Videos/Filming

Best practices, do and don't, for camera operators at FSCONS to make the best of our (cheap) equipment and facilitate post-processing of the videos. See also Camera guidelines.

Camera position

DO put the camera in the center of the room so that you are in front of the screen.

DON'T put the camera in an alley or near the door as it will capture all the noise from people coming in and out the room.

Framing

Good and bad framing

Framing is the position of an image within a frame or border.

DO frame the image large enough to capture both the speaker and the slides at all times.

DON'T change the framing unless absolutely necessary. (tilt, pan, zoom or otherwise move the camera)

DON'T turn the camera towards the public, not even during questions! The speakers have agreed to be recorded but the other participants haven't, so we should try to avoid this as much as possible. If you are in the back of the room it's ok to film the back of people's heads if it's necessary to get a good framing. Likewise, if someone stands up during a talk, it is ok if they end up on the recording (don't stop or move the camera to avoid them).

Timing

DO try to start recording just in time for the beginning of the talk. You can talk to the room host to ask him to wait for you before introducing the speaker.

DO stop the camera shortly after the talk and questions are over. It is very common that, after a talk is finished, the public will give applause once, then ask a question, then applause again. The second round of applause is your cue to stop the camera!

DON'T let the camera keep on running between talks. Even if the first talk is late and the next one starts without pause, stop the camera for a couple of seconds so that we get two separate files.

Sound

DO ask the speaker to use the microphone even if they think they have a loud voice or if the public is small, it makes a tremendous difference in the recording.

DON'T talk around the camera the microphone will pick up your voice on top of the speakers if you're closer, even if you aren't in front of the camera