All documents pkg

[svp]

OK, I did an ALL documents pkg tonight and everyone seemed to like it. I'd like to know what all of you think.

http://www.okcfox.com/players/news/top_stories/video.shtml

Click on Gassaway Tapes: Set Up?

This was part 3, you can scroll down to watch the other two parts of you want.

[tvguide]

It didn't work for me. You did a nice job shooting the paper, but it was too much.

[Tallinvegas]

I will some times make a light gate. I take 2 beta tape cases and I wrap then with gaffer tape. And with that I make a solid beam of light as wide or tight as I need it. Also try quicker pans and throwing the papers down on the desk. I will some times also use pictures. You can also blow up the text you are going to shoot on a copy machine and then float that over the original document it makes the text pop out looks very cool on TV if done right.

[Chronically Confused]

You can also blow up the text you are going to shoot on a copy machine and then float that over the original document it makes the text pop out looks very cool on TV if done right.

I tried that, I did it wrong; it didn't look right so I didn't air it. What's the correct way of doing this?

And I also tried to visualize your beta tape case thing but I don't understand it. How do you make that work?

[sixtycyclehum]

OK, I did an ALL documents pkg tonight and everyone seemed to like it. I'd like to know what all of you think.

http://www.okcfox.com/players/news/top_stories/video.shtml

Click on Gassaway Tapes: Set Up?

This was part 3, you can scroll down to watch the other two parts of you want.

Nice job...you really made it interesting for me. I also liked that you shot the deck for the audio. You just see way too much of the 'reel-to-reel' video these days and it's just not relevant anymore.

[Drill]

WOW!!! I thought you did a great job!!! I could find every line in the document - I didn't need to search for the text to go with the track which is sooo easy to do. Nice!!!

Obviously you have an Avid. Pan and Zoom is the coolest tool ever (well not quite...but it's fun). Next time...scan your documents into a computer through a scanner. If your station doesn't have access to one...they are very cheap. Put in for one. Scan your documents and DO NOT import them into the Avid...but bring them in through Pan and Zoom. You can literally fly around the documents for a new look. You just need to choose how to highlight the document (with the Avid or not). Scanning the documents takes no time on the front (just the scanning time)...but the backside is very heavy with render times depending on your Avid.

Drill

[Baltimore's Finest Fotog]

Yeah, on the whole I thought it was well done. There were times where I found myself getting lost in the story b/c I was focusing on the docs and not what the reporter was saying. Of course therein lies the inherent problem with using documents - and it sounds like you had no choice. This is a big reason why I have been told not to show signs or anything the viewer has to read on the screen - particularly with full screens...hate 'em! Either have them appear verbatim what the reporter is saying or find a way around it...like using real world graphics. But yes, you definitely found a way to spruce up an otherwise incredibly dull story.

As for the beta tape case thing about which Chronically Confused was, well, confused...we call that "Tape-box Stonehenge." In brief, you set your docs down on a flat, stable surface (tabletop works best)...set up your tape boxes vertically in between the documents and the light. Then you manipulate the boxes to create the right kind of shadow on your documents. You have to keep your light source low enough to shoot through the boxes. Typically I use more than two boxes, and I've never found a need for gaffer tape.

As for what Drill is talking about, I have yet to be able to use the Pan & Zoom with documents. However, John Hyjek - an amazing editor who works for NBC News in Atlanta - explained at The Workshop that it's best to scan your documents at 300 dpi. That will provide great resolution for your zooms.

[TexasDave]

The beta tape case is something I use a lot. Let me explain how I do it - see if that helps. I keep a solid black shirt at my desk for a backdrop. I place my paper or document on top. I'll take a light (we have an old Frezzi camera light I plug straight into a battery) and place it on its side by the shirt.

I take 2 old Beta cases and put them horizontal in front of the light, which is aimed at the document/paper. You essential create a "highlight" effect. You can push the boxes closer together in front of the light for a 'tighter' look, or a little wider for a spill effect.

I like to get close and use Macro to highlight a specific word, or in some cases, dollar amount. This is a quick way to spruce up a paper. But be careful, I used a pro-light once and melted the cases!

Hope this helps.

[Tallinvegas]

I tried that, I did it wrong; it didn't look right so I didn't air it. What's the correct way of doing this?

And I also tried to visualize your beta tape case thing but I don't understand it. How do you make that work?

It can be a bit tricky. I will try to explain as best I can. First get a black felt or think black fabric to lay on the table. Take the line of text and make a copy of it at a Xerox machine. I will blow it up to around 400% of the original size. Then I rip off the top,bottom and sides of the blow up document and that gives the paper a ripped look to it. I then place the blown up text over the original document. I hit the original document with a color gel and light the blown up document. It's best to suspend the blow up document about 3 inches off the original document. I have glass tubs so not to block the color gel. If its your first time it will take some getting used to and perfection. When you get it right its awesome...

[svp]

Thanks for all the comments. We currently have no way of scanning in documents. Maybe that is something we'll have available in the future. All the pans were shot and of course the slow zooms were the AVID. All the light effects were done with my light kit, not the AVID. For the record, I don't remember the last time I felt that crunched to put something like this together. All done, including the setup and shooting of documents, in about 2 hours. I really thought I was gonna miss slot.

[Latin Lens]

Overall nice job.......some of the lighting effects were cool. Try the beta tape case thing to highlight sentences....that would have helped.

[lucky13]

I really liked the way you did this...I have done a lot those document only stories and know just how challenging they can be. Good use of the lights and the tape decks behind the captions.