how to shoot a TV scene
- Thread starter chlsy8
- Start date
You don't even have to show the television's screen, if you play it right.
Shoot towards people from television's direction... maybe see the back of the tv in the foreground, even. Or if shooting so the tv is totally out of frame, you can use some christmas lights (or something fancier) and a foil-covered bounceboard to reflect & move the "light from the tv" onto the people's faces. In both instances, you can get away with just using a voice-over or the audio.
The dvd idea is cool, too. Obviously a little more pre-production required to pull that off. (Make sure camera's running at same hz of the tv screen, to avoid those rumbly lines)
Shoot towards people from television's direction... maybe see the back of the tv in the foreground, even. Or if shooting so the tv is totally out of frame, you can use some christmas lights (or something fancier) and a foil-covered bounceboard to reflect & move the "light from the tv" onto the people's faces. In both instances, you can get away with just using a voice-over or the audio.
The dvd idea is cool, too. Obviously a little more pre-production required to pull that off. (Make sure camera's running at same hz of the tv screen, to avoid those rumbly lines)
Then you'll either need to make that dvd, or read up on how to make masks in post for television. (not terribly tricky, but difficult to look legit)
Good luck.
What we did for a student film last semester that required security camera footage was cut out green construction paper to fit snugly in the "security cam" (actually a small tv monitor), get the shot and simply chroma key the security footage in post. Simple and effective, but you do have to be careful that the paper isn't jagged and fits the monitor. It looked fine, but there were no close ups of just the monitor. I would imagine it may look a little rough around the edges if it wasn't b&w security footage w/ grain.
Honestly, for your situation, a DVD would probably be the best bet.
When you show the TV the continuity is going to be the biggest issue.
I would go with the DVD of real TV news too but don't forget, you'll need copyright clearance.
This ^
Likely a huge issue with the DVD method. It will take a LOT of time and attention to not screw it up unless you show the TV in a single unedited shot. If you bounce around coverage with the TV visible in the background it's going to be a nightmare.
Inserting in post is your best method. It'll take a little while to get it to what you want but if you desperately need it, then adding it in post is what you want.
But you can also combine other said methods. Show the people, and cut to a "direct" feed of the news report. Mix the audio in a way so that when you show the people it sounds more from the TV.
But you can also combine other said methods. Show the people, and cut to a "direct" feed of the news report. Mix the audio in a way so that when you show the people it sounds more from the TV.
There is a TV on through a whole scene in 109, but you don't see the screen, just the dancing lights on the characters face and the audio.