There is little argument that the number one publication for the wedding / event videography industry, is event DV magazine. This is the publication that pros look to, to learn of new directions and new gear. It is the publication that newbies look to and trust, for advice and gear purchases.
Now, I want to pose this question - in light of their place in our industry, does event DV have any obligation or responsibility, morally or otherwise, to well, sort of look out for their readers and try to avoid advertising that is misleading, dishonest, or intended to take advantage of naivete and lack of knowledge of beginners?
This morning, I received, via email, a message with a top banner that read: "event DV Spotlight". Below was the date, then "Sponsored by: Clark Powell"
Right below that was the following banner -
The text below the image read, "HD Startup Package: Now you can offer your clients high-definition video with this Event Videographer's Startup Package--a whole lotta gear for one low price.
Here is the gear they list -
Sony HVR-HD1000U w/extended warranty SPSCAM10RSEW3 Sony PHDV64DM (qty 10) Manfrotto 501HDV Pro Video Head + 055XB Tripod + MBAG80 Sony VCT-U14 Tripod Plate Portabrace CTC-1 Traveler Camera Case Sony UWP-V1-3032 Wireless Lavalier Mic System Lowel LC-94LBZ Rifa-Lite EX 44 Light Kit Sony MVRM15AU Digital HD Videocassette Recorder
When you click the link, you're taken to cp-av.com/Shopping/eventDV.php Where the headline is "EventDV Starter Package". Note they didn't say "Event videographer starter package". Nope. They said "EventDV".
From what you've learned so far, wouldn't it be fair to say that someone reading this ad might think that event DV is aware of the ad and at the very least, management has no gripe with the ad? In fact, you might even get the idea that they're "blessing" the ad and are in agreement. After all, it IS the "EventDV Starter Package", right? (Note: they make make some quick changes after this article posts, but that's how it reads right now.)
OK, here's my gripe list: (please click the "read more" link, below)
the girl who dreams of being a concert pianist, but won't practice more than a few minutes each day;
the boy who is going to be a star football player, but spends his time with video games instead of working out;
the student who dreams of graduating and getting a great paying job, but won't study and won't make the cut to college.
We videographers aren't exempt from human frailities. Can you remember getting that first camcorder and wanting to produce an Indie film? To heck with putting in the time and effort to learn our craft and the years needed to hone our skills, let alone the enormous expense of gear that it usually takes. Nah, let's just run out with this little $200 camcorder and the info I got from reading two months of VM magazine and produce an award-winning Indie film...."Right"!
So now you want to make great wedding videos. You say you've paid your dues by acquiring good video gear. You've studied your craft for at least a couple years and spent another couple or more honing your skills and gaining experience.
So what? So the laws of Nature don't apply to you anymore? Do you think you can just run out and produce a great music video, with no storyboard or pre-shoot planning? No.
Do you think you could properly cover an event - say a rodeo, without knowing which chutes will be used, what order the events will be in and where the prep area will be? I don't think so - at least it won't be as good as it could have been.
So why do you think a wedding is so different from any other kind of shoot? Why do you think there is no planning needed? Why don't you need to be involved in the staging and blocking of "performers"? Do you have a magical "wedding fairy" who'll make sure you can see more than just the backs of the couple's heads during the vows?
I'm afraid there is no "wedding fairy", just "wishful thinking". Sure, it would be nice if we could put in less effort and still produce a great wedding video, but is that realistic?
What does it take to produce a great wedding video? Hmmm.. let's see -
Proper tools for the job - in this case, the right video cameras, mics, etc.
Talented, experienced shooters
A proper subject
Shooters having knowledge of the subjects' positioning and blocking (movements)
Going to rehearsals is your chance to affect the last two items - a full fifty percent of the items you can control. (please click the "read more" link below)
The call came about a month ago from the promotion company the band had hired, "We need somebody to shoot a hip-hop music video and you were recommended."
I replied that he probably shouldn't leave his wallet within reach of whoever made that recommendation! I explained that we are over sixty years old, have never shot any kind of music video, and believed that hip-hop should be banned, their fans forced to listen to Natalie Cole and Sarah Brightman for twenty-four hours straight and all hip-hop and rap performers should be incarcerated.
A nervous chuckle at the other end... "So you'll do it then?"
I gave him our rates and told him I would need a one thousand dollar deposit to reserve the date. I was a little surprised when a PayPal notification showed that the deposit had been paid.
I sent him a link to our storyboard form and gave him instructions on how to detail each shot of each scene. I asked which format - wide or standard and which delivery method. I told him to send me a text file of the lyrics and either the actual cd or wav file of the track we would be shooting the video for. I also asked whether we would need to bring a teleprompter or greenscreen.
After two weeks of nagging for this info, I finally received the following -
a three page very generalized explanation of the shoot
a cda file of the track
"What is a 'teleprompter'?"
"What is a greenscreen'?"
Well, a cda file only tells the computer where to find the data on the cd, it contains no music. The generalized scene list was not in the format I had provided and was too generic to be used as a shot list.
The promoter's inexperience was becoming obvious.
I told the promoter that I would need to communicate directly with the band to get the information I needed, but he refused, saying that our contact was to be solely with him and he specifically stated that he did not want the band aware of our financial arrangements.
I assured him that we would never discuss financial details with others, but I needed more detailed information to ensure a good shoot. Due to delay in responding to emails, it was now just two days before the shoot, so I offerred to arrive early enough to meet with the band in the evening and get the info for our storyboard / shot list (on our own time!), but he never responded to our email.
The day of the shoot, we arrived an hour early, hoping to finally get some shot list info. Thankfully, the group was there and they were very cooperative, but within an hour the promoter arrived and he was anxious to get started. (please click the "Read more" link..)
