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Michael J. Murphy

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About Michael J. Murphy

  • Birthday 03/12/1991

Profile Information

  • Occupation
    Director
  • Location
    Nacogdoches, TX
  • Specialties
    Filmmaking, editing, photography, paintball, stock footage

Contact Methods

  • Website URL
    http://
  1. I have a wedding this weekend and the only thing troubling me is the audio situation. My wireless lav mics are black and the groom is wearing all white. The only one wearing black is the minister. I want to have a mic on the groom also, but the black on white would be hard to hide. Is it safe to just mic the minister, or should I find another way to mic the groom and the minister? I'm using Shure PG185 mics, with an approximate 6 foot pickup radius. Thanks!
  2. Hi- I'm having the typical problem with a fried camera firewire port on my Sony Z1, but I've put the repair off for at least six months because Sony's $600 is hard to earn with my income. Does anyone know of any alternative repair facility (and reputable) that can repair a Sony Z1 firewire port for less than $600? Thanks! Mike Murphy
  3. Thanks for your advice Jonathan! The only thing concerning me is the difference between the one you recommended and the one at http://www.adorama.com/SVKSB1250.html. The kit you recommended has a photoflood on a short stand, while the other has one on a boom pole for lighting hair and separating the subject from the background. Is the photoflood on the boom pole really necessary or should I stick with the SAM31500? And I'll check out Photoflex's items, too. And Chimera. Maybe I passed them up when I was looking. Eh, it's late, that's probably the case... :lol: Anyway, thanks for your help!
  4. Hi- I've been looking at lighting for video interviews and have seen many different setups: several photofloods in one setup, two umbrellas and a regular halogen lamp with barndoors, and others. So, I've narrowed down some light kits in my price range on Adorama. (I'm not excluding other retailers, I'm just currently browsing there at the moment.) Out of these 5 light kits, which would be best suited for a video interview setup? (disregarding price discrepancies) http://www.adorama.com/SVKSB1250.html http://www.adorama.com/SAM31500.html http://www.adorama.com/SVK77.html http://www.adorama.com/SVK78.html http://www.adorama.com/SVK70.html And if you know of a light kit that you use for interviews, please feel free to recommend one as well! My price range is $300-$700. Thanks! Michael
  5. That's what apparently has happened... and it isn't uncommon, apparently. Well, I'm not looking forward to dishing out $500-$600 for the repair, but that's life...
  6. Chris- If you can e-mail me at Michael@mjmvideography.com, I can help you out and answer some of your questions. Michael
  7. While this post is specifically about my Z1, I know that this problem can apply to any HDV camera, so I thought it would be better posted here. Anyway... when I went to connect my Z1 to the computer a few weeks ago (I left for a two-week trip to Costa Rica two days after the incident), the computer did not at all recognize that anything had been connected. I tried the computer in the next room, and the camera still went unrecognized. It wasn't until later, when I researched this problem, that I found out that firewire can damage a camera's firewire port. (http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=64873) This really puts me in a bind because a client wants me to send them some additional footage and I have no way of capturing. Should I send the Z1 off to Sony and probably have to pay a large fee, is there a fix I can do here at home, or does the camera have to be replaced? I'm worried because the warranty has expired... Thanks! Michael
  8. Hi- When I have the Z1 mounted on my shoulder, I often prefer to use the viewfinder since the displayed image is closer to the final result. However, unlike other cameras, the viewfinder doesn't have the 90 degree elbow that allows a camera operator to use the viewfinder comfortably. Does a viewfinder extender, one possibly with the 90 degree elbow, exist? It would be a great relief to my straining neck. :lol: (And yes, I've Googled it. Can't find one anywhere.) Thanks! Michael
  9. Tim- I've looked at the LitePanels, but for my budget, they are incredibly expensive. I've got a budget of about $400...
  10. Actually, Zamir, that was my initial idea. However, not all venues are large. One from two days ago was in a small church with only two feel of space between the edge of the pews and the wall. Of course, that wouldn't allow much room for a lighting stand. Also, some churches (though I haven't come across one yet) have restrictions on auxiliary lighting, even if the church lighting is horrible. So, here's another idea to put on the table: does a camera-mountable soft-box exist? Michael
  11. Since I've started videography, I've noticed that the Z1 doesn't have the best lux rating and 18dB of gain is unacceptable in most applications. I've looked into different types of lights, but I'm not sure which ones are compatible and can mount on the camera. Can I have some opinions on what kind of on-camera light to look into? I'll be using it mostly for weddings, so I don't want the light to be distracting to the bride and groom. My budget is about $400. Thanks! Michael
  12. Tim, you suggested a type of on-camera light called a diffused LED light. I can't seem to find one online. Could you describe it for me? And would it be distracting to the bride and groom? And, yes, I'm a one man team: videographer, editor, sound technician, and DVD authorer, so I need as much automation as possible. Unfortunately, on my current budget, I can't afford a light kit, let alone a remote one... Thanks again!
  13. Every wedding I've filmed (which is only a handful so far) has ended with a nice reception with the lights "turned down low". This is fine for the guests and the photographer, who can use an on-camera flash. Unfortunately, my camera (Sony's HVR-Z1) doesn't do well in these situations. I can't remember the lux specification for the Z1, but I'm sure some other cameras have this problem as well. I've had to make some shots with the gain turned up all the way to 18dB, which results in a really grainy picture. Even working with the video in post doesn't help much. I know on-camera hotshoe lights are available, but in my opinion, that would be distracting to the bride and groom, and they're already nervous enough. So, supposing the lights are down low, the management can't turn them higher, and gain isn't an option, what can I do to achieve a brighter shot? Thanks! Michael :huh:
  14. I had a computer custom built by a freelancer about two years ago for HDV editing. He did some research and compiled a great computer, with 2GB of RAM, 1 TB drive (with RAID 0), and a GeForce 6600 card. However, I'm starting to realize that, deep down, this workstation is looking very shaky... let me explain. The processors are 2.2 GHz, but that doesn't make the cut for my workflow. What has been recommended by others is at least 3.2 GHz, a major difference. The video card is also starting to show faults, and rendering time is sometimes horrific. To add to the problems, the computer has recently simply shut down After Effects and Premiere without saving, usually in the middle of a very long render. That's a lot of time - and data - lost. Because of the growing instability and jeopardy to my data, I need some opinions from fellow editors, in case I decide to replace this computer. I can probably sell this computer for $3000. Would I be able to then buy either a Mac or a PC with plenty of processing power to handle HDV? I've looked at ProMax, Matrox, Edius, AVID, and Apple so far. Any ideas? Thanks.
  15. Hi- I'm having some trouble figuring out what I need for wedding videography, for both the ceremony and reception. My basic audio idea is to attach two wireless lavalier mics to the bride and groom, but all of the packages online seem to include only one mic. What is the best audio configuration for a typical wedding? My audio budget is $600. Thanks! Michael
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