Re: Need Advice on Lighting and Audio Equipment

ben wrote ...
If I am going to go the work lights direction, what
kind of things should I ask for at my local hardware
store? I assume I would need lamps that are directionally
adjustable and that are on stands (so that the light is
coming from above the talent)?

Here in N.America they sell "work-lights" or "shop-lights" that come with stands (safety-yellow painted pipe, etc.)

Here is one of the more complete magazine articles online that discusses how to use these things.
http://dv.com/features/features_item.jhtml?category=Archive&LookupId=/xml/feature/2001/bjohnson0401

Registration at the DV website is required, but they do not spam me (I can't remember EVER receiveing email from them!) And they have a GREAT MANY of excellent articles online.

Here is another one about a professional's lighting kit full of unconventional items, including cheap fluorescent ligits. This is my all-time favorite article on lighting equipment...
http://www.dv.com/features/features_item.jhtml?category=Archive&articleId=18901484

If I get two lights like this, would I also need reflectors/soft boxes/scrims?

Definitely! They cannot be used direcct because they are too small and too bright. You must soften and spread the light out to appear to be a much larger source (like light through a window, etc.) That first article suggests a couple of ways of diffusing and/or reflecting the light from those shop/work fixtures to make them suitable for shooting video. Note that there are many other resources online which can be discovered via Google searches, etc.

Would I want to get standard bulbs or professional bulbs?

Not even sure what "standard" vs. "professional" bulbs are? In any case, you can almost certainly use the bulbs that come with the fixtures because modern video cameras are pretty good about white balancing to whatever color light you are shooting with.

With audio I am going to try for the lapel microphone bit.

IMHO, an ideal solution for sit-down interviews and talking head shots, etc.

There is a cheap wireless lapel and hand-held microphone
kit going on ebay.com.au at the moment that I'll try for and
test to see if it suits my needs.

NO! Didn't I recommend AGAINST cheap wireless mics? You are just throwing your money away. Don't do it!

If I voice over my interview questions as I'm editing, will
that be painfully obvious?

Don't know why it should. You are killing the (off-mic) sound of your questions and substituting nice clean recordings of the same questions. The only hazard is if your interviewee talks over you. (In which case you start the question over and warn them not to do that.)

I can always tell in television advertisements when
someone has been dubbed/is a voiceover.

I don't see how "lip-sync" has anything to do with what you described as your project? Are you saying that you want to appear *on-camera* as the interviewer? Otherwise, if the interviewer is off-camera, there is no picture/sound coordination required. Or am I missing something here?

Are there any tips on making it seem more real?

Can you explain what you are asking? Making WHAT exactly "seem more real". What do you fear will sound "unreal"?

The wireless microphone kit has two microphones,
but I don't think I should use them both at the same time
because of phase cancellation.

RUN at top speed away from these wireless microphones, no matter how many of them there are. They really are BAD NEWS and if you buy them you will regret it in a few weeks or months! Many people on this newsgroup have a box in the attic or basement full of broken cheap plastic wireless mics.

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