Timothy Harry
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Sep 20, 2007, 2:16 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: [dvddynamix] Commercials...tips
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For those of you who have shot a commercial could you offer some tips? Here are some questions I have
Have you had any formal training before shooting your first one? does my experience running the TV studio in college count? I seriously picked it up pretty quick
What cameras do you use? Currently I am using the HVX200 and shoot on P2. Most commercials are done in DVCPRO 50 at 4:3 because the local broadcasters have no way of taking HD
How many people do you hire to help? I dont really hire anyone unless I really need to. FOr an assistant I will either drag my wife with me, or use one fo the clients staff members to help with whatever. Helps keep both mine and the clients cost per hour down. If I had to hire an assistant I would have to charge a lot more to shoot the video
Do you do all the scripting? Yes and no, I get a lot of my stuff through a local ad agency, and they script their own commercials, I just shoot and edit. The stuff I do on my own yes I do a little bit of writing, but I make the client be involved in the process
What audio equipment do you use? I use a wireless LAV, had an ME66 for a while but sold it because I did not use it enough, and a standard sure SM58 running through a yamaha mixer which runs into my capture card for voiceovers. If I do not do the voiceover, I gut one of the guys in the radio station down the hall to do it. normal cost is like 25-50 bucks depending on which DJ does it for me.
What lighting? I use halogen worklamps with the grates removed for now. I am looking at a professional Lowell kit, but I need to get a few more actual commercials before I invest in a kit.
What format is your final commercial in? Out here I have 4 choices for the stations to accept. Mini DV, DVCAM, BETA SP, and DVD. I started out just doing DVD, but have sinced switched to using Mini DV, because the quality is a little bit higher. I can play a beta, but to me it was not worth the extra cost to invest in a beta recorder that I may only use for about another couple of years.
Do most customers have an idea as to what they want or do you make suggestions? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I will make suggestions and help change settings to get the best picture possible.
I'm sure I'll have more questions later. Reason for the questions is because I am seriously thinking of going full
time with my business. I have a friend that wants to invest and has many business contacts that he feels are going
to need commercials. I have no formal training in that area and would like to be prepared in case something came up.
If you have an investor, get the right equipment first, buy yourself a good camera, a good light kit, and a strong editing machine unless you already have it. Also invest in lighting and shooting tutorials, you will be expected to know quite a bit of technical lingo like lighting terms etc. Check out this thread for lighting info.
Tim Harry
Bandwagon Media
Odessa, TX
"I'd rather be a conservative nut job than a liberal with no nuts and no job."
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