This mind map will be very useful during development because it visually represents information which makes it easier to understand. It was a good idea to create one in the first place because writing ideas down increases idea generation in both quantity and speed. Because we made it as a group, multiple ideas and perspectives were presented.

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In order to prepare for the recording, I felt it were best to do research on how other live recordings were produced.

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In "Hamilton," the use of camera angles plays a role in enhancing the visuals. Various angles are employed to provide perspective, with more significant details placed closer to the camera. The frame size is used to reflect the complexity of the action on stage, adjusting dynamically to convey the intensity of each scene. Close-up shots are used selectively, capturing essential information and emphasizing key moments. The speed at which angles change correlates with the emotional intensity of the scene, adapting quickly during overwhelming or aggressive moments.

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Lighting is used in many ways in Hamilton, it is used to represent different locations due to the absence of a replaceable set design. The set itself is created using background actors. Additionally, lighting is used to convey the emotional tone of a scene and highlight characters during pivotal or solitary moments. This use of lighting contributes significantly to the overall atmosphere and storytelling.

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Sound plays a pivotal role in the production, with vocals recorded using compact head microphones. Notably, rather than adding music and sound effects in post-production, they are recorded live. This approach adds a layer of authenticity to the performance, heightening the connection between the audience and the cast. 

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In Heathers, the camera primarily serves the purpose of showing on-stage events and maintaining audience interest through multiple angles. While the angles are effective, they are not relative to the storyline and tone as they are in Hamilton. The focus is on presenting the action rather than using angles to aid narrative development.

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Lighting in Heathers plays a crucial role in indicating the time of day and location, aligning itself with the musical's changing themes. It reflects changes in musical tones and synchronizes with the narrative changes. Additionally, lighting is used to reflect the main character's emotional state, creating a visual language that adds depth to the storytelling.

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In Heathers, the recording method for lines involves head mics on the forehead, which apparently is used to enhance vocals in musical recordings. The music is recorded live, and although it adds authenticity, the music unintentionally quietens as vocals intensify, this is sometimes so noticeable that it distracts from the experience.

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"Dear Evan Hansen" employs cameras strategically to emphasize emotions and convey essential information. The use of crossfades, close-ups, and full-stage shots contributes to capturing the atmosphere, making the visual storytelling more immersive.

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The blue lighting in "Dear Evan Hansen" aligns with the musical's theme, creating a consistent visual tone. Spotlights are used to bring emphasis to specific subjects, adding a layer of visual storytelling that enhances the audience's engagement. The speed of spotlight movements contributes to setting the overall tone of scenes.

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In summary, while all three productions use cameras, lighting, and sound to enhance their storytelling, Hamilton separates itself from the other 2 with its camera dynamics and commitment to live sound production and recording. Heathers focuses on lighting and sound design to complement the narrative rather than focusing very much on camera angles, while Dear Evan Hansen uses visual and lighting elements more to convey emotions and tones. 

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When it came to the actual recording process, I enjoyed being upstairs in a room where I monitored the audio and video. 

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In the picture above, I am in a room with headsets, checking the audio levels of the microphones we provided to acting students. I can also see what the cameras are recording on a screen to make sure everything is going well and working properly.

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Once the performance was recorded, we imported all of the audio and footage into Premiere Pro.  A lot of the audio was distorted and unusable because of actors accidentally disabling their microphones or blowing into them. Most of the footage was good, but the people operating the cameras often caught information that wasn't very relevant and the lighting, although good for people watching live, didn't really work as well on camera. Some scenes were too dark and even editing couldn't make certain scenes visible.

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Despite all of this, it still came out good overall. The audio was made better by adjusting the volume levels, there were moments where dim lighting was salvagable by editing. It is a good performance recording, but with more communication, it could've been better. If we were to do it again, the lighting would need to be adapted to fit both the camera and audience's needs, or the camera would have to be positioned where the lighting is best. Perhaps we would have to use boom microphones or place the lappele mics somewhere else as  I believe it may have been catching on the clothing.

 

Below is the edited recording:
 

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Overall, this was a very successful task. Creating a mind map in a team was very effective because of how many ideas were generated so quickly. It also gave us an outline of how we want to carry out the recording process.  Watching performance examples was also very valuable research because I learned more about how audio is recorded as well as why and how certain camera angles are used. In the future it would be better to discuss my findings with the rest of the group so we could decide what methods to go with.

 

Monitoring the audio and the recording was very interesting, it answered a lot of questions that I had about how things are recorded and monitored remotely. I was originally given a headset to communicate with people downstairs, but the connection didn't end up working. With more time, I believe we could have set it up better. Because I could see what was happening on the cameras and the audio, I was able to tell the group what went well and what didn't so that on the second recording we could sort those things out.

 

Post-production was the easiest part of this task but it was a bit of a pain having to make so many ammends to the audio and video that could have been prevented with more time and discussion about audio and camera management.

 

Overall, I learned a lot about planning, time management and behind the scenes work in terms of what and what not to do. This has been my favourite part about the project despite the frustrations that came with it. My team worked together effectively and communicated well which makes me feel more confident about my teamworking skills.
 

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