After the day long seminar in Philly, I was lucky enough to attend the regular meeting of the GPVA - Greater Philadelphia Videographers Association. This was anything but a regular local association meeting. Thanks to the board and the participants who arranged a mock wedding, complete with invitations, a bride, groom and full bridal party, minister, a ceremony and a reception.
 
Three videographers took turns at staging how they would shoot a single camera event. We saw a hand held full shoulder mounted camera, a smaller camera on a tripod and a stedicam gig each take turns at what they would do in the same circumstance. It was part serious and part comedy with a whacky photographer jumping in the way obstructing the entire event. After the set up, we were treated to viewing the footage with live voice over of the videographer explaining what they did and why.
 
I fell asleep laughing from a comment by the first videographer who earnestly described what he did and why. He had in my opinion had the best line of the night when he said "Why do I frame the shot so that I don't get the Exit sign over the head of the bride and groom? (short pause and no answer forthcoming from the crowd) "Because people can read Shi*..." I almost slid under the table laughing and have several times since.
 
The emperor has no clothes moment was is that in reviewing the footage from the first camera, there was digital artifacts that were so bad, blocking so bad, that you couldn't see the activity in the center of the screen. So, yes he looked like he knew what he was doing and explained it well, but what if he had to give that to a bride?
The next two videographers up described what they did, mostly defending why things didn't look as good as they should and blaming the phony photographer and saying they do short form weddings and normally have one or two other cover camera's to help them along, even though this was from the start specifically about shooting a single camera job. I think no one was really prepared for the unexpected, as the photographer got more and more aggressive with each passing ceremony, much as what happens in real life! Serious life lesson to be learned from this is never ever do a single camera wedding or event if you want to produce a wedding you can be proud of because sh*t happens and at the very least have an assistant that can take the photographer out, I mean "help". By the way we also had an opportunity to see the same event taped in HD and boy it was dark. No joke. All of us in attendance, understood that conditions were not ideal (as if they ever are).

Overall, It was a terrifically entertaining evening. Much much effort was put into pulling it all together. My thanks to all for putting it together, Natalie Neal, Brooke Rudnick, Mark Smiler (the mc and inspiration behind the project), the videographers, bridal party, photographers and guests. Thanks for it all. Kathy

 

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