Designing a new set for 2010
I’ve never been happy with the live set for Spacevidcast. We could go with a virtual set, but until I can do a 4:4:4 chroma key allowing even the fibers of my hair to look natural (hint: very hard and expensive) I’ll probably stick to a traditional set.
One of the things that I *hate* with the current set is that it looks so news like. We’re behind a table talking at you, not with you. Completely wrong format for this show. The community is just as much a part of the show as we are. I want it to be more informal, more fun, less news like.
My thought was that we would get a couch and a chair. I would sit in the chair and Cariann would sit in the couch. In front of us maybe a coffee table where we would put our computers and possibly a drink (I’ll take a Hendrick’s and tonic with a cucumber, thank you). To do this right I would need 3 HD cameras (problem) and would probably stop putting the guest on the plasma monitor and only have them full screen and in the double box. Cariann and I went shopping and after searching for a while determined we may want to just do two chairs and two side tables. Here’s an interesting option from Ikea:
And the side tables would be so we have something to put our computers on. Something like one of these:
OK, well the red is a bit out there and we would not do that if we got orange chairs. These also come in white.
I still have a HUGE issue with the background. Cafn8ed came up with a nifty idea of some white foam and the possibility to cover it with a graphic of sorts. I go back and forth on that one. Could do some cool things with lights, but as I think about it more and more I fear it will just end up being bland without any kick. Maybe that’s OK. Like I said, back and forth. I could also take the current HDTV and put it back behind us with a Spacevidcast animation of sorts. No idea what to do back there that won’t look cheap and cheesy while at the same time not spending a lot of money. The white sheet really doesn’t work well, just looks like a giant white bedsheet. We could go back to black and then shine something on that to give it some color. Orange chairs and orange lights on the background may look sorta cool.
Of course I fell in love with something we can’t afford. I really like these chairs, but they are $3,500 each. At that price I would get two new HD cameras rather than chairs! But they sure would look cool!
What do you guys think? Stick with the news like desk? Make it more informal and conversational? I like the general idea of what Ashton did in the video below. Nice chair, nice couch, table and interesting background (although the background needs some love still). What do you think?
New set design huh? Nice! I like the top chair pic. Black but yet….futuristic. And yes…definately a Star Trek feel to it. Whatever you guys do will be fine, the show will still rock no matter what design changes you make.
I’d worry about weird color combinations with the orange chairs, anything you wear has to not be weird with the chair.
From the ashton pic and form what I’ve seen a lot of the “informal sets” tend to have everyone leaning forward, and that seems kind of uncomfortable looking. Up right or relaxed is good, hunched forward is bad.
But its free advice and I make things that fly, not interiors.
“I make things that fly, not interiors.” I must say, that is so far the quote of the year! I laughed pretty hard.
If I had a chair like that on-set I’d be tempted to leave the laptop in my lap, bc you do spend time typing during the show.
Ben,
I think the format you are currently using is actually the best for the show. It has an air of professionalism while still maintaining a round table discussion feel to it. Being informative as well as fun are not mutually exclusive concepts. I think if you changed the appearance of the show to something that more resembles a talk show format you may increase the number of casual viewers in what marketing calls the “Oprah Effect”, but you might also lose a portion of the audience that is driven by the intellectual content.
Here is an example that I hope helps clarify the above. I am perhaps the furthest person on the planet who is prone to impulse buys, yet your interview with Robert Godwin has led me to buy not one but three items from Apogee. Not only that but I made sure that Apogee knew where I had found out about their site and their products. I followed the links and bought from Apogee because of how interesting and yes entertaining I found your interview with Robert to be. If your show had had more of a “talk show” feel to it I would have most likely not taken it very seriously or even have watched it for very long. I think more of your audience is interested in the intellectual exchanges your show offers more so than how the set looks.
The simple truth is I want to see your show succeed because I find it of value. Wishing you much success in 2010.
David
Awesome feedback! I’m always making assumptions on what people want to see based on little to no data. This helps a lot.
I still don’t like the news desk feel, but I think there is a way to balance it all. Just have not found it yet.
I love the orange chairs, but I think they would only be cool for the first few episodes. After that, I think they’d be rather distracting… unless you guys plan on wearing Star Fleet uniforms from now on.
if you guys promised to wear star fleet uniforms every show I would live on Cup o’ Noodles this semester so I can be a top level epic subscriber
Hi guys,
The idea I proposed to Ben earlier this week was to have a large graphic produced from a space-related image, perhaps from the NASA collection. It could be produced inexpensively online in 4 separate poster sized prints, then adhered to a 4′x8′ sheet of foam, of which I have several from a basement project this past fall. This would take care of the background, and the more light we throw on it, the better.
As far as the news-feel vs talk-show-feel of the show, it really demands a high-level view of what the show is, how it relates to an audience, and the comfort level of the hosts to portray that look and feel. My personal feeling is that it is a news show; audiences relate more comfortably and hosts relate more comfortably from the news-desk image. That said, news desks can define a show. Johnny Carson’s desk is in the Smithsonian, fer goodness’ sake. Here’s one that I believe can bring a fresh perspective:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00059222
Anyway, good luck, and talk to ya soon!
Hi everyone wishing you luck for 2010 and all your endeavors Patty Rayfield