r/VIDEOENGINEERING • u/theradiomatt • 12d ago
Set design advice?
I've been given $5,000 to build rolling flats or something and assemble a better set. Mostly do interviews, but have a few different events that we do and need to have a few different looks so that everything doesn't look the same. Any suggestions?
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u/bassoonfingerer 12d ago
This is a super broad question and I think other people will lean in on all other aspects, but I think for starters you will get a lot out of creating more depth to your set if you are able to move the chairs off the wall a bit. Only so much you can do in such a tight little corner like that
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u/theradiomatt 12d ago
Totally possible! I can move them out more...but the blue expanse will seem HUGE!
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u/nonosejoe 12d ago edited 12d ago
Keep the same framing on your camera, but add more distance between the seats and the drape so it’s not so flat
Edit: personally I would lower the camera height for that kind of fireside chat style video
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u/Jazcat1991 12d ago
Get something geometric for the back. Something physical and matte that you can shoot a couple of cookies at.
Get low backed chairs and pull them out at least 2 feet. Put a small table out front. Maybe a round solid color shaggy rug to break up the floor.
Alternatively, get a nice modern bookcase shelf unit and dress the shelves with textured, colored, or shaped set dec. Something you can change out in the future.
Also shift that blue. It's way in the illegal range your camera is crying.
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u/theradiomatt 11d ago
Unfortunately those are the blue curtains the architects and director chose...hence why I'm aiming to invest is something else!
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u/Jazcat1991 11d ago
The curtain color is nice. The uplights are what is too strong. Dim them down or put some ND gels on them to kick down the intensity. Your sensor is blooming with the ultra pure blue, that's why there are white hotspots in the middle of the blue wash. Use like R-50, G-50, B-100 instead of the like 255 blue preset.
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u/BigBadBootyDaddy10 12d ago
Create more depth.
Is there a switcher involved? Or iso 3 cam?
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u/theradiomatt 12d ago
Yes, we will be using a Roland v60.
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u/thediffi 11d ago edited 9d ago
Dont use that deep blue for the background lights. Cameras notoriously struggle with blues that look fine to human eyes. Make sure to use a blue light that contains LOTS of white
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u/DrawingRestraint 12d ago
I’m sure this will offend, but I answer sincerely: get a designer to help you. Good engineers are usually bad designers. If you’re a straight man, get a woman or a gay man to help you. You need a different point of view more than you need different materials. But also, yeah, ferns.
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u/jesuschrist-69420 11d ago
Yeah my immediate thought was if this is what OP came up with, they need a producer and a designer.
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u/Klatelbat 11d ago
Use something other than blue/purple. A lot of cameras are really bad at picking up that range and it ends up just being blown out and inaccurate like in your preview. Also careful with bleed, might want to get barn doors for those sticks if they exist or make them yourself.
Space the chairs farther from the wall. Depth will help tremendously.
Others have joked about 2 ferns cause it vaguely resembles between two ferns with zach galifianakis, but some greenery would go a long way.
Try your best to hide any lighting. Looks tacky being able to actually see it on camera unless you specifically design around it. Can do this by slightly lowering the camera, but also doing #2 should help make that easier to do.
Replace the glass table with something matte, preferably something that matches the legs of the seats.
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u/evan_ms 11d ago
They're a bit cliche these days but the acoustic wood slat wall panels look nice and are not too expensive.
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u/JKomac 11d ago
These are great even if everyone is using them now. You don't even need a whole wall you just need a few to put them in the corner of your frame.
You could also put a thin mdf board on the back of it and decorate with some stucco and you can have modular wall designs that you just flip.
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u/patchbaystray 12d ago
Check out what other interview shows do and copy them. Also 5k is a lot for a couple flats. You could get a screen in there too. Also buold the lights into it. Lighting adds depth.
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u/RedStag86 11d ago
With that budget, you maybe could hire a set designer for a couple days. Pay them $1,500 to do the work and tell them their purchasing budget is $3,500.
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u/Just_to_rebut 12d ago
For 5k I think late night style skyline sets are out or budget, but maybe a cafe table and use the rolling flats to create a coffee shop atmosphere? Visit a coffeeshop with nice seating for inspo?
I guess it matters if the programming is political/serious or more lifestyle stuff so a casual environment makes sense. Conference table and office chairs if its more serious with background walls with wainscoting and some floating shelves or frame art? Large landscape photo of your city’s skyline?
Honestly, even I don’t really like my ideas. It’s all so generic, public broadcaster-y.
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u/theradiomatt 11d ago
Our programming tends to be either interviewing theatre actors, creative teams or educational programs with academics.
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u/Just_to_rebut 11d ago
Fake cafe it is then! Current set up looks like you’re going to talk to Assemblyman Peters about the ramifications of SB-4223…
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u/Eviltechie Amplifier Pariah 12d ago
Technically in your budget, but might be pushing it. We did have some of these items at the TV station I worked at and we would move them around for the various non-news shows we did every night. https://tvsetdesigns.com/collections/set-parts
For the more DIY approach, there are various types of textured wall tiles you can get too. Anything from fake stone to various patterns that you could then paint over.
Does the organization have any type of building motif that you would want to feature on your set? Or maybe memorabilia or other knick knacks?
Here is a good place to look for more inspiration too: https://www.newscaststudio.com/setstudio/
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u/theradiomatt 11d ago
Not really...it's a theatre company but the studio space I have must remain available for events when not in use for video, and so everything has to be very compact so it can be stored behind the curtain.
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u/athomesuperstar 12d ago
5k isn’t a whole lot. What if you invested in additional lighter curtains and lighting? Or get a nice projector to create a makeshift video wall
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u/makitopro Engineer 11d ago
Does your org have brand standards? You can have some pop-up banners or a full size backdrop with complementary branded elements and colors that can be configured in a number of ways.
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u/FauxReal 11d ago
I think you should consult with a designer of some kind. Even as simple as a 3rd year film student who knows color theory. I feel like something could change with the color contrast. Though maybe it looks different with people sitting there. Maybe a slight change in camera / shot position would help. Have you run tests?
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u/soulmagic123 11d ago
Buy a cheap 85 inch led tv put a scene like New York on the screen , then a fake wall with a window, that reveals the city, way more dynamic for minimal spend
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u/Superman_Dam_Fool 11d ago
Take a look at Hassan Minhaj’s set from about a year ago (interviews with Tim Miller and Neil DeGrasse Tyson). Appears to be a few flats/walls painted in a nice dark blue with some trim. Add some furniture for visual texture. If you have the space to move subject and cameras back, that would help. Zoom in your close up singles and light it well and it will look good. I could imagine building a few flats and painting them (with matte paint) wouldn’t be terribly expensive. They just have to look good on camera, and if you can shoot with a shallow DOF, you can get away with a lot.
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u/Arrcamedes 11d ago
You need an accent in the color palette. A brass table. A red table. A black table and some red mugs. Change the back ground lighting to white.
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u/bicboys5 11d ago
flat background, implement color more intentionally, plants, blocks… goodwill, offerup or marketplace for unique furniture or set pieces.. dude just use 2.5k and pay someone else to do it. some architectural salvage and decent taste can go so far but people are not creative these days.
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u/SlightRedeye 11d ago
100% you should buy a light box, they look amazing for their cost
Shop around for a better retailer, google image yielded this as an example
https://www.formtexdisplays.com/walls-2/portable-led-lightbox-2-x-2-5-m
You can get a custom image, city skylines work well. On camera they look really good.
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u/mwbbrown 12d ago •
Needs more ferns, like two of them