10th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration - the story behind the video

The video of the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration is here - compliments of your friendly Computer Clubhouse.

The members of the Computer Clubhouse, at the MLK Committee's request,  have been videotaping this event for four years.  Of course, folks are used to seeing amazing videos on their TVs of local and national events created with cutting edge (very expensive) hardware and software that distinguishes professionals from amateurs.  For the Clubhouse, not having million-dollar systems,  the goal was to see what they could do with the technology they have on hand to create as professional product as possible.

The first year, the members merely shot the event using two cameras and then mixed the two videos together at the Clubhouse.  This post-production took weeks, especially seeing as the house sound system for the McGavick Center was inadequate for the type of performances occurring at the event.  The video came out OK but there was a "hum" that the members couldn't entirely filter out.  The City has since then hired a professional to do the sound for the event so the hum is eliminated.

For the past three years the members used Adobe Visual Communicator which allows up to three cameras to be mixed "on the fly" by a computer.  This is a "poor man's" version of what the professionals use, yet software easy enough for members to master, and a solution that uses standard camcorders.  This year, the team modified a computer such that they were finally able to have three cameras instead of two.  The Clubhouse uses this same system at City Hall to videotape City Council Meetings, yet there they have the luxury of remote-controlled cameras, and thus can eat pizza in a separate room while they work.

For the MLK Event, three members were each on a camera while a fourth operated the computer and acted as director.  Each had a radio and headset to receive directions from the director.   This year's event video came out great.    Better cameras would help of course,  but the members make do with what they have and enjoy the opportunities to give back to the City with their unique talents. Teens, 13 and up, wishing to get involved in video projects such as this, can find out more at the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse website.