Day 3 Sf Opera's Marriage of Figaro Simulcast at AT&T Park in SF, July 3

Blocking Figaro today.  I have added a couple of photos to today's blog. The first one is my score.  It's 494 pages.  Blocking involves watching our split screen 11 camera coverage from our rehearsal and then selecting the best possible angle.  The yellow post-its are the camera numbers and brief description and the pink ones are the corrections that I have made since the camera rehearsal.

Figaro has a lot of fun moments in it and the principle singers not only sing but do sight gags, physical comedy and react. I am estimating at least 2500+ shots. This process will go on up till the day before as I am also working on Two Women and Les Troyens at the SF Opera.

That's me. !

This photo shows two robotic stations that each camera person operates during a simulcast.
Tomorrow we cover Figaro for the opera vision audience in attendance.

This photo shows the VIP.  This shows 10 cameras below and the preview (upper left)

and program line cut (Upper right) I make selections and changes based on past captures/rehearsals.

Day 2 Sf Opera's Marriage of Figaro Simulcast at AT&T Park in SF, July 3

Today I reviewed lighting notes for Figaro with our Lighting designer, Gary Marder and Jess (AD) and Jessica our Executive Producer.  Taking a stage lighting design and transferring for video is sometimes a little tricky.  We want to keep the mood right, so we don't want to add to much light but just enough so we can tell the story and bright enough so the cameras can see what is going on.  Gary and his crew will work on these notes as we build up "our look" for July 3.

At the same time we look at wigs, costumes, props and sets.  These areas /departments are also working to make sure everything is looking good for the simulcast.

I included a couple of videos as background  for the simulcast.  The first one is a 2009 video hosted by Drew Landmesser who was the Director of Production at SF Opera.  He talks about how our HD suite works during a Simulcast. The second one are highlights of this year's Marriage of Figaro.  Enjoy.

Simulcast technical info with Drew Landmesser – 4:24:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnkc--ycGGI

Figaro Highights – 7:33:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEorTDORC5I

Day 1 SfOpera's Marriage of Figaro Simulcast at AT&T Park in SF, July 3

This is  Day one of Marriage of Figaro Count down.  I am preparing to direct the Marriage of Figaro opera for broadcast to AT&T Ball Park in SF on July 3.  I will be directing my crew and 11 cameras from the  high atop  the 5th Floor, HD Suite at the San Francisco Opera.  I will let you in on what I go through on directing, I think it's my 10th simulcast ( I did one for Seattle Opera and another for Opera Company of Philadelphia).  I can tell you from one rehearsal the cast is fantastic.  They are entertaining and humorous.  The SF opera orchestra is led in this production by maestro Patrick Summers.  If you would like to see it at the Ballpark on July 3 for free, check out this link.  I will be back tomorrow!

Here is a past article by Geri Jeter that will give some background on the simulcast and what was in our  HD suite a few years back. We have upgraded since.

http://issuu.com/gerijeter/docs/plsn-zamacona-0810/1

Goldman Awards preparation - April 20

Next week I will be directing the Goldman Awards at the Sf Opera House.  Here is a link to site http://www.goldmanprize.org/ceremony/  This is the third year that I am directing and it's not only fun but it really has a strong message concerning the world's environment and the recipients who fight the good fight and receive the award.

I will be using 5 robotic cameras, one static and one handheld.  This will be streamed on the Goldman Prize YouTube channel.  This is obviously different than an opera but using the same gear and crew (thank goodness) will make my job directing this event smoother.   It will go live from the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.

The host will be Dana King, who was a news anchor here in San Francisco on CBS/5The entertainment will be the Afro-Cuban inspired dance troupe, Alayo Dance Company.

More to come…...

This last summer SF Opera produced Show Boat.  We captured it and had our first look at it yesterday.  The first cut was really pretty good. Our brain trust had some constructive notes.  The cast was terrific and their singing was superb.  The final mix is still being worked on and we will take a look at it one more time before it goes out.  I will keep you posted.

I had a great time directing the behind the scenes at SF Ballet on Oct. 1 - World Ballet Day.  Our talent were terrific and the crew was fantastic.  My thanks to the SF Ballet Bravo volunteers and staff at the SF Ballet.  Producer Judy Flannery was outstanding as usual as well as SF Ballet's Lauren Chadwick. This live 20 hr. streamed marathon on Youtube started with the Australian Ballet at 7 pm on Sept. 30 followed by the Bolshoi in Moscow, who tossed it to the London Royal Ballet, cross the Atlantic to the National Canada Ballet and it ended with the San Francisco Ballet.  The stream of the SF Ballet's 4 hours is still available on their youtube channel until 1 pm this Sat., Oct. 4 on
http://lnkd.in/b3Mm7p5.

Lucrezia Borgia

I directed the  SF Opera presentation, Lucrezia Borgia starring Renee Fleming. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area watch it on KQED's Life channel next Monday at 7 pm. Comcast channel 189 and Digital channel 54.3. Check out the DVD reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Donizetti-Lucrezia-Borgia-Featuring-Francisco/dp/B00FABG404  Enjoy!