Filming An LCD Screen

I have a scene coming up involving the video projection of archival footage on a 5 by 12 screen. The production is once again out of money. Any pointers towards how many lumens I should insist on or any hint towards a particular LCD projector or where to get it in the NYC area. I will be shooting with 5218 at 24 fps. In theory I should have no issues with roll bar or flicker. Any Warnings regarding this, since I am looking to get into the day without a synch box.

Thank You very much.

Oliver Bokelberg

Oliver Bokelberg writes:

>I will be shooting with 5218 at 24 fps. In theory I should have no issues >with roll bar or flicker.

I've never shot a video projection screen with a cine camera. With a video camera it's pretty bullet proof, but high shutter speeds can induce some pulsing or flicker. In my experience you want to avoid anything faster than about 1/250 sec... but my experience is too limited for me to know how consistent
various projectors are in that regard, vis-a-vis brand, model or type of chip.

(Frame rate isn't an issue -- it has to do with the chip's modulation frequency, which is much higher than the frame rate.)

Dan Drasin
Producer/DP
Marin County, CA

>I have a scene coming up involving the video projection of archival >footage on a 5 by 12 screen.

I had several shots of this kind on a feature I shot last year. Used 500 ASA stock with a 4000 lumen LCD projector and it was more than bright enough.

In fact, if it's a really dark scene you might get away with a 2-3000 lumen projector...but we went with the 4000 and ND'ed it down a stop or so.

Hope this helps

Ken Glassing
LA Based
OP/Dp

Contact Bruce Fritzberg at PSL (formerly Back Ground Engineers) (818) 759-2453.

When I shot the sales piece for E Network just after the
Time/Warner merger, we shot a lot of projections on different surfaces and projected behind TVs in the shot, etc. I forget the lumens but they can talk stops and EI's. He's a good man to deal with and very knowledgeable.

Kind Regards,

Mark Woods Director of Photography
http://www.markwoods.com/
Stills That Move
Pasadena, CA

I have never had a flicker problem on film with either LCD screens or projectors at regular camera speeds (have never shot hi frame rates)

Last year on Pursued in Vancouver however we were warned the DL that projectors were much more tricky but didn't have the time or budget to test so went with LCD projection.

Mike Southon BSC