Aaron’s Shooting Guide

PA Summit
Tuesday 28 July
Fullerton Hotel
Martin Place Sydney

Call time 8:15

Hey legend. Here are the shots I’d like you to get:

• MC Welcome (two cameras)

• Full presentation of Steuart at 10am (two cameras)

• Audience reactions during Ben Hamer

• Full presentation of Bethan at 12pm (two cameras)

• IV with Steuart’s client

• B-roll of both speakers a bonus

Framing guide examples under the text. I’ve put in a fair bit of detail, if you can’t do it all that’s okay. I’m not going to be too fussy if we don’t get it all exactly as specified, but do your best.

ROLL BOTH CAMERAS FOR THE WHOLE PRESENTATIONS, including MC intro and outro AND breaks for table conversation. If you have to stop the shot to change a lens that’s fine.

FIRST 5-10 minutes:
Ideally, the first ~five minutes of each presentation should start with TOPS-OF-HEADS and ULTRA WIDE / WIDE.

MIDDLE half hour:
COWBOY SHOT and WIDE / MEDIUM

LAST 5 minutes:
TOPS-OF-HEADS and ULTRA WIDE / WIDE

If the tracking camera is off-target for a bit while you’re adjusting the wide camera that’s fine. I usually zoom out the tracking camera to cover the whole stage while adjusting the wide cam(s).

Please track the speakers as they move between tables while the audience is chatting among themselves.

They both have books, if you can get b-roll of the books and workbooks on the tables, and either speaking chatting to people, selling books, that would be a great bonus.

AUDIO - please record audio from the AV desk (check it with headphones), and leave camera body mics on for syncing.

During the presentation BETWEEN Steuart and Bethan (Ben Hamer), please go to the front of the room and shoot audience reaction shots with the long lens. These can be individual clips.

I typically frame someone who looks like they might laugh, let it roll until they do, then hit stop after so I know the last bit of every clip is good. I don’t mind if there’s lots of junk in these clips, it’s easy to skim. I’d rather heaps of footage than miss a laugh.

FILE FORMAT

4K - 8bit 60M

25p

Ideally 1/50 shutter minimum, but minimising light flicker is the priority.

PICTURE PROFILE OFF - No Picture Profile

EXPOSURE: sometimes needs to be a little under to avoid faces being blown out.

TRACKING CAMERA

Cowboy shot (mid thigh) - back centre of room

Chin on top third line

With a full frame camera and 200mm you might not be able to do the cowboy shot depending on the room size. That’s fine, just go as tight as you can.

Tops-of-heads - back centre of room

Chest on top third line

WIDE CAMERA

ULTRA WIDE ~16mm - back corner/side of room

Tripod as high as possible.
Speaker waist on top third line.

WIDE ~35mm - back corner/side of room

Tripod as high as possible.
Speaker waist on top third line.

MEDIUM ~70mm - back corner/side of room

Tripod as high as possible.
Speaker waist on top third line.

AUDIENCE REACTION

~100-200mm - front / side of stage

Laughter and noddies and engagement

IV FRAMING

~50mm - Eyeline narrowly off barrel to opposite side looking at interviewer

Outside eye on top third lines. Shoot wide-ish i can crop later if they move.

I use a directional stage mic for these, if you’re using lavs, please try to minimise background noise. Could be difficult!