You may or may not remember, but both I and fellow moderator Rob Lohman are on the Wall Of Shame after failing to complete a project for DV Challenge #1. With the two following films we proudly erase our names from the wall, and since neither Rob nor I are eligible to win because we are both moderators and judges, I am posting these ahead of the competitive pack.
Enjoy!

Dylan Couper
"Secret Confessions Of A DVinfo Moderator"
http://www.visuar.com/DVi/dcconfessions2.mov

Rob Lohman
"Just Say No"
http://www.visuar.com/DVi/RobDVInfo2.mov

Some behind the scene secrets on mine.
I improved it as I shot, took about 5 hours total between shooting, editing, and rendering. Shot about 35 minutes of footage to get those three minutes, with two scenes I decided to cut. One was a nude scene featuring yours truly.

Despite having 2 Canon XL1's, and a 6 point light kit in the other room, I shot the whole thing on a Canon ZR40 mini 1chip camera, with on board sound, on my photo tripod, using only a clip on 60w light, a piece of diffusion paper, and a bounce for lighting. I wanted to prove that you don't need big gear to shoot. If I currently had a digital still camera with a movie mode, I would have used it.

And (obviously) just myself doing it. Yes, I was roaringly drunk by the end.

And the final secret...
It took almost as long to shoot as it did to clean... I mean 'set dec' my office. :)

Very cute ideas both - Dylan's extra funny and enjoyed Rob's FX...

Loved them! I can relate to being loaded too! During all the frustration I had getting mine uploaded to my tiny tiny webpage, I went thru a 12 pack--shame on me. But, I was up until 4:00!!!!

I just got the movie loaded up to my new website, and will post the new URL to you soon. I guess I could put in this forum now, as the site has just a little more bandwidth. The old bellsouth site is 10meg max size and 1 gig a month bandwidth. The new site is a little better at 5000meg size, and 110meg per month. The one I have posted is the original one that I got in on time and I will also put up a larger version for those who want it. In addition, I will finish this movie and post the final product should anyone care to see it.

OK, my head is feeling a little better now than it did this morning.

Thanks to all, it was great fun and we have to keep doing these!

Mike

DYLAN COUPER, YOU ARE SO BAD!!!!! Secretly, I nearly fell off my chair laughing at your movie. Hilarious!!

Rob, here I've thought all this time that you were such a sweet-natured, mild-mannered young man. That was wicked, you!

Thanks guys. I'm glad you weren't in the competition--those are just too good.

You guys and humor...watch mine and join me - on the dark side...

"Feel the power of the dark side..."

But seriously, do you think Canon is better than Sony? And while we are on the subject, is DVCam better than MiniDV? And if my dog gets wet in the rain should I let it drip dry or put it in the dryer? Why is there air? Can cell phone really cause an explosion at the gas pump?

42 ! You have to learn to ask the right questions....

And Rob, I don't see anything wrong with human / alien mating. But I wouldn't let my daughter date one. I hear it on good authority that they are good with a probe....Not that I would know mind you...

Good fun.

Sean

Dylan,
I laughed so hard during your video. BTW, how did Peter Saarsgard end up with an acting career and not you? Maybe that's a secret.

And to think I could have put up the version with my nude scene... :)
Glad you guys got a laugh out of it.

Dylan, greatly enjoyed your piece...there was such a real synergy between the lead actor and the screenplay writer that I was almost convinced to actually check if there is a SEARCH button on DVinfo. But fortunately, as I poured drink after drink, I never got past searching for the other web sites that were featured in the piece...

Rob, great FX and I enjoyed your imaginative work also -- but must take exception to the gratuitous lack of NC17 material and worse, the exclusion from the dating pool of most of the hottest entities in the universe.

Great job fellas -- you've set a high bar for the Challengers!

Thanks for the responses y'all! For anyone who is interested, some info on mine:

- since I don't own any "serious" camera anymore I wanted to see what I could do with a Canon consumer handycam

- following this idea I wanted it to be just me and nobody else

- I also wanted to experiment a bit with some visual effects

- some 50+ frames where hand altered in Photoshop (mainly the black eyes scene)

- editing and all color corrections (besides the last frame which was 90% photoshop) where done in Sony Vegas 6

- the "steam" on my face was done with Lightwave 3D's particle / hypervoxel system

- extensive use of Vegas' bezier spline masking was used for the head rotating / walking through the door scene

- I used "free to use" audio samples from the web, so although I combined those I didn't make them (so no one is confused here)

- never made a sort of trailer / commercial before so wanted to try that

I have completed my judging (20 movies [besides Dylan's and mine], that was
hard to do!) and all I can say is wait till you see the rest of 'em! Some great
time and energy by all went into them.

Good jobs everyone!

Nice work guys,

Dylan, why do I have the feeling that you were confusing secrets with self-deceptions (I spend more than ten minutes a day on the dvinfo.net and I'm not a moderator). Very funny piece - good timing.

Rob, I think you owe it to yourself to spend more time being creative. Clearly some real talent there.

So when do we get to see the other pieces? Especially if they have already been judged. I thought we were going to get the links yesterday!

Cheers,
DK

Thanks Daniel!

As for the other pieces,

five

four

three

two

one

NOW! :)

Now?

Where...

I was just about to post them, then I saw your post, and didn't post them, so almost now, but not now now. So maybe like three minutes from now. :)

Think about this, is it a good time!

And to think I could have put up the version with my nude scene... :)

LOL, Dylan!!!! I didn't take your warning seriously and got seriously shocked and disturbed by what you DID include. So, now that the damage is done anyway, what the heck--post the other version! ;)

With the judging over I can say this without looking like I'm sucking up to the head guy: I learned a lot from your video, and if I gather the courage to enter another one of these challenges I'll try to remember the lessons about good storytelling and technique.

Thanks a bunch for showing us how it's done!

So, is Canon really better than Sony?

Stirring the pot.

Sean McHenry

So, is Canon really better than Sony?


Well, that's a secret, isn't it?



Lorinda, for future reference, sucking up doesn't work, cash bribes only.
And while I do appreciate the kind words, I think I'll just keep my bare butt safely hidden on my hard drive. :)

LOL!! Understood. (I'd better start saving up now.) As for the other....well, I had to try. ;)

I'm not big into cars.... but yes, Canon and PC all the way!!! ;)

Daniel: thanks!