Live performance recording: which setup for which budget
With us, filming a performance costs between 700 and 1,400 CHF per performance. The intended use of the footage determines the price: for archival purposes, a wide shot is sufficient, whereas a film intended for broadcast requires multiple camera angles and editing.
Before discussing cameras, a company or venue must know what the recording will be used for: to keep a record of the work, to convince a programmer, or to show the performance to an audience that has not seen it. Each of these purposes requires a different set-up, and therefore a different budget.
We calculate the cost of each recording based on this purpose, with a quote drawn up in advance.
One camera is all you need for an archive
A wide-angle camera, operated by a cameraman, follows the performance without interruption. We record the sound at the mixing desk when the venue allows. The film is the actual performance itself, unedited.
This approach is suitable for a working archive, a grant application or a film intended for programmers. For the audience, however, its limitations quickly become apparent: with a wide-angle shot from start to finish, neither the actors’ faces nor their performances can be made out.
A film to be broadcast requires two or three cameras
From the second camera onwards, the picture and sound need to be synchronised, and then the shots selected, which means that editing is included in the price. We keep a wide-angle shot as a reference and add a close-up shot operated by a cameraman. With three cameras, a camera at the back of the stage or a second close-up shot allows us to follow a soloist without losing sight of the whole ensemble.
This is the setup for an online broadcast, a screening or a teaser taken from the recording. The film is usually delivered within thirty days.
Live broadcasting comes in handy when the picture cuts out during the evening
With a multi-camera production, editing takes place during the performance, with no post-production editing. This method is chosen when the footage needs to be broadcast live, either onto a screen in the auditorium or online.
Our systems, for a performance
| One camera, no editing | 700 CHF |
| Two cameras, including editing | 1,150 CHF |
| Three cameras, including editing | 1,400 CHF |
| Live multi-camera production | 1,200 CHF per day |
| Additional performance | 600 CHF |
Factors affecting the quote
A performance lasting over an hour and a half, or an evening that runs over, adds extra hours of camerawork and editing, at 50 CHF per hour. An additional camera costs 250 CHF. With two evenings filmed, we select the best takes, and any technical issues with one performance are covered by the other. Clips for broadcast networks, subtitles and live streaming are included in the quote.
The venue’s sound and web broadcasting rights are included in every recording. However, authors’ and performers’ rights must be settled by the production team, and we can assist you with this.
Preparing to film your show
Please let us know the venue, date, duration and intended use of the film. We will then provide a proposal and a quotation.
Sources
Sources consulted for this article. The two guides on rights set out French and European law.
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