I would absolutely love it if we could get some good dialogue going about technology that we could use at 24-Seven. BUT, I don’t want to just talk about it! I want to make it happen. Here are a few things that I am thinking about:
1 - Video Podcasts - I think that we should be regularly spitting out solid video teaching on practical issues of life. Additionally I think that with a little bit-o-help (i.e. a simple black backdrop curtain) that we could shot some solid video footage of our sermons.
2 - Blog Site - I am loving the features of this site, but how do we get more people on here so that people are actually representing their opinions, prayer requests and thoughts? We only have 30 some people signed onto the page. How do we get more?
3 - General - What technology do you already know about that we could get up and rolling at 24-Seven?
Hello,
Dennis, Nate, Me, Zach, Matthew, Andru, and Brenda
This was the list of everything we had on our list of tech things to accomplish>
Video countdown intro
Video interviews & testimonies
Videos for sermons
New music slide software
Improve slides shows during service
I would add possibly thinking about…
Live streaming of the sermon (extending our congregation to other states and countries)
Live chat during the sermon (Andru or Nate what was this called?)
Displays (projcted or LCD) onstage with animations etc.
Blog for the Grades 5-8 page in this website rather than a write up.
We have a black backdrop, bringing us MUCH closer to good looking video.
We have three countdown intros, we should do more.
Nate knows how to add to Powerpoint so that we can have Video files playing behind the text of slides. (Who has that computer all week? Can we take it home and set it up with all the goodies?)
We do sermon videos ever so often...should we do more?
The computer normally sits in the trailer. I have it this week to update the OS,etc. I’m also looking into a trial for PresentationManager (http://www.presentationmgr.com). We can try out the video backgrounds next week. I should have PresentationManager installed and maybe another alternative.
Ahhh Jeeaaaahhh! I am excited that this thread is getting some action… Let’s keep the dialogues going!
We have the three countdown videoes, which I think are sufficient for a little while. We can alternate them so they shouldn’t get too old, too quickly. Also, keep in mind that they are just background so people won’t be sitting there watching them every week.
I think that it would be great if we could do a live podcast. We should probably start with a video podcast to see how it looks and sharpen that component up quite a bit before going live.
RE: INSTANT CHATTING DURING SERMON - I guess for me I would like to know what the purpose for this is. I think that we really need to clarify that. I don’t want someone just typing whatever comes to mind. We need to make sure that we have a rhyme or reason for this. It would be cool if people were logged on watching the live video and they were posting comments about the sermon/service, but we would have to heavily moniter that.
RE: SLIDES - I think that we should also look into font software that the pastors can load onto their computers so that we can use better fonts when making the PowerPoint slides. I have some fonts on my own computer now, but when I transfer the slides over they are lost.
RE: AMBIANCE UPDATE - I would be curious to hear your feedback from today. What did you guys think of the “new” set up? I could create an online survey through surveymonkey.com to see what type of feedback we can get from the audience.
I think that the presentation manager looks pretty good. It would be great to easliy access Bible texts. I am just wondering if it is a bit outdated. Are the files (such as their backgrounds) AVI files?
You can access numerous versions, and copy/paste them into your sermons.
Generally you can grab a fontpack from the web try to synch your fonts with these so they dont get replaced, I would be pretty happy to see some prettier text. Live broadcast is lower pressure than a videopodcast in my opinion, people have much lower expectations for live stuff.
It’s not that I have a problem finding Bible passages while at home, but today I was going to throw in a new slide with the Romans 8 passages that I read at the end, but I decided not to due to the time that it would take.
RE: FONTS - Even when I save them on my computer, unless they are saved on the computer that we are running the powerpoint on, they won’t transfer, unless I am doing something wrong.
Here is the beginning of my vision for our stage set. I also want to see (Nates suggestion) some can lights shining up onto the curtains from floor level.
I would like to see some LCD’s or two smaller projection screens with little projectors doing AVI’s and/or running additional text from the main slide presentation.
I sat on the left side today and with the new banners my view of the screen was partially blocked. How hard would it be to move the main screen to the center of the stage? we may have cable issues with that config but projector angle would not be an problem to set up in the center with the new seating arrangement. I think that visually it would be much better ... especially if we add the two screens.
If we keep the main screen on the side do we need two more small screens (LEDs or projection) or would one on other side do the trick?
I have been doing some searching on the web to make some sense of all the different Worship software packages out there. There are a bunch of them!
We may be able to use this form/process to help us evaluate what we want to use for worship software… http://www.ebibleteacher.com/worshipsoftware.html First step that they recommend is to download a trial software package to see what works and what doesn’t for us. Check the evaluation sheet that I linked out and if it looks useful to the rest of you I would like to meet as a group virtually or in person and go over it.
I think LCDs would be much better from a size perspective. We would have to figure out how to feed input to the screens...e.g., another video card or computer.
Jesse Ferguson - 19 May 2007 05:47 PM
Here is the beginning of my vision for our stage set. I also want to see (Nates suggestion) some can lights shining up onto the curtains from floor level.
I would like to see some LCD’s or two smaller projection screens with little projectors doing AVI’s and/or running additional text from the main slide presentation.
We’ll have to re-position the main screen when we install the two LCD screens. The center makes sense, although it does create a little crowding because the of the table used to prop up the screen.
Dennis - 19 May 2007 06:32 PM
I have been doing some searching on the web to make some sense of all the different Worship software packages out there. There are a bunch of them!
We may be able to use this form/process to help us evaluate what we want to use for worship software… http://www.ebibleteacher.com/worshipsoftware.html First step that they recommend is to download a trial software package to see what works and what doesn’t for us. Check the evaluation sheet that I linked out and if it looks useful to the rest of you I would like to meet as a group virtually or in person and go over it.
I was suggesting that we position the screen more towards the middle so that we could put the other banner (the one that was infront of you Dennis) would be up on the platform. Quite honestly, in my opinion the position of the banner on the left (while facing the stage) was pointless as it was out of the view of everyone.
I am in favor of the flat screen TV’s, but we are going to have to figure out a way to transport those in and out. That is going to be a huge burden to get in and out. Out of curiosity, what do you guys think about putting a smaller projector on a smaller screen that could “resemble” a flat screen. We were talking about getting a smaller projector anyway, one that we could use in our smaller meetings and the Path classes. Just a thought.
I’m really excited that we actually have a thread theat we can discuss the Tech topics, I just need to get on this more.
Anyway, I would really like to do something with videos. I’ve always wanted to, and always will want to. It’s just my time-table is a little off of everybody elses. Sunday - Thursday I’m unavailable.
The multiple screens are a great idea as is the moving the main screen to the centrer. And I really like the backdrop. It takes away the distractions of people walking by and when it rains, it’s less depressing… and depression is always a good thing to get rid of.
I’m going to try and pop in here every night, and keep up with the current plans.
I think a small projector (perhaps back projecting) would be quite nice. we are running low on space on stage though. I feel quite strongly about not moving the projector screen to the middle of the stage, the composition of the stage must be thought of as a movie frame. Having things centered is generally a no no. If we want to shoot video we are going to want to avoid having a big light colored screen floating around in the background. Projection screens can look pretty bad on camera.
I feel that our worshipfulness atmosphere was quite nice this week, I am eager to see a worship leader come forth who will bring us to worship climaxes. If I had to draw a line of worship-full excitement and closeness to God through song that I felt I would draw a level line a dozen notches or so above normal life. I prefer to Jump in at a dozen notches then ramp up to tear jerking passionate praise and worship. I think the ambiance was pretty much there.
For worship time slides, I like to have the next slide (the correct next slide) before the end of the line I am singing is over, even if just by a word or two. Having some video behind the text would be cool...but not churchy, old lady, happy, video.
I want to AVOID slow shots of a waterfall then doves then a sunset, then a mountain, then flowers. I DO want undulating parchment texture, subtle changes in color, perhaps videos constructed around where the text would end up designed for a certain song. I want animated sketches, some cooler time-lapses things relating to the sermon etc. Look at some of the more fancy credits after movies, that stuff. Think “Moulin Rouge” “Lemony Snicket” and other kids movies where the text floats by alongside something theme based (we may choose something NOT like characters from “the Curse of the WeyerRabbit") I think Mathews face bouncing over the words like karaoke would be inappropriate.
I agree about the screen not being in the middle, but I think that we could move it over a few feet. I am excited that you are excited about the idea of using a projector, and you are right, if there was a way to set up rear projection that would be sweet so that we weren’t worried about people walking infront of it all the time. Does anyone have a pulse on what a good, but inexpensive projector would be?… Plus I would like it small so that it is really portable!
RE: STAGE - To me we have quite a bit of room up there to work with. Yesterday, for instance, the percussion set could have been way over to the back right (as you are facing the stage). That would clear out a ton of room in and of itself. AND (this just came to me) we could look into running the cords/wires off the back of the stage and the monitor wires under the stage so that the stage itself doesn’t have a ton of wires all over it.
RE: CURTAINS - I talked to Pastor Steve and Gary yesterday about this. I think that we should use the access curtain material to “box off” the window area to the left of the stage. And then run a curtain down the right (again as you are looking at the stage) corridor at least half-way back the length of the seats. This would bring more focus to our worship space. Jesse, I heard that there is ton of material left, is that true? If so maybe we can represent with that stuff this coming week.
Nate has a TINY pretty bright projector that he uses instead of a TV, Ill try to find some information about his and other comparable projectors.
We DO have a ton of fabric left, I miscalculated somehow and we could easily cover the left window that always has sun shining through it. Or make curtains to run up the sides a ways, we could also make some table cloths for the info booths, and recover the white privacy curtain divider things with black.
I think this smaller screen could go a number of places and the best way to tell where would be by playing with it at the cafeteria.
I am excited about the projector option. And Jesse I would be happy to meet with you over at the cafeteria this week (if needed) to cut the fabric so that it fit in the area that we are talking about.
