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Singers and presenters at New Beginnings use Shure ULXD4Q and ULXD2 wireless systems. Handheld mics feature Shure KSM9 capsules. Headset mics are primarily legacy DPA units.
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To create enough white light for cameras, ETC Source Four Fixtures the Daystar Network was retiring were repurposed and re-bulbed to achieve proper lighting temperatures for broadcast.
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Executive Pastor Luke Huch, has created the ideal environment to support a high-energy, youthful worship culture and the ministry’s unique, multi-ethnic and Judeo-Christian mission.
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To create enough white light for cameras, ETC Source Four fixtures the Daystar Network was retiring were repurposed and re-bulbed to achieve proper lighting temperatures for broadcast.
While I do a lot of writing for Church Production Magazine, my primary job is as a self-employed video producer. As such, I have bought a lot of gear, and I have also built a few things to support my video production work. I do like tinkering with things, but I also want to make sure that when I walk into a shoot with a client, that I maintain a professional appearance, both personally as well as with the equipment I use.
I do a bit of green-screen work, and it was recently pointed out to me that if I turned my HD camera on its side, I could reduce the number of takes I need to shoot with the talent, because I would get 1920 pixels of vertical resolution, enabling me to crop in at edit time to get my close-up shots without having to do a second take. I liked this idea, and looked for a commercially available bracket to mount a camera at a 90-degree angle on my tripod as well as on my teleprompter, and one that would be adjustable to work with pretty much any camera.
The only thing I was able to locate was a right-angle mount at B&H that cost almost $500. Just to turn the camera on its side. This seems rather excessive to me. I considered building something out of plywood, but it wouldn't likely have the adjustability I'd like, and anything wood will change shape with temperature and humidity. And it would also look rather jury-rigged.
As part of looking for parts to provide rigidity to a plywood solution, I came across 8020.net. This is a company that produces a product they like to call the Erector Set for adults. They produce extruded T-slot aluminum profiles and hardware that can be used to build almost anything. The T-slots give the system infinite configurability. As I looked into this further, it looked like it could be the perfect solution to my 90-degree bracket needs. And it also occurred to me that what 8020 sells could be applied to a variety of church production needs, from camera rigs to custom tech booth configurations to staging systems.
The profiles from 8020 come in a variety of shapes and sizes. All have T-slots that allow you to insert a T-nut into the slot for attaching things to the profile. I used the smallest of the T-slot profiles, the 10-series, which is one-inch thick. I picked the profile that is three inches wide; this profile has three T-slots on both the top and bottom, and one T-slot on each side. They also have profiles that are one-inch square with one slot on each side, to ones that are two-by-two, or four-by-one. They have a variety of other profile sizes, both in metric and imperial units of measurement.
I found a Manfrotto 577 Rapid Connect Adapter with Sliding Mounting Plate at B&H for $40 that I could attach to the 8020 profiles via #10-32 T-nuts from 8020 and #10-32 machine screws from Home Depot. I ordered two 12-inch long pieces of their #1030 aluminum profiles; one would be attached to the tripod or teleprompter via 1/4-20 T-nuts; the other would be mounted perpendicularly at the end of the first piece using right-angle brackets from 8020 and additional T-nuts. The horizontal profile piece could slide to the left or right relative to the tripod to adjust for camera height; the vertical piece could slide relative to the horizontal piece to achieve the needed vertical clearance from the tripod or teleprompter base to the lower side of the camera. This would allow the bracket to accommodate pretty much any camera size and shape with just some easy adjustments with a hex wrench. The Manfrotto plate allows for quick attachment and release of the camera to the bracket.
To finish it off, I ordered some black plastic end plates that push onto the ends of the profiles, to give it a cleaner look, and to make sure the T-nuts for mounting the system to the tripod can't fall out and get lost. I also added an extra 1/4-20 T-nut into the top side of the profile for attaching a production monitor.
All parts from 8020 were ordered with their black anodized finish, which added a week to the shipment time, but the matte black finish would eliminate any potential reflections of lighting off the system and onto the screen or subject.
For a total of $92 in parts (not counting shipping), I was able to create a completely flexible camera bracket that looks very professional. I believe the 8020 systems could be a valuable asset to church tech directors and volunteers. 8020 also sells pieces that add motion options to builds such as hinges and sliding brackets. I actually think one could build a pretty cool camera jib out of their hardware, which is something I want to explore next. You can also build a very sturdy wall-mounted fold-up work bench – something that could be valuable back stage.
It's worth ordering their print catalog from them — I have found it's easier to see what the options are in the print catalog then trying to browse online. They have literally thousands of parts; flipping through catalog pages is a bit quicker to get a good overview of what's possible. They also have a series of YouTube videos showing how their parts work together.
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8020
www.8020.net
