Need help/advice for a new project

[couchscout]

As soon as I heard the NFL was going to allow people to get the all 22 footage of games as part of the NFL Rewind package, I started thinking about ways to do a Matchup/Playbook style show focused only on our Dallas Cowboys. I've thought of many different ways to do it, from capturing the video, editing it how I need and syncing voiceover work, to me standing in front of the camera next to a giant TV showing the action.

I'm pretty good with technology, but video capturing and editing and stuff like that is not something I have a ton of experience with. I've got a ton of questions if someone cared to take some time out of their day to help me out. I'm also taking any and all suggestions and advice from everything to how to the show, to what type of camera I should use. Doesn't matter, if you have any experience with this type of thing, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

As of right now this is how I plan to do the show. It's all subject to, and likely will, change.

- Will be a weekly YouTube show.
- Will focus on the Cowboys, showing plays from the previous games, as well as potentially some plays from the upcoming opponents previous games.
- Unless a better option presents itself I plan to stand next to my 60" TV, and have pre-edited video playing on it while I breakdown each play.
- Will have someone off camera working the mouse and/or camera.
- Thinking about having a "host" much like Trey Wingo does for the Matchup show.
- Show would likely come out every Thursday.



Again, any and all advice, help, or suggestions are needed. I'd like to make this as nice of a show as I can without spending a ton of money.

 

[Afigueroa22]

I would tune in every week if you did this. You got me excited.

No suggestions from me though, I know not of this field.:

 

[Trendnet]

As soon as I heard the NFL was going to allow people to get the all 22 footage of games as part of the NFL Rewind package, I started thinking about ways to do a Matchup/Playbook style show focused only on our Dallas Cowboys. I've thought of many different ways to do it, from capturing the video, editing it how I need and syncing voiceover work, to me standing in front of the camera next to a giant TV showing the action.

I'm pretty good with technology, but video capturing and editing and stuff like that is not something I have a ton of experience with. I've got a ton of questions if someone cared to take some time out of their day to help me out. I'm also taking any and all suggestions and advice from everything to how to the show, to what type of camera I should use. Doesn't matter, if you have any experience with this type of thing, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

As of right now this is how I plan to do the show. It's all subject to, and likely will, change.

- Will be a weekly YouTube show.
- Will focus on the Cowboys, showing plays from the previous games, as well as potentially some plays from the upcoming opponents previous games.
- Unless a better option presents itself I plan to stand next to my 60" TV, and have pre-edited video playing on it while I breakdown each play.
- Will have someone off camera working the mouse and/or camera.
- Thinking about having a "host" much like Trey Wingo does for the Matchup show.
- Show would likely come out every Thursday.



Again, any and all advice, help, or suggestions are needed. I'd like to make this as nice of a show as I can without spending a ton of money.

I don't have any real advice. Other than a suggestion. Rather than you standing in front of your TV, do something like a voice over, or a side by side for the video. On youtube, sometimes standing over a tv doesn't translate well, especially on a budget.

Heck, I may not offer any logistical, but I'd be willing to donate to your project!

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Why do you want to stand next to your TV ?

Seems very amateur to me. Better off being out of the scene completely and do stand alone spots separately. Unless you are doing breakdowns of plays and such...even then that can be done without the viewers seeing you.

 

[couchscout]

Why do you want to stand next to your TV ?

Seems very amateur to me. Better off being out of the scene completely and do stand alone spots separately. Unless you are doing breakdowns of plays and such...even then that can be done without the viewers seeing you.

Have you ever watched Playbook on NFL Network? They stand next to a big TV and direct the action from there. The biggest problem I would have whether I do it standing next to the TV or by syncing voice work with video is that I don't have a telestrator, I won't be able to draw the arrows and stuff. That is the biggest reason I was thinking about standing next to the TV, I could use my hands to show the viewer what they should be watching on each play.

But advice/feedback like this is exactly why I started this thread. I'm aware that the show is gonna be somewhat amatuerish now what I do, but I wanna minimize it as much as possible. Thanks for the feedback, I'll start thinking of some other ways I could potentially do the show.

 

[kyle28282]

awesome! this made my day! thank you very much!

not any suggestion from my part at this moment, but I'd be happy to make a donation if needed.

 

[Red Dragon]

Here's something I've wanted to see a long time: A camera that's devoted specifically to capturing the crowd's reaction as a touchdown or spectacular play is happening - the crowd all standing up in unison, then erupting in celebration.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I think mimicking John Madden the way he used to draw up plays with the "chalk" on tv while announcing would be the best way. Get someone to show you how to do it and you should be fine.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Have you ever watched Playbook on NFL Network? They stand next to a big TV and direct the action from there. The biggest problem I would have whether I do it standing next to the TV or by syncing voice work with video is that I don't have a telestrator, I won't be able to draw the arrows and stuff. That is the biggest reason I was thinking about standing next to the TV, I could use my hands to show the viewer what they should be watching on each play.

But advice/feedback like this is exactly why I started this thread. I'm aware that the show is gonna be somewhat amatuerish now what I do, but I wanna minimize it as much as possible. Thanks for the feedback, I'll start thinking of some other ways I could potentially do the show.

Of course I have seen that. They are selling more than the play. They are selling that star as an "expert" which is often far from true.

Think about who your market is ? You want diehard fans or casual fans ?

Diehard fans will watch often anything football related, casual will have to be encouraged to watch by some other dynamic...those former stars are part of the dynamic that NFLN sells.

I think you could focus on whatever it is you are trying to show on TV without having you as a distraction. That's just my opinion and I may indeed feel very differently with a product presentation.

Good Luck with it all and you are welcome for the honest opinion.

 

[NMfan]

CouchScout
One way of doing this is using Camtasia from http://www.techsmith.com.
You can use it on your computer to highlight players, draw arrows, zoom in , record audio etc. The problem would be getting the film from the DVR to the computer. I'm sure someone here knows how.

If you can do that then you can stand by the TV which would be hooked to the computer via usb and using a wireless gyro mouse to start and stop the video.
This would cost you about $350 or so and some time learning the software.

 

[Tio]

I guess my first question would be what do you want out of this? Are you just doing it for fun and to help your fellow cowboy fan or are you trying to receive some to get your name out there.

If its the former I would just put a voice over the footage. It will get to the point and be the simplest way to do it. There are online video editors available to you (as well as free ones like windows movie maker) that would let you put in small graphics like an arrow pointing out what player or matchup you are discussing. The video quality wont be that important since youtube will compress your footage no matter what.

 

[Clove]

What you're suggesting would probably require a green screen.

 

[Cowboyfan81]

Also, check this site out.
http://www.thedvshow.com/just-in-time-for-football-diy-telestrator/
They have a link for telestrator software. It costs around $8.

 

[arglebargle]

Whatever route you take, I suggest doing a number of dry runs, recording everything and analyzing them afterwords. I worked production on a live TV show, and we spent two weeks putting on 'faux' non airing shows to get all the kinks worked out in advance.

If you are considering this as a partial career booster, the advantage of having face time has to be considered. If you can do that well....

I'd certainly be tuning in, and you'd already have a base audience ready to watch.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

What is your current employer going to think about your devoting so much public time and effort to a show featuring an opponent?

 

[Hoofbite]

Better post it to YouTube unlisted.

You might get away with 'fair use' or whatever it is they call it but I can see a DMCA grievance coming your way if the NFL found out you were using anything recorded off of their site.

 

[Zordon]

There should be way where you can transfer the video to your computer, edit it, and do voiceovers. Similar to way Jaws does on NFL Matchup.

 

[couchscout]

CouchScout
One way of doing this is using Camtasia from http://www.techsmith.com.
You can use it on your computer to highlight players, draw arrows, zoom in , record audio etc. The problem would be getting the film from the DVR to the computer. I'm sure someone here knows how.

If you can do that then you can stand by the TV which would be hooked to the computer via usb and using a wireless gyro mouse to start and stop the video.
This would cost you about $350 or so and some time learning the software.

I'll check that out thanks. The footage will already be on my computer, that's how the NFL Rewind package is offered.

I guess my first question would be what do you want out of this? Are you just doing it for fun and to help your fellow cowboy fan or are you trying to receive some to get your name out there.

If its the former I would just put a voice over the footage. It will get to the point and be the simplest way to do it. There are online video editors available to you (as well as free ones like windows movie maker) that would let you put in small graphics like an arrow pointing out what player or matchup you are discussing. The video quality wont be that important since youtube will compress your footage no matter what.

Definitely just doing this for the fans. I love educating people on the nuances of the game, I guess that's the coach in me. If it can help fans see the what's actually happening instead of what they think is happening based on the limited TV cameras, I'm all for it.

Also, check this site out.
http://www.thedvshow.com/just-in-time-for-football-diy-telestrator/
They have a link for telestrator software. It costs around $8.

Cool, thanks, I'll look into that.

Whatever route you take, I suggest doing a number of dry runs, recording everything and analyzing them afterwords. I worked production on a live TV show, and we spent two weeks putting on 'faux' non airing shows to get all the kinks worked out in advance.

If you are considering this as a partial career booster, the advantage of having face time has to be considered. If you can do that well....

I'd certainly be tuning in, and you'd already have a base audience ready to watch.

Yeah, I figured some dry runs would be necessary, I might do some stuff during training camp/pre-season and give access to a limited number of people or something. Beta testing for the win!

What is your current employer going to think about your devoting so much public time and effort to a show featuring an opponent?

A few things here. One, there is nothing in my contract that says I can't so something like this. Two, I don't plan to announce myself as an NFL scout on the show, so it's not like other teams would be looking up my show to get info/ideas. Three, it's very possible that I will be taking a job with an independent scouting firm very soon. The money/stability is so much better, even though I would be letting go of the foot in the door I have with the NFL.

Better post it to YouTube unlisted.

You might get away with 'fair use' or whatever it is they call it but I can see a DMCA grievance coming your way if the NFL found out you were using anything recorded off of their site.

This is my biggest concern. I don't know whether I should write the NFL and ask permission, or just do it until I get caught then beg forgiveness. Since I would only be showing a limited number of snaps per week, seems like it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but I'm sure someone somewhere would be upset by it.


Thanks so much for all the replies and feedback. I'm carefully considering everything you guys have suggested.

 

[Hoofbite]

This is my biggest concern. I don't know whether I should write the NFL and ask permission, or just do it until I get caught then beg forgiveness. Since I would only be showing a limited number of snaps per week, seems like it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but I'm sure someone somewhere would be upset by it.


Thanks so much for all the replies and feedback. I'm carefully considering everything you guys have suggested.

I don't think there's really any real punishment they'd pursue. You'd likely have your YT account banned.

I wouldn't ask. Some intern or person sitting at a desk will turn you down based on SOP alone.

 

[Hoofbite]

There should be way where you can transfer the video to your computer, edit it, and do voiceovers. Similar to way Jaws does on NFL Matchup.

Screen capture software will do it.

I'm not sure what kind of computer requirements would be needed but I've tried it with streaming of HD video and it comes out choppy. My computer is a little aged so maybe a more beefy machine would get alone just fine.