This project seemed to come to fruition much later than needed. While doing work for clients, I like to make progress update videos that show how the product development is coming along and showcasing some important features. I can upload them to a video host such as YouTube, and allow my clients to watch the video on their own time. This also gives them some material to show their sales partners, investors, or business partners.

As it turns out, it’s a little difficult getting the right camera angle for these videos. I’ve tried to set the camera on a block of wood and point it from the side, and it just looks a little awkward. In addition, your focus depth has to be constantly changing if you slide the product around on the work surface. See example:

I’ve also tried just holding the camera. This tends to results in jerky and unprofessional looking content. Not to mention I lose the ability to work with two hands while filming.

So, I’ve taken it upon myself to build something that will double as an instruction aid, and a camera mount. Essentially, it’s just a white board with a small camera boom attached to it.

Alright, I just realized it will be way faster for me to just shoot a quick video to describe how to piece it all together than it will be for me to write this up. I’m going to try to create links to all the building materials, and wrap this up with an assembly video. Enjoy!

Video:

Materials needed:

1) Adjustable desk-size microphone stand:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026QDLDY/ref=oss_product

2) Microphones-to-camera mount widget:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GWCC4I/ref=oss_product

3) 5/8″ 27 thread to 3/8″ – 16 thread converter:

http://www.filmtools.com/micadapter.html

4) Random PVC flange from Menards

5) Melamine board from menards. These come in huge sheets (like 10′ by 4′ or some nonsense). They are really cheap nonetheless ~$12 or so. The staff at Menards told me the local school often comes and buys them to use as white board, so I thought they should be pretty economical.

6) Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF). Bought a 2′ x 4′ board at around 1/2″ thick. This is for the backing of the whiteboard

7) “Liquid-Nails” or equivalent type adhesive (and some kind of brush to apply it with).  Also, apply this stuff in a well ventilated area. I have a feeling the fumes from this stuff will dissolve your brain in a matter of seconds.

Tip: Alternatively, you could just buy a dry erase board. They usually come with a backing on them. The problem is these are sold for ridiculous prices at places like office max. I built a 4′ x 2′ dry erase board essentially for $18 or so with leftover scrap. An equivalent sized finished product at office max is around $80+
Drill and Drill bits (standard workshop equipment)

9) Misc screws To screw into the flange. These should be long enough that they will drive through your flange, melamine board, and MDF, but not so long that they will poke out the bottom of the board and scratch whatever the board is resting on.