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a service of Jim Powell Video Productions |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
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a service of Jim Powell Video Productions |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
| Q: Are your videographer's experienced? | ||
| A: As the head videographer, Jim Powell began his television career in 1969 working as an FCC 1st Class Licensed Broadcast Engineer at WLKY-TV in Louisville, Kentucky. Today, he produces commercials, industrial or business video programs including training and marketing, and Web media as well as event videography. He is also an experienced audio technician having built a full service audio studio for similar productions mentioned above. He holds a First Class Federal Communications License and is a graduate of United Electronics Institute. He has continued studies with the International Film and Television Workshops in Rockport, Maine; Sony Workshops in Advanced Creative Camera and continued theory and training through MCA-I. He also was educated at Kent State University in Mass Communications. Recent awards: ITVA's AiME, Cindy, The Telly Award and the Videographers Award. | ||
| Q: Is your video equipment professional? | ||
| A: We use digital video equipment to record pristine high resolution videography. Our main camera is the Canon XL1s, which is a three chip high resolution camera. The XL1s has an excellent extended lens capability being able to focus up to 16x which means that even from the back of an auditorium we can easily capture close-up shots of individuals on the platform. We also use Canon's GL1 and Panasonic's EZ1 cameras. These cameras are also three chip high resolution cameras. The small light-weight portability of these cameras makes moving within the recording area an advantage being able to easily record candid shots and to record within fast moving circumstances of events. In most instances, we use a professional tripod with a fluid head assembly. The DV format, by the way, is consistently used in most broadcast stations and major networks. We have shot footage for MTV Documentary programs and continue to provide field videography for The Montel Williams show. And, we will use the same cameras for your production. | ||
| Q: Will your audio equipment record the music and the words of the speakers such as the vows in a wedding? | ||
| A: Each camera that we use is set to 16 bit recording using PCM technology. This is equal to CD recording in the audio field. To record speakers such as the vows in a wedding for instance, a broadcast standard Lectronics wireless microphone system is used. Usually, we place the microphone inconspicuously on the groom. This places the microphone within excellent range of the minister, the bride and of course the groom. For music and other auditorium sounds, we use a directional Audio-Technica microphone at the camera position. In our industry, this is called a 'shotgun' microphone and is an excellent choice for live music and audience sounds. Each microphone is recorded on separate channels or tracks. When we make your copy, the channels are mixed to the best sound for the individual performances. | ||
| Q: Will you simply transfer the DV master to our copy or will you edit the final copy? | ||
| A: We offer full service video production. Each package offers varying amounts of editing. For instance, in the One-Camera Super Package, your final video will include titles at the beginning which could include your invitation or program visuals. We also include up to three stills of the wedding in this opening. Thereafter, a two minute video montage is presented highlighting or previewing the full program. Following this, unless you have ordered a multiple camera package, the full DV footage is transferred un-edited to the master copy. | ||
| We also offer many other packages and services including Custom Photo Transfer to Video of childhood photos for produced video programs. Please go to the Menu page to view these services. | ||
| Q: Can you make stills from the video for a web page? | ||
| A: We can do better than that. We include in every package your own private Web page with a minimum of 20 video stills. Your webpage will be the first part of your package delivered. You will be sent the private link to our Web site when the page is finished. It is private. Your page will not be linked to our Web site. You can invite your relatives and friends from across the country or around the world to see your wonderful festivities. Please check the menu for cost. | ||
| Q: We are planning a wedding for next year? Do we have plenty of time to make a decision. | ||
| A: We work on a first booked system. The most important months for weddings are May, June, August and December, however, we are booked year-round. It's a good idea to book your dates as early as possible to guarantee a videographer is available. | ||
| Q: How do you warranty your product? | ||
| A: Quality Guarantee: Family Video Productions guarantees the quality of production to be at professional standards limited by the logistical requirements at the recording locations and production requirements. All VHS and DVD products delivered to you are guaranteed for one year from date of shipping. If your product does not technically perform in any way, simply return the product to the below address for a replacement at no charge. In the case of logistics and location environment problems, we will work around those problems to the extent that is possible with our equipment. Please note that we can not control the environmental conditions and the affects they may have on our equipment or the wedding schedule. However, we will acquire the best video and audio possible under each circumstance. | ||
| Q: When can we expect to have our finished recording? | ||
| A: Delivery of Final Product: We make every effort to deliver your media as soon as possible depending upon our production schedule. Delivery Sequence: 1. Video Stills on your private webpages; 2. Windows Media Highlights video; 3. VHS copies and DVD master set. | ||
| Q: How do you plan for location problems? | ||
| A: Our equipment is pre-checked for operation prior to leaving for the wedding. If problems occur, this leaves plenty of time for us to either fix the problem or acquire back-up equipment. As stated above, if location problems occur and were unforeseen, we will work to the best of our ability and the equipment at hand to record the best video and audio possible within that environment. | ||
| Q: We would like people to comment on the video. Do you do that? | ||
| A: Yes. We always arrive at least 2 hours early for camera set-up and other equipment preparation. During that time, we will shoot candid shots of the portrait photographers session. If people would like to comment, we will videotape those comments. We also try to encourage people to comment, however not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera. If you have someone special that you would like to have on the program, please let us know by writing their names on the back of the order form. Then, at the wedding, please have someone point them out. | ||
| Q: We want to make sure that you record the highlights of the reception. How can we help make sure this happens? | ||
| A: Depending upon how many cameras we are using, it takes an average of 25 minutes to disassemble our equipment and leave the wedding site after the last person in the wedding party exits the isle. So, allow enough time for us to disassemble our equipment and travel to your reception location. We will diligently make our travel as soon as possible. A good rule of thumb is: "If you see us, we are videotaping your highlights." | ||
| Q: Why do you call your DVD's "masters?" | ||
| A: Your original DVDs are masters because they are rendered directly from our state-of-the-art DVD authroring software. These are not copies. You receive the highest DVD quality possible. | ||
If you have further questions, please email at JimPowel@ix.netcom.com or call 854-2999 or (800) 283-7686 |
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| Q: Why do some DVDs play in my player and some do not? | ||
| This information is highly technical, however it does explain some of the issues. | ||
| A: #1. DVDs are basically plastic discs for storage of data to be retrieved by a computer hard drive (your player). There are many formats of DVD: DVD-RW; DVD+R; DVD-R; DVD-ROM; etc. Each of these formats require a player that can retrieve that particular format. If your DVD player is not designed for a format, it will not play it. Many of the older players and some of the present players, especially the more economical ones, will play only one format. Most of today's players will play the DVD-R format, therefore we use this format for our masters. | ||
| #2. There is another issue. DVD players are designed to retrieve the movie data at a specified rates. Generally speaking, the more expensive the player, the faster it can retrieve data. Disks are burned or recorded at a specific rate. All disks can hold 4.7 g, however they are burned at one rate. To make the highest quality disk which will only hold one hour of your program, the data rate is very high. Many players can not play at this rate. Specific problems: #1 It will not play at all. #2 After playing for several minutes, the sound and visual becomes un-synced. In other words, the voice is out of sync with the movement of the mouth. #3 Skipping can occur. | ||
| Solution: We burn DVD-R discs at approximately the two hour level or the medium rate which is the same as most commercial movies. The data is transferred directly from the edited rendering which maintains the highest quality for your program. Our guarantee is that if you have one of our products that does not play, send it back and we will find a format or modify the data rate to make sure it plays for you. VHS is also still available. | ||
