What separates the theatre videography of VideOccasions from the work of other videographers is the years of experience our staff has working in professional theatre production. Judy and Jack began working in the professional theatre in 1951, and they both have advanced degrees in theatre production. Both worked extensively in the commercial theatre, Judy as a theatrical lighting designer and scenic artist, Jack as a director and stage manager. Jack taught acting, directing, critical theory and theatre history for over 30 years at the University of Washington. Dan, who shoots and edits with us from time to time, began performing in the theatre at the age of 12. Now, 35 years later, he has worked full-time as a theatrical wig-maker and film and theatre makeup artist and and as Technical Director for the Burien Performing Arts Center.

Dress Rehearsal

When we come to a dress rehearsal -- which we do for every show we tape -- we're watching your production as theatre professionals, then assessing how best in our role as video professionals to tape the performance in order to capture the directorial, performance and design values you've worked so hard to accomplish.

We shoot test footage so we can set up our cameras to best capture the lighting of your show, and consult with your audio engineer so we can capture the sounds of the show on the night of performance. Back in our studio we plan how we'll shoot the show -- who will take close-ups, who will handle the long shots, how we will resolve difficult compositions.

Recording the Performance

We record most productions with two manned digital cameras, from the rear of the auditorium. Audio is fed to the cameras from the theatre's sound system. When a sound system feed is not available, VideOccasions can provide audio equipment as needed.

Editing

Our goal in editing is to create an experience for the viewer of the DVD that approximates the experience they would have had at the performance. Our approach is essentially that of the motion picture editor, cutting to the rhythm, the meaning and the dramatic tension of each scene. We're especially sensitive to stage composition, blocking and changes in focus and wherever possible cut to reflect the artistic vision of the stage director and the performers.

Why and how we do what we do.

If you're interested in an in-depth look at how the philosophy of our theatrical video production has evolved, a detailed discussion of the aesthetic underlying our shooting and editing work can be found in the Articles section of our web site:

• Shooting Video Performance: A View from the Stage (notes from a seminar);
• Cuts and Dissolves and the Language of Video;
• There's No Business Like Show Business: Shooting and Editing Live Theatre.

Over the years, we've video taped dramatic, musical and dance performances in venues such as Seattle's Bathhouse Theatre, the Northwest Actor's Studio and Arts West, the Ethnic Cultural Center at the UW and many of the performance facilities at the Seattle Center, including the Bagley Wright Theatre and the Center House. On the East Side we've taped at the Lee Theatre in Bellevue, Redmond's Second Story Repertory, Center Stage at Crossroads and the Burien Community Theatre and Performing Arts Center.

Let us create a DVD of your next performance by giving us a call at 425-641-4811 or sending us an email today.