Come one, come all.

Welcome to the first installment of the DV Challenge for Honour and Glory!

The rules are simple.
-You have <b>10 days</b> from the moment Jeff posts the theme to create and upload a film and post the link in this thread.
-Music must either have the artist's express permission or be original.
-Films will be 3 minutes long excluding closing credits.
-HAVE FUN!

So now we wait for Jeff.

I traveled through the nights on horseback, my friends, with only a torch, and a sword at my side. The journey took me through a dark abyss I care not to speak of. But I emerged triumphant, a messenger from the King, bearing a gift that you await with great patience and fierce anticipation. As I dismount my traveling companion, step before you, and unravel the scroll…

(((trumpets blare)))

(((clearing my throat)))


Your theme is…

FACING THE TRUTH

Or

NOT FACING THE TRUTH


The King included a few reminders:

1. Brainstorm thoroughly. Do not settle for initial impressions. Dig deep.
2. Despite the apparent seriousness, do not ignore the comic possibilities.
3. Loose interpretations are fine. Anything to do with "THE TRUTH".
4. By all means, HAVE FUN!


GO!

Egads!! Only a week....and this weekend is booked, ouch!
Thus the challenge doubles, as I was hoping to be able to work in daylight...LOL...

Excellent theme Jeff....I like it! Don't know what to do with it yet, but I like it!

Bob T.

I thought it was going to be 10 days? More like the DV Challenge....
Can we get 10 days? PLEASE!

You even said 10 days in the original thread... page 1.
Agreed 10 people minimum. The first challenge will be a 10 day time frame.



Pretty please...

Also, what is the latest that someone can sign up for the challenge?

Thanks,


Mike

I thought it was going to be 10 days? More like the DV Challenge....
Can we get 10 days? PLEASE!

You even said 10 days in the original thread... page 1.


Pretty please...

Also, what is the latest that someone can sign up for the challenge?

Thanks,


Mike

that's what i get for posting late at night haha. i'll fix that now.

AWESOME! Thanks, Alex.

That should help us all out a bit more...

I've already got an idea for mine, just not sure if I can get the manpower to pull it off.

*Fingers crossed*

that's what i get for posting late at night haha. i'll fix that now.

Cool! Thanks, that extra weekend will make a huge difference....

Bob T.

AWESOME! Thanks, Alex.

That should help us all out a bit more...

I've already got an idea for mine, just not sure if I can get the manpower to pull it off.

*Fingers crossed*

I don't think I'll ever have any manpower...Cept me.

I've got a glimmering of an idea I might be able to pull off with just me, meself, and I, so if weather will co-operate a bit...

Hi.

I'm out of camera for some days.

I'll do my best, though -;)

Gunleik

I'm HOPING to get this shot on Thursday. It all hinges on getting a few people to act in it. I did the last challenge by myself but I can't do that for the idea that I have for this one.

So.. when is this officially due? Sunday night? Monday morning?

Anyone else with any updates on how things are coming along?

Mike

I'm HOPING to get this shot on Thursday. It all hinges on getting a few people to act in it. I did the last challenge by myself but I can't do that for the idea that I have for this one.

So.. when is this officially due? Sunday night? Monday morning?
Good question!

Anyone else with any updates on how things are coming along?

Mike

I actually took tomorrow, (Thursday), off work to try and shoot...
I've got an idea, a rough script and a location....still trying to figure out some props I need and lighting is an issue...

But...I haven't given up yet!! I'm working Friday and Saturday, but if I get it shot tomorrow, I'll edit on Sunday.

Thank God there is no football this weekend.

Bob T.

I'll be filming something tomorrow. I have a location, my Sister's trusty old camcorder, and a couple of friends who are going to try their hand at acting.

Lighting.... well... I'll have to make use out of what is available.

Good luck guys! Hope to see you at the finish...

Looks very nice. Congrats!

Arrrggggg.....was already behind because my Dad went into intensive care this week...but I thought I'd make it.

Went to the location I wanted to use and NO-GO, just won't work....dang...
Been working my noodle over a new location...nothin' yet.

Got a good story...equipment...props...

Working tomorrow and Saturday....Sunday dash? Maybe...

Bob T.

Arrrggggg.....was already behind because my Dad went into intensive care this week...but I thought I'd make it.

Went to the location I wanted to use and NO-GO, just won't work....dang...
Been working my noodle over a new location...nothin' yet.

Got a good story...equipment...props...

Working tomorrow and Saturday....Sunday dash? Maybe...

Bob T.

That's terrible news about your Father. I hope he's okay...

Mike

Looks very nice. Congrats!

I'm sorry... what looks very nice?

Maybe I missed something...?


BTW, I'm filming in a few hours.
Wish me luck guys!


Mike

I'm sorry... what looks very nice?

Maybe I missed something...?
Ha...I must have missed it too...


BTW, I'm filming in a few hours.
Wish me luck guys!
Good luck...

And thanks for the concern about my Dad..
Leukemia...chemo complication. Not good, but not much we can do.
I want to get this done, because I think he will enjoy it.

Bob T.

I lost my father to cancer years ago. It can be very tough to go through...
I hope he pulls through.

My short for this challenge actually touches on this sort of thing...
Strange but true.

Best of luck to your Dad!

Mike

Just finished filming...
We had a ton of fun! I hope I can edit it together well enough to do it justice.

Definitely a dark comedy of sorts...

:)

How's everybody else doing?

How's everybody else doing?

Finished editing about an hour ago. Have to find a decent hosting site tomorrow; the one I've been using often has horribly slow file transfer.

Bruce Foreman

Bruce, I might be able to help you with that if you want.

So guys, what is deadline again ?? I haven't had a chance to start this yet.....

I believe as long as they are posted by first thing Monday morning... that should be fine.

No afternoon/evening postings...

Does that sound good to everyone?

Mike

The rules are simple.

-You have <b>10 days</b> from the moment Jeff posts the theme to create and upload a film and post the link in this thread.


Here's links to the MPEG4 and WMV versions of my entry.

direct link to "Reality Check" wmv version
http://files.filefront.com/Reality_Checkwmv/;6627670;;/fileinfo.html

direct link to "Reality Check" MPEG4 version
http://files.filefront.com/Reality_Check_Medmp4/;6622242;;/fileinfo.html

If anyone needs it in .MOV file format let me know and I'll make that available.

The two versions above are both under 13MB, the .MOV version is 23MB. The MPEG4 file should be "cross platform" (QuickTime version 7 plays it)

Nice work Bruce! I won't give anything away.... ;)
I'll give you a better review after everyone has posted. I don't want to ruin your clip for someone who hasn't seen it yet.

I'll be posting mine on Sunday...

I hope the 3 minute time limit is slightly flexible like the regular DV Challenge, I've gone a bit over so please tell me now if that is a big no-no.

If so, I'll hack a bit more off...
Hopefully I won't have to. ;)



Mike

Well, I managed to do it. Shot and edited everything last night in a four hour period. Had trouble uploading this morning, but thing I have it now. Go to my link page at:

http://www.makeyourfilm.net/Truth%20Is%20In%20A%20Mirror.html

I shot everything with my VX2000, set at 16:9 wide. Edited in Premiere Pro 2.0.

Film runs a bit over 3 minutes, but I didn't feel I could cut it much more.

I rendered everything to a final DV file, in 16:9 format.

From there, I would normally go to Vegas and render to my Windows Media and Quicktime preset. For some reason, though, Vegas did not recognize the 16:9 setting. Ended up rendering the Windows Media and Quicktime in Premiere. I still couldn't get exactly the right aspect ratio in the Quicktime file.

Any body have any idea here ? Maybe I should have asked Bruce above :)

I rendered everything to a final DV file, in 16:9 format.

From there, I would normally go to Vegas and render to my Windows Media and Quicktime preset. For some reason, though, Vegas did not recognize the 16:9 setting. Ended up rendering the Windows Media and Quicktime in Premiere. I still couldn't get exactly the right aspect ratio in the Quicktime file.

Any body have any idea here ? Maybe I should have asked Bruce above :)

I may not be much help, using diffrent software. There may be something about the way Premiere Pro sets 16:9 that some other software won't recognize, or it may be that Vegas only recognizes it's own 16:9.

Sony is one of those companies that likes to try to confine their customers to using only their proprietary "stuff". You should probably try to stay within one editor as much as possible.

If you render to a straight AVI file, you can select the size parameters from a pulldown menu in QuickTime so you get the aspect ratio you want.

I rendered to an AVI file first in Pinnacle Studio 10.7 plus, loaded that into QuickTime then set Sorenson Video 3, frame rate CURRENT, key frames and data rate both AUTO, in the SIZE menu select one of the presets or use CUSTOM (For the UWOL we used 428x230 for 16:9), and preserve aspect with letterbox checked, added a bit of darkening and sharpening, all in the EXPORT mode.

After doing that in QuickTime I went back to Pinnacle and had it render out to a WMV file, followed by having it render out to an MPEG4 file; so I try to cover as many bases as possible from the original NLE.

I don't know if this helps you any, I just watched your entry in WMV format and everything was fine. And it is VERY WELL DONE. Like Mike Horrigan said on mine: I don't want to say any more at this time until others have had a chance to see it.

I'm in!

Here's the link...
http://www.morecowbellpictures.com/downloads/Bad_Day_For_Chuck.wmv
It's a 12.8 MB .wmv download. QT hates me!

EDIT: I almost forgot! Warning: There is some harsh language in mine...

I can work on an Mpeg if someone can give me some settings for a small file when using Adobe Premiere 1.5

I didn't have time for credits and I had to cut out a TON of footage. I'm definitely cutting a longer 5 to 6 minute clip after this.

I really hope you guys enjoy this dark comedy. We had a blast filming this one! My third short film in the can... :)

Shot with my Sister's old camcorder, lit with any available nearby lamp, and cut with Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5

Written/Directed/Cut & Lit by yours truly.
Doctor: Michael Gale
Patient: Matt Ordower
Phone voice's: Yours truly
Music: Edgen

"I hang my head in shame as I approach those that have completed the quest...For I have not...."

Arrrgghhhh....between work, my Dad and the weather...I have run out of time.
My indoor location was no good and I planned on working outside today...but when I awoke...it was snowing and thus ended the plan.

I still think I have a good idea and it will be done...

I'm downloading the finished movies now...
Can't wait to see them...

Until next time,
Bob

Don't sweat it Bob! Concerning the health of your father... that is a good enough reason to bow out.

Hopefully you'll comment on our entries later.

Cheers,

Mike

What happened to everyone else?

Surely there will be more entries....

Not sure what happened to others, but your film cracked me up... very funny. It took a couple run throughs, though, to catch the phone conversations in full.... but got funnier as we went through it again. If you could get the phone sound better, it would be great.

Not sure what happened to others, but your film cracked me up... very funny. It took a couple run throughs, though, to catch the phone conversations in full.... but got funnier as we went through it again. If you could get the phone sound better, it would be great.

Thanks Chris! I actually made the phone voices and I didn't want them to be as clear as day, but maybe I could improve them a bit. I don't want them to be that difficult to hear. Was it really that difficult to understand them or is it more of a volume issue? Let me know...

Thanks for the nice comments! I have to say that I laughed out loud while editing this one myself. I was hoping that it wasn't just me... :)

As for everyone else.... what happened?

So... 3 entries... looks like I'm going to place this time. ;)
How are we handling the voting?

Alex, are you still around?

Bruce, Mike:

I think what may have happened is when this got moved over to "Show Your Work", enthusiasm waned.... because it wasn't DVC related anymore. Any way, it was a good excercise in deadlines.

Lets call it a over, and everyone gets a high five.

Chris, any chance that I can run something like this in a different section?

I definitely have the drive since I'm in the early/learning stages. :)

If we can get enough interest I would love to see if we can pull one off.
I'm also willing to devote some web space of my own if needed...

Let me know what you think...

Thanks,

Mike

I think this one probably came too close on the heels of the other two. We had the DVC7 in December, the UWOL challenge early 2 weeks in January and then this one in the latter part of January.

The time and other resources available to most of those who've been doing the regular DVC may be somewhat limited when you start looking at one or two a month.

I had fun with it, but I'm retired with no job or business to keep up with and even then the last couple may have come a bit close for me. Nothing need get in the way of doing something like this on a smaller scale than what was tried here, hoping for most of the gang to jump in.

Even something that just draws 3 or 4 or 5 would still be fun as long as we realized it was likely to stay small. And this "Show Your Work" is as good a place as any as long as it doesn't seem to draw energy away from the regular DVC that Dylan manages.


Bruce Foreman

Well, well, well...I just finished watching all three...
You guys did great!!

I liked them all....
Mike, funny stuff....LOL
Chris, serious message without getting to heavy...nicely done...
Bruce, you really had me wondering where we were going...excellent...

Mike, I did understand the phone talk, but only because I read this first, turned it up and payed attention...
Maybe it was just a little to "telephony"? If that makes sense...

Hey! Don't be disappointed because there was only three completed...
Even though I didn't finish, this was my first video challenge of any kind and I learned a lot about my abilities....
Everything I've done up till now has been event driven. Never had to "create" a story before and I did, script, props, a plan.....
I will be entering the next challenge, whether its DVC8 or Honor and Glory 2 or whatever...

I really think if you do more of these, and space them as best as possible with the other challenges, you'll get more entries.

All good,
Bob T.

How about this... we could start a new contest that's very different from the regular DV Challenge.

We could wait until we get some real interest and also keep it in this forum.

Something like this...

The short must be between 10 and 15 minutes long. (Opening intro/Closing credits included) We could allow a month or two to finish the product considering the length.

Instead of a theme we could all vote/agree on a genre, or just have a free for all.

We could also have rules that include having a trailer finished by the mid-way point. No finished trailer and you're out. That would help fill in the gap and hold interest. We could also ask for some behind the scenes captures at some point as well.

What do you think?

I just want to keep filming! :)
Things like this help to motivate me...

Mike

I was kicking around an idea about a film by committee. Say have five units shooting on location five different locations, then have a 6th shoot with every one at one location, say St. Louis.....

Goes something like this: Five different people wake up in five different North american locales, all with a sudden urge to go to St. Louis. The urge is eminating from the St. Louis Arch. The five film units shoot the trials and tribulations each individually has to go throught to get there. Then resolution to everything happens after all arrive in St. Louis.
(by the way, I've never been east of Wyoming, so I don't know what I might be getting myself into...)

We'd have to agree on a fairly common shooting style. 16:9 wide. Be nice if all could do HDV.

Script would be a committee thing too. Maybe handled through a yahoo private group, where script ideas are exchanged over several weeks or months till a script was completed.

What happened to everyone else?

It just turned out to be bad timing for me; I did have free time in which I could've done something, but between tiring workdays (working in forty degree weather, installing heat in a furniture shop in Brooklyn that had none), a dead monitor (bought in late October of '99, it died at six thirty-nine PM, January 22nd; not too shabby, all things considered), and endless problems with my bank (a check took longer to clear than I'd expected, and the two attempted charges for my DV Multirig were marked as suspicious, thus deactivating my card...the bank never called me to verify), I just haven't had the energy to do anything.

Not all is lost, though. The heat is up and running, I have an excuse to get a fancy widescreen LCD--I'm a CRT kind of guy, but they don't come widescreen, far as I know--and my bank situation has been remedied. I'd wanted to use my dead monitor as my entry, as a matter of fact. See me sitting there, staring at the dark orange picture, trying desperately to convince myself that I can fix it, ultimately having to face the fact that it's gone. But I needed to use the computer, so I had to disconnect the old monitor, and to shoot what I wanted I'd have to move everything back. Not too difficult, just not enough time or energy. Would've been nice to mess around with the Multirig, as well, but it was not to be.

I wouldn't say I lacked enthusiasm for the competition itself simply because it wasn't one of the big ones, it was really just a matter of timing for me. For what it's worth, I couldn't have completed an entry for the UWOL Challenge either, if I'd entered.

Robert, they do make widescreen CRT's. At least TV's anyway...
My brother bought a small HD widescreen TV for his bedroom. Toshiba made it...

I think it was close to 27"
I'm not sure if it has a VGA input or not...

Sorry you couldn't enter something.

What did you think of the 3 entries?

Mike

Maybe I just haven't looked hard enough for a wide CRT; I'll keep my eyes open, Mike, thanks for the heads up.

I liked the films very much, really funny work! Skip this next part if you haven't seen the films yet, I'm about to ruin the surprises.


Bruce, it was great watching you kick things up a notch: I didn't expect the gun, and the sense of "now it's time for some action!" was wonderful. Thought you might go off and fight some post-apocalyptic zombies, or something. I do suspect someone in that situation might forego a seatbelt, but I can excuse that. I'd put mine on, too. :) What's the story behind the house? It seems to have fit the bill quite nicely.

Chris, I thought your film was very funny, but I think it'd be even better if it were a bit snappier. As far as editing suggestions go, I'd start by eliminating everything before you pick up the bottle. You've got a black screen, hear snoring, then cut to the carpet and couch, so there's a beat or two before your arm swings down. And maybe stay on that shot a little longer; instead of watching the walk to the bathroom, we'd see you walk off camera, then hear the light switch on, a few more footsteps, then cut to a shot of the empty bathroom with the sounds of your..."illness", let's call it.

Other than that, I'd just say the lines sounded a little too on-the-spot. More time to polish and/or rehearse would be the cure for that, I suppose. But then, I don't know how anyone does anything in four hours, let alone make a movie, so good show! Widescreen doesn't look that bad, either. A little soft, maybe, but not the horror so many people make it out to be. Did you have a wide angle lens--not a 16:9 adapter, just a regular wide angle--attached while shooting? Saw some curvy lines in there, mainly the bathroom door frame. Nothing major, though.

Mike, hilarious ending! I would have suggested the doctor call him "Chaz" in the last shot, to maybe mix things up a bit, but the rest of that scene was perfect. The timing when Chuck walks in the door, falls to his knees along with the dialogue, was impeccable. The "sugar" bit was excellent (was recording phone conversations as much of a pain for you as it was for me?), I take it you changed the unseen receptionist's lines after shooting the video?

One thing I noticed--you're gonna love this, I'm sure--is that the video is a bit squashed. I know I said your DVC 7 entry looked squashed horizontally, but now the picture looks squashed vertically. I wish I knew what might cause that, but I'm totally stumped. Two separate distortions from the same camera, I have no idea.

Thanks for that Robert!

Yes, I had some issues with the telephone calls in this one. :)
I've actually worked on improving them a bit...

I also plan on posting a new edit tonight. It will be longer, and a little different in spots. If you guys have some time tonight I would love it if you could take a second look and add your critique.

I think I have the aspect ratio problem figured out as well!!

Thanks again,

Mike

[QUOTE=Robert Martens]
Widescreen doesn't look that bad, either. A little soft, maybe, but not the horror so many people make it out to be. Did you have a wide angle lens--not a 16:9 adapter, just a regular wide angle--attached while shooting? Saw some curvy lines in there, mainly the bathroom door frame. Nothing major, though.
[QUOTE]

Thanks for comments Robert. Yes, I used the Sony 58mm .7 Wide angle adapter (can't remember number) for the bathroom scenes, as you indicated and certainly had distortion on the door frame. With the dialogue, I shot drunk guy first, all adlib, then shot mirror guy all adlib, hoping to cut in a conversation that made sense.

Bruce, it was great watching you kick things up a notch: I didn't expect the gun, and the sense of "now it's time for some action!" was wonderful. Thought you might go off and fight some post-apocalyptic zombies, or something.

Thinking back to Katrina, and the breakdown of authority, the resulting lawlessness. Those legally armed who hadn't left before the storm were in a much better survival situation. The handling shown was a quick "press check" , part of what is taught at Thunder Ranch and other "schools" as a "system check" before moving into a situation that might get "dicey".

I teach Defensive Handgun and try to stay informed and current on these issues


What's the story behind the house? It seems to have fit the bill quite nicely.



Well, it was the best I could find. I was really hoping to be able to find a house or building being demolished that suggested much worse devastation. I spent 3 days in rainy weather driving around looking for something usable and found two. When the weather cleared I went to my first choice to find a Bobcat moving the last of the debris to a dumptruck.

The house I used was actually being restored as part of a low income housing project. I had to keep the camera aimed high to prevent the new looking foundation from showing. The limited field of view also caused me to reverse direction with the camera and action in a way that's a no-no, but there was no other choice. The other 3 sides all showed either undamaged neighborhood or no damage to the structure.

Thanks for the comments.

Bruce

Thinking back to Katrina, and the breakdown of authority, the resulting lawlessness. Those legally armed who hadn't left before the storm were in a much better survival situation.

Okay, I get it. Can't say I've experienced that firsthand, thank God, but I've heard the stories; a guy and his family had a pickup loaded with extra fuel cans, covered in a tarp. They're getting looks from everybody stuck on the highway, trying to leave, and even get accosted by a neighbor they thought was a friend. Their weapons were the only thing to stop outright fighting from breaking out. Seems like situations like that bring out the best and the worst in people simultaneously.

The house I used was actually being restored as part of a low income housing project. I had to keep the camera aimed high to prevent the new looking foundation from showing. The limited field of view also caused me to reverse direction with the camera and action in a way that's a no-no, but there was no other choice. The other 3 sides all showed either undamaged neighborhood or no damage to the structure.

Didn't bother me in the least. I only noticed the reversed angle my second time through, actually. The first time I thought it was just a different side of the same building, so I think it works out.

Didn't bother me in the least. I only noticed the reversed angle my second time through, actually. The first time I thought it was just a different side of the same building, so I think it works out.

I noticed it as well but it didn't bother me either...

BTW, Bruce, you should post a link to the alternate ending!
I won't give anything away in case you do.

I thought it was excellent!

Mike

Have to post to show my face...

I rented my camera, and I've been working wild´ly ever since it came back.

Though I had a slow spot where I could do this. It's now 2.30 am here, and I'll chill a couple of hours before i continue.

Sorry.

But here I am.

Gunleik

I wouldn't worry about posting anything for this challenge, the deadline has long since past.

Mike