Event Video Should Include Everyone

Everyone is Special
I think you omitted a couple of pointers from your article, "Capturing That Special Event" (Videomaker's Guide to Home Video). In my experience, professional videographers at special events can spend more footage on attractive people rather than important people. They can omit the honored guest, Aunt Minnie's last visit ever or Uncle Joe's toast in favor of the kids, young couples, and Hollywood-type titillations and sentimentality. When I videotape an event, I try to capture everyone there because I really don't know who is important. If one tries to get everyone to say something, to the bride and groom, for example, the honorees can select the people that they care about to be in the final edit.

This is true of family videographers, too. They focus on the kids at the birthday party, not thinking ahead to the time when the parents and adult friends are older, the grandparents, aunts and uncles gone and these precious moments with them are lost forever.

Margot Smith
Berkeley, California

Video Blessings
I recently was able to install a video system for our church so that we could produce videos and all the information that I based my buying decisions on came from Videomaker. There is enough info in three issues to keep me going for months. I hope you all get very rich. And when you do, feel free to donate your old video equipment to us. Just kidding on that, but thanks for all that you offer in the magazine.

Craig Harwell
Internet

Where's the CTL?
In your November Edit Suite column (How to Use Time Code), as well as your in-depth time-code article in September (Time Code is on Your Side), you failed to mention an important development in time code: CTL. Unlike SMPTE and VITC time code, CTL time code writes its data in the control track so that the video and audio channels are not disturbed. Like LTC and VITC, it also allows the programming of user bits to identify the source of the material, subject, location and other pertinent information. CTL time code can be used with--or added to--any VHS or S-VHS tape recorded in the SP mode.

David Walton
JVC Professional Products Company
Elmwood Park, New Jersey

David:
Sorry for the oversight; we know CTL time code to be a viable alternative to SMPTE and VITC systems. For a closer look at a deck with CTL time code, see the review of the JVC Professional SR-S365U S-VHS editing VCR in our February 1997 issue, page 39.

--The Editors

A Technophile's Philosophy
You asked readers to evaluate the article on page 62 of the September issue ("Reels on Wheels") but the three value choices don't even touch the surface. Dr. Creech's setup is inspiring to all of us but what I really want to know is: how is everything hooked up? Where is that TBC hooked in? Where does the Sansui plug in and how about a couple of words on how he handles sound? While you're at it, could you mention why he uses two monitors?

I love your magazine but please remember that technophiles like me think no photo can replace a good schematic.

J. Paul Dillinger
Kailua, Hawaii

To keep technophiles and technophobes happy, we'll include equipment lists in the edit suite photo essays in future issues. For now, we'll leave the wiring to you.

--The Editors

Where are the Digital Effects?
According to the buyer's guide in your special issue (Videomaker Guide to Home Video), the Canon ES970 8mm camcorder has six digital effects. When I bought the camcorder, I found that it does not have any digital effects. It's still a great camcorder but I'm a little disappointed.

Harold Winster
Chicago, Illinois

Canon's ES970 and ES870 8mm camcorders have six program AE (auto exposure) modes and no digital effects. We apologize for your inconvenience.

--The Editors

Video Prodigy
I liked the article entitled "Shooting Back: Teenage Videographers Hit the Screens" (August 1997). I am a 15-year-old and very interested in video. Your tips and techniques have helped me considerably in my videos and even helped me and my friend, Blair Trosper, win a contest with our video Drugs and Death.

Matthew West
Internet

Congratulations, Matthew! Thanks for reminding us that creativity has no age barriers.

--The Editors

Correction
We listed the wrong address for Focal Press in the book reviews on page 14 of the November issue. The correct address is: 313 Washington, Newton MA 02158.

--The Editors