Behind the Scenes: Producing the Women’s Leadership Conference

Elwood Folse | Hell Cat Productions | Week 11

As an intern at Hellcat Productions, I had the incredible opportunity to be part of the team that produced the Women’s Leadership Conference at the University of West Florida (UWF). The conference room was already equipped with stage lights, but our role was to ensure that the audio, video, and live stream were seamless. Here’s a breakdown of all the technology we set up and controlled to bring the event to life.

Audio Production

One of the most critical aspects of any conference is clear and balanced audio. We used a Yamaha TF5 sound board to operate the live audio.

This digital mixing console allowed us to mix the voices of the speakers with music and other audio elements, ensuring clarity and balance throughout the auditorium. The Yamaha TF5 is known for its intuitive touch interface and powerful processing capabilities, making it a great choice for live sound engineering.

For the online stream, we used a Rodecaster Podcast Panel and an Atem Mini Extreme to mix and control the audio separately. This ensured that remote viewers had high-quality sound, independent of the auditorium’s live mix.

Camera Setup and Video Control

Our team set up four cameras to capture every angle of the event:

• Three Filmaco cameras were strategically positioned in the main conference hall. These cameras were connected via Hollyland HDMI electronic senders, allowing us to wirelessly transmit the video feed.

• A Fomako joystick controller was used to remotely adjust the zoom, pan, and angle of these cameras for dynamic and professional shots.

• The cameras were mounted on Pol Slider tripods, ensuring stability and smooth movement.

For post-talk interviews, we used a Sony A7S III camera in a separate room. To achieve a polished and visually appealing look, we set up splash white lights to illuminate the interviewee’s face, along with green and blue lights to create an argonaut highlight around their head. This lighting setup gave the interviews a professional and distinguished appearance.

Live Monitoring and Switching

To maintain a smooth production, we used a large monitor displaying live footage from all four cameras, along with the content being fed to the large LED screen in the conference hall. This allowed us to choose the best shots in real time, ensuring a professional and engaging broadcast.

Interview Room Audio

In the interview room, we utilized an Audio-Technica 8004 360-degree microphone to capture high-quality sound. This mic allowed for seamless audio pickup, so the interviewer could shift directions without affecting the sound quality.

Final Thoughts

Being part of the Women’s Leadership Conference production was an eye-opening experience. I gained hands-on knowledge of professional-grade audio and video equipment and saw firsthand how much work goes into a high-quality live event. It was a privilege to contribute to such an inspiring event, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow as an intern at Hellcat Productions.