Bring the stories of the making of your films.
What goes well, what did not go as planned, and everything in between.
This is the place to share it.

How's everyone doing? Mighty quiet here this round...
Don't be afraid to share your ups and downs while making your films.

i have a plan :)

just booked travel for a few days, if all goes well it should yield results.

hoping for the best

So good to hear that you have a plan Vishal.
I'm excited to see what you deliver this time.
India is a great country and with many possibilities.
When you say that it also involves a journey, it makes it even more exciting.
Can't wait to see it :)

My plan is to write the script first, which is almost finished.
I will build Uwol38, on some of my previous Uwol project, without comparison in general.
Meanwhile I make recordings for Norwegian television.
Have not had the great luck with me so far, but the deadline is August 2016.
All the best to you all.

Hi Geir

So happy for you with your TV filming! I'm sure now that spring is in the air activity will pick up and you'll get some fantastic footage and really deliver come August.

My tale of both wonder and woe is that I am humbled yet again with my film processing! I have now discovered that my assumption I was shooting progressive was wrong and deinterlacing my original footage cleans up motion quite a bit. Darn, all these years ;-/. TOD format really is in left field and it takes a lot to bring it to main stream. I have shot on cameras before that take in QuickTime and these issues don't even come up on the radar screen. And searching the manual doesn't mention this at all. Ah well, I'm learning a decent curve here, skills I never would have if I had a camera that did this all for me. Now that I know, I really would like a camera that does all this for me! :)

I have an idea, but is really out there and could flop big time. I've shot for the intro, which I hope will be quite amusing for people, even hilarious. But humor is a very elusive thing and what is funny to some doesn't quite fit the bill for others. Then last night I happened to see the most fabulous documentary on 5 National Parks in Colorado and it was so amazing it made me think of scrapping what I am initially setting out to do and try to put up something inspiring and serious instead of silly, creative and funny. Thanks for allowing me into the community and being a part of the creative process! Like Trond says, it can even be fun! :)

Cat

At this moment in time I am on holiday with my wife and dogs touring in our caravan, I think that might count as recreation! Now do I dare get out the camera lol

....

My tale of both wonder and woe is that I am humbled yet again with my film processing! I have now discovered that my assumption I was shooting progressive was wrong and deinterlacing my original footage cleans up motion quite a bit. Darn, all these years ;-/. TOD format really is in left field and it takes a lot to bring it to main stream. I have shot on cameras before that take in QuickTime and these issues don't even come up on the radar screen. And searching the manual doesn't mention this at all. Ah well, I'm learning a decent curve here, skills I never would have if I had a camera that did this all for me. Now that I know, I really would like a camera that does all this for me! :)

I have an idea, but is really out there and could flop big time. I've shot for the intro, which I hope will be quite amusing for people, even hilarious. But humor is a very elusive thing and what is funny to some doesn't quite fit the bill for others.
Cat

Nevertheless Catherine, so good that you discovered it.
My experience is that the manuals may be deficient when it comes to settings and user tips.
I agree with you, jokes are very individually how we react to.
Still, I'm sure you will come up with a great story in the end. You always do.

At this moment in time I am on holiday with my wife and dogs touring in our caravan, I think that might count as recreation! Now do I dare get out the camera lol

Hi Mick.
Going on the caravan trip sounds very relaxing.
Hope you are feeling lucky and catches something nice in the viewfinder :)

Forgot to mention in my last post that I got myself a new camera, which is now being tested.
It is the Sony PXW-FS5.
Have not got it tested properly yet, but it seems reasonably good.
Among other things, I made slow motion footage of waves, and it is totally awesome.
And so this round my footage will be a mix from my Canon 5DM3 camera and my new Sony PXW-FS5.

Some others who have stories to tell out there?

Nice

Mick,
Why not make film on your trip itself can work too.

Geir Inge,
Congrats on the New Cam, its a nice piece of equipment with a small form factor and a great punch when it comes to quality . The slow motion might be a special addition to your films now as it does manage pretty decent slow mo.

I am as usual have a script in my mind and now trying to make sure i achieve the stuff i planned to. Its good to be back on UWOL making film with a break of one round. i am not sure i am even aiming at a 4 minute film this time might be smaller.
Lets see where we land up.

I am really looking forward to this challenge. In a couple of days I will be leaving for the Great Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia. I will spend 4 days there and hope to get some good video of birds, alligators and other swamp critters. after that who knows.

Geir, I am going to be curious about how you like the Sony FS5, I have been looking at that myself.

Cat, the Rockies are open to you, go for it.

Mick, a travelogue of your trip would be fun.

Vishal, maybe get some shots of tigers!!

Hi Bob, nice advice, I'll take it. Have great trip. Perhaps a little recreational alligator wrestling will show up in your entry this round? Wild Kingdom style? ;-)

Hi Geir, I don't seem to be pulling a story out of this one like I have managed before!

Its like mid month and not a single frame clicked :) , should i be worried yet not sure

You and me both, Vishal. Haven't had time to do anything yet. Hopefully I will get a chance to make anything this weekend.

Its like mid month and not a single frame clicked :) , should i be worried yet not sure

I am pretty much in the same boat Vishal although I did get a couple of shots at the beginning of the month that have inspired my story. I will be looking for my subjects next week once I get past this weekend and the birthday bash we've been organizing.

Just thought I'd say something about my new camera, Sony PXW-FS5.
Especially to you Mick and you Bob, both of which have shown interest in this camera.

The camera has some features that come in handy, among other six buttons that can all can be assigned different functions. This provides instant access to the function.
The lens that comes with the camera SELP18105G, is not of the best but decent enough.
(Focal Length: 18-105 mm - 35mm equivalent focal length (APS-C) (mm): 27 to 157.5).

With an adapter (E-mount) one can use lenses from different manufacturers (Canon, Nikon, etc.). I have some Canon lenses and all acts, but not necessarily the auto zoom and focus functions. This one should be aware of if you are buying new lenses, therefore choose one where all the functions work via the adapter.
I suggest full frame lenses.
A key feature that is exciting, is immediately accessible 2x magnification, recordable.
The camera is lightweight and easy to handle, although some buttons may seem silly / cumbersome placed.
Although I have some Canon lenses, I'm going to order me a new full frame 300 or 400 mm zoom lens.

One can also buy A-mount adapter, so the camera is very adaptable.
There is a sea of lenses you can buy if you have enough money, haha.
I think the quality of the pictures are good, but this also depends on the lens you use.
Cheap lenses offer (in my opinion) often a little fuzzier image than the more expensive lenses.
The camera has two cardholders, the advantage is that this does not cost the shirt, but you can use less expensive cards.
Batteries have long user time, up to 6 hours. I have yet to replace the battery during a day out on missions.
1 piece BP-U30 battery supplied, in addition, I bought 2 pieces BP-U60 battery.
This is more than enough for my consumption.
The camera has a slow motion / quick motion function, which is super cool.
Recordings I made of waves, running water, birds in flight are incredibly tough and cool.
Surely the boy in me being fascinated by such things, haha.

This post must be considered my personal opinion and not as a review of the camera.
Yet I must say that I do not regret the purchase, on the contrary I have become very fond of it in such a short time.
If you have questions, simply send a message and I'll try to answer as best as I can.

My Uwol 38 project has been somewhat quiet in the recent days, who would think that with new camera in your luggage, but I have been somewhat preoccupied with other things?
Nevertheless, the following Tuesday, I travel a weeklong trip to Albir in Spain, together with my wife. Regardless, it will make both body and soul well with a week under the Spanish sun.

I wish you all all good and looking forward to hearing from you.

PS
As often before, is also this post penned by google translator.

Okay, here's a tale of woe for you all...

My love/hate relationship with this very old, lacking, "doing it's very best but always falling short" camera has finally died.

Anyone around here know a lamentful-Dirge we can all sing as I lay it to it's final resting place? HA!

The battery charger on the camera can't charge a battery, so unless I'm able to string extension cords everywhere I go, it is unusable.

Well! This puts a on a new twist to my entry :) Part of me is absolutely rejoicing because now I have no excuse but to look for a new camera.... yay!!!! The snag is affording one is a different story.

As far as my entry, I'm putting a new twist on things and it has been the most laborious, time-consuming piece of work yet, ..... all for the theme "recreation" Ha, go figure! But I'm not certain about this effort seeming as I don't have a camera to finish it off.

Cheers all! Setbacks are always a great new opportunity!

Hey Trond and Geir:

My husband and I landed a fantastic "first-season" new series on Netflix called "Occupied" about a fictional/futuristic Russian occupation of Norway who was announcing to go full green energy and share it's technology with the world, only to be taken over by the Russians supported by the EU to force it to go full production in its oil. Have you seen this? Fantastic plot and acting. I just have to get used to sub titles, which comes pretty quickly when you get absorbed in it all. Just was wondering if you guys of seen this?

Yes, I have watched "the occupied". It was interesting.

Today I have finally filmed a little for uwol. Pure recreational day, but if the footage can be used, I'm not sure of yet. Filmed with gopro and some aerial for a change.

I don't often post in wonders and woes but!

In the UK European otters were almost driven to extinction a few years ago as a result of hunting with dogs, uncontrolled shooting, river pollution and competition with mink that were deliberately released into the the wild by animal rights activists from fur farms ( good intentions but with out thought of of the devastating consequences that ensued, not only otters suffered but many others were almost wiped out including water voles). This resulted in the otter only being present in some very remote places and some islands around Scotland. Otters were then given protected status, hunting with dogs banned and an eradication programme for the mink.

Slowly the native European otter population in our rivers have increased to the extent that all counties in the UK have now had sightings in one or more of their rivers.

For the last 4 years I have being following and filming a family of otters on a river in one of the western counties of the UK. I have managed to film all sorts of behaviour including entering and leaving an under water entrance to a Holt, bocking with freshly gathered weed as she left.

Although I had filmed her with her kits in previous years I always felt I needed better behaviour and interaction between mother and kits.

Well on the 24th March this year it happened (WONDER), not only did I film mum and two 12 week old babies hunting and playing along side the rivers edge I filmed the babies, probably for them, the first time catching fish for themselves. It was a magic half an hour that's taken 4 years of cold wet winter days to achieve and many stays in our caravan in the area. Not only was she so relaxed by my presence to allow me to film after taking the kits back to the holt she returned on her own to fish in front of me for another 20 minutes.

The WOE is that, this footage was recorded 8 days before the theme announcement and therefore not eligible for this months challenge

Having spent two weeks filming the otters we moved to South Wales primarily to film dippers, again for another two weeks. By this time the theme had been announced. So watch this space but unfortunately my entry won't feature otters.

Hi Mick:

This is fabulous news and congratulations on your hard-earned epic capture. But think twice about not using some of this footage in this entry. The rules (#5) are not so strict to not include anything (period!) taken outside of the challenge month, so think again. A part of rule #5 says:

Previously shot footage, as long as it is a minor part, for educational or illustrative purposes, was shot by yourself, and not the main story/feature of your entry, is permissible.

If you are able to use some of your footage in this context, then go for it. I know we would be overjoyed to see it!

Hi Cat,

You are right re previously shot footage, unfortunately I can't work a script around the footage that would not make it the main focus of the the film.

Mick

Mick,
Would have loved to see the otters

Finally some footage shot, now time to string in a sequence to match the idea I started up with or to see what new story it throws out.

Not sure I will be near the 4 min mark but that's not the objective, it's to be under that time :)

For the last 4 years I have being following and filming a family of otters on a river in one of the western counties of the UK. I have managed to film all sorts of behaviour including entering and leaving an under water entrance to a Holt, bocking with freshly gathered weed as she left.



In honor of Mick and otters everywhere!

https://www.facebook.com/sungazing1/videos/813347942153370/?pnref=story

Cool video. Thanks for sharing the link!

The joy is all mine, Trond! :)

Struggle time

Story needs a beginning middle and end :)

Figured out by now how it will be , lets see if it works out that way as those are 2 different worlds .

However the process is interesting, i still remember the first challenge i participated in end 2014 when all was so new and everything was a issue, now the process is atleast known .

Finally it all boils down to " can we tell a story ? "

Hopefully i will be able to complete it in next day or so.

Hi Cat, thanks for the link. lovely ahh. True sea otters are only in the Americas. Although some of our Lutra lutra, European otters are by some refereed to as sea otters as they live along coastal stretches and feed in the the sea but are a totally different species to yours.

Still trying to rework the script so I can include some for for you all. May have cracked it!

Mick

Finally done,
Might be very rare for me to finish it this early.

The theme this time was such a interesting one that it left a lot of room for interpretation and Fun, when i saw it i had imagined a plan to execute "Plan A" and this was the first time i could execute Plan A without any changes. Yes missing footage and all those sort of things will happen however the original idea was executed .

And finally i realised why i managed this earlier this time :) it was a extended deadline this time round .

looking forward to the films this round and see how others have presented the subject.

We already have some films uploaded.
Hopefully many more will be submitted. Deadline is midnight tomorrow.

If you haven't requested the upload info yet, don't wait too long before you email uwol@dvinfo.net

Everyone:
Notice that there will be some changes to the feedback and voting system this round.
Basically you will NOT be permitted to make your feedback threads until voting is completed.

Finally, I upload my video.
Have had some challenges during editing, flickering on some recordings with drone.
Must onto youtube to check if there is someone who has a good solution to the problem.
Can not wait to see your videos.
Cheers!

Flickering is usually caused by too fast of a shutter speed.
I put on strong ND filters to get my shutter speed down to 1/60 to get rid of flickering.

flickering on some recordings with drone
This often happens when the sunrays pass through the rotors when flying towards the sun.

Thanks Kevin and Trond for good advice.
The video is uploaded, now I must hurry to buy me an ND filter faster than Lucky Luke can shoot :/
Cheers!

Hi all:

Is anyone else having problems watching the films? I've managed to squeeze these out but it's been a real pencil-snapping ordeal. I'm not sure if it's Vimeo, DVInfo, or me?

Just wondering!

It works fine for me.
Watched all of them on two different computers and on different networks.
Do you still have issues?

I know some players were unable to upload due to some kind of errors. Still haven't found out the reasons.

Hi Trond:

Thanks for checking into this. Streaming is fine now, no issues. I should have waited!

Cheers,
Cat

Remember that everyone who signed up for UWOL38, can and is encouraged to vote for the winners.
Deadline for voting is midnight Saturday May 7.

Players may post their feedback threads Sunday, May 8.


There will be an evaluation about this voting/feedback procedure after the challenge is completed.
A new thread will be posted sometime next week.