Elijah Zane Echeveste, an independent content producer based in Austin, TX, has been developing his specialty in medical training video productions since 2020 when he discovered Blackmagic Design.
With a background in video production and through a personal connection, Echeveste was approached by a world-renowned plastic surgery center in Austin during the pandemic for assistance with teaching surgical students, staff, and doctors at a health-conscious distance.
Making his first foray into livestreaming, Echeveste discovered the ATEM Mini live production switcher paired with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K digital film cameras as an affordable and simple solution for a small multi-camera setup. Now, four years later, Echeveste has not only upgraded to the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO live production switcher as his workflow has evolved, but he has streamed almost 20 cosmetic procedures to in-person and remote international audiences observing the latest techniques as they are performed live by surgeons at the practice.
Scrubbed In and Streaming Out
“Using this Blackmagic Design workflow allows us to deliver the closest, most detailed experience to the real thing. It allows us to show these cosmetic procedures in first person, in the highest visual quality imaginable, almost as if you were there, up close, which is imperative for accurate medical training, especially when your audience can be halfway around the world. It opens doors we didn’t have before,” explained Echeveste.
“I set up my two Pocket Cinema Camera 6Ks on tripods, positioned to capture the patient or the doctors, connected by HDMI fiber cables that plug into the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO. My laptop is also connected to the ATEM via USB input. The other USB input is used for the capture card, and a wireless receiver is placed into the mic input, while wireless transmitters are placed on each doctor performing the procedure. The setup is as simple as that, and the result is an impressive cinematic experience for observers,” he added.
After several successful initial livestreams with the ATEM Mini, Echeveste identified an opportunity to expand the reach of these educational sessions and found himself in need of recording capability, which he found in the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO.
“My favorite feature of the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO is of course the ability to record the live stream straight onto our external drive. Equally as important, having a DaVinci Resolve project file automatically saved so that I can open it in DaVinci Resolve Studio as a video edit in a single click is a gift. That video file is then stored and diced out for multiple clips that are used for Instagram Stories, Posts or Reels,” said Echeveste. “I also use ATEM Software Control, and I love how seamlessly it works with my Pocket Cinema Camera 6Ks. The software allows me to control and manipulate the lighting and color on my cameras from a distance using fiber HDMI cables.”
Thus far, Echeveste has livestreamed nearly 20 procedures to upwards of 100 students, staff, and fellow colleagues in the cosmetic industry, both locally and from around the world, allowing them access to several top surgeons performing different techniques, in addition to best practices and new equipment.
Operating Room and Beyond
“Having a simple workflow that is unobtrusive is crucial in an operating setting to avoid distractions and to also adhere to the healthcare standards required for maintaining a sterile environment,” said Echeveste. “Working in a medical setting presents a number of challenges, but I have my routine down to a science, thanks to the ease of use and streamlined workflow offered by the Blackmagic Design gear.”
He continued, “The doctors are explaining the procedure to onsite trainees and to the attendees on a Zoom call. Using headphones, I monitor the audio and listen to the attendees ask questions so I can repeat them aloud for the doctors, as I am in the same room. On my laptop, I am using Zoom to stream the two cameras and mics to the viewers on the call. I’m also streaming the screen to a large TV in the observation room using a wireless connection.”
Echeveste plans to explore more opportunities to assist surgeons, eye doctors, and other clinical professionals in sharing their procedures with doctors locally and around the world who are interested in learning the latest techniques and new equipment in the cosmetic surgical market.