If they are all in different "geographical locations" how can you capture what they are saying simultaneously with just two cameras?

And.... am I right to assume that you mean they are just in different parts of the room... rather than any further apart (that the term "geographical" would seem to imply).

I am a little uncertain of what you are actually saying (as to me your statement is a little ambiguous).

Are you suggesting that you would find it difficult to sync up the audio if you capture the kids saying their lines all at different times... or if you capture them simultaneously (on three separate cameras rolling tape simultaneously). I suspect that it is the former that you are suggesting but wanted to make sure of this.

If you are trying to capture the kids individually (at different times) I agree that it may be challenging to use this in a PIP effect, Unless the kids each say their words at exactly the same pace (or very nearly)... you will find their words are getting out of sync with one-another. You could coach them I guess. but I think that may be asking a little too much.

Just another idea... how about using the shots from the three different children (captured at different times) and cutting from one to onather to another (maybe multiple times). In other words you actually get the whole thing said from beginning to end but alternate between each of the kids. That way you are not actually having to "sync" up the audio between each of the kids... just sequentially cutting the appropriate parts of the speech and adding it onto the end of the timeline each time. Make sense?

Out of interest...how long is what they are going to be saying?

Hope that helps.

Sorry, I was a little confusing on my scenario. The kids are supposed to be from different regions of the country, and are learning to trade with each other. The point of the part I am trying to edit with the PIP is when they all get the same idea to work together and trade. It is supposed to happen with each group at different locations in the story, but I want the 3 leaders to say the sentence in a 3x PIP at the same time. Sorry if this is still confusing. It is to me too. I know what I want to do, but lack the expertise to convey it properly.

Liam, the sentence is going to be 5 words long. As I only have 2 cameras to work with, I was thinking of shooting all 3 kids with one camera, and make 3 PIP out of that one clip. At least they would be saying the words together. But I don't think it would look as good as having 3 separate clips to use. As I said before, if I try to sync up 3 different kids saying it differently, it probably won't work. I was looking for suggestions on a workaround, in case anyone has encountered this before. However, I do like the idea of using the sequential cuts you suggested, or possibly have it said by each of them and have that go into a PIP when they're finished. I will shoot it so I can try each of these ways. Thanks for the help.

If it's only 5 words, it should be easy - record a "model" version of the sentence so they can all listen and practice the pace and timing. Make them do it several times, and I'd be surprised if you don't get perfect matches.

Thanks for the additional explanation... I do understand what you are trying.

You could certainly shoot all three with one camera simultaneously and then use the cookie cutter / pancrop to separate each into a sort of PIP.

With just 5 words to say... perhaps you could tape each individually (using one camera at different times). With just 5 words to say it will probably be possible to get them to say it in a very similar way so that you could align them sufficiently.

It would not hurt to try it both ways with such a small number of words.

You can also have the kids repeat the phrase several times while recording. Not only does this multiply your chances for getting takes that do line up, but with repetition most phrases will fall into a natural cadence that all speakers from the same region share. They may say it differently to begin with, but after a short while they'll approach each other closely.