How's the progress?

Mark Utley · April 2nd, 2006, 09:01 AM

Yesterday's shooting was very limited because it rained all afternoon but today's a beautiful day so hopefully I get it all done.

Robert Martens · April 2nd, 2006, 10:14 PM

So everything's been shot, captured, and reviewed, now I'm assembling a rough cut, and it's much more pleasing than I ever imagined it could be; may need to do some ADR (cringe), or better yet just reshoot one particular scene--unless I can get rid of this small bit of annoying reverb--but otherwise things are looking up!

Never knew editing would be as bad as my favorite videogames in terms of "time travel" factor; hours disappear in the blink of an eye, and yet somehow, I can't wait to get up tomorrow and get back to work.

Hope all's well with everyone else!

Andrew Khalil · April 2nd, 2006, 10:44 PM

yeah, all my stuff is shot and all but the last scene captured and there's already a rough cut in place. All I need to do is add the voiceovers which have also been recorded and the last scene I shot. I also need to add audio and it shall be complete.

Bradley L Marlow · April 3rd, 2006, 02:30 AM

I'm with you folks...been editing until the 'ol eyeballs fall out. However, like Robert, am ready to get up early and keep at it.

Chopping up 4.5 hours of tape into 5 minutes or less always seems to take some time and it doesn't help matters that I just can't seem to stop tweeking the edits!

Sean McHenry · April 3rd, 2006, 06:59 AM

If you have CSPAN, it's all paid for by public money as far as I know which makes it all availabe for use wherever. Your tax dollars pay for it so you own a percentage. That's my story and I'm sticking to it - until the feds show up at the door then it's everyone for themselves...

I would think that would be safe to use. It would be especially good if you want to show a scene with a certain "boredom" factor.

Sean

Edward Slonaker · April 3rd, 2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean McHenry

If you have CSPAN, it's all paid for by public money as far as I know which makes it all availabe for use wherever. Your tax dollars pay for it so you own a percentage. That's my story and I'm sticking to it - until the feds show up at the door then it's everyone for themselves...

I would think that would be safe to use. It would be especially good if you want to show a scene with a certain "boredom" factor.

Whoa!....has my coffee not kicked in, yet?? I've read this 4 times along with preceeding comments and still can't make a connection...

Too many windows open, Sean? LOL!

Robert Kirkpatrick · April 3rd, 2006, 09:10 AM

I'm done with the main shoot. Shot everything in one long day, and I'm still exhausted. I'm just gonna babble a bit about where I am.

THE FOREST SCENES
The outdoor scenes were murder. Lots of ticks and poison ivy (yeah, Arkansas). The day started off as overcast, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the sun appeared. So basically, the first scenes are darker than the later scenes -- and I had to constantly fight overexposure on the actor's white dress. And because of the weather forecast, I stupidly left my reflector at home and now there are some awkward shadows on the actor's face.

THE INDOOR SCENES
This was my second time using the FX1, but the first time I used it heavily. I think I underexposed a few of the indoor scenes -- but I'll just have to live wit h it for now. I didn't want to jack up the gain too much, because I'm not a big fan of grain. I wish I had an external monitor. However, my little girl actor was amazing. Absolutely stunning performance.

THE GREEN SCREENS
I always have this tendency of being more ambitious than I should be. This is my first time doing some green screens, and perhaps I should've done some tests beforehand. :) I'm using Vegas Video to chroma key and I set up a ghetto green screen. One of the keys worked out beautifully. But the others have been disappointing. Lots of fringes -- but I'm still playing with the mask.

RESHOOTS AND EDITS
I wasn't able to get a fake human heart and lungs -- and I no longer have time to shoot it. But I may have to reshoot the little girl's scream and the morphing effect. I started editing and doing some color correction yesterday, and so far, it's looking pretty nice. Despite my indoor scenes, the FX1 is a truly amazing camera. And I'm suprisingly able to do some really nice demonic eyes for the evil queen, just using the media generator in Vegas.

Now I've just got to hussle with the editing and oh, yeah, compose the music. Why do I never keep things simple? Hopefully, I'll be able to get it done in time. If not, I'll still post it when I'm finished.

Edward Slonaker · April 3rd, 2006, 09:40 AM

Wow! I think my production (which is finished and posted) will be a little pale in comparison to yours. Forests, green screens, evil queen? sounds like it was fun.

Yeah, I love the FX1. I used it quite a bit on this project. REALLY got familiar with some of the settings. One (of many) thing I'm thankful for this DVC.

Looking forward to seeing your movie.

Andrew Hood · April 3rd, 2006, 11:25 AM

I was going to use the DV500 to shoot, but it choked on a tape and requires surgery. That'll be a trip to Melbourne no doubt.

Back to PD150 (only). Finally did most of the shooting over the weekend. Took me too long to make a script and get it edited by other folk. But I should have an entry this time. But we still have another scene to shoot, and with wintery weather on the way. They're talking about snow and I need Sunny weather for 1hr when the 'talent' is present. And it needs to be dry, or it just won't make sense in the script. But at this point I'll take it, even if it's not what it should be.

Just using and family and friends for actors. More organisation needed next time, and hopefully will have networked with some theatre people by then. Seriously need to delegate parts of pre-production too. But learning lots - especially about how little goes to plan, and you forget to do too many things when you're doing it. And a garden cart does not a dolly make - need more weight, especially coupled with the camera. Canned those shots when I played them back.
I also had the Sun going in and out - overcast helped even the light out though, but you really had to watch the exposures (Zebra is your friend).

Still have loads of sound tweaking to do (and offscreen voices to rerecord - I had to delegate boom operations), but the basic edit is in place. Need to try different music to it also - though it's limited to the royalty free library. Some carefully placed sound effects would help too.

So far I have about 40 mins on tape, making about 2.5 mins of current edit, with the one portion still remaining. But I think that will show for itself in the end. Too often there's no real choice as to which take to use - it's the one that sucks least.

Bradley L Marlow · April 3rd, 2006, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Kirkpatrick

Now I've just got to hussle with the editing and oh, yeah, compose the music. Why do I never keep things simple? Hopefully, I'll be able to get it done in time. If not, I'll still post it when I'm finished.

Keeping things simple is probably a good idea Robert- but one that always seems to escape me as well. Now, the fact you have come so far with such a monumental effort, I sincerely hope you DO finish on time! Go for it!

William Gardner · April 3rd, 2006, 05:20 PM

Done! Hurrah!

While I was glad that the challenge lasted more than 10 days this time, I sure did spend more time on this than I expected... :)

My main sadness is that the web versions look so mediocre compared to the full, HD glory produced by my Sony Z1U.

Good luck, everybody! Finish, finish, finish!

Bill

Mark Utley · April 3rd, 2006, 05:43 PM

Wow, Tyler Baptist and I used my Z1 for our projects and I've seen at least three other people who have used Z1/FX1s for theirs. Should be interesting to see what kind of images we can get out of them.

I did most of my shooting yesterday and hopefully the last of it will be done tonight. I also helped Tyler with his this afternoon.

Dick Mays · April 3rd, 2006, 06:38 PM

Minor setback.

I finished shooting all the nude scenes on Saturday, but spent so much time in the editing room on Sunday, I believe my wife has rootkited my computer.

Robert Martens · April 3rd, 2006, 09:34 PM

Nude scenes? In a freely available movie? Heck, you've got my vote! :)

Finished my own rough cut about half an hour ago, showed it to my father, who tells me he's pleased with it, and got the point I was trying to get across. So all that's left is to rerecord one particular voiceover (I've fallen victim to the "cell phones as the new cigarettes" bug, I'm sorry to say--not one, but TWO phone conversations in one movie), add in a select few sound effects, add some crossfades and color correct a shot or two.

I can see the finish line, and it looks good.

Michael Fossenkemper · April 3rd, 2006, 10:14 PM

Holy cow, I feel completly out gunned. Z1's, green screens, no little puppies or kids? I spent 50 bucks on parts to make a dolly, 30 bucks on scotch and wine, 10 bucks on tape, 40 bucks on new bulbs, 40 bucks on sandwiches. I shot everything on a DVC30, My dad doesn't get the idea, but then again he thinks everything I do is a bad idea.

April 2nd, 2006, 09:01 AM	#151
Mark Utley Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 479	Yesterday's shooting was very limited because it rained all afternoon but today's a beautiful day so hopefully I get it all done. __________________ Mark Utley

April 3rd, 2006, 06:59 AM	#155
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	If you have CSPAN, it's all paid for by public money as far as I know which makes it all availabe for use wherever. Your tax dollars pay for it so you own a percentage. That's my story and I'm sticking to it - until the feds show up at the door then it's everyone for themselves... I would think that would be safe to use. It would be especially good if you want to show a scene with a certain "boredom" factor. Sean __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

April 3rd, 2006, 09:40 AM	#158
Edward Slonaker Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hell's 6 acres in S. Texas Posts: 203	Wow! I think my production (which is finished and posted) will be a little pale in comparison to yours. Forests, green screens, evil queen? sounds like it was fun. Yeah, I love the FX1. I used it quite a bit on this project. REALLY got familiar with some of the settings. One (of many) thing I'm thankful for this DVC. Looking forward to seeing your movie. __________________ Edward Slonaker El Pilon Productions San Patricio, Texas www.elpilon.com

April 3rd, 2006, 05:43 PM	#162
Mark Utley Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 479	Wow, Tyler Baptist and I used my Z1 for our projects and I've seen at least three other people who have used Z1/FX1s for theirs. Should be interesting to see what kind of images we can get out of them. I did most of my shooting yesterday and hopefully the last of it will be done tonight. I also helped Tyler with his this afternoon. __________________ Mark Utley

April 2nd, 2006, 10:14 PM	#152
Robert Martens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 820	So everything's been shot, captured, and reviewed, now I'm assembling a rough cut, and it's much more pleasing than I ever imagined it could be; may need to do some ADR (cringe), or better yet just reshoot one particular scene--unless I can get rid of this small bit of annoying reverb--but otherwise things are looking up! Never knew editing would be as bad as my favorite videogames in terms of "time travel" factor; hours disappear in the blink of an eye, and yet somehow, I can't wait to get up tomorrow and get back to work. Hope all's well with everyone else!

April 2nd, 2006, 10:44 PM	#153
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	yeah, all my stuff is shot and all but the last scene captured and there's already a rough cut in place. All I need to do is add the voiceovers which have also been recorded and the last scene I shot. I also need to add audio and it shall be complete.

April 3rd, 2006, 02:30 AM	#154
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	I'm with you folks...been editing until the 'ol eyeballs fall out. However, like Robert, am ready to get up early and keep at it. Chopping up 4.5 hours of tape into 5 minutes or less always seems to take some time and it doesn't help matters that I just can't seem to stop tweeking the edits!

April 3rd, 2006, 09:10 AM	#157
Robert Kirkpatrick Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 199	I'm done with the main shoot. Shot everything in one long day, and I'm still exhausted. I'm just gonna babble a bit about where I am. THE FOREST SCENES The outdoor scenes were murder. Lots of ticks and poison ivy (yeah, Arkansas). The day started off as overcast, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the sun appeared. So basically, the first scenes are darker than the later scenes -- and I had to constantly fight overexposure on the actor's white dress. And because of the weather forecast, I stupidly left my reflector at home and now there are some awkward shadows on the actor's face. THE INDOOR SCENES This was my second time using the FX1, but the first time I used it heavily. I think I underexposed a few of the indoor scenes -- but I'll just have to live wit h it for now. I didn't want to jack up the gain too much, because I'm not a big fan of grain. I wish I had an external monitor. However, my little girl actor was amazing. Absolutely stunning performance. THE GREEN SCREENS I always have this tendency of being more ambitious than I should be. This is my first time doing some green screens, and perhaps I should've done some tests beforehand. :) I'm using Vegas Video to chroma key and I set up a ghetto green screen. One of the keys worked out beautifully. But the others have been disappointing. Lots of fringes -- but I'm still playing with the mask. RESHOOTS AND EDITS I wasn't able to get a fake human heart and lungs -- and I no longer have time to shoot it. But I may have to reshoot the little girl's scream and the morphing effect. I started editing and doing some color correction yesterday, and so far, it's looking pretty nice. Despite my indoor scenes, the FX1 is a truly amazing camera. And I'm suprisingly able to do some really nice demonic eyes for the evil queen, just using the media generator in Vegas. Now I've just got to hussle with the editing and oh, yeah, compose the music. Why do I never keep things simple? Hopefully, I'll be able to get it done in time. If not, I'll still post it when I'm finished.

April 3rd, 2006, 11:25 AM	#159
Andrew Hood Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Latrobe Valley, Vic Posts: 320	I was going to use the DV500 to shoot, but it choked on a tape and requires surgery. That'll be a trip to Melbourne no doubt. Back to PD150 (only). Finally did most of the shooting over the weekend. Took me too long to make a script and get it edited by other folk. But I should have an entry this time. But we still have another scene to shoot, and with wintery weather on the way. They're talking about snow and I need Sunny weather for 1hr when the 'talent' is present. And it needs to be dry, or it just won't make sense in the script. But at this point I'll take it, even if it's not what it should be. Just using and family and friends for actors. More organisation needed next time, and hopefully will have networked with some theatre people by then. Seriously need to delegate parts of pre-production too. But learning lots - especially about how little goes to plan, and you forget to do too many things when you're doing it. And a garden cart does not a dolly make - need more weight, especially coupled with the camera. Canned those shots when I played them back. I also had the Sun going in and out - overcast helped even the light out though, but you really had to watch the exposures (Zebra is your friend). Still have loads of sound tweaking to do (and offscreen voices to rerecord - I had to delegate boom operations), but the basic edit is in place. Need to try different music to it also - though it's limited to the royalty free library. Some carefully placed sound effects would help too. So far I have about 40 mins on tape, making about 2.5 mins of current edit, with the one portion still remaining. But I think that will show for itself in the end. Too often there's no real choice as to which take to use - it's the one that sucks least.

April 3rd, 2006, 05:20 PM	#161
William Gardner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 216	Done! Hurrah! While I was glad that the challenge lasted more than 10 days this time, I sure did spend more time on this than I expected... :) My main sadness is that the web versions look so mediocre compared to the full, HD glory produced by my Sony Z1U. Good luck, everybody! Finish, finish, finish! Bill

April 3rd, 2006, 06:38 PM	#163
Dick Mays Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 690	Minor setback. I finished shooting all the nude scenes on Saturday, but spent so much time in the editing room on Sunday, I believe my wife has rootkited my computer.

April 3rd, 2006, 09:34 PM	#164
Robert Martens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 820	Nude scenes? In a freely available movie? Heck, you've got my vote! :) Finished my own rough cut about half an hour ago, showed it to my father, who tells me he's pleased with it, and got the point I was trying to get across. So all that's left is to rerecord one particular voiceover (I've fallen victim to the "cell phones as the new cigarettes" bug, I'm sorry to say--not one, but TWO phone conversations in one movie), add in a select few sound effects, add some crossfades and color correct a shot or two. I can see the finish line, and it looks good.

April 3rd, 2006, 10:14 PM	#165
Michael Fossenkemper Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC, weeee. Posts: 417	Holy cow, I feel completly out gunned. Z1's, green screens, no little puppies or kids? I spent 50 bucks on parts to make a dolly, 30 bucks on scotch and wine, 10 bucks on tape, 40 bucks on new bulbs, 40 bucks on sandwiches. I shot everything on a DVC30, My dad doesn't get the idea, but then again he thinks everything I do is a bad idea.