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    Tell us about Video Projection, please!

    Live video feeds can add a lot to a show. Here are 3 rules to getting it
    right:

    1. Know thy camera.

    * You will want a camera that has a video output (Composite or
    S-Video).
    * The camera should be suited to the lighting available.
    * Small lens = less light = more grainy images.
    * Remember to charge the batteries.
    * Mains power is even better - with battery for backup.
    * REMOVE the videotape. When good cameras do not have a tape in they
    revert to live mode and DO NOT switch themselves off after a few
    minutes of inactivity.
    * Auto focus will result in loss of focus and the camera hunting to
    find it again every time the lights go out - so use manual focus.
    * White ballance - If you leave this on auto it will ruin every
    thing the LD is trying to do with colour as it will try to make it
    all look like a bright summer's day (wrecking the colours). Chose
    a white before the show and leave it alone.
    * Using a tripod will produce best results. If hand held use is
    required, make the actor practise. Use 2 hands.
    * Keep the camera away from water, sand, set, and if possible, actors.

    2. Control thy feed.

    * Cabling should be RG59 coaxial cable (or similar). (basically 75
    ohm cabling). Audio cable is not suitable.
    * CPC (www.cpc.co.uk are a reliable source of cheap cabling)
    * Cable runs should be only as long as they need to be.
    * Although tis nigh on impossible in a theatre, avoid running with
    the lighting/power cabling
    * A vision mixer will proveide a safety net should anything go wrong
    (i.e. vision mixer can provide a black background)
    * Vision mixers can output a constant black signal regardless of
    what you just did to break your camera - running straight from
    camera to projector will result in a "NO SIGNAL" message on the
    projector
    * Projectors should always be properly set up - set the background
    colour to black (not blue), and switch messages/OSD (on screen
    display) to OFF.
    * OFS people: 15m will get you from lighting desk to hung projector.
    25m will easily get you to balcony above alcove (going round
    edge). Prism AV will do a projector for £200
    * Keeble O'Reilly people: Your projector is already rigged. You may
    wish to do some cunning re-patching to be able to use one of the
    stage video inputs with a vision mixer in the tech box. (See Gwyn)
    * OPH people: Make use of the pre-existing BNC video tielines (ask
    them when you go for a meeting). These will save you cabling
    hassles. OPH has a projector available for hire.

    3. Love thy Lighting Designer.

    * Light is good for the camera but will cause problems for the projector
    * Projectors are not as bright as theatrical lanterns
    * Projectors never give a true black (leaving a dark grey rectangle
    on your screen/set)
    * Projection works best in low light
    * Cameras work best when there is much light
    * The LD controls the lights - the LD is your key to success.


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