im going to be shooting a music video where the band is performing on an airport runway at night. the band will have lights on them. the whole back ground will be dark except for some blue lights going down the runway.

any tips for v1u settings? like use spotlight? or black compnstn stretch or comprerss? or any other settings to use

Try to use these guidelines:

- Compress the blacks
- Set the Knee high
- switch Cinegamma OFF
- crank Colour up (3, or even 5)

Also, take the advantage of the additional stop that progressive 30p mode gives you when used with 1/30th shutter speed.

Swith the gain to manual, and only dial it up as much as really required to get the picture just bright enough - don't try to make it brighten than reality, or you'll get a grainy image with decreased resolution. The gain of 6-9dB would be ideal; anything above 12dB will definitely spoil the picture.

Keep the blacks black !

Good luck!

Monitor your set up with a field monitor. You will get much better results.

Shooting at night, band situation - lit...
Depending where you are, you may be able to rent or give donation to get a fire truck or water truck.
Slick down the ground around the band.
Double the reflections, and your black ground now has highlights on them.
Depending on where you are, you may have to keep on sprinkling/wetting, or find that only one dose of water is sufficient.
Best way to double your lighting buck at nights for this kind of shoot.
JM2c, YMMV.