You probably are familiar with this scenario or one similar to it: It is the middle of August and you are visiting your uncle. He is sorry that you couldn`t be with his family for the last decade of Christmas holidays, but that`s no problem now. He filmed all of them, he tells you. Out comes the 35 mm. projector and the portable screen, and you settle in to watch his children descend the same staircase to the Christmas tree for 10 years in a row.
You are, however, only slightly moved. The camera was unsteady, the sound uneven, the routine monotonous. Steven Spielberg your uncle is not. You do, however, appreciate the spirit of his intentions, even as you wipe the sweat from your brow.
There is something about the spirit of the holidays that brings out the well-intentioned cameraman in just about every family. And it is this spirit, frequently unfocused and a little shaky, that has led to some of the worst home movies and now videos in the history of the holiday preservation movement.
With recent advances in video technology, the number of well-intentioned cameramen (WIC) attempting to record the holiday season for the sake of posterity has become even more prevalent. But beyond the technology, little has changed. But according to professional video producers, with a little preplanning this needn`t be.
First, anyone who is really serious about recording a holiday event should assess their needs and be realistic, warns Alan Beranowski of Al and Joe Pictures in Chicago, a company that specializes in videotaping parties and special events.
”If it is simply an evening with the family that they wish to have on tape, then they should be able to handle that themselves without too much trouble,” he says. ”But if it is more complicated than that, then they should consider hiring a professional.”
Admittedly, this is not cheap. Al and Joe Pictures charges $200 an hour to come to your home on Christmas morning (less if more time is involved). If this makes you choke on your eggnog, then sit down, because what you`ll get for that $200 is only a raw, unedited videotape. But you can be assured that it will be in focus and properly lighted and will capture the spirit of the occasion. Before you shout ”Bah Humbug!” listen to Beranowski`s argument for hiring a professional.
”The thing to remember is people get very nervous when the camera comes on,” he says. ”A good professional can come into your home, get set up and record without getting in the way and without making people nervous.”
Don Dearosby of Chicago`s Community Television Network emphasizes the importance of realizing the impact a video crew can have on a private celebration. ”A camera crew can be a real intrusion,” he says. ”And this should be considered carefully. ”If you decide to have a professional, then you should instruct them to be stationary in one part of the room. Reach a compromise between the quality of the recording and the intrusion on the function.”
Just what to expect from a professional video production also should be discussed in detail, before the video crew arrives, to prevent misconceptions about the final product.
”People do expect a lot for the relatively little they pay,” Beranowski says. ”We`ve had people call and say, `Will you come and videotape our child`s birthday party? It will be for five hours.` And then they will expect to get a Hollywood extravaganza. People should be realistic. You get what you pay for. But if you pay for it, we will give you special effects and the whole bit.”
If you decide to hire a professional, it is advisable first to see their wares. Ask to see a sample of their work and pay attention to how well they have captured the action and if the camera work is steady, well focused and lighted. Be aware that there are many amateurs who own video cameras and editing decks and who try to pass themselves off as experienced professionals. ”The technology is so new that unfortunately there are people out there who will say just about anything to get your money,” says Edward Pitts, owner of Video Data Services in Oak Park. Pitts has a few rules of thumb to offer when searching for a professional video crew.
”Number one is never deal with anyone who answers the phone, `Hello.`
They`re never professionals,” he says. ”They`re usually set up out of their house and it`s a sure tipoff that they`re amateurs.
”Number two, when someone tells you they can offer you `broadcast quality,` then they are telling you a convenient lie. That would take $100,000 in camera equipment to meet National Television Standards Committee specifications.
”Third, they should have a low-light camera and extra lights. A low-light camera will allow them to use some of the available light in a house without having to use so many lights that they make people uncomfortable.
”Fourth, a lot of people say they have editing facilities and in most every case this is not true. Never deal with someone who wants to give you the tape right after they`re finished taping. They should be able to add things like titles and music. Be aware that some people use something called `crash editing,` which is two recorders wired together. This is really not editing. Real editing can only be done with `control track editing.` Ask if they have it.”
Company`s like Beranowski`s and Pitts` are listed in the Yellow Pages under video producers and production and in local newspaper classified directories under wedding services. You also can consult with friends who have taped their own parties and celebrations.
If you are not interested in hiring a professional and are bold enough to attempt it yourself, consider this advice from the pros.
One of the most frequently overlooked details is batteries. Always have extras on hand or you will be forever destined to familial ridicule. On the technical end, it wouldn`t hurt to familiarize yourself with your equipment and how best to use it.
If you are using a VHS system, always tape using the SP speed. This is the Beta II speed on a Beta sytem. The two-hour speed will ensure a much higher quality picture than either the four- or six-hour speeds. This is because the picture is made up of little particles of information and the slower speed records more particles. Never change the speeds once you have begun taping.
Try to provide an even lighting situation. Remember that an incandescent light bulb produces a yellow glow that will be picked up on tape. A fluorescent light casts a greenish color. You are better off buying a quartz light (which will not produce an unnatural color, but at $12-$30, quartz is more expensive). You shouldn`t have to use anything more powerful than 1,000 watts in a home.
Use a tripod, monopod or dolly to keep the camera steady. One of the biggest mistakes an amateur makes is trying to shoot from the shoulder. This takes a lot of skill. ”And the first and foremost mistake that amateurs make,” Pitts says, ”is they overwork their zooms. What they`re trying to do is mimic the way their eyes work.”
Pitt recommends the use of ”cut-aways” for the same result. If you are taping Christmas morning around the tree, stand back in the room and get general pictures. Then stop taping and move up close to someone opening a present. Focus and then tape. Stop, move back and take general pictures. As a general rule, Pitt also recommends never using the telephoto lens without a tripod or steadying device.
If you do all of this, then your nephew will look forward to visiting you in August.
