Search the Community

I need to record a scene where up to 4 people will be in a hot tub that is also a boat. I was told that basically the entire boat is a hot tub. We will be filming from 1 or 2 follow boats, distance unknown but guessing in the 10-15’ range. So I have 2 main concerns - how to mic shirtless cast with a necklace rig (booming not being a practical option), and how to get that audio transmitted and/or recorded. For the mics I will likely use countryman B6s or something similar and run those into some kind of necklace rig. My main concern is determining how to build this… So I want to know if anyone else has experience building a rig like this and what materials were used? The pictures below are from rigs made for the show Love Island. Mainly I would want to figure out what to use for the windshield the mic sits inside - anyone know what these might be? And also if anyone knows of a good necklace that could function as the base that would be helpful as well. And then for the wireless transmission and/or internal recording. I’m wondering if I rented Lectro WM transmitters and had the cast wear them normally and thus have them submerged in hot water - do you think there is any chance of getting a strong enough signal from a follow boat? My gut says it’s extremely doubtful given my one other experience trying to do something similar. Anyone else tried something like this? So another option at that point would be to get something like the Aquapac: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1803482-REG/aquapac_q148_radio_mic_mini_waterproof.html/overview?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1 And then just use transmitters with an internal recording function. However I don’t think I can trust the aquapac to hold up over the course of an entire scene fully submerged. The specs say the Aquapac “features an IPX6 rating, allowing it to be temporarily immersed in water when sealed without leaking, but not continually submerged”. And I’m not aware of any model of transmitter that is waterproof (fully submersible) and has an internal recording function (doesn’t need to transmit simultaneously), but if there is something out there, let me know. So the next option would be to attach the transmitters to the side/edge of the “hot tub boat” and try to conceal them with the cast’s bodies. This certainly isn’t ideal for filming but I don’t know what other option we have. Im chewing my way through possibilities at the moment. If you have any ideas about how this can be done or suggestions for gear please chime in! Any help is greatly appreciated.