No, I won’t let this go. We can do better and it is annoying me. Here are my thoughts on how to fix the set problem. Let me know what you think in the comments.
No, I won’t let this go. We can do better and it is annoying me. Here are my thoughts on how to fix the set problem. Let me know what you think in the comments.
You do make a good point. The entire set, right now, seems bland. Was that the word you were looking for? Just thinking out of the studio I work at, but is the wall black, or do you have black curtain running down? If it’s painted black, grab two wall mounts for the LCDs (and fix the height difference between you and Cariann), and run maybe a row of kickers under the LCDs. That would look awesome, if you could also incorporate the SpaceVidcast logo between the monitors.. somehow.
Anyways, while that’s not where I wanted to go, that did pop into my mind. I think you have hit something. The show isn’t as conversational as it was at home, looking at the second show and the last one you guys did in your basement. The show just seemed to have a more upbeat tone to it at home, whereas with the studio, there’s a lot of confusion with the cameras. That’s another noticeable thing, at least to me. When one switches, seeing Cariann or yourself on a closeup, still looking at the wide shot (presumably camera 2), it hits my pet peeve.
Not trying to say this in the wrong way, but it seems a bit uncoordinated, to me. The look is good, but it just seems like things aren’t as good as they could be when it comes to the final product. I’m not sure how to say it. Maybe you know what I’m getting at?
One last thing before I go hit the sack.. I don’t think you guys need to have more of a “lazy” and a “formal” set combined, probably do need a section for Space News, then one for interviews, and one for the conversation topic. Perhaps a desk for Space News, standing up (or sitting on a bar stool or something) for interviews, and a standing up pose for the conversation topic. I’ll think about it tonight and get back to you, but I think it would look good… and if I can somehow draw correctly with my mouse, I’ll email you my (crappy) design that I’m thinking of right now.
I like the concept but I am concerned that any set you build will look like a set you built in the basement of a coffee shop. If you’re trying to create a stream that has a conversational feel, why not use the actual coffee shop? I am imagining a tight shot of you two at a table, each with a cup-o-joe. The viewer will have the point of view of being the 3rd person at the table. Ideally there’d be other people in the shop that could participate.
Issue #2: How about selecting relevant comments in the chat room and either displaying them on the plasma and/or overlayed on the stream.. i.e. “SoAndSo in the chatroom says “.
DOF of depth of field. Looking at something like the set of Twin Cities Live it appears small and cozy, but when you get there it is actually very large and deep. This is the same problem we have at home, the size is too small to do anything with (we were zoomed out as far as we could go) and trying to shoot in a real coffee shop would be cramped since the camera would have to be right next to us, and we would have issues with audio and lighting.
We can do that feel, but I don’t think we can do it in a real coffee shop. The pure irony being that we’re shooting in the back room of a real coffee shop.
Carbon, I see what you are saying… but at least in this space, we just don’t have the room for three separate sections. I think we may be able to pull off two… it’s just gunna take some work. And like others have said, we really need to work out our technical problems. Between here and there, we can still monkey a little with the set before we move to two areas. I think. I guess we’ll see.
Ben, check out my comment on your earlier topic, Should we stand or sit for Spacevidcast?:
http://www.bencredible.com/2009/01/23/should-we-stand-or-sit-for-spacevidcast/#comments
I believe the word you were looking for is “distant”….that maybe how the show feels a bit nowt.
Personally, i don’t think i desk is preachee, Johny Carson, David Letterman, John Stewart, Steven Cobert, and countless others have all used the desk for light-hearted conversation. I do agree that you want to stay away from a stale, news-like feel, but in the end, you are a relaying news on space…
But, if you can’t stomach the idea of sitting behind a desk, then your idea of a “conversation” area is good; although, i don’t think a couch is quite right. Two, solid-looking and comfortable chairs on both sides of a coffee table could work. Like you said, the coffee table would be decorated with your swag, bobble-head, stickers, etc, and the plasma mounted above that for your interviews. i see where you’re going with the plasma-in-the-chair idea, but think that risks being too-citchee (if that’s the right word…i don’t know what that means
anyways, i think you’re on the right track…good luck!
Kitschy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsch
FYI… kinda like cheesy…
It’s not beanbag chairs, but I think you got my point at least.