After completing an arduous 100-hour post-production video edit for a client's major gallery exhibit in Canada, I carefully labeled the jewel case for mailing the master DVD. The 40-minute video, showcasing the exemplary mechanical sculpture art creations, was eagerly anticipated by the artist for the show. I notified him it had been sent express mail for a prompt and safe delivery and to please call when he received it. Excitedly, I answered his prompt call. Yes, he did receive... but there was no DVD in the package! Just an empty jewel case that cost me $22 to send! Profoundly embarrassed, I then sent another, making certain to place the edited DVD in the case, before labeling the case. Moreover, of course, I had to express it again, to really be sure it got there in time. Lesson learned: be sure to have backups and check and double-check yourself relentlessly.
Jason Hailey, Los Angeles, CA

What's worse than a tape with a piece of dust on the lens? Lens dust on a project for a radiologist client whose job is to look daily for spots on a monitor, film or scan. My "disaster video" horror story was an event that I shot for this returning client's family event.

The first project I gave him had a piece of lint on the camera lens. This would be hardly noticeable by most people, unless one called attention to it. For subsequent projects, I cleaned the lens thoroughly before each shoot. However, as luck would have it, while shooting an event for this client, the camera lens attracted THREE pieces of dust as the evening progressed. Horrified by what I saw on the NTSC monitor in post-production, I consulted my DVD mentor. To my elation, he recommended CHV's Repair Collection of filters for Final Cut Pro. The CHV Dead Pixel filter saved the project, along with my self-respect with this client!
Jeanne Lewin, The Tramble Co. Productions

I shoot weddings using two camcorders at the ceremony and one cam at the reception. As a routine, right before the ceremony, I attach a lapel mic to the groom and instruct him and the best man to unhook the mic after the ceremony and hand it to me, which signals me to unhook my mic receiver from my camera, which will then activate the camera mic. In one particular ceremony, the groom unhooked the lapel mic and turned off the transmitter but he did not give the items back to me, so I forgot to detach the receiver. Since I had already removed my earphones, I didn't realize that from that moment on the video was silent, continuing through almost the entire reception. Nice video but no audio! Nothing. I realized the situation towards the end of the reception, and I quickly tweaked the camera mic and left the camera recording to capture any ambient audio still available.

How did I remedy the "horror"? I purchased a nice fruit basket, and I went to the home of the DJ... He loaned to me every CD he played that night and, in addition, he told me which CD music was played during the first dance, the father-and-daughter dance and so on. Then, I took plenty of time editing the video to synchronize the dancing movements (feet, etc.) with the music beat. I placed the ambient sound I luckily captured on another audio track. I had to vary the audio level of the ambient sound, so it wouldn't appear that it was repeated a number of times.

The result was fantastic! The music was crystal clear during all the special dances, and it appeared as though everyone was quietly paying attention to the dancing. Although I do not charge for a second cam at the reception, I use one now anyway and record plenty of footage.... and never remove my earphones, even if the lapel mic is not in use.
Kosmas Geo. Synadinos, Misty Memories Videotaping