Students aim high with music pilot video

Lights, cameras, and crossed fingers gathered in droves at the University of Waikato’s New Place Theatre on Sunday for the filming of the pilot video for Wintec Media Arts project River City Sound System.

As part of an assignment, third-year moving image students filmed Hamilton Bands Der Kranks and The Heartbreak Kids, using multiple cameras in order to produce a commercial-quality video.

Davis Boyce, Wintec student and assistant lighting technician for the project, said that the use of more than one camera made the filming process complicated, particularly when shooting live performances.

“In movies, you can stop and move people around. This is more like a sports game.”

Every aspect of the production was controlled by the students themselves and each participant was given a specific role, such as lighting, sound, filming or editing.

“We had to research our roles and then apply them to the assignment we’d been given,” said James Wharton, student and production manager of the shoot.

John Mandelberg, Wintec moving image tutor and student guide for the project, said that students had only a limited amount of time to prepare for their specific jobs.

“These roles that they’re taking on, they only started about four weeks ago.”

The two bands featured in the production were chosen due to their local roots. Der Kranks is a popular local gypsy-inspired acoustic group, while The Heartbreak Kids was born at the Wintec School of Music.

Rather than a music video, Mr Mandelberg explains that the format is based loosely on UK programme Later with Jools Holland, where bands are filmed live on stage.

It’s hoped that the pilot video produced on Sunday will lead to a regular show on a national TV station and it has already been lined up for a slot in August’s Spark Festival.

While such commercial success would no doubt be welcomed by the students, most were simply focused on getting a good mark.

“This is our only chance,” said Mr Wharton, “There’s no room for error.”