Archive for Chris Lewis
Aug
13
Video Vault February 2010
Posted by: | CommentsFrom our Newsletter Archive February 2010. Click here to see our complete newsletter archive.
Video Vault
By Chris Lewis, FLVS
Legal Video Specialist
By Chris Lewis, FLVS
Legal Video Specialist
How important is it for the videographer to state the time of day when going on and off the record? Let me tell you a story…
One late night a few years ago, we were shooting a video deposition downtown Seattle at a well-established law firm. The deposition had gone on all day and now into the evening. We had been on and off the record so many times I was having to use a third sheet of paper to mark the objections, exhibits and other note worthy items. One of which is the time of day we are on and off the record.
With that in mind, it got to be about 7:30 PM and the lawyers and the witness were almost at wits end. We were rolling along and had just gone back on the record and one of the attorneys bypassed the court reporter and asked me if I could replay the video before the last break. The entire room turned their focus on me and the lead attorney said, “Can you pull those questions up from the last session?”
Now, I had been recording video proceedings for about seven years at that time and have never been asked to search or back up the recording to hear what was said.
With all eyes on me and the reporter not saying anything about her back up tape, I checked my log and noted the times of us being on and off the record, searched my video and played back the last session for all in the room to listen to.
I was happy to be able to assist the lawyers with their request, so I will pass along to all who read this, please allow the videographer the opportunity to note and state the time of day when going on and off the record, as it may become very important.
One late night a few years ago, we were shooting a video deposition downtown Seattle at a well-established law firm. The deposition had gone on all day and now into the evening. We had been on and off the record so many times I was having to use a third sheet of paper to mark the objections, exhibits and other note worthy items. One of which is the time of day we are on and off the record.
With that in mind, it got to be about 7:30 PM and the lawyers and the witness were almost at wits end. We were rolling along and had just gone back on the record and one of the attorneys bypassed the court reporter and asked me if I could replay the video before the last break. The entire room turned their focus on me and the lead attorney said, “Can you pull those questions up from the last session?”
Now, I had been recording video proceedings for about seven years at that time and have never been asked to search or back up the recording to hear what was said.
With all eyes on me and the reporter not saying anything about her back up tape, I checked my log and noted the times of us being on and off the record, searched my video and played back the last session for all in the room to listen to.
I was happy to be able to assist the lawyers with their request, so I will pass along to all who read this, please allow the videographer the opportunity to note and state the time of day when going on and off the record, as it may become very important.
Chris Lewis
