Filming in Da Club at DVinfo.net

Trent O Connor · July 9th, 2003, 05:47 AM

Hi.
Late this year i'll be filming some crazy dancing in a huge old dance hall. It will be very dark with the odd little white light shining down. The dj, up on stage, will be using a red glowing light so he can see what hes putting on the decks. Any tips on how to film this so people can actually see what the hells going on?
Ive tried before and its very grainy on the dancing and when ive tried to interview the dj, it looks as if hes from Mars.
Whats the best way to go about it?
cheers.

Mike Rehmus · July 9th, 2003, 09:01 AM

Add light. Even the Sony cannot shoot a black cat in a coal bin without some light.

With red light on the DJ, that's the way he will look. No option unless you light him too. Of course, if you light him, the video will no longer represent the reality of the dance hall.

Without additional light, you are going to get a grainly and dark video without much color.

Trent O Connor · July 9th, 2003, 09:10 AM

I wasnt sure if it was that obvious!
I thought someone might say to adjust some settings on the vx2000 - for which i know very little.

Mike Rehmus · July 9th, 2003, 09:32 PM

If the camera on full-auto won't get you an acceptable picture, then nothing you can adjust will probably help. Then it's time to reach for at least a candle.

Kyle Baker · July 11th, 2003, 02:51 PM

yeah, don't use a Canon XL1-S

Rob Lohman · July 14th, 2003, 02:57 AM

Keep in mind that red usually doesn't go well with DV. Shoot some
tests with red lights first and make sure you are looking at full
DV resolution with the results.

Kris Carrillo · July 16th, 2003, 07:00 PM

i'd recommend you get some sort of camera light. i know a lot of people don't like the look of a camera mounted light, but i just used one on a club shoot this past saturday. i have the SONY HVL-20DW 10/20 watt switchable camera light. i like it cuz it uses the same batteries as my PD150. i taped some diffusion in front, and i was very pleased with the results. i used the 10 watt setting, and the light was nice and soft...it wasn't blinding the people inside the club.

i posted some stills from the shoot in the photos section of the Yahoo VX2K Group. if you're a member you can check them out, or just join and look in the photos section in the album called:

SONY HVL-20DW - SAMPLE STILLS

or if that's too much trouble, let me know and i can email you some of the frame grabs from the shoot. i do a lot of shooting in clubs, and there's almost always not enough light to just start shooting.

hope this helps,

Kris Carrillo
WCTV 56

July 9th, 2003, 05:47 AM	#1
Trent O Connor Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 94	Filming in Da Club Hi. Late this year i'll be filming some crazy dancing in a huge old dance hall. It will be very dark with the odd little white light shining down. The dj, up on stage, will be using a red glowing light so he can see what hes putting on the decks. Any tips on how to film this so people can actually see what the hells going on? Ive tried before and its very grainy on the dancing and when ive tried to interview the dj, it looks as if hes from Mars. Whats the best way to go about it? cheers.

July 9th, 2003, 09:01 AM	#2
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Add light. Even the Sony cannot shoot a black cat in a coal bin without some light. With red light on the DJ, that's the way he will look. No option unless you light him too. Of course, if you light him, the video will no longer represent the reality of the dance hall. Without additional light, you are going to get a grainly and dark video without much color. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

July 9th, 2003, 09:10 AM	#3
Trent O Connor Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 94	cheers for the response I wasnt sure if it was that obvious! I thought someone might say to adjust some settings on the vx2000 - for which i know very little.

July 9th, 2003, 09:32 PM	#4
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	If the camera on full-auto won't get you an acceptable picture, then nothing you can adjust will probably help. Then it's time to reach for at least a candle. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

July 14th, 2003, 02:57 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Keep in mind that red usually doesn't go well with DV. Shoot some tests with red lights first and make sure you are looking at full DV resolution with the results. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 11th, 2003, 02:51 PM	#5
Kyle Baker New Boot Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: san diego Posts: 22	yeah, don't use a Canon XL1-S

July 16th, 2003, 07:00 PM	#7
Kris Carrillo Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 28	get a cam light i'd recommend you get some sort of camera light. i know a lot of people don't like the look of a camera mounted light, but i just used one on a club shoot this past saturday. i have the SONY HVL-20DW 10/20 watt switchable camera light. i like it cuz it uses the same batteries as my PD150. i taped some diffusion in front, and i was very pleased with the results. i used the 10 watt setting, and the light was nice and soft...it wasn't blinding the people inside the club. i posted some stills from the shoot in the photos section of the Yahoo VX2K Group. if you're a member you can check them out, or just join and look in the photos section in the album called: SONY HVL-20DW - SAMPLE STILLS or if that's too much trouble, let me know and i can email you some of the frame grabs from the shoot. i do a lot of shooting in clubs, and there's almost always not enough light to just start shooting. hope this helps, Kris Carrillo WCTV 56