Engineering and shading at San Francisco Opera

Here is photo of Elliot who is at the Engineering and Shading station.  Not only does Elliot make sure that the cameras are shaded correctly but he also handles the projection screens and projectors for the Opera Vision audience.   

 June 19 Continued.......... Camera station

After reviewing our last capture which was opening night.  I had a chance to take a few photos of a camera station.  Here is Doug Hunt who has been at San Francisco Opera since 2006.  He's checking his presets and controls. Each of the four stations have a joy stick control, focus,  selectable switcher panel. camera monitor that is switchable and preset monitor.  Doug for this opera  is responsible for cameras one, three and nine and sometimes eight which is allocated to another operator some of the time.  Because there are more cameras than operators I have to sometimes have the operators hand off their designated cameras to the other operators.  Cameras 2, 5, 8 and 10 are designated to Brian and cameras 4, 7, 6 and 11 are Neils.  Camera 12 is a static shot on the Maestro.

Partenope June 19, 2024 at the San Francisco Opera

This June 2024 I am directing for the screen, Partenope at the San Francisco Opera.   In what is called the Media suite at the San Francisco Opera are four operator stations, one shader station, a switcher and Director and AD station.  Tonight we are capturing and sending our program output or line cut to Opera Vision section of the audience which seats about 800 people.  The line cut is projected on high balcony screens that come down from the ceiling and will give this audience a view of the singers closeup.  The screens will also have the supertitles in English.  We will cover the opera with 12 cameras, one static and all others operated by three operators. Here is a shot of our media suite:

 

 

 

 October 5 and 6, 2020

The principal singers at the Cox Center in Tulsa on Monday.  We recorded a wide shot  with our handy camera for blocking camera shots. All the principals where 40 feet away from each other.  

Tuesday we started the first pass at blocking our shots.   I know that we will have to change some of them because the dimensions of the ballroom will be different than the ball field.  The show is Friday night, so I hope I don't have to be up all night Thursday changing shots. Let's have fun!

Rehearsal at Cox Center.  Plenty of social distancing.

                                                          Blocking camera shots in the score.

                                            

                                             Rehearsing Wednesday  night.  Interesting the 

                                             cast had a wider "stage" so their movements covered

                                              a lot more territory so we will be reblocking shots

                                              tomorrow morning getting ready for another rehearsal

                                              tomorrow night.  Get some rest.

 October 5, 2020

I am in Tulsa to direct the capture and IMAG of Rigoletto in Drillers Stadium Ballpark.  For all those baseball fans, it's one of the LA Dodgers minor league clubs.  Yes, we will shoot in the Diamond with 5 cameras.  It will be a 90 minute version a Rigoletto (usually it's 2hr and 30 minutes including an intermission).  It will be a taste of opera for the fans and first time fans who attend.  The singers will be in the infield near each base which are 90 feet from each other.  The orchestra will be at the backstop behind home plate and the chorus will be either in short left or short right field.  Great to use baseball lingo.

My cameras will be high home looking at the grande wide and also doubling up to get the close ups.  It has a 44x1 lens.  Two other cameras will be on 6" risers to just behind home plate to  pick up singles of the singers and head to toes.  The  other two cameras will cross shoot from the 1st and 3rd base side  to compress duets and quartets.  That's the plan today.  Going out to the Ballpark for my first site survey this AM.  We have been prepping this shoot over the phone during this pandemic.  

                                        Here is a diagram of the field and position of singers.

Here's a photo of the ballpark as the grounds crew get it ready.  They are changing it from a soccer configuration back to the baseball.  They will build up the pitchers mound.

OperaVision: A New Twist on an Old Classic at the San Francisco Opera

OperaVision: A New Twist on an Old Classic at the San Francisco Opera

October 4, 2015 - Lucia di Lammermoor

This afternoon the  HD crew and I watched and recorded our first look at the Final Dress Rehearsal of Lucia Di Lammermoor at SF Opera.   We captured this afternoon's rehearsal so the marketing group at the opera can promote it on the SF Opera's website and it gives us a rough rehearsal for future camera blocking.

The cast was terrific and strong.  We will capture this opera for potential  distribution.  This  Lucia has a futuristic tone and look.  We will be capturing it on Oct 11, 16 and 21.  If you are in SF come by and enjoy Lucia Di Lammermoor.  http://sfopera.com/Season-Tickets/2015-16-Season/Lucia-di-Lammermoor.aspx

to be continued...