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The through the lens camera set up. For film and video shoots, we use what is called a
through the lens camera set up because the camera literally fits through the prompter.
The reflective glass is cradled in a hood with a shroud that blacks out everything through
the glass. You do not want anything distorting or any light leaking through to the glass
because that creates problems with the words on the glass. The glass reflects from the
monitor, which in this case is cradled in a frame that is connected to a long and narrow
platform bar which is connected to the tripod. The camera's tripod plate screws onto a riser
so that the camera's lens is pretty much in the center of the glass. So the talent is
looking in the very center. The monitors are often black and white monochrome and have
the horizontal scanning reversed to compensate for the reflection of the mirror. The text
is usually displayed in white letters on a black background for the very best readability.
Work with your camera person to ascertain that your set up is fitting nicely and is
level and more importantly, balanced.