Latest XL2 project at DVinfo.net

Martin Catt · May 24th, 2010, 10:15 PM

Just got through uploading the Station PBJ Productions entry in the Dallas 24-Hour Video Race from last weekend. The assigned theme this year was "acceptance." The required prop was a cell phone, the line of dialog was "is this all there is?", and the required location was the exterior of a fast-food restaurant.

We competed in Guerrilla Class, limited to a crew size of 3-5 people. Shooting was done with the XL2 in 16:9, 30P, using a mix of lenses from the stock 20x zoom, 3x wide angle, and assorted Nikon primes. We went SD instead of HD for a couple of reasons. No one on the team besides myself has used a digital audio recorder, so we went with the XL2 audio to keep things simple. Edit and render times are faster in SD.

vimeo link:

This is the third year Station PBJ Productions has raced, and this year we had all experienced racers. The race runs from midnight Friday to midnight Saturday. We had the script done by 2 AM, started shooting the night scenes at 3 AM and done by 5 AM, returned to the house to capture and grab a short nap, then adjourned to the park for the final scenes at 8 AM. We moved to the hotel room around 10 AM, smuggled the rifle to the room in a tripod case, got those shots (no pun intended), and wrapped principle photography by noon. After lunch, we were in edit by 1 PM. Editing and scoring was done by 8 PM, and we turned in the finished H.264 file around 10:15.

Unfortunately, we didn't make the first round cut. Apparently, the judges found it a bit too dark (subject-wise), and we lost out to a vampire gig and a mugging at a Whataburger. Had a great time doing it, however.

Regards;
Martin

Jack Barker · May 25th, 2010, 09:23 PM

I liked it. Can't believe you didn't make the first cut.

The only problem was hearing the phone voice at the end - I couldn't, so I don't really know what the (presumably ironic) ending was.

Martin Catt · May 26th, 2010, 12:08 AM

Something appears to have happened to the audio in the vimeo conversion (I think). It played fine in the theater, and when I play the H.264 source file. When I get a chance (and a little more bandwidth on vimeo), I'll delete that version and upload a new one with a little more punch to the audio at the end.

Martin

Ian Stark · May 27th, 2010, 06:28 AM

Until that time, could you tell us what the dialogue was?!? PLEASE?! ;-)

Martin Catt · May 28th, 2010, 03:54 PM

Sniper: "You didn't tell me it was going to be her."

Courier: "Do you have a problem with that?"

Sniper: "No, I guess not."

Courier " Then welcome to the family."

Martin

Ian Stark · May 28th, 2010, 04:06 PM

Aha! On a par with the last episodes of Lost!

Thanks Martin!

Martin Catt · May 28th, 2010, 05:44 PM

Okay, I've deleted the previous version, and a new one with better sound equalizing is uploading even as I post. Give it about three hours to upload and maybe an hour to convert, and I'll drop the new link here.

Martin

Martin Catt · May 28th, 2010, 11:47 PM

Okay, here's the revised audio version:

Hope it sounds better.

Martin

May 24th, 2010, 10:15 PM	#1
Martin Catt Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Colony TX Posts: 327	Latest XL2 project Just got through uploading the Station PBJ Productions entry in the Dallas 24-Hour Video Race from last weekend. The assigned theme this year was "acceptance." The required prop was a cell phone, the line of dialog was "is this all there is?", and the required location was the exterior of a fast-food restaurant. We competed in Guerrilla Class, limited to a crew size of 3-5 people. Shooting was done with the XL2 in 16:9, 30P, using a mix of lenses from the stock 20x zoom, 3x wide angle, and assorted Nikon primes. We went SD instead of HD for a couple of reasons. No one on the team besides myself has used a digital audio recorder, so we went with the XL2 audio to keep things simple. Edit and render times are faster in SD. vimeo link: Benvenuto alla Famiglia on Vimeo This is the third year Station PBJ Productions has raced, and this year we had all experienced racers. The race runs from midnight Friday to midnight Saturday. We had the script done by 2 AM, started shooting the night scenes at 3 AM and done by 5 AM, returned to the house to capture and grab a short nap, then adjourned to the park for the final scenes at 8 AM. We moved to the hotel room around 10 AM, smuggled the rifle to the room in a tripod case, got those shots (no pun intended), and wrapped principle photography by noon. After lunch, we were in edit by 1 PM. Editing and scoring was done by 8 PM, and we turned in the finished H.264 file around 10:15. Unfortunately, we didn't make the first round cut. Apparently, the judges found it a bit too dark (subject-wise), and we lost out to a vampire gig and a mugging at a Whataburger. Had a great time doing it, however. Regards; Martin __________________ Canon XF300, Canon 5DMkII, Canon XL2, Rolls MX422 mixer, Zoom H4N, AT899 lavs, AT2020's, Azden SGM 1X shotgun, Manfrotto 501 head on 351 tripod

May 26th, 2010, 12:08 AM	#3
Martin Catt Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Colony TX Posts: 327	Something appears to have happened to the audio in the vimeo conversion (I think). It played fine in the theater, and when I play the H.264 source file. When I get a chance (and a little more bandwidth on vimeo), I'll delete that version and upload a new one with a little more punch to the audio at the end. Martin __________________ Canon XF300, Canon 5DMkII, Canon XL2, Rolls MX422 mixer, Zoom H4N, AT899 lavs, AT2020's, Azden SGM 1X shotgun, Manfrotto 501 head on 351 tripod

May 27th, 2010, 06:28 AM	#4
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Until that time, could you tell us what the dialogue was?!? PLEASE?! ;-) __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

May 28th, 2010, 03:54 PM	#5
Martin Catt Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Colony TX Posts: 327	Sniper: "You didn't tell me it was going to be her." Courier: "Do you have a problem with that?" Sniper: "No, I guess not." Courier " Then welcome to the family." Martin __________________ Canon XF300, Canon 5DMkII, Canon XL2, Rolls MX422 mixer, Zoom H4N, AT899 lavs, AT2020's, Azden SGM 1X shotgun, Manfrotto 501 head on 351 tripod

May 28th, 2010, 04:06 PM	#6
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Aha! On a par with the last episodes of Lost! Thanks Martin! __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

May 25th, 2010, 09:23 PM	#2
Jack Barker Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 342	I liked it. Can't believe you didn't make the first cut. The only problem was hearing the phone voice at the end - I couldn't, so I don't really know what the (presumably ironic) ending was.

May 28th, 2010, 05:44 PM	#7
Martin Catt Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Colony TX Posts: 327	Okay, I've deleted the previous version, and a new one with better sound equalizing is uploading even as I post. Give it about three hours to upload and maybe an hour to convert, and I'll drop the new link here. Martin __________________ Canon XF300, Canon 5DMkII, Canon XL2, Rolls MX422 mixer, Zoom H4N, AT899 lavs, AT2020's, Azden SGM 1X shotgun, Manfrotto 501 head on 351 tripod

May 28th, 2010, 11:47 PM	#8
Martin Catt Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Colony TX Posts: 327	Okay, here's the revised audio version: Benvenuto alla Famiglia on Vimeo Hope it sounds better. Martin __________________ Canon XF300, Canon 5DMkII, Canon XL2, Rolls MX422 mixer, Zoom H4N, AT899 lavs, AT2020's, Azden SGM 1X shotgun, Manfrotto 501 head on 351 tripod