R!OT Posts Dave Matthews Videos on HD

Santa Monica, CA—-R!OT Santa Monica has providedhigh-definition video postproduction services for two new music videosby the Dave Matthews Band. Directed by Jeff Richter of EarthquakeProductions, "Grace is Gone" and "Grey Street," both drawn from theband’s top selling "Busted Stuff" CD, were each created frommaterial recorded on HD at a series of concerts the band recently gaveat The Gorge, a spectacular outdoor amphitheatre in southernWashington.

In addition to their individual release to VH1 and other outlets,the two videos are featured in a one-hour, "free-view" Dave Matthewsmusic special created for Music Choice, the network of music channelsavailable on digital cable and DirecTV systems. The videos will also befeatured on a Dave Matthews Band DVD box set available from RCA Recordslater this year. And, if that isn’t enough, material from theconcerts will also form the basis of a longform concert video slated toscreen later this year in movie theaters equipped with high definitionvideo projection systems.

Richter recorded the bands’ performances over the course ofthree nights at the Gorge last fall. The director, who was shooting onhigh-definition video for the first time, employed 14 HD cameras,gathering in total more than 100 hours of source material. "We electedto shoot on HD for the sake of the theatrical screening of theconcert," said Richter. "But that choice added a lot to the productionchallenge. It was difficult to collect all of the resources we needed.Among other things, we had to put together our own HD camera truck tosupport the shoot."

R!OT’s role in posting the two videos comprised visual effectsgeneration, compositing and tape-to-tape color correction--allaccomplished in high definition. The visual effects work primarilyinvolved adding a host of environmental lighting effects not present inthe production shots. The Gorge, overlooking the Columbia River, is oneof the world’s most beautiful performance spaces, but being anoutdoor venue and one subject to strong, gusty winds, it allows foronly limited lighting and atmospheric effects. "Normally, the DaveMatthews Band employs a spectacular smoke and light show, but thatwasn’t possible here," recalled Terry O’Gara,postproduction supervisor for R!OT. "Lighting is what makes a recordedconcert look good. Without that, you are looking at a dark mass ofpeople."

To overcome this limitation, R!OT artist Verdi Sevenhuysen paintedin lighting effects on a Discreet Inferno system. Among other things,he added beams of light that appear to criss-cross the audience as theband performs. "Adding light beams in this scenario was a verydifficult task as they had to react interactively while passing backand forth across the crowd," explained Sevenhuysen. "Individuals had tobecome illuminated and then grow dark again in a consistent manner asthe beam moves over them."

Sevenhuysen also applied his compositing wizardry to a series ofhelicopter shots featured in the videos. Because the Jumbotron at theback of the stage recorded poorly from the air, Sevenhuysen replacedthe imagery on the screen, taking particular care to apply images drawnfrom different parts of the shoot that conformed to the performancegoing on onstage.

"Although you are using the same tools, compositing is a greaterchallenge in HD than it is in standard def," observed Sevenhuysen."Because the image is so much more resolute, it is less forgiving,especially when you consider that the final product is intended fortheatrical display. You can’t cheat anything."

R!OT colorist Clark Muller handled tape-to-tape color correction forthe two videos. The look for both pieces is clean and pure, in keepingwith their nature as part of a live event. "The videos intercutmaterial shot over the course of three days in daylight and at night,so achieving a consistent look was key," Muller explained.

In addition to its work on the two videos, R!OT provided graphics,titling and compositing services for the Music Choice special. Richteris just now embarking on preliminary post production work for theconcert film and the DVD boxset. "The breadth of R!OT’s technicalresources and the quality of its talent gives it the ability to take onprojects like this that are creatively exciting, but marked by avariety of practical challenges," said Richter. "HD looks spectacular,but it can be a difficult format to work with. R!OT went the extra mileto ensure that my time and budget constraints were met, and that, froma creative standpoint, the project was an overwhelming success."