Challenges of self shooting orchestral performances on and off stage

Single handedly documenting events on stage, behind stage and in the practice areas on one camera during the MFY festival at Birmingham Symphony Hall was quite a challenge.

My shoot started back stage capturing shots of Leicestershire Symphony Orchestra preparing for their performance. I managed to film the players entering the stage before dashing back outside around the hall, through the entrance doors into one of the seated sections of the auditorium, taking care not to disturb the audience. Symphonic pieces can be extremely dynamic so in addition to keeping a close eye on the audio levels - (I’m not a fan of the C100’s limiter) - the challenge was to quietly move around the auditorium without blocking audience views. Along with a few wide and close ups (well as close as I could get from where I was perched) I made sure I captured at least a few minutes of unterupted audio and cutaway shots of audience for the edit.

The Manfrotto 560 Monopod with head is excellent for stability and mobility. Unfortunately the ball in the joint of the monopod foot started to stiffen up and when I was panning the ball would click, from which sound vibrated up through the Monopod into the camera!. Unfortunately this ruined some of my audio. Since the shoot I’ve eliminated problem by spraying WD40 on the ball in joint.

After the orchestra’s final note I managed to capture audience applause, conductors final bow before frantically running all the way around through the corridors to the back of the stage to capture the performers exiting the stage. Following them to the ‘green room’ I then waited patiently before pouncing on the conductor and several performers for interviews. They were all in good spirits and I did my best to capture this on camera. Key questions I thought about beforehand included “what are the life benefits of music making/how do you benefit from music making?” and “how were you feeling before the performance and now after?”

My approach to filming contributors is to frame the shot and adjust settings while making sweet talk before standing to the side of my camera, holding monopod in one hand and communicating directly with the contributors. It’s a challenge to make a connection with the person in a short period of time but important if you want a genuine performance/reaction. While keeping an eye on my camera LCD I spend most of my interviews looking away from the screen and at the contributor, reacting, nodding and interacting with the subject so they feel at ease.

Most of the performers seemed surprisingly shy so I suggested I interview them together in groups. Unfortunately I didn’t have luxury of sound man by my side thus handed radio mic to kids who passed it amongst themselves when talking. Unless I’m producing a heavily stylised video I don’t mind the fact that the mic is visible in contributors hands. During future productions with kids I may get them more involved, holding boom mic etc. Kids react well to taking part in this way and the process becomes less scary and I get better performances.

I was fortunate that the orchestra won an award and I was in the auditorium to capture footage of the ceremony. I added this footage to the end of the film with a short interview with ABRSM’s CEO who presented the award. An appropriate and positive way to end the film I thought.

https://vimeo.com/139569654