Crew for Travel program? at DVinfo.net

Dennis Stevens · August 19th, 2010, 05:31 AM

I was recently asked to film an 'Anthony Bourdain' type travel program. The setup will be following the host around as they talk to various people and tour various places.

I've never done anything quite like that. I have 2 cameras, a Canon 7D and a JVC HD100. I was thinking ideally we'd have 2 shooters (1 with each camera, the 7D with stabilization rig), and an audio person. I have an H4N for audio.

Does that sound right to you guys? The only way I can imagine doing it alone is for me to be a shooter, and the host to have a handheld microphone with some wireless transmitter to something feeding the H4N. The host then has to be good with holding the mic properly when talking to interviewees.

Marc Myers · August 19th, 2010, 10:06 AM

I think Anthony Bourdain has two camera people, maybe a separate sound person, a producer and maybe even a second producer. It can take way too long to shoot with a single camera. You must shoot all those reverses, etc. Even with a single camera you often need more folks to hold a light, bar the door so people don't walk in front of the camera, etc., etc., etc.
Other travel shows, I think Globe Trekker, does shoot as you describe but typically they don't rely as heavily on interviews. Those are shot documentary style with a single person doing stand ups and wraparounds news style. The real issue, I think, is the show's design and how that dictates the shooting schedule. That in turn impacts the budget. Think about what needs to happen in each episode and what that will look like. Next figure out how fast you will need to make that happen. Crew requirements and gear will be dependent on these variables.

Philip Howells · August 19th, 2010, 11:47 AM

For many years I made programmes for British Airways - we always used two people, me on camera plus a sound operator. Mind this was with Betacam-SP and separate sound. Today I might be tempted to work alone - depends on the budget and how many Iron Curtain airlines we have to use ie you don't trust the baggage section..

David W. Jones · August 19th, 2010, 04:28 PM

Why not find out their per episode budget and work from there.

August 19th, 2010, 05:31 AM	#1
Dennis Stevens Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 425	Crew for Travel program? I was recently asked to film an 'Anthony Bourdain' type travel program. The setup will be following the host around as they talk to various people and tour various places. I've never done anything quite like that. I have 2 cameras, a Canon 7D and a JVC HD100. I was thinking ideally we'd have 2 shooters (1 with each camera, the 7D with stabilization rig), and an audio person. I have an H4N for audio. Does that sound right to you guys? The only way I can imagine doing it alone is for me to be a shooter, and the host to have a handheld microphone with some wireless transmitter to something feeding the H4N. The host then has to be good with holding the mic properly when talking to interviewees.

August 19th, 2010, 04:28 PM	#4
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Why not find out their per episode budget and work from there. __________________ David W. Jones www.joneshdfilms.com

August 19th, 2010, 10:06 AM	#2
Marc Myers Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Long Island, NY and Northeast PA Posts: 132	I think Anthony Bourdain has two camera people, maybe a separate sound person, a producer and maybe even a second producer. It can take way too long to shoot with a single camera. You must shoot all those reverses, etc. Even with a single camera you often need more folks to hold a light, bar the door so people don't walk in front of the camera, etc., etc., etc. Other travel shows, I think Globe Trekker, does shoot as you describe but typically they don't rely as heavily on interviews. Those are shot documentary style with a single person doing stand ups and wraparounds news style. The real issue, I think, is the show's design and how that dictates the shooting schedule. That in turn impacts the budget. Think about what needs to happen in each episode and what that will look like. Next figure out how fast you will need to make that happen. Crew requirements and gear will be dependent on these variables.

August 19th, 2010, 11:47 AM	#3
Philip Howells Trustee Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,212	For many years I made programmes for British Airways - we always used two people, me on camera plus a sound operator. Mind this was with Betacam-SP and separate sound. Today I might be tempted to work alone - depends on the budget and how many Iron Curtain airlines we have to use ie you don't trust the baggage section..