Title: Uniform Changes

Here is the entry for Chris Swanberg and Chris Barcellos.

I uploaded these to vimeo and youtube, so people would have a choice.

YouTube - Uniform Changes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAnC3n56_XA)

Uniform Changes on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/2102988)

Title: Kelsey

Center Street Productions - Non-Profit Video and Photography Blog Archive Kelsey (http://www.centerstreetproductions.com/csnonprofit/fun-stuff/kelsey/30)

Thanks guys! Let me know how it plays for you - I've just started using FLVs with this player and still am not sure how viewable they are. It's fine for me, but I have pretty good DSL.

Phil

Hey Phil, played great for me-- but I am on fiber optic.

Nice film, too !

Great job guys..Looks like I will be unable to finish my film by the deadline, so I'm bowing out of the contest. Sorry for the late drop out, but my schedule has gotten crazy since I shot all of my interview footage.

I would still like to post the finished product(probably next weekend) for your critiques and direction.

Thanks,

Mike Watkins

Go for it Mike - thanks for hanging in this long, and go ahead and post when you've finished it. Love to see it.

I wont have much time to polish mine on Friday evening..I've got 4 litle kids that will keep me busy on Halloween. But tonight I have plenty of time, so i may post it then.
On another note: As a beginner with the fire of newcomer enthusiasm, I am very interested in feedback and suggestions on both the creative and technical sides. I would also like to post my "what i have learned" list for others that may be at a similar stage as me.
I have several "oh, CRAP. I can't believe I did that!" type things, work flow tips to remember for next time and what worked well and not so well etc.

To me that part is jut as interesting and almost as fun.
Can't wait!

Ken, I totally forgot when I set this up that the deadline was on Halloween night (duh!). Sorry about that.

I'm extending the deadline to Sunday night at midnight (the 2nd). Mike, don't know if that helps you out or not, but hopefully if anyone else is at the crash and burn point and Halloween's in the way, this'll help.

Ken, I totally forgot when I set this up that the deadline was on Halloween night (duh!). Sorry about that.

I'm extending the deadline to Sunday night at midnight (the 2nd). Mike, don't know if that helps you out or not, but hopefully if anyone else is at the crash and burn point and Halloween's in the way, this'll help.

Thank's Phil. though I was not angling for that I hope you know...
This will give me more time shoot 1 more little segment, and to tweak and polish....

No, I realize that. I should have realized that but didn't think about it. Sunday midnight is probably a better time anyway - gives you the whole weekend to edit if necessary.

I'll have a little better handle on it next time (-:

Since there isnt much activity here in the last day or two i just wanted to post a heads up that Mine will be posted here in about 6 hrs. Weighs in at 4:58 with about 18 seconds of credits.
Hope a few more make it as well.

-EDIT-
Rendering now... didnt have much time to experiment or researchoptimum export settingsfor YT. Im going to be very dissipointed if it looks crappy because of the settings I chose.
It's in the can anyway and that was a fun assignment.
...still rendering. I think i am seeing the down side to having all those little color correction and sharpen tweaks I did.
I may have to invoke the Pacific Time rule/excuse.


-Edit-
After 40 min and midway through the second pas I got an encode error on the audio.
Trying again..

-Edit_ Ahh that time it worked. uploading...


-EDIT-
OK, finally...
- - - - -
I've got work in 5 hrs, but I was not going to bed until that thing was up and posted.

dang. the sound sync is all screwed up. dont know why.
Too tired to try to fix it.....Sorry.

-EDIT- removed the link above as I have managed to successfully re-upload a correct version of the same things ....see below..

Cheers to you guys for completing your documentaries! I'm ashamed that I didn't get mine done.

Ken, I started to watch your mockumentary but you're right--the audio did get really messed up somehow, so I stopped watching for now. Everyone knows you got it done by the deadline; I bet no one would mind if you pulled it, figured out the sync trouble and uploaded it again.

If that's all right with Philip and Chris, I'd sure like to view it before I comment on any of them.

That's fine with me - sounds like a plan.

Causes me no grief.... I won't speak for my other Chris (Barcellos) but I doubt it will bother him either.

Chris Swanberg

OK, I re-rendered (is that a word) again early this morning and stopped by the house to upload that version. It appears tro have worked.
YouTube - DVChallenge Documentary (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNQE9OGvZCw)
However, it only seems to work with the Hi-res version imediately beneath the main video window.


-Edit-
Thanks guys for your deadline leniency. Somehow I knew that rendering/upload process would be the worst part of it all.

I'm out - got tied up with other stuff and now both of my ideas have pulled out - next time

So we have 3 entries. How about a thread on the main "contest" part of this board posting links for all 3 there so they can be seen and commented on by a larger group than ever read this far down in the site ?

Sounds good.

The Documentary Challenge Our even newer contest

Philip, The FLV played great over 802.11g Comcast connection, even on a very old IBM thinkpad. Nice job, great video.

I'm up for that but I have no control over it -- I'm just a regular joe. Chris, can you move us up to the contest section so we can have a broader audience?

If the UWOL wanted to keep their tagline we could be the 'underground dvinfo contest'... although I guess if we get moved we won't be underground anymore.

Sigh... I better stop writing.

Thanks Damian - glad to hear the format is working ok, and thanks for the kind comments.

Ken -- I love the ending, especially the 'animals harmed' section of your credits. Cracked me up!

Thanks Phillip, It was fun putting that together and coming up with the zingers and trying my hand at dead-pan humor and "Spinal Tap"/"Best in Show" type genre. I must say, its doubly frustrating when you are critical of your own technical work, but also to cringe at your own lines on camera compounds the whole "i should have done that different or better'
I enjoyed both of your guys' offerings. I very much appreciated the slick looking interview portion of the Changing Uniforms. The soft, kind of somber, asymetrical light (or whatever that's called) had a nice professional touch. Not sure how much of that conversation made it to the final cut but it seemed to be edited for content and flow very well. Was it hard to get the in-chopper clips?
Good-byes at airports should be considered cheating though, for these things... : )
Kelsey is a doll. I've got 3 girls of my own, youngest is about her age. Could very much connect with that. I laughed a bit at the sight of the big wireless on her back side going up the stairs. All that soft natural light coming in windows on hardwood floors etc. Had kind of a scrapbook, polished photo album kind of feel to it. Personal and intimate. I am the sentimental type and it pulled my strings a bit.
As I was watching these the other day while putting the last pieces together of my irreverent farce, I was thinking ...what have I gotten myself into...
I felt a bit like being the only one in the office that dressed up for Halloween.
Good stuff though, I'm glad I got in on it.

Ken, thanks for your kind words about the Changing Uniforms film. Chris Barcellos shot the in chopper stuff so I'll let him comment on that. I did the interview so can answer some of your "questions" or address your comments on that.

Mike (the subject) is Chris's son in law. I quickly realized the only way to get a totally candid and relaxed response from him in the interview was to be with Mike alone. We did the interview at Chris's house but the interview proper (which lasted over an hour) was just me and Mike. I banished all other family members, including Katie, Mike's wife during this time. Doing so turned me into a one man crew.

I have learned a lot on here, and from other sources, and a DVD on "How to Set-Up, Light and Shoot Great Looking Interviews" (By Vortex Media) has greatly furthered my progress in that aspect of interviews - kind of a jump start. My lighting setup was a 36x36 softbox above and to the viewer's left of the subject (with an eggcrate in it to reduce spill) a gold toned reflector placed slightly below and to the right of the subject's face to spill some light into the dark area, and a lowel Prolight to the right and well behind the subject to provide hairlighting and some separation. I also had another light (aimed at the background) shining through a homemade cookie to make the background a little more "interesting". I had just picked up the Prolight I was using as a hairlight/separation light not long before from E-bay (another E-bay admission from me) and I only had the bulb that was in it (additional bulbs were on order).

Being a one man band, I was probably 10 minutes into the interview before I realized the backlight was not working. By then I already had some good stuff "in the can" so to speak, and decided to just go ahead as the interviewer and continue. I found out later the bulb had burned out. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I was lucky, that the lack of hairlighting and separation was not all that much a detraction, and in fact it DID add a somber note.... but it was pure serendipity. HOWEVER.... I will keep that in my little bag of tricks, to be used "thoughtfully" in the future, when appropriate.

Chris B. edited this film. I found the thoughts and comments about how to conduct an interview offered in another thread in this section helpful, and really just let Mike just talk.... guiding as little as necessary and appropriate. Poor Chris B. had to edit 70 minutes of Mike talking to me into 5 minutes in the finished cut. I thought it worked well... Someday maybe I will be able to edit that well too.

I haven't been able to view your entry yet, but will try to get to a computer faster than dial-up that will also let me view You Tube (my computer at work won't). Again thanks. I'll look forward to sharing mycomments on your entry I am sure it is well done from the other comments on here.

Chris S.

ps. I now consider one, or better yet multiple, replacement bulbs for every fixture I have on set a MUST. See, I had a "learning" experience, for "free".

It just so happens that I was scheduled for a Blackhawk on a National Guard bosses lift. They provide lifts to thank employers who put up with employees needs in the guard as a small thank you. I was in back section of chopper with my back to the pilots, and had my HV20 with me, hand held. I knew I wanted some cabin stuff for this film, so I shot it over my shoulder, trying to monitor by flipping screen. The flight was 45 minutes, and my first chopper ride, so it was hard to keep my mind on the film, but at least I got a couple of shots that worked well.

The goodbye day was shot, to be inobtrusive, with my HV20 again, using a monopod on the tarmac shots.

Ken nice docuspoof. Had me laughing ...

Heard distortion on little girls mic once.... The narration was actually quite funny and well done. This may get some play on YouTube...

It was cool to see the shot from inside the chopper, and the goodbye ceremony on the tarmac. That's why I like documentary films - you get to see things and get to know people that you wouldn't normally get to experience, and you know it's real, not a set somewhere or whatever.

I like hearing why he's changing his uniform -- that's what I was looking for when I watched it. I don't have much experience with the military (my dad was in the Navy, but that was when I was so little I don't remember it), so I don't know or appreciate a lot of the small details, but it's good to see someone who cares about their job and wants to do something that uses their skills more, and is willing to take risks and make changes to get there.

Phil and Ken:

I didn't comment in depth on Phil'ss yet. Here is how I saw it:

1. Images were great. A lot of nice and interesting camera angles, and the film was nicely transferred to your finished codec. It played well.

2. Though I know how hard it is to keep a youngster in a viewfinder ( I have four grandchildren) I am thinking there was a bit too much camera movement, even though it appeared to be done with a stabilizer. On a big screan or projected I am guessing that wouldn't play well, and it was a bit distracting from the story to watch it going on.


General thought on all entries:


As to story line for all of us, it seems like all of us stayed close to home using family and friends to demonstrate our documentary technique capabilities. But I think that resulted in films that may be of limited interest to others. Yours for instance, is beautifully shot, well narrated, has the cutest subject in the world. I am not so sure it provides a unique look at anything.

The same could be argued for our film, as there are thousand of soldiers going off to war and Uniform Changes may not be unique, though our premise was about a man that changed uniforms three times.

Ken's docuspoof, may have the widest audience appeal, because of the humor involved, though staging was apparent at times.

One of the things that we should consider in future contests, if this goes forward, is avoiding themes. I don't know quite how you would approach a contest, but it seems like selecting a theme in a documentary contest does not serve well in a documentary format. It is hard enough to find an interesting subject, let alone trying to fit it into a theme.

Ken nice docuspoof. Had me laughing ...

Heard distortion on little girls mic once.... The narration was actually quite funny and well done. This may get some play on YouTube...

Yeah, I didn't think to monitor and adjust down the sensitivity on that lav mic til it was too late. I could have cut that background fan noise at the same time too by doing that.
Thanks.

Good input Chris -- thanks.

I was told by a film teacher one time that I might be able to make it as a camera op in a production company somewhere but would never be a ground-breaking film-maker. I was pretty upset about that at the time, but in some ways he may have been right. I have a lot of trouble breaking out of my comfort zone sometimes -- not like this is news to me or anything. I'm guessing a lot of people struggle with that.

I could see maybe trying to avoid themes - you think it'd be better to just do an open-ended contest with no content guidelines at all?

I'll take a look at my shooting again too - I rarely watch any of my work on a large screen, so it might be instructive to dig out the projector and see how it looks. I shot it using a figrig.

...

I was told by a film teacher one time that I ... would never be ...

Interesting "teaching" technique.
I bet there are at least a few "Ground Breaking Filmmakers" whose names we would recognize, that heard something like that in there early days.

Reminds me of my first week of little league...ever...and the coach's advice to me was asking if i knew how how to bunt. Really built me up.

You know we all do this in one respect as a "cheap film school" and learn by doing, and looking at one another's work. I think every entry probably improves the skill level of the filmmaker creating it.

But this WAS (at one time anyway) a competition. I guess It wasn't seen as needing to be put in the forum competition section for a broader audience and that call is not/was not/will never be mine to make. I'm cool with what I've learned here, though I wish more had commented critically or had the opportunity to.

That said, the entries are closed, there have been a few days for comments and mainly it has been the film-makers sharing our comments amongst ourselves, which is great...But a niggling little voice says to me, "Is there more? A Judging? or?"

Well, I am thinking that having a first, second, and third place "awarded" when there are 3 entries is a bit....something.
Getting third would still mean medaling, and winning would be kind of like being the worlds tallest midget. No offense. The competition factor is part of what makes it fun and as mentioned above, I did learn a few things that will directly contribute to similar efforts in the future. And I loved seeing the other docs.
I would be fine with this go-around being pre-season, or exhibition. It was still a blast.

Ken's right - there really isn't much reason to rate who's best, since I'm running it and have one of the entries, so that leaves two legal entries.

I do still have the prize money set aside for this, so I can split it 50/50 between you guys - just PM or email me your paypal addresses and I'll take care of that.

If Chris Hurd decides to move us to the contest section, I expect that would grow our numbers and exposure a little bit. My guess is that he was waiting to see what kind of turnout we'd have and if we can compete with the other contests, so I'm content to just wait for a bit and see what he decides to do.

and winning would be kind of like being the worlds tallest midget. No offense.


Ken... Thanks for that. I actually really did laugh out loud. And frankly I can't say I disagree. Far more valuable that the money was the review and critical feeedback. I appreciate yours and Phils. And as for the last... no offense taken whatsoever.

Hi Phillip - if you want some suggestions, email me through DVinfo... I don't want to overstep by offering them up for you, but I may have some feedback for you, if you're interested. I would like to see this succeed.

Thanks Meryem - sent you a pm.

hm, never received...can you re-send to uwol@comcast.net?

... I really DID want to join in on this one, just ran out of time with being on the road and having to get a rough cut done. If it helps for future contests, I'm still VERY interested in participating. Good work guys.

Shaun raises a good point. I think doing a DVChallenge film probably lends itself to a lot of control in terms of content, timing etc. UWOL also does, but a lesser degree in my mind (haven't worked on one of those yet, but watched lots). Documentary is an entirely different animal in many ways it seems to me. While image in "king" in all if you will, in a documentary the image is perhaps more secondary to the story that it carries... I am sure some will disagree, but that's how I see it.

Clearly to involve human subjects, with their own conflicting schedules makes the addition of more time for completion of the film necessary. I wonder is 30 days even enough? Also the requirement this time of an intermediate step (posting something on the 19th in this case) may have put a lot of possible applicants out of the contest. I think that idea, interesting though it was, should not be a part of future contests. If you want to edit and render and send it the night of the due date, so be it. I got through college with some last night cram sessions (blush).

We have some darned good film-makers on this forum. I stand in awe of them and always learn from their work. I'd really like to see this contest work, and in so doing allow folks like me to continue to learn by doing, and seeing a broad range of others work too. I guess what I am saying whatever it takes to make this type of format/genre work for our film-makers here, we should try and accomodate.

All that was my 2 cents worth, plain.

Chris Swanberg

You've raised some good points. When I started I felt like 30 days would be plenty long enough, but it burns up quickly, and if I had tried to do my project in a week or a week and a half it would not have worked at all.

I liked the intermediate step, but you might be right about that -- maybe I should drop that. It does raise the bar a little bit, but maybe it's unnecessary.

Meryem, I sent you an email -- let me know if you still don't see it.

Thanks again guys -- for your patience and hard work, and hopefully we'll see this thing grow a bit. Any feelings on when you'd feel ready to do this again?

Sorry it took me so long to get back here for comments on the docs. I wanted to wait until I could study them a bit. As I said earlier, I really appreciate you three for getting these finished. It’s hard work!

Speaking of appreciation, Chris and Chris, I got a lump in my throat while watching your entry. It hits a little too close to home for me because my only child is being deployed early this summer, but I appreciated it so much. Your use of archived video and photographs couldn’t have been better; you weaved them into the story just right.

One thing I have found in doing interviews is that it is only as good as the person who’s doing the talking. Sgt. Ferguson drew me in with his honest approach--no pretense of trying too hard (if that makes sense). Please tell him “thank you” for his service and that he did a really nice job.

Chris S., you did the right thing in simply letting Sgt. Ferguson talk. Yes, it was a lot of footage for Chris B. to wade through, but the reward is right there in your finished piece. I have several hours worth of footage my brother and I shot of a Vietnam veteran last year. There was no way we were going to rush him--we just let him talk. It’ll take me forever to pick out what we want to use but man, did we get some riveting stuff.

Now for one nit-pick. I've been told, and it has been my experience, that when shooting an interview the person’s head should not be in the center of the frame. Because Sgt. Ferguson appeared to be looking slightly toward the viewer’s left, it seems that he should have been framed with “nose room,” as in his head framed to the viewer’s right so he’s looking across rather than out of the frame. Also, the zoom to extreme close-up when he spoke about his family was just “wow,” but at the end of the interview I felt the shot should have been pulled back so viewers weren’t looking at just his face--especially when the text covered part of it.

It pains me to bring up that point because I loved the content so much. If framing of this type has become more a matter of personal taste then I stand corrected already!

You both did a wonderful job. It was well-worth all the effort. Thank you.
…………….

All right, Philip, on to a lighter subject. That is one sweet little girl you’ve got there, and you used her well! I thought the documentary was going to be all about the change in her as she grows. You surprised me with the big change that is headed her way, and I liked the way you chose to reveal the news.

Before I forget, I love the way she makes a capital E. Made me laugh out loud! :)

One other thing, the audio stuck out for me because it was so clean, for the most part. What is that unit Kelsey wore?
……………

Now on to the most serious subject of all. Ken, I was not aware of this controversial group. How can I join? ;) Because I treat my dogs and cats kind of like children I thought maybe I'd have to be miffed at you, but....nope!

Seriously, you pay attention to certain details that really make your productions stand out. I like your sound treatment and your graphics. I laughed at the cut during your narrative when you turned into the camera. You are a nut. :)

From a technical standpoint your work reminded me of mine in some ways, namely a couple of audio and lighting challenges you encountered. The last scene with you in the chair looked like typical XL1s footage when the lighting isn’t just right. Get yourself the XH-A1s as soon as you can! LOL! (inside joke, folks)

Thanks again, Philip, for starting this contest. Next time I sign up I fully intend on finishing!

Thanks Lorinda. I used a Sennheiser Evolution G2 wireless with a cardiod mic on it - I've always loved the way it sounds. For the audio when she's not on that I used an Audio Technica AT897 shotgun mic.

I shot everything on my XHA1.

Lorinda, thank you so much for your feedback.

You are spot on on your comments about 3rd's "rule" and noseroom. I know better and once I realized where my keylight was, where I had set up the noseroom and where *I* would be sitting.... I thought... oh shjt... what ELSE can I do wrong? Excellent points raised, and points to you for noticing. (In the FWIW category...I also believe that IF the subject is talking directly into the camera you can throw 3rd's rule out the window and centered is almost preferable.... but that had little application here)

As for the end piece of his interview when the camera "came" back to him at the finish... that was never shot with that intention at the time it was created, and had it been I fully agree with your comments. After about an hour of listening to him talk (and it was a fast hour because I was raptly listening and very interested - he is a remarkable young man) I wanted to give him the chance to pour his heart out. I told him that his wife and kids would not see this until after he was gone, and if there was something special he wanted to say to them, this might be a good time to do it...

I didn't expect his quick response to the offer. He started talking before I could get to the camera to zoom... so it ended up being a little (a lot)clumsy on my part....Chris B., in his edit hid JUST how clumsy it was to a great extent, and I thank him for that. The timing of the closeup was fortunately exquisite.... every time I watch it, I still choke up when he does. I was talking with his wife Katie today as Chris and I were working on our DVChallenge "Travel" entry and she said she too just "lost it" at that point in the film.

On a more general note...I think the feedback and critique on these films are VERY important for the filmmakers..... I mean what is a "poor man's film school" with a thoughtful critique of the "assignment" ? Thanks again Lorinda for providing more of that.

ps. Chris and Chris are throwing down the gauntlet with our "travel" entry. We have covered thousands and thousands of miles in making this. Beware. Exotic locations. Beautiful women. Killer stuff. (Can filmmakers engage in trash talking?)

ps. Chris and Chris are throwing down the gauntlet with our "travel" entry. We have covered thousands and thousands of miles in making this. Beware. Exotic locations. Beautiful women. Killer stuff. (Can filmmakers engage in trash talking?)
Ha ha! Someone else from the DV Challenge will have to engage in the trash talk with you guys--mine is so far to the other end of the spectrum I can't compete. (As of today I haven't even ventured off my property.) Can't wait to see what you two have done now; it'll be hard to top "A Lucky Day." :)

Well today I finally managed to ge to see Ken's entry. With that I now have seen "ALL" the entries.... I am glad we had three I hope in the future there might be more.

So, I have said that feedback is important to me, and will assume it is to you two as well. Chris B. has weighed in, now it is my turn.

Philip: You have displayed a command of various (documentary) film making tools at a high level. Even the very intro title was very professional and very sweet. Kelsey is a delightful youngster..... and you captured that well. Your film was well shot and edited. The hand-held issues that Chris B. mentioned I saw but thought worked well in the free form of her life. (Chris and I don't always agree on things but respect one another enough when we don't agree to shoot things both ways when we work together - so disagreement amongst film-makers is to be expected I suppose. I might add more often than not I like his finished result in a take better than mine or than I thought I might anyway.). Chris B's comment about the wider audience appeal in conjunction with your film is something I am in agreement with. This film shows your range of talents....I would be interested in seeing it extended to something less personal and of of wider appeal. I will anxiously await.

Ken: There is something about parody or spoof that takes things to a higher level of mentation. I enjoyed what you did in this entry very much. My link to Youtube was not the best quality unfortunately - but I enjoyed the content, though what I had to watch did not do the picture quality any justice. Your choice musical accompaniment was perfect. The "self indulgent over confidence" that so typifies some of these kinds of programs was perfectly executed. The man on the street interviews were fun....

I think a program element that was spot on and so well done was the 911 call. May I ask your technique? I'd like to have THAT in my arsenal of tricks if you want to share.

In the end analysis, yours was a tad rougher around edit points than Philips. As Chris B said though, overall yours will appeal to a broader audience. I look forward to seeing more of your wit, and work.

This has been a fun first foray into documentary film-making. I hope it will mature and endure on here.