Shooting a Live Musical

[Frank]

Hi,

I've been tasked with filming an elementary/middle school production of "Annie" in less than two weeks. The performance will last about an hour. There will be two evening performances with the same cast. Some key performers will be miked. I have one HV20 and various sound recording gear.
I've never done anything quite like it, so would appreciate any advice.
Here's what I'm thinking so far:

1. Use cinemascope aspect ratio to match the stage's shape. This will be made easier since I have an anamorphic lens which I've used successfully in the past.

2. Film both performances and cut them together. I am thinking of doing a long shot covering the whole stage one evening and then closeups the next.

3. Record sound separately as well as in cam. This improves fidelity, allows escaping crowd noise, and aids continuity. I have a Zoom H2 as well as a digital 12 track and several good quality xlr mics. I was thinking at least two mics aimed at different parts of the stage and maybe get a feed off the sound system as well.

4. Get some crowd reaction shots somehow to cut in. Also get applause shots at breaks (if there are any).

5. When editing, mostly use the audio from the night when I shot closeups to ensure good syncing.

Thoughts/suggestions?

[CycleWriter]

There are a number of threads discussing shooting stage productions and concerts. I would do a search for some of them as they have been very lengthy and full of good info.

[Frank]

There are a number of threads discussing shooting stage productions and concerts. I would do a search for some of them as they have been very lengthy and full of good info.

Thanks, I did and they are good.
I wonder if anyone has any opinion on my specific plan for this shoot?

[CycleWriter]

That's why I didn't close it.

[DebG.]

Hey, I will be in the same situation on May 30th, but the musical is Wizard of Oz.

Also, no anamorphic lens, only an Olympus Digital Voice Recorder, not a Zoom H2, and only one performance.

I will be very interested in the answers you get.

Good luck to us both!

Deborah

[HueyNRolf]

2. Film both performances and cut them together. I am thinking of doing a long shot covering the whole stage one evening and then closeups the next.

I tried that shoot plan with a band. The problem I had was that the timing between the two performances didn't match and I couldn't get them in sync. It might work if the performers are singing to a recorded track. But if the music is live, forget it.

[Frank]

I tried that shoot plan with a band. The problem I had was that the timing between the two performances didn't match and I couldn't get them in sync. It might work if the performers are singing to a recorded track. But if the music is live, forget it.

That's a good observation, but maybe the lack of sync won't be so obvious on the longer shots. I was thinking I would use the audio exclusively from one night and just use the long shots from the other night (and maybe audience cutaways) for continuity.

[HueyNRolf]

That's a good observation, but maybe the lack of sync won't be so obvious on the longer shots. I was thinking I would use the audio exclusively from one night and just use the long shots from the other night (and maybe audience cutaways) for continuity.

I guess it depends on how long the long shots are. But if there's any lip syncing involved you're in for a hard time. I was quite surprised just how far apart the timing was between the two performances. I could get it right for one line of the song, by the next line it would be all over the place.

Makes sense to use the audio from the close up shoot and cut the long shots in. Might work out.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Frank]

Reporting back:

I more or less followed my game plan; shot both nights, once with a locked down long shot of the entire stage, once closer with zooming and pans.

For audio, I used the Zoom H2 at the front of the stage in rear mode, as well as a Rode Videomic on the camera.
One night I was also successful in getting a direct feed off the soundboard, by far the best audio I got, clear and balanced and with almost no audience noise. I plan to use it primarily, with the others just to fill in gaps where a mic wasn't working right.

Focus and exposure were a little tricky since I didn't get an opportunity to do any test shots.
For exposure I used 100 zebra and adjusted it early to a spotlit performer (whites with little or no striping) and left it alone.
For focus, I used auto and then locked it once focus was aquired.
I tried a couple of WB settings and finally set it to tungsten.
This worked pretty well and I am pleased with the picture quality for the most part.

I am editing the two performances together as originally planned, using the audio from the closeup night, which fortunately was also the night I got sound off the board. The musical numbers are the easiest to combine because they were singing to a pre-recorded backing track.

Challenges:

1. Performers wearing different costumes in different performances (I hope to fiddle with color in post to minimize continuity issues).
2. Mics cutting out, or popping and crackling, or being forgotten (Adobe Audition has an amazing tool called autoheal which can usually eliminate unwanted sounds).
3. Small children sitting in the aisle around me bumping the tripod (just a couple of times).
4. Me not knowing exactly what was going to happen when (Next time, I will at least have a program in front of me).
5. Zoom H2 has a fast clock. I had to shorten it to 99.99% of original length to sync with video.

Overall an exciting and enjoyable experience which I would love to do again some time.

[Frank]

BTW, I opted not to use the anamorph lens for cinemascope. The normal HD 16:9 worked fine for the stage they were using.

[HueyNRolf]

Frank,

Good that the performers were working to a track, that should solve your sync problems. Bummer about the inconsistent costumes. That's going to hard to fix.

Anyways, will you post a clip here?

Cheers,
-HnR

[Frank]

Huey,

Yes, the syncing wasn't much of an issue; they were even choreographed for the musical numbers so visually it works too.
There was only one costume discrepancy that I really need to fix; one of the main characters went from a red shirt to a pale pink one. There are only a few long shots I want to use where she has the red shirt so I'm going to try to change it in After Effects (Arrgh, rotoscoping!)
I'll be glad to post a clip once I'm done; right now I'm trying to finish the DVD so the school can offer it to the kids' families.