Video University: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography: 20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot

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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot

X-James_Wang
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Jun 16, 2003, 12:57 AM

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20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot	Can't Post

One of the longest part of a church wedding is the homily/sermon by the pastor.
1. What do most forum members shoot during this long stretch: is it highlight, excerpts, or the entire sermon.
2. If the entire sermon, how do you vary the shots, how often do you cut/dissolve; where do you position yourself.
3. To shoot the B & G at this phase which often faces the pastor or faces front, do you position yourself on the stage and shoot from there (prominently visible to all)?
Am a newbie, have watched and appreciated (Thanks a million) many demo/samples from members of this forum. Would anybody feel comfortable loaning/selling full length wedding sample for learning purposes. Sorry for a long post, and if request is shameless and overarching.

X-Brian_Peterson
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Jun 16, 2003, 1:01 AM

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Re: 20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot	Can't Post

I record everything, you never know when the priest is going to say something important to the couple and in the time to get the camera rolling, you can loose a lot of it.
Most of the homily does not end up in the video, even though I have recorded it. I have gotten to the point where most of my catholic 1 hour weddings are cut down to 10 minutes in length.
I also always film with 2 cameras. I position myself where the priest will allow.
Brian

X-Marcel
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Jun 16, 2003, 1:04 AM

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Re: 20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well you ask the b&G what would they want during this very boring segment, if they say they want it, you keep it, if they say cut it you cut it, But normaly you keep it because no matter how boring it is to me and my wife the bride and the groom wants it, so you do a lot of cut and disolves between at least two cameras, lets say every at least 30 seconds or more, need to know that the othjer cameras are doing at that right moment so not all cameras are getting the same shot at the same times.
Well this is one one of many to do it, hang on there will be mre post in a little while from the others.
MArcel

: One of the longest part of a church wedding is the homily/sermon by the pastor.
: 1. What do most forum members shoot during this long stretch: is it highlight, excerpts, or the entire sermon.
: 2. If the entire sermon, how do you vary the shots, how often do you cut/dissolve; where do you position yourself.
: 3. To shoot the B & G at this phase which often faces the pastor or faces front, do you position yourself on the stage and shoot from there (prominently visible to all)?
: Am a newbie, have watched and appreciated (Thanks a million) many demo/samples from members of this forum. Would anybody feel comfortable loaning/selling full length wedding sample for learning purposes. Sorry for a long post, and if request is shameless and overarching.

X-Jenn_M
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Jun 16, 2003, 1:11 AM

Post #4 of 6 (566 views)
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Re: 20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot [In reply to]	Can't Post

We use 2 camera. ONe set up center aisle, one off to the side.
Center aisle films priest giving homily/sermon, while side camera works on cutaways of b&g, parents, relatives, bridal party.
We typically edit the homily/sermon down to approx. 5 mins by cutting all the repetitive stuff like references to readings, reiterating a point, etc. We cut a lot of religious references that can be read in the bible or heard at every other wedding or at church on any given Sunday. Unless, of course, the couple is more religious and then we keep more. (It totally depends on the couple.) But we keep mainly personallized references to the b&g - how they met, anything about their relationship, etc. And we keep inspirational messages about marriage and how to keep it strong, etc.
We edit the clips together and cover the cuts using those cutaways from the side cam. And we use cutaways throughout to keep it interesting.
We trim readings, as well, keeping the most popular parts like "Love is always patient and kind" etc.
This works for us, and we explain it to couples at the demo. We have never rec'd a complaint about cutting something of this nature. In fact, we've rec'd compliments on how smoothly it flowed. Again, we always take the couple's personality, background, and interests into consideration. Some couples might want more of it, some less, but we haven't kept an entire sermon or homily in the last 4 years - not since we've acquired non-linear editing.
Hope this helps.
-Jenn

X-Cesar_Ruiz
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Jun 16, 2003, 11:18 AM

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Re: 20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have begun doing the following.
A long edit and then an edit of that edit.
It only takes a few more hours.
For the homily in particular....
1. This is the perfect time to use some of those
shots you took of windows, flowers, etc.
The trick is to make it fit. If there is a reference
to Christ...boom dissolve to shot of the crucifix
a couple of seconds before and linger on it for
a couple of seconds after the reference. Something
about joy ...shot of flowers, beauty? ...stick in
that stained glass window. Just keep an ear out
for key words that will allow for this.
2. I can't do the above all the time, so the rest of
the time cut to shots of the guests' reactions. With
these shots too, if there is a reference to children...
shot of bride and groom's parents. It doesn't even
have to be a shot of them from that particular time.
3. Shots of the engagement ring, the couple holding
hands, unity candle, and of course the homilist should all be there too.
This will make your long edit version *extremely*
watchable. The reason is that the couple stops
listening to the preaching off and on, but
they will watch to see their flowers, their church,
their decorations, and their guests.
After the ceremony has been edited in this manner.
I render it to an avi file and then edit that file.
This is extremely easy. I cut down the readings
to one or two sentences, dissolving from reading to
reading. The homily gets maybe 3 or 4 sentences
(so that it feels proportional). Any opening prayers
are cut out. Straight to vows and exchange of rings.
Then I cut to the final blessing and the recessional.
It takes very little time to do the edit of the edit.
This short version becomes part of the main program
and the long version goes into the bonus features
section, unless they want it swapped.
The reason I do this is because my clients want
everything. I understand that and like offering
the long version for posterity purposes.
However, I want to create something their
friends can watch without having to hit
the next chapter button. My wife and I have no
problem sitting through our entire wedding but
we don't get particularly excited about sitting
through one of our clients weddings on video
(though I do make it very watchable).
Anyway, best of both worlds sort of thing.
I use it as a major selling point, and it
has allowed me to raise my prices.

-Cesar

X-Scott
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Jun 16, 2003, 4:00 PM

Post #6 of 6 (566 views)
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Re: 20-min Sermon or more, Long Stretch What Do You Shoot [In reply to]	Can't Post

I usually leave in everything, but this past weekend my wide shot camera
ran out of tape due to a really late start, and I had to move towards the end
of the ceremony to get into position. I was all over the place, so I will be using
various cutaways and reflection shots of the b&G photosession to cover it. The
priest who did the homily was the bride's godfather, so I am sure she will want
all of it.