Catherine, I’m liking this project more each time I see it. You’ve done a lot of hard work since last time. The 3D animation is much improved. I like the push in to the Table of Contents, but maybe don’t Pull Out until the page turn is already underway. At 7:20 the voice over level drops abruptly. Try using a high pass filter to cut some of the wind rumble while keeping the good location sound in that scene. I like the digital snow. How about restarting the effect each time you cut so the falling particles don’t carry across the cuts and give away the effect. I think the bits at 10:55 and 15:55 are the parts you mentioned that you’ve already fixed. For me, the music starting around 10:40, 11:50, and 16:17 was too loud compared to the overall level of the rest. I still love the Press Release animation and tongue-in-cheek reviews. I think the fireworks added a lot to the opening sequence but maybe start a slow fade on them a bit earlier. Looks good, only a few more chapters to go…

Thanks for the watch Vidar!

Mike! You touch on an important issue! The audio drops out on purpose to simulate the effect of the reader digging into the chapter and is taken over by the film (the book). If this isn't working and it seems like it's bad audio... then that's very important! At the start of each chapter the vo fades out and at the end of each chapter the vo fades in. If lots of people think there is a problem with the audio, then I've got to go back to the drawing board on that. Also, I DID do a 400 mhz high pass to cut on wind noise from your suggestion last time.... and it worked wonders! I'm glad to know about this.

I catch your "drift" with the snow effect... good insight!

Ah! You are the first to comment on the tongue-in-cheek reviews! Splendid! I was beginning to think that we were just a little bit too international in this forum for people to catch that!

Thanks all for the comments and energy! I will see your films soon. I can't stand not being able to share just yet!!

Cat

Cat,

I can't find your video. Can you tell me how to get to it?

Oh! I get how the VO works now. Very good. Just make sure to cross fade slowly and don’t let the VO start or end in the middle of a phrase and I think it will work fine. I went back and listened to the original file again and I agree- the wind is much better now. Try a couple of more things. Drop the level a little for that first rumble of the wind. If you hit the audience with it abruptly they’ll think it a mistake, but if you ease into it they’ll have time to think “Hey, it’s windy out there” (and it is). Also set up a multichannel graphic equalizer and try selectively boosting some of the higher frequencies. The idea is to try for a more advantageous signal (the elk sounds) to noise (the wind) ratio. Good luck!

Cat,

I can't find your video. Can you tell me how to get to it?

Here ya go Steve!

UWOL Longform Challenge works in progress #3 on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/6085037)

Cat

Hey Mike, thanks for the audio coaching... it's not my strong point and I appreciate the help!

Cat, BRAVO. Beautifully done. Music and videos messed perfectly. One small comment. There was a scene with the sheep and elk with the map of the park as an overlay. I thing you could fade out to the wildlife without loosing the tone of the scene. The last time I was in RMNP, I bought a DVD called "Spirit of the Mountains" at the gift shop. Trust me, yours is much better. A great entry. Bob

Hi Catherine.
Love every minute of it, you precious :)
What a great videomaker you are.
I'm sure, undoubtedly behind it all, lies hours and hours of hard work.
Sorry if this feedback isn't what you're after, but I can not find a thing to put my finger on.
Every minute of your video is so well produced, I'm just speechless and that's new to me. I used to be a politician and you know, those kind of people never stops talking :)
I think your video is brilliant!

All the best.
Geir Inge

Hey Bob and Geir:

Thanks so very much for the watch.

Bob: I will consider you comment, friend. I value your opinions! There is a lot going on at that time with the range map as important at the wildlife film, but we shall see!

Geir: What do you mean "this may not be the comment you are looking for" ??? It is the comment us film makers shudder to think is possible. Comments that, regardless of imperfections in the film, relay joy and elation of what was just seen! Thank you! Critique is essential and has made this film what it is. But oh, that moment where the film maker connects with the viewer! It may not happen ever again for me with anyone else, so thanks for this one time at least!

You a politician? My goodness! If the world was made up of politicians with a heart like yours, the world would be heaven, I think! ;-).

Thanks to all who have taken the time to view this round of my film. I can't wait to start in on all of yours tomorrow first thing! This weekend it was not possible for me to dive in, and I have missed out immensely!

Cat

Hi you guys:

Since the encouraging feedback when I was considering not continuing in the challenge after spraining my ankle, I haven't rolled over yet. Here is the Vimeo link to the last round of works-in-progress submissions:

(I've removed the link because the video embeds here instead of just providing the link)

The video number on the Vimeo website is 7026522.

It is 11 minutes of material. It starts with "chapter 4 Splendid Spring" which has already been submitted but I have cleaned it up since then so I figured I'd include it here. It goes on to chapters 5-7 (Sanctuary, Supplication and Benediction) which finishes the book except for the last credits chapter.

None of the book page-turn transitions between the chapters are done... these take a lot of work to do and I haven't focused on these. So in the clip, I have simply included temporary spacers between the chapters so you know what chapter is coming up.

Thanks for your comments. I have come to respect them and rely on them to improve this! I will be vigilant also and get to each one of your films and comment. This is the last time we can support each other to produce the best works we can possibly manage. Thank you!

Cat

O.K. I'm confused!

I was intending to supply the Vimeo link to my video, and it automatically embeds the video here! Is this something new and wonderful with DVINFO? Or am I doing something wrong?

Full apologies if this isn't how it's to be done. I've removed the link just in case. The video number on the Vimeo website is 7026522.

Cat

O.K. never mind,

If Dale can post his Vimeo video by embedding it and not think there is a problem with that, then I will too.

Thanks for any feedback.

Cat

Cat the first 1:12 was mesmerizing... perfectly timed edits... lots of work I'm sure. I was blown away... then came the Elk sequence... and I got tingles... and it just kept going. The effects, the wonderful wildlife footage, the music...awesome, simply awesome.

You have a lot of effort invested in this and the more I see the better it just keeps getting.

I am quite sure that your intended finish may yet be a ways off, but let me tell you when you get this all put together it ought to do well at festivals if you chose to submit it! Simply put - WOW.

Chris

ps. Sorry I didn't get a chance to reply to your query about embedding, but honestly did not know an answer, am I to gather that they are now automatically embedded?

pps. Just returned this PM from the National Bison Range... thought of you while I was there.

Cat,
You seem to have a knack of being in just the right spot at just the right time. Rocky Mountain National Park is a very, very special place, and your love of it shows in every frame. Your editing fits well with the music, and the section with "Fanfare for the Common Man" was mesmerizing. One comment. The distance to the mountains reduces contrast naturally. How would it look if you increased your blacks just a bit to add more depth to far away peaks?

Hi Steve:

Can you tell me how to do that (add blacks to accentuate far away peaks) and I will give it a go! Were there any visuals in particular that made you think of this? Thanks for the feedback!

Hey Chris:

You have been on the road, friend! How are the bison? Large, healthy herds roaming free? Nice to hear from you and thanks for the kind words.

Cat

Hi Catherine,
Thanks for continuing your long form film.
I know you have spent much time on this project.
It is always interesting to see Catherine´s new and originally ideas.

You have many valuable shots of animals and nature in this round.
The ending shots and crossovers are great.
Steve has a point about the mountains contrast or dynamic range.
The forest 04:35 differs from the neighboring scenes. Maybe the same medicine will help.
Lowering black and mid level. The same in 07:34.
This is of course my subjective opinion, and I think this will make a well done film even better.

I am looking forward to see your complete film in November.

Hello Finn Erik:

Nice to hear from you and thank you for watching this footage. The scenes you point out were scenes taken in very early morning conditions compared to the other scenes. You are certainly right that they don't blend in with the surrounding scenes which were taken near sunset. I'll consider your input because I very much value your skill as a film maker, but for me these early morning shots were magical with this kind of lighting and the fact that they don't blend nicely with surrounding visuals is not that distracting for me. But I won't underestimate your film makers eye and revisit these sections again with a critical view.

Sincerely,

Cat

Catherine- You’ve put in a lot of hard work and as a result I had to work hard to find anything to suggest! It’s really looking good. The audio is much improved and I love your editing to the music. The elk shot at 4:36 has a blue color cast and is noticeable because the shots on either side are much warmer. You might use your color corrector to shift it slightly away from blue and see if it makes for a smoother transition.
9:12- Hear! Hear!
One way to increase the black in a clip is to get into your editor’s color corrector and look for a slider or knob marked something like Input Black Level. Increase it slightly. You are telling it at what point in the shot to make everything darker than it become pure black. Try to only effect areas where you have already lost detail in the shadows and not lose any more (a balancing act). Adjusting this will also effect the brightness of your colors and you may need to re-adjust your saturation. One shot I think might benefit from more black is the overlay of the Colorado State Quarter. I think it will give you more relief and bring out some detail.

I can’t wait to see what you have for us next time!

[QUOTE=Catherine Russell;1434244]Hello Finn Erik:

The scenes you point out were scenes taken in very early morning conditions compared to the other scenes.....



Cat,
I understand what you mean. My comment is just a subjective comment after watching your video. I have discovered that some professionals have different opinions on color correcting than me. Please don´t rely too much on my views.

O.K. you guys:

When most of you are commenting on the color balance on some of these shots, it's time to take everyone's advice and attempt to correct this. Steve, I have tweaked contrasts in some of the panoramic shots and you are right, the contrasts are improved with less washing out. Thanks.

Finn-Erik and Mike, you both comment on the cold colors of the dawn shot of the elk walking through the woods. I'm including a before and after image of my attempts at color correcting this. What do you guys think? Does the "after" color correction look natural enough?

Thanks for your help on this, and your expertise.

Cat

Cat,


Sfter watching this I think I may retire the camera and leave it all to othres like yourself.

It is coming along fantasticly and I am sure the finished version will be to die for.

I loved the music, the base theme too!

all is well in my soul, well, I will have to learn that one on the old box!!! what is the actual name of the song?

so far it all sets well with my soul!!! it is spiritually inspirational!!



I had the thought at the end if you could crop and then adjust to aspect ratio of the moon shot so it comes in almost right behind the fading sun. I thought that would be cool.

it is awesome as it is.

Cat. Stunning, simply stunning. I spent 10 weeks in that park and never saw half the beauty you have shown me in these few minutes of video. Nothing more can be said. Bob

Cat... the color change shown is natural looking and more pleasing to the eye. I'll be curious to see how it matches the shots on either side.

Chris

ps. (Bowing out eh? NOT if WE can help it!)

Catherine- I think it is an improvement for this situation. The main thing is whether or not you think the shots cut together better now. I also like the “feel” of the original. Other approaches might be to cool (blue shift) the clips on either side to match it, or replace it with a more similar clip to them and then use this original clip in a situation where the clips it cut against were more similar in lighting. There are many ways to go. As far as your color “correction”, I think you’ve got it. On a professional production one of the finishing steps is to go through clip by clip and adjust the colors in each scene to match. It’s called color grading.

Please be sure to have a look at my upcoming short form entry for UWOL 15. I’ve included something that I hope you’ll enjoy!

Hi Cat - this is coming along in leaps and bounds.

You have yet more stunning shots of the scenery and lovely details of wild flowers and animal species.

I like the way you have used calm pictures in the supplication section as opposed to the dramatic scenes that complement the almost warlike music of the sanctuary section. I almost expected to see a head-on clash between those two mooses (meeses? mi?) :)

The only minor criticism I have is the repetition of shots which, as a general rule, tend to tire easily. I would imagine that is due to your fall and inability to get those essential missing shots.

I am so glad that you have not pulled out of this challenge. I really look forward to the final piece!

Marj

Hi All:

Thanks for the feedback and the input on the color correcting. I'm not certain what I am going to do but I need to revisit this some more.

Mike, you have my curiosity up and I look forward to having a look at your uwol 15 entry!

Bob, Dale and Chris I appreciate the kind words and the watch.

Marj: Ouch, that stung a bit but you are right. The Supplication chapter is intended to incorporate our own spiritual journey in life juxtaposed with wildlife. I had intended this to be portrayed by shots of someone making their journey up Longs Peak to the highest point in the Park intermixed with the wildlife. It was to end with 360 degree views of the Park seen from its highest point. And yes, the sprained ankle kept this from happening and what you see in this chapter is only a small portion of what is supposed to be, and I want to go cry in my soup submitting my grand finale in this way. I'll go back through and see if I can swap shots. I have lots of material to work from.

Cat

Well I think the chapter is exceptionally beautiful and spiritual anyway, even without your intended shots. Your benediction sequence more than makes up for it - spectacular shots and a very fitting finale!

Marj

all is well in my soul, well, I will have to learn that one on the old box!!! what is the actual name of the song?


Hi Dale:

That is the name of the song: It Is Well With My Soul, written over 100 years ago by Horatio Spafford and Philip Bliss. If you learn it on your guitar, I would love a video of it. I think it suits you.

The idea you had about the moon shot is food for thought!

Cat

O.K. you guys:

Finn-Erik and Mike, you both comment on the cold colors of the dawn shot of the elk walking through the woods. I'm including a before and after image of my attempts at color correcting this. What do you guys think? Does the "after" color correction look natural enough?

Thanks for your help on this, and your expertise.

Cat



Catherine,
I like both pictures. The difference is that the last one fits better inn between the clips before and after. Mike has better words for it than me. In a longer sequence, I think, your first coloring mood might have the best effect.

Thanks Mike and Finn-Erik:

For what it's worth I'm leaving the blue-hued elk clip as is but switching it to the very beginning of the chapter 5 sequence. This way, nothing comes before it and the shot after is the moon in late afternoon sky so it's a blue to blue kind of change. I will replace the blue-hued elk shot (in the original position) with something warmer so it blends nicely between the before and after sequences. I know this is way too much detail for anyone to care, but it's time to put this to rest.

I thank everyone for your input, already it's making a BIG improvement on my film this round. What would I do without all of you?

Cat

Hello all:

Now that it has come to the end I'm not sure what to say. I'm a bit tired and a little sad! A big thank you to Meryem and the UWOL community for giving us the opportunity to really stretch our perceived limits as filmmakers. I look forward to continuing on next year as many of us will be working on our films still.

I am satisfied with this entry, but consider it as a works in progress and hope to fill it out and perfect it next year. I also consider this film not as my own project, but one that was very much shaped by all of you. And because of this, I am sincerely grateful.

All the best everyone,

Cat

O.K. never mind,

If Dale can post his Vimeo video by embedding it and not think there is a problem with that, then I will too.

Thanks for any feedback.

Cat

Sorry for pulling the link, but this is incredibly frustrating. We're still sorting through entries and the game shouldn't start until we have a chance to do this. Not fair to all the players...you can re-post once these are linked to the UWOL website...

Good heavens Meryem!

That quote you just posted was for last round and posted on October 13th! And the context for that quote was concerning the surprise I had that the Vimeo video embedded in the DV Info thread instead of simply posting a link to the Vimeo site!

My thread for this round was posted about an hour ago and it did not have a link to a video. All it said was thank you and the best to everyone!

I'm a little surprised, you had to go way back to find that quote. I simply don't understand.

Cat

I've had a moment to think about my quote Meryem posted in post #81 and, just for the record, I'd like to clear up more formally what the context of the quote was.

In the final works in progress round, we were posting our video links and I was surprised to see that the video embedded in the DV Info thread. If you look at my posts around October 13, when I was first putting up my thread, I was concerned that this was not appropriate that DV Info carry the load instead of simply a link and so I removed the link. I then fired off a post on Chris's entry and after commenting on his film, asked him about this and what we should do. He answered by saying it was the fist he's seen this and thought if that was how it was working now, then it should be O.K. to post this way.

By that time, others were posting their embedded videos and not worrying about it. This is when I followed suit with my post, saying that if Dale could post this way and not worry about it, then I would also.

I hope this clears up the context of the quote and hopefully any misunderstandings about it.

Post #80 applies to this final round, where no links to movies are given and is simply a well wish for all of our entries and a thank you to Meryem for hosting the challenge.

Meyrem, I'm sorry you've taken this wrong and it added to your frustration in hosting this forum.

Sincerely,

Cat

sorry, Cat - I just pulled all the links that from long form final that appeared as new in the forum...if I'm going to do this and don't do it fast, then everyone jumps on board first thing in the morning and thinks that, if the other guy is doing it, then it is fine. i shouldn't do these things before coffee, but that is the time that I have...

sorry if my trigger finger was a little sloppy on this one...

Hi All:

The resolution isn't great on Vimeo, but here it is anyway. Best to all, Cat.

http://www.vimeo.com/7777018

Catherine, well done!!

What a spectacular landscape you have in your back yard.
Must be fun and a great experience hiking in those mountains.

The book theme works very well for your film, and I enjoyed watching it.
And the graphics... I need to learn more about After Effects for sure.

Thank you for sharing your part of the world. :)

-------
Opsie, I forgot there was the one big common feedback thread.
(but anyway, your film is great!)

you should slice this puppy down to 22 minutes and see if you can get it on channel 5...i bet they would take it...

Cat...

Speechless. Superlatives become trite. What a wonderful piece. Your voiceover, which you struggled with was now spot on. Your musical timing exquisite. The graphics...VERY professional.

Best of the best. I concur that if this met a time frame a station could use, it is easily broadcast quality.

WOW.


Chris S.

Cat,

I started with the uwol version, went back and found your vimeo link, well worth the wait!!!

I have to agree with everyone else here. Cut it down and get it broadcasted.

It is totally awesome.

At the end of it is well, with the chip monk standing staring into space I thought was perfect!!! A fitting end in its own right.