PRomptBox Fan Neil Tanner

PRomptBox Fan Neil Tanner http://ift.tt/2i5IBqY When I was asked to teleprompter in conjunction with a film camera with massive matte box, I built a custom trapezoid prompter with a soft hood on the back, similar to the old wet plate cameras of the 1800s. I also inherited three QTV prompter hoods from the CRT days and retrofitted them to LCD monitors. Because of the metal hoods and large sheets of glass, these are still heavy units, but I modified the mounting hardware for quick setup and freestanding options. Our 7 inch prompter in handheld modeI also bought a very well machined QTV master series PSP8 that I fell in love with at NAB. I swapped out the monitor, then added a pair of handgrips and a shoulder mount for handheld shooting. I’ve since been supplied with a several PRomptBox units, both VGA and tablet based. These are great since they fit to the shoe or 1/4″ of a camera. I built my own presidential or speech prompters system years ago, with clamps and mirrors from MirrorImage. I later purchased a great outdoor presidential system from them, that I’ve modified for quicker and lighter setup, and also some windproof options. When I saw the need for a robotic rise and fall presidential teleprompter system, I asked my brother, Thom, who is a robotics and mechanical engineer for help. Together we designed and he manufactured our TeleStepper. It’s gone through three versions and been used by Michelle Obama, various Senators, Lucasfilm, Chevron Corp., UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Dr Oz among others. I’m proud to announce it’s now for sale.

Remote Robotic Teleprompter RRT | Neil Tanner Inc 415 622 8338

Remote Robotic Teleprompter RRT | Neil Tanner Inc 415 622 8338 http://ift.tt/2i5IBqY Remote Robotic Teleprompter (RRT). We created this device because the standard presidential teleprompter could only be set for one speaker's height. If a speaker followed them who was shorter or taller, the options were to have a stagehand adjust the stand and disrupt the flow of a live show, or to have the speaker stand on a box, or alternatively, stoop down. Either way, it called attention to the speaker's height, and away from the presentation itself. We needed a solution and designed the RRT to be remotely height adjustable. Neil's version 1.0 used screw gears repurposed from satellite dish control arms, which were painfully slow, noisy, and jerky. Luckily, Neil's brother Thom is a robotics engineer, and redesigned the RRT. There was one system out there already, but it was prohibitively expensive and also required computers to control the robotic teleprompter system. Instead, we chose to make ours foolproof and controlled by a knob from where the operator sits. This allows for the precise timing of the remote adjustments to coincide with applause or some other distraction. While the glass moving robotically is somewhat magical, we don't want it to steal the show. Just as important as making this foolproof, we built it to be universal. We built it for the teleprompter owner-operators that may already have a substantial investment in their regular speech teleprompter software or hardware systems. Version 2.0 of the RRT, shown here, has been tested, rented, and flown across the globe. It has delighted clients such as Chevron, LucasFilm (ILM), the University of California, the California Democratic Party and many more. Further information about presidential teleprompters is available here http://ift.tt/1xxV5FI... We're currently creating version 3.0 to be for sale and rent in early 2014. It will allow for 24" of vertical travel and come to rest at a flat tabled position out of a camera's view. Patent pending. Contact us today

Racing the Clock for the Presidency

[Then] Senator Barack Obama walks up to the lectern at an election rally in 2008.
He delivers his speech with grace, power, and emotion. He reads off our outdoor presidential teleprompter while giving numerous ad libs to the crowd. Obama’s teleprompter is only for key reminders, since he knows his message by heart.

What the audience doesn’t know is that we were handed his script only a few minutes before. To read more about presidential teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

The CEO with a Plane to Catch

The CEO of Kaiser Permanente is sitting in the TV studio, reading from our camera mount teleprompter. Three takes later, he’s off to catch an important flight.

What you don’t know is that he was kept waiting for hours while another company’s teleprompter repeatedly failed. To read more about CEO  Plane to Catch go to www.neiltanner.com

Drama with Millionaire Donors

Film director James Cameron is on stage in front of hundreds of wealthy X PRIZE Foundation donors. He’s reading a speech from a teleprompter in order to raise funds and awareness. People are listening attentively and writing checks.

What you don’t know is that just hours before the live event, the in-house teleprompter system failed. To read more about Millionaire Donors go to www.neiltanner.com

Taeyang performs for MTV with our concert teleprompter.

Musicians using a concert teleprompter is more common than you would think. Musicians have a lot of lyrics and songs to memorize. Naturally, when they’re on stage they can’t mess up. However, they merely use the concert teleprompter to jog their memory—they’re not staring at it the entire performance:)

The prompter also can act as a set list. We’ve supplied concert teleprompters for Sting, Liza Minnelli, Metallica, Snoop Dogg, Rufus Wainwright, and T-Bone Burnett. To read more about concert teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

The pride of parents at Commencement

I have a long history with commencement (aka graduation) ceremonies. This is because I used to play saxophone in the marching bands for both my high school and university. At least once a year, we’d perform ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ over and over while the seniors walked to receive their diplomas in the graduation ceremony.

So I got a great feeling when UC Davis asked me if we would be interested in assisting their speakers at commencement. To read more about Commencement go to www.neiltanner.com

Why did I superimpose prompter text over the Director’s face?

I’ve wanted to try putting teleprompted script over a person’s face for years. It made sense: put the words for the talent to read as usual, but also superimpose the friendly face of the director to nod, smile or just be the focus. It’s the combination of an Interrotron, MirrorCam™, or EyeDirect with a traditional teleprompter.

Up until recently, I never felt great about the right mixer between VGA signal and the video feed, so it was a back shelf idea. To read more about prompter text go to www.neiltanner.com

How does a presidential teleprompter work?

The presidential teleprompter demystified. No, they can’t see your words. I created a post about how the camera teleprompter works here.

When I was a kid, and I saw photographs of these glass panels around a lectern, I just thought they were bullet proof glass to protect the speaker. To read more about presidential teleprompter  go to www.neiltanner.com

How does a teleprompter work?

A teleprompter is the modern incarnation of “smoke and mirrors.” There was this method called “Pepper’s Ghost” in the 1860’s that used a stretched piece of thin fabric placed between the audience and the stage.

It was unnoticeable unless light was reflected off it. The actors on the stage would do their thing until the phantom was needed to appear. To read more about teleprompter work go to www.neiltanner.com

Michael Bay’s CES meltdown from a teleprompter operator’s perspective

The awkward Michael Bay teleprompter moment has been shared worldwide, yet it could have been easily prevented. Director Michael Bay spoke briefly at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) yesterday, to talk about the new large screen curved displays from Samsung. The talk was streamed live.

Michael was supposed to read from a downstage monitor (DSM.) To read more about teleprompter operator’s perspective go to www.neiltanner.com

Zen Teleprompting

Teleprompting is a dance. People often assume that the teleprompter operator drives the speed of the speech. They think that we just set the pace and the speaker has to follow us. It’s not uncommon for people to think they’d just get an iPad to loop the script. There’s even those that believe teleprompting is really just setting up the gear and that anyone can do it.

Whether it’s a live event or a video, we actually follow the speaker as they move through the speech. To read more about Zen Teleprompting go to www.neiltanner.com

Going green or bad car day?

Both… I generally try to take mass transit when I do teleprompting in downtown SF, even if it means lugging cases and carts on BART. Today however, its because I’m temporarily car-less. Last night, as I drove up the 101 from another teleprompter gig, the rear hatch on my Ford Focus wagon magically opened… at 70mph.

Because of the wind, the hatch stayed down until I cut across the five lanes and slowed to 20mph, then it swung upwards on its own. To read more about teleprompting transit go to www.neiltanner.com

The old days of teleprompting

A history lesson on teleprompters from the early 90’s… Instead of bright, lightweight LCD or LED monitors that you can use outside in the sun, running off your iPad or laptop… I learned how to do this on paper scrolls and heavy CRT monitors.

Actually, that’s not entirely true… here’s the story. To read more about The old days of teleprompting go to www.neiltanner.com

“I’m just starting out. Hiring a teleprompter operator is overkill.”

You don’t need to hire a teleprompting professional. But I really recommend not using a teleprompter app on autoscroll by yourself. Just get your spouse, friend, or admin to run the app and match your speed.

For example, the number “$23,577” takes up a small amount of space on the screen, and would go by quickly on a preset speed. To read more about starting out go to www.neiltanner.com

Can’t I just do this myself?

“Couldn’t I just rent your teleprompter and do this myself?” People watch us operate our gear and see that the show is smooth with great results. They then wonder if they could do the same thing without having to spend money on an operator— just do it themselves.

I admit I’m biased with my response. To read more about teleprompter operator go to www.neiltanner.com

Teleprompter Career Gratitude

I’ve been teleprompting professionally for at least 22 years now. I got to thinking how cool life is. I just felt it needed to be put out there, as a simple act of thanks to many of the people who have given me some nice opportunities and who have been fun to be around in this cool industry. The following is kinda long. Read it if you feel like getting to know me better. Skip if you know I’m pretty happy in life and that’s enough:)

Big thanks to my film teacher at Chico state, George Rogers who got me my first internship at Murphy Film Group near Sacramento. To read more about Teleprompter Career Gratitude go to www.neiltanner.com

How Do I Properly Use a Speech Prompter?

A speech prompter might seem very easy to use, but there are technicalities on its use that require more than just reading from it. Learn important tips on how to use a presidential prompter. Using a speech prompter can be hard.

There are some speakers who think that reading from a speech prompter is easy, so they skip the practice. To read more about speech prompter go to www.neiltanner.com

How Speech Teleprompter Works and Make Speeches Easier

Know how a speech teleprompter works and how it can help you deliver effective speeches in front of an audience. Apresidential speech teleprompter gives you freedom from flipping through cue cards or rustling papers. Presidential speech teleprompter is helpful in speeches.

A teleprompter is a piece of equipment used to display text in front of a video camera. To read more about Presidential speech teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

Interesting Facts About the Television Teleprompter Equipment

Television teleprompter equipment has gone a long way since it was first used in classic Greek theater. Learn interesting facts leading up to the modern use of teleprompters. Television teleprompter equipment go way back.

Using television teleprompter equipment might not be the oldest profession there is, but it has been around for quite a while now. To read more about Television teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

Rent a Teleprompter: 5 Reasons Why It is Worth It

Online video producers today have many reasons to rent a teleprompter for the betterment of their business. Know 5 reasons to avail of teleprompter services. Teleprompter rental has many uses.

Today’s generation of online video producers has to make sure that their products are unscripted, extemporaneous, spontaneous and authentic. To read more about Teleprompter rental go to www.neiltanner.com

Top 7 Tips for Using a Professional Teleprompter

A professional teleprompter can be a very helpful tool for speakers and presenters — for as long as they are properly used. Learn reading teleprompter tips to make you look like the professional speaker that you are. Professional teleprompter is a helpful tool.

A professional teleprompter can be a helpful tool for presenters and speakers. To read more about Professional teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

A Guide to Choosing the Right Teleprompter Equipment

There are many kinds of teleprompter equipment in the market today. Learn some of the most important considerations to ensure that you purchase the best film teleprompter equipment. There is a lot of teleprompter equipment to choose from.

Here’s several key questions you have to think about when buying a teleprompter, regardless of your preferred manufacturer, existing equipment, budget or prompting requirements. To read more about Right Teleprompter Equipment go to www.neiltanner.com

How does an Interrotron work?

The Interrotron creates interview magic. Instead of talking to some off-camera stranger, the subject speaks right to the camera. This way, your audience is in the conversation, not just eavesdropping. The great documentary filmmaker Errol Morris popularized direct to camera interviews with his creation, the Interrotron.

Basically, there are two teleprompters, each fed the video signals of the opposite camera. To read more about Interrotron go to www.neiltanner.com

The 7 Benefits of Hiring Teleprompter Operators in the Bay Area

Choosing the right resources for your production like the teleprompter is only half the battle when a good speech is to be delivered. Other factors that need consideration is on how finely tuned the speaker and the speech is with the machines used together with the teleprompter operators during broadcast. These things considered will ultimately make or break your prompter presentation. Why use a teleprompter?

Generally, speech teleprompters help speakers present their material better through better visuals as prompters allow them to connect to the audience rather than being seen reading their message on screen. To read more about teleprompter operators go to www.neiltanner.com

Being a teleprompter tech at the Invictus Games for the BBC was not easy.

One of the joys of being in this teleprompter business, is getting calls from past clients. This last week was quite the “remember us?” scenario. In the space of one hour, I was moving my schedule around, finding people to sub for my other local jobs, packing my gear, packing my clothes, and getting a red-eye plane ticket to Florida for a week.

The BBC was in Orlando shooting a daily live show for the 2016 Invictus Games when something unexpected happened with their local teleprompter operator. To read more about teleprompter tech go to www.neiltanner.com

What teleprompter equipment do I use?

When I first started, a teleprompter was mainly studio only. I used my client’s crazy proprietary “remote” teleprompter system that would give a composite video out, but only display to the operator 3 tiny lines of text. So, I learned to be veeeeery focused. As a bonus, if you went backwards, it would crash.

When I got fed up using other people’s gear, I bought my own system. It was an Apple Powerbook 180, running Quickprompt by Marietta Designs. Prompting with a laptop computer? That was high tech! I fed it into a MirrorImage TP-140, a tank of a CRT (cathode ray tube… the non- flat panel monitors) teleprompter that was a very reliable albeit heavy system. It required a Magliner dolly to transport the massive Thermodyne cases and counterweights, but wow, no downtime, ever… definitely the early stages of portable teleprompters. To read more about teleprompter equipment go to www.neiltanner.com

Teleprompting in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese

It was an example of working together as a team to help the client with something that was quite unique. The client had requestedMandarin, Cantonese, and the ability to handle traditional Chinese characters. I realized that while three of my team had worked in Pinyin and Mandarin in the past, this was beyond us. Following along was one thing, (see the Linguist post) but editing was another. I found a friend of mine, Tiffine, who spoke Mandarin passably while her mother spoke Cantonese and Mandarin languages fluently. Neither had ever teleprompted before, but Tiffine was computer savvy and willing to learn something new with her mom:)

Because of a time overlap, my teammate Ralph Kelliher set up the gear, then I showed up shortly after and relieved him. I trained Tiffine, introduced the native spokeswoman to teleprompting, and then let them take over. The key was to make sure someone was listening for the best take. Once we empowered the client to be the judge, the process was smooth and everyone left happy. To read more about teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

Ocean cliffs and our outdoor teleprompter

You’re at the mercy of the weather and geography, and often time hours from any support. Today we shot at Slide Ranch just North of the Golden Gate Bridge for two days, to support a cool Disney endeavor, “Pass the Plate.” Two awesome, professional child actors read from our outdoor teleprompter to share tips on organic, locally grown veggies, honey, and gluten free pizza crust while farmhands tended the bees and local kids milked the goats. To do this properly, we needed to be mobile and have an outdoor teleprompter that was 6 times as bright as standard units. These are expensive and rare in the teleprompter industry but we’ve found it useful to own several. If you’re teleprompting outside without a special highbright(aka daybright) monitor, it’s impossible to read. To read more aboutoutdoor teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

How do you go wireless with a Steadicam teleprompter?

This was a fun shoot. The director and agency were from England and kept using the British term for the teleprompter, which is “Autocue.” This was a challenge, not because of the accents:), but because the shoot called for the CEO of Bebo to read the script while walking around their offices and the streets of San Francisco. To read more about Steadicam teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com

Multiple cameras, one teleprompter

Often times as video crews, we get just one or two takes with a politician or executive because their time is very limited. We’re familiar with the line “Okay that was a great take, now we need to roll back the teleprompter script to the top and do another take in a tight shot. I promise, this is the last one.” If your CEO has a plane to catch, or another business meeting to attend, you can get a pretty bad stare, or a flat out refusal. To read more about teleprompter go to www.neiltanner.com