this is a first attempt so have mercy - no color correction shy one clip so I'm looking for advice on that

edit - I created a stream version with Evan's advice - i had to go a bit higher on the data rate (but this is 900x506) 224meg
http://www.northwitchproductions.com/hdvsamples/gardenparty_beststream2000.mov

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It takes a few minutes to load if you view it online - and won't show it's loading which I'm thinking is a stream setting - any web stream version I tried to create looked too degraded so this is h264 with med qual

And I tried every permutation trying to get this sucker down but it won't budge past 170meg and that was after taking it down to 640x360

http://www.northwitchproductions.com/hdvsamples/gardenparty640x360medqual.mov

trish

I assume you're using the standard quicktime export. At your current size you should use h.264, but instead of using the quality slider click the 'restrict to' option in the data rate section and set the rate to 900kbs. Make sure the 'Best Quality(Multi Pass)' option is checked.

In the sound section switch the format to AAC at 160kbs.

Also make sure the 'fast start' option is enabled in the 'Prepare for internet streaming' section - otherwise people have to wait for the whole file to download before they can start watching.

This will drop your file size to ~75Mb while keeping the quality high, and should stream in real time on most broadband connections. It's also iPod/iPhone compatible.

Just finished downloading for me - gotta run but I'll watch it when I get back.

excellent - thanks for the tip(s) - i'll try that right now

trish

I liked it!
I had a laugh or two, thank you for that.

Trish,

That was fantastic. Very original and kept me wondering what's going to happen next. The editing was perfectly clippy and there was both a strangeness and a sense of humor going through the visual and aural experience.

I had a smile on my face all the way through. I'm not big into puppets (or clowns, or monkeys or sharks, or Klingons...well, you get the idea) but I really enjoyed this.

Great job!

Trish, that cracked me up! Thanks!

Bill

Great example of telling a story without dialogue. :) I enjoyed it, and the visuals, colors, and audio were great.

Hee hee. Thanks so much, Trish. You made my morning!

Nothing irritates me more than art house filmmakers who seem to think that films have to tragic (and in BW) in order to be compelling. You must have had SO much fun with this.

From a technique perspective, I saw nothing major to complain about, but I'm something of a newb myself, so perhaps the more experienced forum denizens can provide you better guidance.

Great work!

cheers, Daniel

thanks everyone for taking the time to view it and the encouraging words. Still lots to learn, but I had a blast making it.

Trish

*******EDIT********


...I guess this post would be a total spoiler for those who have not seen your piece yet.
Sorry.

Da best party video I've seen,
Thank you.
:-)

excellent short. Reminds me a little bit of this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEZz5HyGJ2c

thank you! I finally know where the gremlin comes from - I can't remember where I got it from originally as it was years ago (garage sale most likely) but I could never find it after and I had no idea the eyes glow!

Boglin.

Now that leaves only one mystery monster left in my collection - I have some large lime green monster that looks like a swamp thing, with hands that resemble asparagus.

could never find reference to it online.

Excellent!

Pretty good, but the opening sequence is wayyyyy too long.

Trish,

When I download the video and play it, it only plays part way (up to the point when the pupet hangs upsidedown from the top and moves it's eyes. Then it just stops. I downloaded a couple of times and the same thing.

Since I only saw the opening, like Bryan, I too felt the opening was way too long and the repeating of the that green thing that makes you dizzy or hypnotizing kind of was a bit irritating. But that's just my opinion and I want abel to see the full video.

Shiv.

Trish,

I was able to download and view the complete video. That's way cool! Good ideas and implementation, nice angles and compisiton too.

It would have been great with the Letus in the scenes with the puppets so you wouldn't see the background much and so references to size.

So was that handheld (following the footsteps etc.) or did you use the Steadicam Merlin?

Hi Shiv

sorry, didn't get back already on it not playing properly - I checked it on a few computers and it's streaming ok on those - still not sure why it was giving you trouble.

It would have been great to have a letus. 35 adaptor is on the list.

I have a merlin now but not when I shot the video. Handheld.

It probably would have looked like they were at sea with the merlin - I've only had a few snippets of time to play with it so far and I can barely get it balanced as it is.

Your video in the kitchen showroom (I assumed merlin shot) looks like you are getting the hang of it.

trish

Trish,

That was pretty good hand held stuff then. Good work overall.

Yeah, I find the steadicam Merlin to be a lot of fun. I don't have problems balancing it or shooting over 45 minutes or more non stop.

It's working on keeping the composition, planing your moves etc. that I have some trouble with. And it's not like its hard, but I'm having so much fun that I'm not concentrating on the real stuff.

It's all about planning your moves and anticipating your camera pans/tilts ahead of time, because you're kind of having to pan the camera a second or so earlier then you think and then you also need to stop it from continuing to pan. I know how to do, just not at the correct time some times. When I look at the footage afterwards I know I went wrong and if possible I will re-shoot and get it right.

In one of Charles' post he said he's come to the point (after 18 years or so of doing it) where he's thinking about what he's going to have for luch while he's doing a steadicam shot. I'm doing the same (well not lunch), except I'm not doing what I *should* be. :)

It does open up a lot of possibilites such as dolly and jib arm kinds of moves.

Shiv

Trish,

Balancing the Merlin:
Make sure you use one weight plus an end weight on the top spar and all but one of the rest of the weights on the bottom spar (I forget how many). In other words, you should have one spare weight left over.

The gimbal height should be adjusted such that it's two turns out from lightly seated. That is tighten it fully (be gentle) and then unscrew it two turns.

Your spars should be wide open and locked.

When it comes to getting the camera balanced remember that the closer you get to proper balance you should be adjusting both the rear and side adjusters to achieve balance even though it seems you only need to do one.

Hope that helps.

Shiv.