In addition to the Salvation Army's own worship services, the new production capabilities make it an attractive location for other local churches to use.
Like most religious organizations, The Salvation Army Hollywood was forced to take its Sunday services online at the height of the COVID crisis. Initially, production team members got by using their smartphones for camera capture, but as the demand for streamed services continued even as the pandemic waned, the need for more professional production––and thus, high-performance cameras––was evident.
The new AV production capabilities are helping the organization develop new revenue streams.
Located at in the heart of Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif., The Salvation Army Hollywood provides a number of community services, including after-school programs, food and utility assistance, family support, youth programs, and ministry under the leadership of Salvation Army Lieutenant, Fredy Miranda. Every Sunday, it offers church services in its 300-seat theater.
"I can literally have a symphony of cameras moving as if I have six operators at all times, but I’m only one guy,” says Tommy Mack, PTZ operator at Salvation Army Hollywood.
Sammy Oriti, producer and theater director at Salvation Army Hollywood, explains that he looked to Canon for a solution. A production veteran (and former Bruce Springsteen impersonator), Oriti was already a fan of Canon’s XF705 Camcorder, and was excited to learn about the manufacturer’s new CR-N500 IP-enabled PTZs. He, along with other members of The Salvation Army’s production crew, as well as Sean Massey of local AV firm Able Productions, worked with Canon to design a rig that would deliver optimum performance while accommodating a lean production staff (complemented by volunteers with varying degrees of technical skill). Brian Edwards, formerly president of film and TV at PRG, runs the management of the facility and brings in pro grips and crew that are between productions who volunteer with rigging and wiring.
The result: a six-camera system made up entirely of Canon CR-N500s, with two positioned at front-of-house, two at back-of-house, and two in the center of the facility. Over 3,000 feet of Belden cable connect them together. All cameras are controlled by a Canon RC-IP100, making it possible for one individual to oversee all six units simultaneously, calling up presets for smooth operation. "I can literally have a symphony of cameras moving as if I have six operators at all times, but I’m only one guy,” says Tommy Mack, PTZ operator at Salvation Army Hollywood. The cameras’ positioning enables him to capture any angle in the house, including crowd reactions, which allows for a more dynamic, engaging production.
During services, The Salvation Army’s production crew runs song lyrics and other visuals on an LED screen mounted at the rear of the stage. While this translates well to a live audience, Massey notes that with some cameras, viewers will see artifacts––such as lines across their screen––because the cameras and video display are out of sync. This isn’t the case with the CR-N500s, he says. "The [Canon CR-N500s] PTZs allow us to match or mismatch our scanning to make sure that we’re not seeing those lines on the screen,” he explains.
Cinema-quality video from a PTZ camera? That's what Canon is promising with the new CR-N500, the new HDMI and IP-ready cameras designed for next-level support of live productions, specifically churches.
This new camera deployment addresses The Salvation Army’s need to accommodate a hybrid worship experience, but Oriti says that it also opens up the possibility for the organization to develop a new revenue stream. He says that he and his colleagues are currently working to bring in touring artists for hybrid benefit shows, whereby audience members may purchase tickets to attend in person or via a live stream online. He adds that the facility is also available on a rental basis to other churches that are hosting special events. In fact, Oriti’s own original musical production, Godspeed will be presented and streamed from there soon.
Among its facilities on campus, The Salvation Army Hollywood runs a youth shelter. Oriti says that this new technology gives him and his team members the ability to teach aspiring young production professionals how to produce a show in a real-world environment. "It’s a really great opportunity for us to reach those kids and get them involved in learning a trade that they can take anywhere they go,” he says.
It’s also a chance to further engage with the local community with more sophisticated productions. "It helps us get the message out, and share with people the work that we do,” Oriti says. “That, in turn, gets us out in front of more donors, who are the reason we’re able to continue offering the much-needed programs we provide.”
More on the Canon CR-N500 PTZ Camera
Featuring a 1-inch CMOS sensor, DIGIC DV 6 image processor, and a 15x optical zoom, the CR-N500 delivers outstanding 4K and HD image quality. High-performance pan/tilt/zoom is possible thanks to smooth and responsive mechanics. The camera supports a number of professional interfaces, including PoE+ (enabling streaming via NDI IHX2), as well as RTMP/RTMPS for streaming to social media platforms such as Facebook Live and YouTube. It also allows for wired or wireless control.
Canon RC-IP100 PTZ Remote Camera Controller
With the ability to provide control for up to 100 supported cameras, the RC-IP100 features a seven-inch diagonal touch screen, zoom lever, and joystick. The RC-IP100 can control up to 99 cameras via IP and an additional camera via the serial port, for a total of 100.
In addition to Canon, the organizers would like to thank the following brand for their support in this project:
Renkus Heinz
Leviton
Total Structures
Harlequin
Belden
Lex Products
TMB
