SwanTV On A Shoot

 Hi Swantv Viewer

We haven't got our own studio at the moment but hope to organise one soon. In the meanwhile we are begging and borrowing where we can and shooting interviews in cafes, outside (weather and background sounds permitting) and on the street. And this can create unexpected difficulties.

We were shooting an interview and I had arranged to use inside a theatre reception area but when we set up I could here the refridgeration equipment humming loudly so that was no good.

We moved outside a cafe/restaurant at the Marina. So far so good. No loud background noises and the wind was relatively low. When we use lapel mics it is suprising how sound can be tolerated, I guess the mic is just pointing to the person's mouth and is very near. So we are half way though when suddenly the cafe turns on its music and there are loudspeakers fixed to the outside wall, just above our heads. That was really terrible but they kindly switched the music off when I asked them, unitl we had finished. 

But you never know what life is going to throw at you. A group of students on a sight seeing walk with a tutor passed by. Now you know how boistrous students can be so we stopped whilst they passed. Then a dog started barking! 

Now this was exceptional but it showed me how urgent it is to find a studio. Luckily technology has come to our rescue. Cameras used to run on cellulose film on a roll and the professionals used a 35mm format so cameras were bulky to carry the film cassettes. Editing was very manual, you actually ran the film through an editor and cut it physically before sticking it together again with either a special glue or a sticky tape. Effects were difficult to add after filming and so different filters were use. I can rememeber watching a friend film a ghost film and he had to rewind the film in the camera in the dark and run it again, being careful to get to the correct spot to record again. And sound was recorded separately. That is why a clapper board was used. It was banged closed and this was visible on the film and could be heard on the recording so the two could be married up. Time consuming and you needed to be skillful to do it successfully.

.I used a smaller format, a Bolex 8mm although 16mm formats were available. This film was very small and editing was time consuming and tiring. I remember filming with the Bolex in about 1959 as you can see from the clip here. No sound as it was too difficult to record sound outdoors. This clip has deteriorated in the last 60 years but I've digitalised it now so degregation should stop. This clip is interesting showing the personal service given at a petrol station when the attendant came out and filled your tank for you, the village was serviced by a small shop but also trademen from the local town brought out pre-ordered groceries and other supplies (a bit before supermarket deliveries that we all know today). And the coach took us to the local town on a Saturday which was the weekly market day.

I belonged to an amateur film club in Muswell Hill, London and we watched films, had talks from any professional film makers we could persuade to come along and we made films. This photo was of me directing a film scene in a pub, once again using a Bolex camera. THe lights were essential then as without them the film would be so dark. These lights gave out very bright illumination and the bulbs got extremely hot. You could only run then for about 20 minutes, and you'd see smoke coming off the shades. I was about 29 when this photo was taken and most of the members in the club were very experience. I look confident here but it was bravado and a steep learning curve!!!!

I made a 15 minute film about the London Fire Brigade and spent several weekends at the Tottenham fire station where I lived. I climbed buildings and the extended ladder during training sessions in the station yard and went though a smoke filled building with breathing wearing apparatus, what an experience. I was instruced by the Head Office that I could not travel on appliances but this proved difficult so the station governor gave me a uniform and I rode with them capturing some exciting footage. One day I saw smoke in the distance and heard on the radio that Alexandra Palace was burning. I sped there and luckily had my camera in the boot of the car. I was fortunate to get some stunning footage of the building aflame. Such a shame for a historic building. I believe the first BBC TV programmes were transmitted from there. 

Then film making moved to VHS cassettes and then a smaller version but the cameras were still bulky and editing slow. Back in the eighties I remember taking a bulky camera to Florida to capture our time at Disneyland. The camera was huge and held on my shoulder as I filmed. The smaller cassette helped a little.

Now we use DSLR cameras that were previously just used for straight photography. They produce stunning quality 4K video and are small and easy to use. Lighting is not so critical. And a big plus is that costs have plummeted. In addition wnen I interview my guests are not so intimidated as with a large camera and outdoor you can be quite discrete, nobody realises you are capturing movie material. Incidentally you can film anyone in public areas without fear. It is only on private property or if you are focussing on an individual unneccesarily that you

might run into problems.  Sound is incorporated and effects can be added when filming or afterwards when editing. Lighting is now generally LED which uses less power and is cold to touch.

And finally you can use your smartphone to produce stunning high quality footage with sound at the press of a button. Everything is automatic. So if you have any news stories or a point of view send us a clip today, landscape and not portrait. So sideways not vertical. We want to hear from you. 

Send any clips to ask@swantv.com or email and we will contact you, give you contact number, name and a sentence about what you have to say.

Watch www.swantv.com for everything local. We are actively looking for content.

Mike Leahy SwanTV 

ps. Don't forget we are looking for a small studio space,needs to be quiet and at least the size of a lage double garage, power is esential. Thanks