quote: Martin McCaffery

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I can connect to YouTube and get videos, so a picture does go through the system.

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quote:

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Note: Third-party apps may offer video out or video mirroring. To determine if an app supports either feature, refer to the Info page for the app in the App Store, or contact the developer.

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quote: Manny Knowles

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1. Does the Skype iPad App support video out?
2. If so, are you running the latest version of it?
3. Is there some special reason you need to use an iPad for this? Have you considered just using a laptop?

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1) I'm guessing not
2) Just upgraded both yesterday
3) Because I have an iPad at the theatre, and bought the cable/adaptor. Just ordered some new cable to try and get it to work with my laptop.
 

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Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 09-28-2012, 09:32 AM:
 
I've done this with the laptop a few times and it works fine that way. You'll probably find it a lot easier than trying to do it with the iPad.

Not sure if this is your first time with Skype, or just your first time trying to do it with an iPad -- but, just in case, here are my (I hope) helpful tips and tricks:

Laptop on a podium, using the on-board camera & mic
Plug your laptop into AC power -- don't get caught with a dead or dying battery!
Video out to projector
Audio out to sound system
Microphone nearby so that the question can be heard by the audience
If you have a choice between Ethernet or Wi-Fi, use the Ethernet connection.
Box "taped off" on the ground to demonstrate where people should stand

I set all of this up in advance -- before show time -- and if you're good at "dressing" things, it can be done in such a way as to not be distracting during the screening.

Other tips:

If you've got a lot of friends & family on Skype, consider creating a separate account for Q&A so that your audience doesn't see all your "buddies" coming and going online/offline -- it would also be awkward if you started getting personal incoming calls or messages during your Q&A.

If you do create a separate account, make a note of the user name and password -- especially if you're likely to forget this stuff after not using the account for a few months. (I'm on my second account since I forgot the first one.)

Turn off email programs and anything else that might cause a pop-up to appear on-screen. Consider creating a separate user account just for Skype Q&A so you don't have to worry about personal effects like email popups, or people catching a glimpse of your cluttered desktop (or porn collection?).

Note -- if you're using a Mac, and you have enabled the Guest User feature, you can log in as a guest -- upon logout, it deletes all traces of everything you do in that User Account. Nothing on the desktop, no web browser history. Nothing.

Test the system *in the cinema* by calling a friend (who is not in the cinema).

Sometimes I'm lucky enough to get "test time" with the actual interviewee. They're often eager to test if it's their first time. In that case, be prepared to hold their hand. (If you're on a PC, it may help to know the Mac version of Skype -- and vice-versa.) Testing with the filmmaker also ensures that you have successfully added each other to your Skype contacts.

If you don't test with the filmmaker, make sure that you *have* been added each other's Skype contacts.

Send the interviewee an email with the date and time of the screening and the anticipated time of the Q&A call. State which time zone you are talking about. I usually let them know that I will log-in at show time and then send them text messages (via Skype) to keep them updated (countdown til end of show).

Exchange phone numbers in case you don't see each other online, you can find out what's going on -- is their internet connection acting up? are they stuck in traffic? did they totally forget about the call?
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 09-28-2012, 11:08 AM:
 
Thanks for the tips. First time Skype and first time iPad. The event isn't until 3 weeks from now, which is why I'm doing the tests way in advance with the filmmaker
When I get the cables for the laptop, I'll report back.
 

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Posted by Kirk Futrell (Member # 5006) on 10-02-2012, 01:25 PM:
 
Skypers,
Here is a quick version of what we use. This may not be the easiest way but I think it works out good for both guest and audience.

Things you will need:
-Soundboard next to sound rack with Aux/Monitor out (goes to Mic IN or Line IN on laptop)
-A mic in the auditorium so that your audience and guest can hear
(It can be wireless in booth, send this channel to the
Aux/Mon channel)
-Laptop (in the booth attached to video projector)
-An Igrabber or video capture device that will work as a webcam
-Video camera with s-video or composite out.
-Long s-video or composite cable to reach your camera at the front of the auditorium (you can get these cheap from a online security camera store, and composite is fine since this will only be seen by the guest.)
-Cable from laptop headphone jack to channel on soundboard
-Ethernet cable connection
You may want to record the event with the guests permission.
SuperTinTin is a great fairly cheap automatic skype recorder that records directly from the streams so you can record in different ways, such as side by side if you want.
One more tip, as I think Manny mentioned, you will want to direct the question askers to stand in the camera's view, if the guest cannot see the person asking the question and how they are reacting they may ramble on making their point over and over, as they are not seeing the visual cues that say "Ok, shut up, I get it."
Also, if you use this method you may want to have a google voice account setup so you can call them on their cell phone in the event that the whole skype thing craps out, which it inevitably will. Then you can keep the same setup and just put a nice picture from the interweb up there on the screen, hopefully an embarrassing one from a British tabloid.
Below is the link to the Igrabber
Igrabber on Amazon
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-10-2012, 03:46 PM:
 
Ok, got the right cables and the laptop and it works fine.
We are going to use the cellphone for the audience to ask the filmmakers questions as the laptop will be up in the projection booth. Maybe if we do this more often we can go full bore with cameras and audio input.
The show is a week from Thursday, let's hope it goes as well as the test.
 

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Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 10-10-2012, 05:31 PM:
 
Is the laptop in the booth because you don't have video input and/or Ethernet down in the theatre?
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-10-2012, 08:30 PM:
 
Yup. Hope to have it someday. Like when we go digital
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-21-2012, 04:47 PM:
 
We did it Thursday and went off without a hitch, other than only 15 people showed up (nonetheless, outgrossed 25 other screens in the area for the day). That's showbiz.
 

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