Tele Prompter

[Lars Erik]

I agree with Rob. In fiction, I'd say this was next to useless in most cases. But a wonderful thing to use in industrial films and some specialized tv-shows. It's kinda like the Alien Revolution. Nice toy, but you can't really use it to that much.

[Marcin Brauer]

I would agree that it is quite useless on feature films, but for TV it could be good tool. Imagine a reporter sitting in a news van with a steadicam in a "action" zone. I can imagine it is more natural/less stressfull for the people being interviewed to talk directly to a monitor with a reporter on it. It would solve the common problem of where to look - at the reporter or to the camera - so offten apearing on newsTV.

 

It seems to be a good solution to use steadicam, because with handheld camera (while walking) the monitor would be shaky and would be confuseing the person in front of the lens. They would need to put more attention on tracking the monitor...

 

As for the fatique of the operator - the EFP with miniDV/LCDprompter on it and worn with WK vest should be quite comfortable.

 

I only wonder about the technical aspects. How the duplex AV transmition is handled. Any ideas? Wifi? Microwave? UHF?

[Mike Marriage]

One thing i wonder though, as a viewer we are used to see people that react to someone off-screen, mostly we don't need or want reactions straight into the lens , as that would address the viewer and not the interviewer.

 

I wonder if it would be a more "natural" look when you place the camera on one side of the teleprompter, obscuring the lens by the same mirror, so people will look slightly off-camera.

You can still use the same setup, with the remote interviewer.

 

I really like this idea. I also like the style of interviewing straight into the camera lens.

 

I often conduct interviews straight to camera and IMHO it actually feels more immediate and real than talking to someone off camera. It is like you (the audience) are having the conversation with the interviewee personally. I don't think it is actually that noticeable either - more a sub-conscious effect. Of course it is a matter of taste and isn't the best style for every situation.

 

I can definitely see applications for a tool like this though.

[Kris Torch Wilson]

We used this new idea about 15 years ago. Fed the interviewer with his/her name into the prompter. Worked ok. Don't agree that it has much steadicam application and I don't think the newsies want to spend any more money than they have to. Also, what's with the boom mic attached to the rig... different local, more dues, say it isn't so.

 

Torch

[TJ Williams]

I once did an entire camp tour for Thousand Trails, Betacam with Prompter up and a big bundle of wires to a laptop carried by the telepromoteroperator....... I found out the actor could talk longer than I could carry this heavy contraption. The nice part of this is that it replaces the weight of the practice cage when shooting with tiny cam.

 

Is there overlay of the person and some copy? That might be nice??? Wireless prompter....

 

I guess I'm just kinda simple but why woulld someone talk better while looking into a mirror????

 

But thats not it the big deal is the picture from the camera being fed back to the talent....I just went in the BR and tried this...... actually I found that I talked to myself better without the mirror... but that may just be the reason I'm behind the camera in the first place.....Would you guys really rather see yourself talk??????

 

Another good part of this is since it adds weight it disenables those with light weight rigs and drives up rates....

on a mini dv shoot. All good.....

 

TJ

[Marc Abernathy]

bringing this back to light, i want to get my own prompter system and have been searching the library here.

 

Chas, if you would care to comment on bryans post about your recommendations for this prompter. id like to get a smaller system, say, 6 inches or there abouts since this would be used, at first, for CNN anchors doing walk and talks. the two different systems Turner is using are not working well on the steadi...

 

thx bro..

 

P.S. bryan, if you have foundf something else kindly post it here as well...

[AdamKeith]

Marc,

Check out Telescript Prompters Norwood, NJ.

I have the 12" for my Jib. They do make a smaller one I think its called 9" Fold and GO

www.telescript.com

 

 

Adam Keith

[Marc Abernathy]

adam thx!

[Anthony Violanto]

I use my 12 volt cable out of the Jbox and had the prompter supplier make an xlr to monitor power cable, so its pretty self contained and not too heavy.

 

I too need to mount a monitor to be used as prompter. I plan on taking the extra monitor cable which currently has a cigarette lighter plug on it- cutting that off, and terminating the end with a male 4 pin xlr cable to attach to the female 4pin xlr cable which powers the camera when triax is not involved.

I figured out the pin assignments, but am concerned about the wattage. I am no electrician. The camera power cable is currently reading out at 12 volts and 17 watts. The monitor says on the back the input is 12v 1w. 1 watt seems very low to me, and im curious if anyone has ran into a similar issue. I have not been able to locate the monitors manual, and google has not helped me out yet either.

 

thanks,

~Anthony

[Rob Vuona SOC]

I use my 12 volt cable out of the Jbox and had the prompter supplier make an xlr to monitor power cable, so its pretty self contained and not too heavy.

 

I too need to mount a monitor to be used as prompter. I plan on taking the extra monitor cable which currently has a cigarette lighter plug on it- cutting that off, and terminating the end with a male 4 pin xlr cable to attach to the female 4pin xlr cable which powers the camera when triax is not involved.

I figured out the pin assignments, but am concerned about the wattage. I am no electrician. The camera power cable is currently reading out at 12 volts and 17 watts. The monitor says on the back the input is 12v 1w. 1 watt seems very low to me, and im curious if anyone has ran into a similar issue. I have not been able to locate the monitors manual, and google has not helped me out yet either.

 

thanks,

~Anthony

----------------

Anthony,

Every show I am on has a prompter on the steadi, I have my own and it weight is minimal. The power cable just plugs into the 4 pin hirosi on the front of my rig. If you plug it into the side of the camera while using Triax or fiber the voltage is there to turn it on but the wattage won't keep it on unless it's a 4" or smaller LCD or at least that has been my experience.

 

email on my home email address and I'll send some photo's if needed

 

Peace

Robvski@aol.com

[RobVanGelder]

Anthony, a LCD screen of 6"-7" most likely consumes between 8 and 12 watts maximum. So your's is probably like this.

This is on 12 volts, take care, their voltage range is not so great, so max 15-16 volts i think.

[Louis Puli SOC]

Anthony, a LCD screen of 6"-7" most likely consumes between 8 and 12 watts maximum. So your's is probably like this.

This is on 12 volts, take care, their voltage range is not so great, so max 15-16 volts i think.

 

Hi everyone

Here is a few different steadicam friendly and not so not so friendly tele prompters .The transvideo one mounts directly on to the rails and works really well as you can see by my smile .There are many out there that mount off the handle which is fine when you are working off sticks but on a steadicam are useless.

All ways have a prep day if possible .

Good luck

Louis Puli from down under B)

[Anthony Violanto]

I hate the through-the-glass prompters. No matter what you do, it always looks like your shooting with a dirty lens- especially if you have to shoot into some type of light. I Finally finished mounting a monitor to use as prompter. On the power cable I put a male 4pin xlr, which is the same found on the back of the Thomson HD Cam i'm shooting with. I now simply take the cable used to power the camera (when not on triax) and plug it into my new cable. works perfect. The monitor has 2 sources, so I might as well take advantage. Source one will be prompter (default) Source two will be program. I will have something to watch between shots now. I will post pics as soon as I can.

 

only downside is my rig is now a lot longer, and I like it short

 

~anthony

[Rob Vuona SOC]

Anthony, a LCD screen of 6"-7" most likely consumes between 8 and 12 watts maximum. So your's is probably like this.

This is on 12 volts, take care, their voltage range is not so great, so max 15-16 volts i think.

 

Hi everyone

Here is a few different steadicam friendly and not so not so friendly tele prompters .The transvideo one mounts directly on to the rails and works really well as you can see by my smile .There are many out there that mount off the handle which is fine when you are working off sticks but on a steadicam are useless.

All ways have a prep day if possible .

Good luck

Louis Puli from down under B)

------------------

Louis,

You have got to be kidding . . . .I don't know what prompter company said that you have to use that crap attached to your rig, but there certainly is a better system. Not saying that the equipment is crap just the set-up for the rig . . . . .it's really simple 7" LCD mounted to the upper handle or where the viewfinder normally is just above the lens, all under 1.5 lbs, forget the glass, it's two cables and one monitor.

 

All the best

[Louis Puli SOC]

Hi All

What I have tried to do is show the different types out there .

As far as the first shot the operator was told by the production manager that they got the smallest prompter available so the operator just turned up on set and found that boat anchor.

As for the LCD I was doing a corporate and worked very well .

As for the last still I did try one like that but I found the handle brackets never locked off and that was a problem .

If you don't do any prep work at the rental house (or at least a phone call ) they may send out the boat anchor

All the best

Louis from down under B)