Building a Video Production Lab - High School - Part Five

An alternative way of production takes place outside of the studio and it equipment requirements are different. EFP and ENG are the mobile cousins of the studio and the equipment for these work flows are much lighter in nature and quantity. I fell most student getting a job will work with these work flows over the more costly studio scenarios. The draw back it is harder to work with large groups of student and also monitor the equipment for security and proper use.
ENG / Electronic news gathering ENG equipment requirements are fairly light to match the quick movement necessary to shoot news. The set up is basically a camera that can be used on the shoulder or tripod, microphones for capturing sound. Minimal lighting and lighting controls are used, frequently only one or two lights are used simply to ensure the there is enough light for the camera to image the scene. All gear is battery powered, extremely portable with controls easy to get to and adjust while shooting or following a story on the fly. Often an external field mixer and microphone set up is used for capturing sound. Microphones are frequently limited to shotgun and hand held types
EFP / Electronic field production, EFP equipment is less concerned with portability and focuses on flexibility and quality. EFP kits often feature more extensive lighting kits for more varied and controlled lighting. More monitoring equipment for checking signal quality is used. Wider selection of microphones are used, lavalieres and wireless setups are used more often to hide the fact microphones are used. EFP shoots frequently follow a pattern of set up a shot, shoot then reset cameras, lights and talent for a different shot repeating as many time as necessary to obtain all the shots needed for the production. The shooting pace is much slower than that of ENG and the quality of lighting is much of a concern. Lighting for effect, mood or directing the viewer’s attention often trump simply lighting so the camera can capture a quality image. This lighting work flow requires a wider variety of lighting instruments. Off camera monitors are used so the director and others can watch the action, set up the shots and check quality. Dollies and jibs often are used instead of simple tripods to support camera and offer better positioning and more movement, which over all enhances the look and feel of the production.