I have to video a play this weekend. It.s a relatively simple play with only two scenes and no set changes but it lasts nearly 2 hours. I have never videoed a play before. Does anyone have any suggestions. I have two DSR-PD170s and tripods for both along with a DV-Rig Pro, a Behringer sound board and 3 mics (1 AT835B and the two that came with the cameras.) I did some pre-lims at a rehearsal last night. The play is being held in the City Gym here, like a typical school gym with a stage at one end......... you can imagine what that does for the acoustics. Any suggestions or tips on how to shoot this thing? Camera placement, audio, etc.

Thanks

This topic comes up quite regularly:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18431
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21801
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5156
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8525

I'll throw out a few direct comments onto this thread from work that I've produced.

Pull the main audio feed off their board. Use additional mics as you need for audience reacts. The audio on the video should be better than if you were actually there.

For video, if the camera operators are independent of each other and don't have someone monitoring their work then you need to roll play. One camera will get the tight shots and the other is the cover man/woman. The cover person needs to keep things framed to the action and adjust accordingly to keep it tight and yet have all of the characters in the frame.

Both camera's need to shoot it as if they were live throughout. Be smooth.

Camera settings are covered in the other threads.

Ben Lynn