen filled with audience and the other half filled with performers.
Then I'd get a friend to use a second camera to get close-ups of the performers.
I didn't actually think they'd like the idea - or if they did, would think it's crazy and just move on. But they did, and it came as a big surprise with very good timing as well. No projects going on at the University, no research for essays, nothing.
Anyway, the problem was, I didn't know the Roundhouse was made up of other concert spaces as well, so we weren't in the space I sort of knew and the ceiling was too low for the hanging camera idea to actually work and not be taking close-ups of the crowd hair.
So we had to adapt this idea into a different one.
A camera set up as high as possible at the back of the main space and a second on one side of the stage taking the close-ups of Aviv & the band. We had audio feed from the soundboard on the high cam at the back and a friend was also taking stills that we'd later use in the clip and maybe for previews.
We got to try a lot of stuff besides the idea that didn't work, so all in all, it was a good experience for all of us.
There was supposed to be a second crew apparently to do a second clip, but they didn't come. So I asked if we can take care of that as well. And we did. They're quite different in style and that's because I let my editor play with the footage for one of them and she had some great do-able ideas for the short amount of post time.
The videos will hopefully soon be up here and I hope everyone will be EXTREMELY critical. I'd like that.
Also, the deadline was on my birthday. Good timing, pretty good!
