Video & the Movement Arts
08-18-2006, 06:16 AM
Have you ever watched a recorded presentation of a multi-faceted event, one with obvious vocal talent, great musicians, marvelous movers, and videoclutzes that had not clue one as to why they were there? So "artsy" and full of effect that the point of much of the ministry was missed? I've seen SO many. Actually, I've seen SO FEW that were done well! I found out more about why today.
It's been a sticking point :poke: of mine for years that if we're going to shove a camera in the hands of a rank amateur or even a skilled professional and not require their presence at both the last rehearsal and the dress rehearsal (yes, TWO rehearsals, not run-throughs), we're going to get pretty much what we deserve and we have no basis on which to carp. But even that is not enough, I'm learning. :o
Heck folks, we can script the videogs, we can direct them, we can hold their hands, and somehow, it still doesn't get through that we don't really need a 2-minute close up of the uvula of the marvelous singer while there is much dancing going on. Nor do we need a head shot of the dancer while his/her feet, arms, and hands are being hugely expressive. Or foot shots of flaggers or banner bearers, trumpet players loosing the juices from their horns, onlookers snoozing, talking, sleeping, or picking their noses (seen 'em all!).
I've been watching a series of woodworking videos and got to hear an amazing interview with the people "behind the scenes". These videos are shot in such a way that there is only one chance. They use multiple cameras to provide everything they'd need to produce the video (14 hours of tape from 2 or 3 cameras for a 2 hour final product), but they only have one chance to get it right. There is no rehearsal, no "do over" possible. There is one piece of wood and once it's cut, it's cut. What did I learn from this? There was discussion about what had to be shown in order to make the video of value. The art was in making sure it was all covered, not in special effects. There were close-ups of the things that the onlooker was going to want to see, and there were lots of nice perspective shots, pretty much over the shoulder of the woodworker so we could see what he was seeing. They did one innovative treatment where they got a camera up close and personal with the machines involved, 1-1/4" or 30mm from the business end of some major tools. Focus was sharp, the shots were pertinent. How'd they do that?
It seems that the main production folks had been at a wood show and seen this man do his thing (they're all Brits, Dave & FlagLady!! Great resource for you if you need good video. <URL url="http://www.avanticom.co.uk/%29">http://www.avanticom.co.uk/). They approached him about partnering because they saw the crowds he drew and saw profit-ic possibilities. That's all good, but what they did that was special is that they went and took classes from the man just to find out what they needed to know so they could be sure that others would see what the others needed to know. BRILLIANT! :wow:
All of this to say that I think that good videos may yet be possible. Finding folks like this who are willing to invest to produce good products becomes the goal of prayer and searching. Imagine having someone come to a clinic and spend a bit of time to learn what flags do and how important the visual aspect of them is? Imagine someone attending a dance class or two just to find out what's important to the dancers and what will be meaningful to them on the screen??
It was a wonderful video experience and made me think about all the stuff we've gone through over the years. Maybe this is a new generation of videogs, a generation that will be more focused on faithful representation of OUR art than the creation of what THEY see as videographic art. Worth praying about, methinks. :2:
It's been a sticking point :poke: of mine for years that if we're going to shove a camera in the hands of a rank amateur or even a skilled professional and not require their presence at both the last rehearsal and the dress rehearsal (yes, TWO rehearsals, not run-throughs), we're going to get pretty much what we deserve and we have no basis on which to carp. But even that is not enough, I'm learning. :o
Heck folks, we can script the videogs, we can direct them, we can hold their hands, and somehow, it still doesn't get through that we don't really need a 2-minute close up of the uvula of the marvelous singer while there is much dancing going on. Nor do we need a head shot of the dancer while his/her feet, arms, and hands are being hugely expressive. Or foot shots of flaggers or banner bearers, trumpet players loosing the juices from their horns, onlookers snoozing, talking, sleeping, or picking their noses (seen 'em all!).
I've been watching a series of woodworking videos and got to hear an amazing interview with the people "behind the scenes". These videos are shot in such a way that there is only one chance. They use multiple cameras to provide everything they'd need to produce the video (14 hours of tape from 2 or 3 cameras for a 2 hour final product), but they only have one chance to get it right. There is no rehearsal, no "do over" possible. There is one piece of wood and once it's cut, it's cut. What did I learn from this? There was discussion about what had to be shown in order to make the video of value. The art was in making sure it was all covered, not in special effects. There were close-ups of the things that the onlooker was going to want to see, and there were lots of nice perspective shots, pretty much over the shoulder of the woodworker so we could see what he was seeing. They did one innovative treatment where they got a camera up close and personal with the machines involved, 1-1/4" or 30mm from the business end of some major tools. Focus was sharp, the shots were pertinent. How'd they do that?
It seems that the main production folks had been at a wood show and seen this man do his thing (they're all Brits, Dave & FlagLady!! Great resource for you if you need good video. <URL url="http://www.avanticom.co.uk/%29">http://www.avanticom.co.uk/). They approached him about partnering because they saw the crowds he drew and saw profit-ic possibilities. That's all good, but what they did that was special is that they went and took classes from the man just to find out what they needed to know so they could be sure that others would see what the others needed to know. BRILLIANT! :wow:
All of this to say that I think that good videos may yet be possible. Finding folks like this who are willing to invest to produce good products becomes the goal of prayer and searching. Imagine having someone come to a clinic and spend a bit of time to learn what flags do and how important the visual aspect of them is? Imagine someone attending a dance class or two just to find out what's important to the dancers and what will be meaningful to them on the screen??
It was a wonderful video experience and made me think about all the stuff we've gone through over the years. Maybe this is a new generation of videogs, a generation that will be more focused on faithful representation of OUR art than the creation of what THEY see as videographic art. Worth praying about, methinks. :2:
Blessings!
Dean
DeanZF
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