Surprise Engagment Shoot

[k_shipsides]

We were hired to film a surprised engagement on July 4th. It was really fun to shoot but we had to be really sneaky so we didn't blow his surprise.  He waited until he got in the middle of the bow bridge in central park and got down on one knee. It was so romantic and a fun moment to capture.  Does anyone have any experience filming engagements?  I would like to do more because it was so much fun.  I also took some still for them and extracted some from my camera.  I just don't think many men think to hire someone to film.  I think it turned out really really but the audio bugs me.  We couldn't mic him and had to use a shotgun mic.  The bridge was extremely windy, there were a ton of people being loud and he spoke very softly.  We adjusted audio the best we could and I think it came out well considering we had to be so stealth.


www.shipsidesproductions.com

[On a Roll]

The last one I did was years and years ago (2003or 4ish, if I recall). The guy and his gal were both zoo fanatics, and as luck would have it, the guy's best friend was a diver for the large walk-through aquarium at the zoo. The guy arranged it where his friend would dive in the tank while the guy and his wife to be were walking through. He had a couple waterproof signs, one saying "Abby and Jeff forever", and the other one saying "Will you marry me?". Because we had a zoo employee working on the inside with this, we managed to get some zoo hats and shirts and disguise ourselves as doing a zoo video production. To this day, it's still one of the funnest things we've ever done. I should find that video and upload it, if I can bear to watch the editing that is. We were only a few years into solo videography, so I'd imagine that looking at that clip today will be a cringe-fest for me personally.

As far as your mic issue goes, you know, a wireless lapel mic can be pretty easily concealed with gaff tape. use the tape to secure the mic to the inside of the person's clothing. There's a little ruffling, but it's still infinitely better than nothing. I've discovered that the higher up the shoulder you can go, the clearer this sounds and the less noise there is.

Also, if you sew a pocket into an ace wrap bandage, you can then use that to wrap around your groom-to-be, positioning the transmitter in the pocket so it rests in the small of the back. This is how I mic people for stage productions. As long as the person isn't wearing a skin-tight shirt or receiving a lower back massage, you'll never see the unit. You can also get a lapel wire extender, and strap the unit to their ankle if the shirt area is too obvious. just make sure to leave piles of excess for bending. Again, this is something I've been known to do for theatre sound.

[k_shipsides]

I would love to see that video.  Sounds like a really great experience! 

Thanks for the mic tips.  We couldn't use the wireless mic because we couldn't get him alone.  He is in the military and stationed in VA and his girlfriend (now fiancee) lives up here so once he was in NY it was impossible to get a moment with him.  He was supposed to call us when got in the car to drive up from VA but she ended up talked to him whole way. He was able to get in touch with his sister and she coordinated with us day of and let us know what they were wearing that day and what time they were going to be on the bridge.  He was able to sneak one text to us when they were walking up to the bridge.  We went through different ways to get him with a mic but it was impossible without the risk of ruining the surprise.  I was also worried that she might touch him and feel the pack.  Women are just so observant.  I don't know very many women who were truely surprised by their proposal.  Men aren't always very subtle. 

My husband, Andy wanted to follow them and get all these cool shots and I told him "no, please don't because she will notice and think that something is up".  He thought I was being parnoid but sure enough as he trying to sneak in a shot she looked right at him.  He then quickly pretended to film this guy next to him. The guy was then like why are you filming my elbow.  Once he was on one knee we swooped in and she had no idea we were there because she was caught in the moment.  Once he pointed to the cameras she said...I was wondering why you were filming that guys elbow.  We pick up on everything 

It was smart to have the zoo gear and pretend to be filming for the zoo..good cover.

[HankCastello]

Good points from Jim (as usual!).  Maybe you can get the guy to record the sound, then dub it in.  Let him watch the video so he can lip synch, and have him use the same low voice he used in the "original".