Purple Cow Cast

Website: http://www.PurpleValleyFilms.com/webcast

"The most exciting job on campus, because for 30 minutes, you really have to concentrate and follow every action -- sometimes even more intense than the game itself."

Who we are

Purple Cow Cast is a division of Purple Valley Films that provides free live webcast on athletic events at Williams College. It is a collaboration between Purple Valley Films and and Sports Information. Run by students, this service covers major home games, so family, friends and alumni can watch the game online in real time.

To join us

This student-run service is considered as a campus job and you’ll be paid by Sports Information ($8.75/hour).

During a major athletic event, a production crew will typically consist of two camera operators and one technical director that manages the audio/video switchboard. Four to five people may be needed for one production, and they are rotated during half-time. Don’t worry if you know nothing about video cameras or video switchboards; we’ll provide the training.

Interested students should email Danny Y. Huang at yh1 [at] williams [dot] edu. Please include your name, class year, and phone number.

NOTE: You will not be paid if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You are a freshman already with a campus job.
• You are a freshman without a campus job and you do not receive Financial Aid.
• You are a currently senior (sorry).

What we do

One week prior to the athletic event, we will send emails to members to sign up for the assignment. A production crew is selected fro that assignment on a first-come-first-served basis, but if a member is experienced, he/she may be given preference. On Saturday afternoon (usually), the production crew spends 3-4 hours on the assignment. Two people are on the cameras and one person at the control at a time. They rotate during half-time. On the following Monday, they fill out the time cards at the Sports Information Office.

Here are some of the photos for the ice-hockey game on March 28, 2009. A five-member crew worked on the assignment, with assistance from Jim Schultz from Pittsfield TV. We had two HD cameras, a Mac Book Pro for video switching and a PC for previews and score updates. We worked on an elevated platform about 20 feet above the ground.

http://www.purplevalleyfilms.com/webcast/photos/ice_hockey_01.JPG

Above: Working on an elevated platform with assistance from Jim Schultz (left) from Pittsfield TV.

http://www.purplevalleyfilms.com/webcast/photos/ice_hockey_02.JPG

Above: Our two-camera system.

http://www.purplevalleyfilms.com/webcast/photos/ice_hockey_03.JPG

Above: Following every single action.

http://www.purplevalleyfilms.com/webcast/photos/ice_hockey_04.JPG

Above: Concentration.

http://www.purplevalleyfilms.com/webcast/photos/ice_hockey_05.JPG

Above: Technical director who manages video streaming and switching between two cameras.

Photographs by Danny Y. Huang