Just to stay on topic, I had a scene that involved 5 cars in the middle of my street (SPOILER...was trying to look criminal). Mind you I am the only house on the street. Police just happened to drive by and notice all the cars. Apperently I made it look authentic. As the police pulled up, I started to walk up to them with one of my camera rigs. In the dark they didnt know what it was and drew their guns at me! Lets just say it was an eventful night.

I'd drop down on you too, if I saw that rig coming at me in the night.

Bruce, I have five identical camera rigs. Each camera is a Panasonic HDC-HS100. For the shoulder support I used Cavision rs1580 from B&H

Cavision | RS1580S-SPE Shoulder Pad with Rod System (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/531903-REG/Cavision_RS1580S_SPE_RS1580S_SPE_Shoulder_Pad_with.html)


Looks like Spiderbrace is a "simpler" copy of the Cavision concept. Made mostly from PVC but designed primarily for camcorders larger than mine. Your rigs look very workable.


As the police pulled up, I started to walk up to them with one of my camera rigs. In the dark they didnt know what it was and drew their guns at me! Lets just say it was an eventful night.

I think a serious written complaint to the police chief is in order. Those guys need some serious training. They all carry (or should carry) extremely bright tactical flashlights some of which are compact enough to be carried on a belt.

I teach a course I wrote on Defensive Handgun skills and do some of it at night. If my students can, in just a few minutes, learn to effectively use small flashlights to very briefly illuminate and identify, those police officers have no excuse.

A camcorder rig with a fur windscreened mic on top does NOT look like a weapon, and guns pointed at you put you at very serious risk.

Our Sherrif's Dept uses our gun club range for training exercises, many at night. As the range executive officer, I often assist the other club officers (Prez, Vice Pres, Range Officers) in supervising on "stage" setups so our club's safety procedures are followed to the letter, and I get a chance to shoot the exercise in turn with the deputies on each of the stages. Light, illumination, and identification are graded and critiqued.

I'm looking forward to seeing your entry.

Bruce

Chris Barcellos shot his main footage yesterday and his lead actress pulled out on him a couple hours prior to the shoot. (Poor guy, I thought).

My shoot day starts this afternoon and my WWII re-enactors (spoiler), with full uniforms, weapons, jeep etc, pulled out on me this morning. (Arghhh)

UWOL looks better all the time.

Chris

(Time for thinking on my feet - hearing clock ticking)

Rough edit complete. Now it's time for tweaking, graphics, and sound. I'm feeling close though.

just redo 1 voice part and done.... I think... When does this need to be up on the web?? July 1st?

Peace of Cake... GGGEEE

Just to stay on topic, I had a scene that involved 5 cars in the middle of my street (SPOILER...was trying to look criminal). Mind you I am the only house on the street. Police just happened to drive by and notice all the cars. Apperently I made it look authentic. As the police pulled up, I started to walk up to them with one of my camera rigs. In the dark they didnt know what it was and drew their guns at me! Lets just say it was an eventful night.

Tell me you got them in the shot for authenticity! :)

Haven't entered one of these in a long time. Looks like I missed the cut off date.

I've still been working on my craft from time to time though. Maybe I'll hit the next one.


Mike

I'm going to have to bow out of this one. Between my co-author and I we can't get our sched's together and I leave town for a week and a half right away. Next time...

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has done.

Yep I made it..... and actually feel good about it.... anyway I'll have it up this weekend....

Yep... Peace of cake, Bag of chips, and a coke and a smile...

I spent most of today in a bad mood, feeling like this whole thing was falling apart at the last minute, as usual. After a few hours of experimentation and deep, soulful contemplation, however, pops and I have reached the conclusion that a few bits of band iron, a flattened section of smoke pipe, one of my old still camera tripods, and a boatload of old rags will solve all our problems.

Production begins tomorrow.

Tell me you got them in the shot for authenticity! :)

No, because the cops where screaming at me to put the camera down! We were just getting ready to set up camera positions and my other cameramen didn't have their cameras in hand. In hind sight I wish I had turned my camera on when I saw them pull up...

And Robert, I always have that same feeling. I hate it. The pessimist in me shows up. Especially now, where I have all unpaid "actors" (unemployed friends) that are reluctant to show up on time if at all. Still need to film and reshoot some scenes.

Hell, I'd be reluctant too! No pay, people pointing guns at you in the middle of the shoot, I'd be coming up with some creative excuses to cut and run myself. I appreciate the sympathetic ear, making movies is depressing.

Incidentally, though I'm sure you're all tired of hearing from me by now, today's shoot went as well as could be expected. Messed up the white balance at one point, but it's not the end of the world, and I'm sure as hell not going through this scene again (details forthcoming when the feedback thread comes around). The mind melting apprehension I always feel right before I review the footage turned out to be no big deal this time, as it seems I've managed to grab some half decent stuff for a change.

Later tonight I'll shoot a bit of night time material, then tomorrow it's prep for a different scene. With any luck I'll be able to shoot that early Saturday and have the rest of the weekend to throw this miserable bastard together just shy of the deadline. Oh, what fun it is.

...though I'm sure you're all tired of hearing from me by now...
Not a chance! Keep it coming. :)

I just made the call on my movie--it's complicated enough that I don't have time to do it right. Rats...

...But by golly, I haven't missed a challenge yet so I may throw a one-minute something together that won't kill anyone to watch. I hope. :)

Why is it that in your mind you know... keep it simple and short. .. and yet we end up trying to squeeze a 10-15 minute movie into 5? Or thinking too large? Editing those to the 5 minute limit is NOT fun....when you do that. I am cursing myself as I type this.

...But by golly, I haven't missed a challenge yet so I may throw a one-minute something together that won't kill anyone to watch. I hope. :)

I always love watching the Lorinda shorts. Looking forward to another Joseph Tran short too. The DV Challenge is great entertainment, even if you end up hanging on the wall.

Might end up on the wall this time.

I'm coughing, tired, with no sleep, comtemplating the wisdom of doing a bar location shoot from 10 p.m. tonight till the wee hours of the morning. My leading lady can't talk, and we decided that looping the dialog this weekend is a viable option late last night.

If I die before we get post, just know that this one doesn't have gratuitous violence or nudity. No real reason to watch it anyway...

Hey, appreciate the comment, Dick! That means a lot! I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say I want to see a Dick Mays piece as well!

I want to see a Lorinda piece, too. Hey, Lor... if you finish one, I'll finish one, I promise!

Been mostly traveling and performing this month, and the entire crew is tired and in need of a break. Still working everyday this week. Only way we can pull it off is if the players all get together and do a few midnight shoots. Not out of the game yet, but also not out of the woods, either.

Then again, that's nothing new for a DVC, right?

And Chris -- I think it's because our 'keep it simple' mentalities are always crushed by our 'think big' mentalities here at dvinfo. :)

Does anyone else agree when I say it's always wonderful to read up on, "The Antics of Robert Martens"?

Hey, Lor... if you finish one, I'll finish one, I promise!
You're on, Joseph. I got an idea about 2:00 last night. Finding the people I need is a crap shoot--I'll be approaching complete strangers--but it could be fun. And a departure from what I usually throw online, if I go for it.

Hang in there, Dick. It's for the love of the movies! :)

Does anyone else agree when I say it's always wonderful to read up on, "The Antics of Robert Martens"?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I agree completely. Reading my reports is always a treat for me since their existence means those antics are over and done with. All the clumsy bumbling is forgotten, and I can look back on it all and laugh.

It does just so happen that I lied. I didn't get to shoot what I wanted to last night (it's been eighty degrees around here for the past three days, I was just too exhausted), but I'm all set to grab them tonight once it gets dark. The most embarrassing thing I have to admit is that I just finished reshooting three of the four shots I got yesterday. I thought I was done with making a disaster of my footage and having to redo it, but no such luck. It was too dark, as usual, but I was able to rework the lighting and get everything done. I have an excuse for all this, though, that I'll go into once the movie's up and the discussion starts. Hang tight, it's a good one.

And Joseph, I'm extremely pleased to hear your promise to Lorinda. I think I can speak for everyone: you make good movies. Make more.

If I had to be done today, I would be happy. I'm even happier that I have some time left to fiddle. Hopefully I don't start second guessing myself!

I took a totally different approach this time around. We'll see how it all pans out. Here's a couple photos from the shoot's set up.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachment.php?attachmentid=11974&stc=1&d=1241062196
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachment.php?attachmentid=11973&stc=1&d=1241062196

Does anyone else agree when I say it's always wonderful to read up on, "The Antics of Robert Martens"?

Robert gives us all hope, teaching us lessons in overcoming obstacles. If Robert can get one in there is no reason I can't either. Same goes for Joseph, Lorinda, and everybody contemplating how much easier it would be just to let this one pass by. I kept trying to talk myself into dropping out on this one.

I've been so tired lately, not sure if it is just stress or something physical. So I went to my doctor yesterday and she thought I should go in for a "sleep study." So I agree, and then I stay up until 6:00 a.m. shooting a DV challenge with me in front of the camera, worn out and stressed. The only person I could talk into helping on the crew was my brother Tom, because not many sane folks agree to stay up all night. Tom is not sane, but the problem in using the insane, is they may get lost and get to the set hours late.

I should qualify that by saying my dear brother has never technically been ruled insane, but it does explain a lot to just call my whole family crazy and leave it at that. Someday I will have to do a short film based on my grandmother, "mama Tut."

So Tom eventually shows up, which is good, because we are all so bleary eyed that none of us can tell if the monitor is in focus. F*** it, I think. We will blame it on the youtube compression. Tom explains his late arrival on being stopped by three different cops, for suspicious driving while he was lost. There was some big drug concert in the neighborhood and cops were crawling all over the place. Seems like at least three major roads were closed for construction and we had to call for instruction to get there, even though I had been to this place four times before for another movie shoot. Never seen so many cops, but we managed to get there without being stopped.

So we thank Tom for his diligence and begin shooting. I discover my leading lady is a reformed smoker and hasn't taken a toke in twenty years. She starts lighting up the cigarettes and puffing them in between takes, Rox, our director on this one tells her to only smoke during the scene, but you can't cut off an addict off in the middle of a bender. I plead with Rox to ingore the fact that we have may have caused a major personal set back for our dear friend Terrie, but the show must go on.

We wrap sometime after 5:00 a.m. on this one. We think we got what we need, but none of us really know for sure because we half assed things so bad that we never even put together a shot list. Six a.m., I'm getting to bed, and take a half an ambien, because even though I am exhausted, I can't stop the mind from running. I need to get at least six hours sleep before I wake up and start editing.

But I neglect to turn my phone off, and at 8:45 I get a call. I don't remember picking the phone up, but vaguely make out that some one is asking me questions. "Do I fall asleep in cars, or watching movies?" What is the question? My answeres have to be 1, 2, 3 or 4. "Oh, so it's a math thing?" So I provide numeric answers to the question and try to get back to sleep. But even ambien can't dull the irony of being waken by a "sleep study" preliminary questionaire.

The Gods of the DV Challenge, must not want me to rest. I boot my computer, and begin downloading the footage.

Robert Martens would approve.

I kept trying to talk myself into dropping out on this one.

I've been so tired lately, not sure if it is just stress or something physical.

We think we got what we need, but none of us really know for sure because we half assed things so bad that we never even put together a shot list.

... even though I am exhausted, I can't stop the mind from running.

The Gods of the DV Challenge, must not want me to rest.

Were you telling your story or mine? Granted, I do usually put together a shot list, but the realities of the locations I end up using nearly always render it all but useless.

I approve, all right.

I discover my leading lady is a reformed smoker and hasn't taken a toke in twenty years. She starts lighting up the cigarettes and puffing them in between takes, Rox, our director on this one tells her to only smoke during the scene, but you can't cut off an addict off in the middle of a bender. I plead with Rox to ingore the fact that we have may have caused a major personal set back for our dear friend Terrie, but the show must go on.
This is not funny...yet I couldn't help but see some humor because of the way you worded it.

Insane relatives, hmm? You just gave me an idea for plan D (yeah, plan C fell through last night). Thanks, and I hope you're getting some REST!

I'm adding myself to the wall of shame. So wrapped up in several of my own (video, science, culture) projects right now, that I can't see the light of day even without DVC... :(
I'll take great enjoyment in watching all your films though and hopefully will participate in the next DVC.

Best of luck to y'all!

OK When and where do we post the link for the finished videos? Or Who do we send them to? Thanks... Just maybe I'll post mine a day early... 8^)

Also If I was on meds before the challenge and now need more meds after the challenge does being medicated mean I am normal because I'm on meds the whole way through? just wondered.... Never mind..... Be quite.... What did I say?

It kills me, but I am going to have to bow out..... NOT because I didn't shoot it, but because, well... my scripting (with last minute adjustments) just will not and cannot meaningfully fit the time slot of 5 minutes. And no, it isn't because I cannot edit the stuff I shot, it just isn't possible to do it and have it be meaningful in a 5 minute timeframe. "My eyes were bigger than my stomach" is a phrase that comes to mind.

There IS good news though.

One of the things about a challenge is that it, well, gets us all off our dead butts and makes us DO something. As I was shooting this, I was seeing an end segment to the "Night Rider" serial.... and now, with this footage, and adding and re-editing the initial one into the new footage, AND adding my new ending, I have a nice 15-20 minute short film...

That is the plan. So, what did not make it into a 5 minute entry was the springboard to a short film. A silver lining as it were.

I'll enjoy seeing everyone else's entries, and will share my short when it is finished.

Chris "Sharktank" Swanberg

It kills me, but I am going to have to bow out..... NOT because I didn't shoot it, but because, well... my scripting (with last minute adjustments) just will not and cannot meaningfully fit the time slot of 5 minutes. And no, it isn't because I cannot edit the stuff I shot, it just isn't possible to do it and have it be meaningful in a 5 minute timeframe. "My eyes were bigger than my stomach" is a phrase that comes to mind.

There IS good news though.

One of the things about a challenge is that it, well, gets us all off our dead butts and makes us DO something. As I was shooting this, I was seeing an end segment to the "Night Rider" serial.... and now, with this footage, and adding and re-editing the initial one into the new footage, AND adding my new ending, I have a nice 15-20 minute short film...

That is the plan. So, what did not make it into a 5 minute entry was the springboard to a short film. A silver lining as it were.

I'll enjoy seeing everyone else's entries, and will share my short when it is finished.

Chris "Sharktank" Swanberg


Just submit it for "non-competition". That's what I do everytime I submit my films. :)

Also If I was on meds before the challenge and now need more meds after the challenge does being medicated mean I am normal because I'm on meds the whole way through? just wondered.... Never mind..... Be quite.... What did I say?

Craig,

If you are wondering if you are normal, then you ARE normal.
It's those folks that don't wonder if they are normal that have issues.
At least, that's what I tell myself.

Meds are a very good thing.

Dick

Dylan.... DUH (slapping forehead) - good idea. I will finish the piece as shot so we have a sequel and post it but not for the competition. Then I will continue to work on my longer short. Thanks for stating the obvious to my weak mind.

I had to "waste" a day of editing only days prior to the deadline to film a swimsuit photoshoot. Ah yes poor me. Now I'm back to editing, film already cut down to appropriate length, and now only need to color, audio, transitions, titles, credits, rendering and uploading... might be an all nighter Saturday.

Also before I submit the final edit, I am curious of the official rules since this is my first submission in the DVI challenge.

I had to "waste" a day of editing only days prior to the deadline to film a swimsuit photoshoot. Ah yes poor me. Now I'm back to editing, film already cut down to appropriate length, and now only need to color, audio, transitions, titles, credits, rendering and uploading... might be an all nighter Saturday.

Also before I submit the final edit, I am curious of the official rules since this is my first submission in the DVI challenge.

We have to check with Dylan, but I'm pretty sure the official rules require you to post appropriate footage from any swimsuit shoots prior to actually submitting your film.

If I know Dylan, he'll be more upset that we waited on his permission to post photos of swimsuit models; having that stuff prepared and uploaded by the next time a moderator checks the board is a surefire way to get on their good side.

Back to the subject of me, guess who's doing the happy dance? I just finished the first cut of my film, and it actually does approximate what I was going for. Time to head off to bed, I've got a long weekend of sound mixing and some heavy color correction ahead of me. Though at almost four o'clock in the morning, I suppose it's not ahead of me anymore.

See the rest of you at the finish line!

I'm out.... can't make it on time. Last month I had to do stories in Bolivia, Peru and Trinidad. Right now I'm in flu-stricken Mexico and will be here well beyond the deadline. Good luck to those who made it! I'll be looking at the entries with interest.

Since I haven't quite started yet, exactly what time is the deadline tomorrow?

Midnight, PDT; or, on our coast, three AM Sunday night/Monday morning.

"Official" rules can be found all over this Challenge forum, but maybe we should make it more prominent for future challenges. Anyway, here's for the first-timers...

Because some of the rules have changed, even though we encourage you to look over The DV Challenge: * Official Rules (http://thedvchallenge.blogspot.com/search/label/*%20Official%20Rules) if you haven’t, here are some important reminders:

GUIDELINES
The maximum duration of your film is five minutes, plus an additional 20 seconds for credits. You ARE allowed to use part of the additional 20 seconds for your film if you need it. There is no penalty for films shorter than 5 minutes, so you can enter with a 30 second film if you like.

Your film must open with a title reading "thedvchallenge.com presents" Please note the URL is "thedvchallenge.com" and not "dvchallenge.com" You may use any font, in order to make it congruent with the look and feel of your film.

All good stories need a good title! Your film must have a title which must show at the beginning of your film following "thedvchallenge.com presents"! Whenever you email us, please include the title. It makes life so much easier.
Please, do not make the title the same or similar to the theme. If the theme is “cats”, don’t call your movie “Cats”, “The Cats”, or “A Cat”.
Very descriptive titles are good as it helps your film stick out in the judges minds when trying to remember which film is which. Films titled “untitled” will be frowned upon.

CONTENT
YOUR FILM MUST BE ALL YOUR OWN MATERIAL, or you must have legal right to use it, such as copyright free music or properly licensed music. You must credit any other artists in your credit roll.

YOUR FILM MUST BE NEW AS OF THE START DATE. You cannot use video shot before the start date of the challenge. You may not submit a film that you shot previously. Some exceptions may be made for royalty free stock footage on a case by case basis. Royalty free music is excluded from this rule.

Photo montages and animation (including stop-motion) are not acceptable as submissions. Films may include photo montages and animation in limited quantity if it is critical to the story.

Visual effects of all types are allowed.

You retain 100% ownership of your film, and are 100% responsible for its content.

you done? 8^)

Ha! I wish. But my sister, my mom and I just got done shooting some stuff that I hope to piece together later tonight. I don't know, though--it really stinks being in front of the camera instead of behind it. I have no idea what I'm going to see, and if it's too embarrassing it'll get deleted in a hurry. :)

The bulk of the footage for my movie didn't get recorded. When I handed the camera to my sister I forgot to hit the record button. *sigh* I think I know what caused the brain lapse but it'll give away too much if I say.

So it was back to the store for more "food" and we'll try again tomorrow afternoon. I have a five hour commitment tomorrow night so this is going to be interesting.

Sorry to hear about your mishap, Lorinda... but I have a prediction: tomorrow, all the stuff you're gonna re-shoot will be better than the original takes... just you watch.

I'm just getting home from our late, late night shoot. It's time for some zzzzzzzzzz.

The bulk of the footage for my movie didn't get recorded. When I handed the camera to my sister I forgot to hit the record button. *sigh* I think I know what caused the brain lapse but it'll give away too much if I say.

So it was back to the store for more "food" and we'll try again tomorrow afternoon. I have a five hour commitment tomorrow night so this is going to be interesting.

I got in front of the camera this time too. It truly is horrorfying to give up control and not know what the images look like until you start editing. Got some flares and focus issues, but piecing it all together today. It'll be interesting.

Good luck on completing it today. As Joseph points out, chances are it will be better the second time around!

This is a good thing....Lorinda does such a great job this might allow others a chance to win or at least compete...

As for me, I was the only talent in mine. "LIFE" But I was able to K.I.S.S. and did everything I wanted to... I feel good about it but again I'm the only one to see it... Tomorrow you all get to see... Anyway wish all the best...

What a sweetheart! Last time we got to see you in these parts was over three years ago, wasn’t it, Craig? Some things tend to go downhill over time… ;)

My sister and I reshot the whole thing and now I have to leave. I won’t know until at least 9pm what I’m looking at. But thanks for the encouragement, fellas. It kept me in a good mood even when my Cool Light was being pelted by a rain/hail storm right before we started. I threw an old shirt over the top and a towel on the little ballast so it wouldn’t short out….tough little light. The pic was taken several hours later.

By the way, now that I lend a hand to Dylan my films are in the "non-competition" category. Just as well. :)

yep 3 years ago for the Christmas Challenge...

But this time I was trying to get a bit of help from a guy at work who always wants to do stuff outside of work... So I sign up for the contest in hopes I would have help... You guessed it... No Help... Even had bad ideas for a script... So I guess that's what I get for trying to be the kind gentle soul I am...


As for Some things tend to go downhill over time…... Yep it's called marriage and having a kid...Honestly I did have some bad health stuff going on the last few years and this contest was good for me...

Anyway Just a few more hours left... we should have another contest just to see who will finish..... I say 17... Latter

The 11th hour. And I cannot get premeire to export video. Crashes every time. I have now broken the video up into 5 1minute segments and will try rejoining them after exporting. Then upload at the very last minute. Ah I'm a bit nervious I wont be able to get my video off my computer in time...

It's cut, it's mixed, it's compressed, it's uploaded, it's emailed, it's atrocious.

I'm just glad I learn so much making these movies, because an end result like this by itself is embarrassing. Public humiliation does serve to discourage me from doing things like this again, of course, so it's not all bad. That and my parents and I spent a month screwing around with this stupid movie (not to mention the money that's been spent) and I'm not about to drop out an hour from the deadline.

Sorry to hear about your trouble, Clint; I ran into something similar an hour or two ago, Liquid played my audio tracks fine in the editor but added a half second silence to the rendered WAVs. Had to export each track individually and mix them in Audacity. A blessing in disguise, though, since I was able to tweak things a bit more delicately. I'm not really sure it was worth it.

You are singin' my song, Robert. We could be the Blues Brother & Sister tonight. But even that doesn't work... ;)

Sent my links in last night. Hope you got them Dylan and Lorinda. And I managed to sabotage Chris Swanberg, so he couldn't get one in. On location, I personally destroyed his sisters home, knocking down vases and wall hangings, and then sticking the mic boom out the window so we would hear nothing but 2009 traffic in the middle of his 1940's French countryside scene setting... Thats one way to knock off competition...

Oh I forgot, I also managed to destroy one of his flo lights too..

Chris is too kind.... but everything he says is more or less true....HOWEVER.... it was my poor decisions that led to me dropping out.... my 5 minute film is closer to 8 or 9..... and I am tired of editing ...I'll add my late non competition entry this week... if for no other reason than to prove my incompetence and dedication to the Lightrider Franchise.