Verdasys Softball: The Movie (2012 Season Finale)
2An entertaining replay of the Verdasys Softball team's 2012 season finale (Game 9) against Bay Financial. Recorded in HD at Cusick Field in Waltham, MA. Highlights include:
- Multiple HD cameras
- Candid chatter from the team bench
- A sports broadcast-like score box
- Tom Cottam's ITP HR
- A funny ad
- Multiple fielding mishaps by the team coach
- And a thrilling ending.
Editing wise, this video is quite possibly is the best company co-ed softball game video you will find on the Internet. (Up until the sequel was released.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Motivation:
Over the summer, various individuals expressed interest in watching the company softball team play. However, due to other commitments, many were unable to attend. With that in mind, I figured I would provide the next best thing: bring the game to you.
During the team's final game, we set-up several HD cameras and recorded the action. Later, I edited the footage to create an entertaining replay of the game, complete with sports broadcast-like graphics. I hope you enjoy it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Produced by: Andrew Wolan for VerdasysSoftball.com
Photography: Andrew Wolan, Heather Lesson, Russell Rick.
Special Thanks: H. Cohen; C. Loiselle; Gowtham
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
** How it was done **
We used a total of 4 camera to record the action.
Camera 1 and 2 were positioned just outside the field of play:
- A GoPro Hero 1 camera on the fence behind first base, attached to a pole with wires.
- A Kodak Playsport camera mounted on a tripod behind a fence near third base, overlooking left field.
Both cameras were set to record the game in normal HD video for the duration of the game. (About 1.5 hours.) The GoPro camera stopped recording part way through the 6th inning. No idea why.
Camera 3 was a hand-held Cannon Rebel camera with a long zoom lens. This camera captured footage from either the dugout or because the fence near third base.
Camera 4 was a hand-held Nikon still camera. It was operated by Heather Lesson. (Photos not used in the video can be found on the team website under "Game 9". Be sure to visit the site for the 2012 season.)
A fifth camera, specifically a Canon PowerShot A720 IS, was used to film the bit at Friendly's after the game. (Camera is from 2008: quality of audio is not the best ... only has a sampling rate of 11kHZ, but at least its uncompressed.)
In addition, the Sandisk Sansa (an MP3 player) was used as a microphone to capture the chatter from the dug-out through the game.
** Software **
- Video was edited and produced with CyberLink PowerDirector 11
1280x720 resolution
- Custom graphics were created using Fw.
- Audio editing (where needed) was performed with GoldWave. (Primarily, spot amplification whenever the audio amplifications by PD11 was not enough.)
** Kudos **
- Thanks to Heather for bring and operating her camera, and for bringing a tripod for the camera overlooking LF.
- Thanks to Chris L.,Harriet and Gowtham for allowing me to use their HD movie cameras.