Legal Videography « Videomaker Community Forums

fjclaus
Member

I hear talk about a past article on doing Legal depositions and other legal videography work. Trouble is, I'm having trouble getting an answer to this question. If one was to venture into this aspect of the video world, what equipment would you need to make a legal video? I've been to the AGCV website but I can't seem to find a list of equipment.

Posted 1 year ago #
EarlC
Moderator

Camera, mic, tripod & light. Pretty much ANY combination of audio/visual acquisition tools will do the job, and be accepted if you develop good resources and establish relationships built on trust and professional quality. I know of no existing list of specific brands or equipment you MUST have in order to pursue this area.

Posted 1 year ago #
fjclaus
Member

Now, you mention "Mic", I have a Canon XL2 digital camcorder with the mic that came with the camera. Is it safe to assume that that mic is not acceptable for this type of work? I've looked at many different examples of Deposition videos and see a lot of them wearing Lavalier mics. I'm assuming that you need a few of them with a small mixer to plug the mics into the camera for recording.

I've also seen people recording directly to a computer harddrive on the spot. Do you need such a thing, or can you record to tape and them dub to DVD later?

Posted 1 year ago #
EarlC
Moderator

It has been a LONG time since I've pursued or produced legal deposition video, though I still occasionally get calls for putting together "day in the life" videos for the infrequent attorney seeking to reflect how the client is, or is not, getting through life due to some situation and a pending lawsuit.

When I did do them there could be NO editing and the footage had to be day/date stamped, plus a vocal announcement at the beginning regarding time, date, place, case (or whatever) number, parties present, representing whom, and myself as the recording videographer. What followed, in my experience was either feed from a PZM boundary or conference mic, no mixer, feeding directly into my camera's L/R audio inputs.

In my early "tape" days I handed over the tape to the hiring party, and later copies using a three-deck system I brought along, feeding via a DA (distribution amp) directly into each deck. I've never had to mic-and-mix using multiple lavs.

I would suspect that the current demand would be "on-site" direct-to-DVD recorder copies and the master. Someone with more up-to-date experience and knowledge will have to pipe in regarding that.

Posted 1 year ago #
vicsvids
Member

fjclaus, actually there is an equipment list on the AGCV site. I'm not sure whether you're still doing research but here is the link: http://www.agcv.com/equipment.php

Good Luck!

Posted 1 year ago #
Jack Wolcott
Production Host

Check with your local court reporters and companies that provide local deposition services. While there are no specific requirements for equipment, here in the Northwest attorneys expect two-hour tapes and get really annoyed if you have to interrupt the deposition to change 60 or 80 minute tapes. This tends to rule out cameras like the Sony DSR PD150. Some shooters are still using SVHS cameras to accommodate these requirements; others use cameras like the old Sony DSR 200A to shoot over two hours in DVCAM.

And Earl's recollection is correct: you'll need to shoot with a camera that puts date and time visibly on the tape.

You may also find that there is a demand for DVDs to be delivered at the conclusion of the deposition, necessitating a pass-through from the camera to a DVD recorder that can be stopped and started every time the attorneys go "off the record." And here in the Northwest you'll need to retain the camera tapes for a month.

You'll also need to mic at least four people: two attorneys, the person being deposed, and the camera operator. So you'll need a mic mixer as well as the mics. You might be able to get by with a PZM mic on the conference room table or desk, but the audio quality will be pretty poor, even if you spend a lot for the mic. With the PZM you also will pick up every paper rustle and pencil tap, again lowering the audio quality. Three to four lapel mics and a mic for the camera operator are a must.

The court reporters are the folks that really know the ins and outs of how depositions work locally; we've found them to be our best friend in the deposition business.

Posted 1 year ago #