videotaping

[Phyllis J. Stinson]

This seems to be the right place to inquire about this particular situation I'm confronted with. I took a doctor's deposition last week that was videotaped to be played before a jury. The videographer called me a few days later and asked me for an ascii of the transcript so he could "audio sync" the transcript with the video, as the attorney had asked him to audio sync the video, and, I guess, (having overheard a conversation after the depo) edit the video. This makes no sense to me. Can anyone explain what could possibly be going on? Thanks for your comments.

Phyllis

[Lisa Breiter]

Hi Phyllis:
They sync the written words with the video and it looks sort of like closed captioning is on their video. Just send him an ASCII and if you can include one with timestamping and one without, that would be helpful, but a regular ASCII file is fine.

[Amanda Leigh]

I recently read on another forum (I think another forum) about parties that do not order a copy of the transcript ordering the video sync'd, thereby, of course, getting the transcript for free. Also, the sync'ing is value-added and the videographers charge for this. Perhaps the court reporters should get a percentage of that charge, eh? If no, perhaps the videographer can pay for the copy. Still there's that problem of the videographer possibly selling the sync'd video to a party that did not order the transcript.

Maybe reporters should look into buying sync'ing software and start asking videographers for a copy of the video. Just a thought.

[Judy]

What makes you think videographers will give you a coy of the video? And if they do, will they give you what you need to sync the software? Or will they give it to you in a version that you have to buy yet another program so you can transfer it into the appropriate file type?

I have syncing software. It's tough to get a videographer to "give" you anything. My videographer charges $50 per CD/DVD for the .mpg file, which is what you need for the Publisher software. Since I find that a bit pricey, I get the regular CD/DVD and had to purchase "ripping" software. It's time-consuming, to say the least.

But I do agree with you about selling your ASCII to the videographer. Since they're not giving us anything, why should we give them anything? I know that sounds harsh, but if the give-and-take is taken away from the get-go, you've got nowhere else to go except "busines is business."