Rule number 23-c
I have noticed that some churches that use IMAG during the teaching cut to different cameras as the pastor turns from side to side. I'm guessing they do this according to unwritten rule number 23-c that states a subject should always face a camera. I would agree with this for television but not for IMAG.
I have always used one primary camera for IMAG. I never tried to explain it, never had to so I didn't stop to wonder why I instinctively used one camera. With the emergence of the Alternate Venue, the same answers translated. With the center HD wide shot used to suspend belief for the audience member (ie the pastor is really standing there), to a lesser degree, the same can be said for the tight follow shot.
When you watch the pastor with your naked eye, you see him turn, showing a profile of his face. The same happens when watching IMAG with one dedicated camera, although the camera does pan back and forth with him as he walks. If you start cutting to head-on cameras left and right so that he is always facing a camera shot, all of the sudden, your sanctuary audience is sitting at home watching a broadcast cut. Cut-away shots are used in TV to follow action and for visual relief. In the sanctuary, they can look where ever they want, so they don't need it. Use one camera to shoot the speaker and your audience will forget they are watching a video feed. They will be drawn in closer to the pastor and help the place to feel a lot smaller.
NOTE: there is an exception... if an illustration requires showing the pastors feet (refers to his red, ostrich-skin boots or something) cutting to a head-to-toe would be OK.
posted by Jason McKelvey @ 9:35 AM
2 Comments:
I hear ya, but that scenario totally depends on the size of your venue.
In a large facility where a majority of the audience can't see the facial expression, and where the seating sight lines are wide (120-180+ degree rooms), taking those side shots not only recreates the intimacy - particularly of the eyes - but provides a continuity of flow.
In a small venue where IMAG is a bonus, and not totally mandatory, I would agree with your one camera assessment. But for the big rooms, I've had the experience to realize that at least three cameras (two center line and one side angle - four would better) makes a big improvement when the shot selection reflects the intimacy.
My 2 cents,
- Anthony
Hey Anthony, thanks for reading. We have a 180 degree room and use only 1 camera. Our pastor knows that when he wants to use a facial expression or address the audience he looks at that 1 camera. That way we never miss a shot of an expression and the pastor gets use to looking to only one spot to address the "TV" audience. Which would include the sanctuary audience as well since 80 percent of the audience is watching the screens 80 percent of the time :-) I just find cutting IMAG to be just a bit too distracting. Different strokes though.
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