Shooting a Potentially Boring Event

cameronchapman

cameronchapman

I'm supposed to be taking footage at a quilt show next month (my mother owns a quilt shop and is sponsoring the show). The resulting video will probably end up on my mom's website, but won't be used for much else.

I'm just trying to figure out anything I could do at this kind of event that might be interesting. I mean, quilts on film are likely going to be kind of boring; they don't move, they don't make any noise...they just hang there. The big thing they have going for them is color and pattern, but that's not necessarily going to be enough to carry more than a few seconds of video.

I don't want to rely on talking to people or doing an interview-style piece because a) I have no idea what the turnout is going to be and b) it's amazing how unfriendly a lot of the people are who go to these things, not to mention at the moment I have no sound equipment and I'm not sure if that will change before the event.

As far as equipment goes, I've got a GH1, a few vintage prime lenses (28mm, 55mm, 58mm, 135mm, and a cheap plastic Holga wide angle that's fun to play around with), a fluid head tripod, and a shoulder rig. That's about it.

Any ideas for things I could do, shots I could get, etc. that might make for an interesting video in the end? I'm pretty much at a loss, but I'd love to do something cool with this.
 
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Shots-wise, move the camera, even if it's very subtle.

But honestly I don't know how you'll do it without the human element. VO narration/ad copy would be cheesy.

I know you said the folks might not be friendly, but what's the harm? I say that even an unfriendly person will warm up to a camera if you've got a little charm. Remember, these folks are going to a quilt show because that is their interest, it's something they enjoy doing. This is the exact kind of place where you can get people to talk the most. Trust me, if you can crack the shell they will never shut up.
 
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Anyone going to be actively quilting?

If so, catch that process.

If not, have someone talk about the process. Aren't some quilts made to tell stories or commemorate events? If so, the quilters would love to tell the story. Talk to them about it.

Or do the direct cinema approach, the fly-on-the-wall approach. Capture the quilting ladies in their environment talking about the event itself. Who knows? Maybe they will dish on one of the quilters who didn't show up. Maybe there is a particularly scandalous story they will all gossip about.

I was recently on a show about a frickin' glorified garage sale and you'd think it was the most dramatic thing happening in a 30 mile radius for a decade. Watch some reality shows or Antiques Roadshow to help get in the mood.
 
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Even if you can't capture audio at the event, maybe you can get people in your mom's shop (and/or your mom) to talk to you. Cut some interview footage in with your show footage. At the show, even if there aren't large crowds, get shots of what there are. Get reaction shots of people looking at the quilts.

And, of course, the right music can go a long way!
 
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NickClapper said:
Hand held, Bourne Supremacy style. Loads of extreme quilt closeups, Hans Zimmer soundtrack, Bill Murray cameo.
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:lol:

Seriously, though, I'd be willing to bet that the people who attend these events are interesting people. Forget the quilts. Make it about the people who quilt. (Oh, and as for people being impersonable, as you mentioned, you only need one good subject - mom, perhaps?)
 
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Alcove Audio said:
A time lapse?
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I really like that idea, at least for part of the final project.

Uranium City said:
Anyone going to be actively quilting?

If so, catch that process.

If not, have someone talk about the process. Aren't some quilts made to tell stories or commemorate events? If so, the quilters would love to tell the story. Talk to them about it.

Or do the direct cinema approach, the fly-on-the-wall approach. Capture the quilting ladies in their environment talking about the event itself. Who knows? Maybe they will dish on one of the quilters who didn't show up. Maybe there is a particularly scandalous story they will all gossip about.

I was recently on a show about a frickin' glorified garage sale and you'd think it was the most dramatic thing happening in a 30 mile radius for a decade. Watch some reality shows or Antiques Roadshow to help get in the mood.
Click to expand...

Good tips. I'm thinking the fly-on-the-wall approach might work well for this.

JoshL said:
Even if you can't capture audio at the event, maybe you can get people in your mom's shop (and/or your mom) to talk to you. Cut some interview footage in with your show footage. At the show, even if there aren't large crowds, get shots of what there are. Get reaction shots of people looking at the quilts.

And, of course, the right music can go a long way!
Click to expand...

Good tips.

Cracker Funk said:
:lol:

Seriously, though, I'd be willing to bet that the people who attend these events are interesting people. Forget the quilts. Make it about the people who quilt. (Oh, and as for people being impersonable, as you mentioned, you only need one good subject - mom, perhaps?)
Click to expand...

More good ideas.

Thanks for all the input everyone! At least now I have a few solid ideas to use.
 
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Cameron, take my news photographer experience to task along with the other suggestions.

Shoot sequences - Quickly edited shots of the same thing in time from different angles to keep it ultra basic for this explanation.
 
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C-

Is it possible some of the quilts have old, previously-used or worn material that have a history? I.E., what if a quilt piece not only is part of her bridesmaid dress, but she has a picture of it you can video while she's talking about it? That sort of idea can go a long way to bring their lives into your project... How about old pics of a mother's quilting circle while one reminisces?

Good luck, let us know what you come up with!
 
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brettzdamn said:
sorry im not trying to be off topic but how do u like the holga lens compared to the 28mm?
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The Holga is much wider, but the optical quality is pretty crap. It's fun to play around with, but there's awful vignetting and parts of it are even blurry. But if you're going for a very specific look it's interesting.
 
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cameronchapman said:
... b) it's amazing how unfriendly a lot of the people are who go to these things...
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Pretty rough and tumble crowd those quilters be. ARRRR!

Quilts are just fancy blankets with a unique history to them borne out of desperate practicality and perverted into a squanderous art form.
Quilting is all about the people.

Watch CBS's Sunday Morning program and watch some of their interviews.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=CBS+Sunday+Morning&aq=f
Their producers (that's you, BTW) are pretty good about humanizing otherwise static objects of art or interest.

Freshen up on a little cursory quilting history homework, be mindful of the changes over time, pre-interview mom at the shop, then step outside your comfort zone at the show, talk to a few of those mean quilt spectators :grrr: , catch some reaction shots as the few or many people point or hold their hands behind their backs.

Have a loose story in mind before your shoot, and be flexible to alter it in editing.

Then post it here for us to mock and riddi... nah. We'll be nice.
Nicer than the mean quilt spectators. Grrrr!!! :devil:

GL & GB


Hey, since Mom's asking for a freebie from her beautiful little daughter, maybe she can spring $40 for a microphone or digital voice recorder!
mic.jpg
!!d6WeK!!2M~$(KGrHqEH-DEEssO6IojOBLYEWZ2R8!~~_26.JPG
 
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For most people involved in a hobby, there are some who are very passionate about it. If you can find out the reason for their passion, you might have a few minutes of entertainment.
 
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