UWOL # 7 "Path to the Past" by Bob Thieda

Ruth Happel · February 25th, 2008, 04:28 PM

I enjoyed the film, and it made me want to know more about the subject. As Cat suggests, maybe you could find some materials online to bring the site to life more for us. Hidden under snow, it seems the ideal opportunity to either use the visual onsite, which wasn't very visible in the film, or find some on the internet, so we know more about what we are seeing.

I had no problem with the huffing narration- gave it a sort of David Attenborough feel. In three minutes, though, I would have preferred more of the site and less of the journey/hike getting to and from the spot. Though as you note, it was quite an adventure in and of itself!

The music was great, and really enhanced the tone of your video.

Ruth

Per Johan Naesje · February 25th, 2008, 04:48 PM

Bob, congrats with your first entry! I think you did well on this. As a foreigner I had to play it a couple of times to get all the story you was telling!!
Second what have been said by the others. Some of the clips could have been better framed, but it's not easy to record yourself.

Good work, keep it up Bob!

Mat Thompson · February 26th, 2008, 07:57 AM

Its a tough game, shooting your own camera deliveries and too time consuming. I think you did a great job with that and your deliveries were really nice. Maybe it would be worth catching your breath a little longer before you give them though. I thought your story was nicely paced and moved along well. I think you could have done with looking at more detail around you as it got a bit one dimensional in places. It would have also been nice to have a bit more visual meat on the story but you can't really do much more about that although maybe even a pencil sketch and a map view would have added more visual information and built on your story.

Nice first entry fella.....more to come I hope!

Bob Safay · February 26th, 2008, 07:12 PM

Bob, very well done. From the beginning you told me where I was and what I was looking for. You told a story about an adventure. Your narration followed the story line. A great job, welcome to UWOL. Awaiting more of your work. Bob

Geir Inge · February 27th, 2008, 06:47 AM

Hi Bob T.
Ancient history comes alive through your camera.
I think you've made a great entry with this one.
Great narrations and suitable piano music in the background.
Well, we can't do much about the snow covering tracks. Still I think you made a great story and I had no problems following you through this adventure of yours.

Wish you good luck and hope to see more of your films here at uwol.
Geir Inge

Eric Gulbransen · February 28th, 2008, 09:34 PM

Bob, nice adventure for you. Amazing what you can find when you take the time to look. Thanks for sharing the journey

Marj Atkins · February 29th, 2008, 09:59 AM

I must say you are a natural in front of the camera Bob. I enjoyed your narration very much. You kept me interested all the way although the end was a bit of an anti-climax due to the snow covering the area.

I think that it would have been more informative if you could have allowed us to see the info provided at the site, or at least explained a bit more about the mounds. A good, solid video.

Bruce Foreman · March 2nd, 2008, 01:02 PM

A few years ago the National Geographic had an extensive article on the mounds and the mound builders culture artifacts imply.

Evidence points to a thriving enterprising trade culture covering much of the eastern and central US a few hundred years before Europeans "discovered" this continent.

The burial mounds you found are some of the last evidence of that left by those cultures.

You had a good documentary approach, and hiking that shortcut had to be somewhat of an adventure. I've seen other documentaries in the past where the narrator was a bit out of breath after a climb up a rise or hill, so that did not seem unnatural to me. It may have even added something more than just standing and narrating.

I like it, and find this sort of thing interesting and fascinating.

Bryce Comer · April 1st, 2008, 05:21 AM

Nice one Bob!
Really informative too. I liked the way you went out without really knowing where you were going, or what to expect when you got there. Well done with setting the camera up & doing the stand up work. Something i find very difficult. Your recovery in the beginning where you forgot what you were going to say was good too. Looks like a really beautiful place.

Bryce

February 25th, 2008, 04:28 PM	#16
Ruth Happel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Black Mountain, NC Posts: 488	I enjoyed the film, and it made me want to know more about the subject. As Cat suggests, maybe you could find some materials online to bring the site to life more for us. Hidden under snow, it seems the ideal opportunity to either use the visual onsite, which wasn't very visible in the film, or find some on the internet, so we know more about what we are seeing. I had no problem with the huffing narration- gave it a sort of David Attenborough feel. In three minutes, though, I would have preferred more of the site and less of the journey/hike getting to and from the spot. Though as you note, it was quite an adventure in and of itself! The music was great, and really enhanced the tone of your video. Ruth __________________ http://rockfowl.com/

February 25th, 2008, 04:48 PM	#17
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	Bob, congrats with your first entry! I think you did well on this. As a foreigner I had to play it a couple of times to get all the story you was telling!! Second what have been said by the others. Some of the clips could have been better framed, but it's not easy to record yourself. Good work, keep it up Bob! __________________ - Per Johan

February 27th, 2008, 06:47 AM	#20
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,343	Hi Bob T. Ancient history comes alive through your camera. I think you've made a great entry with this one. Great narrations and suitable piano music in the background. Well, we can't do much about the snow covering tracks. Still I think you made a great story and I had no problems following you through this adventure of yours. Wish you good luck and hope to see more of your films here at uwol. Geir Inge __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

April 1st, 2008, 05:21 AM	#24
Bryce Comer Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rossland, British Columbia Posts: 1,024	Nice one Bob! Really informative too. I liked the way you went out without really knowing where you were going, or what to expect when you got there. Well done with setting the camera up & doing the stand up work. Something i find very difficult. Your recovery in the beginning where you forgot what you were going to say was good too. Looks like a really beautiful place. Bryce __________________ There's never enough hours in the day!

February 26th, 2008, 07:57 AM	#18
Mat Thompson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 1,397	Its a tough game, shooting your own camera deliveries and too time consuming. I think you did a great job with that and your deliveries were really nice. Maybe it would be worth catching your breath a little longer before you give them though. I thought your story was nicely paced and moved along well. I think you could have done with looking at more detail around you as it got a bit one dimensional in places. It would have also been nice to have a bit more visual meat on the story but you can't really do much more about that although maybe even a pencil sketch and a map view would have added more visual information and built on your story. Nice first entry fella.....more to come I hope!

February 26th, 2008, 07:12 PM	#19
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	Bob, very well done. From the beginning you told me where I was and what I was looking for. You told a story about an adventure. Your narration followed the story line. A great job, welcome to UWOL. Awaiting more of your work. Bob

February 28th, 2008, 09:34 PM	#21
Eric Gulbransen Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, California Posts: 520	Bob, nice adventure for you. Amazing what you can find when you take the time to look. Thanks for sharing the journey

February 29th, 2008, 09:59 AM	#22
Marj Atkins Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Johannesburg South Africa Posts: 768	I must say you are a natural in front of the camera Bob. I enjoyed your narration very much. You kept me interested all the way although the end was a bit of an anti-climax due to the snow covering the area. I think that it would have been more informative if you could have allowed us to see the info provided at the site, or at least explained a bit more about the mounds. A good, solid video.

March 2nd, 2008, 01:02 PM	#23
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	A few years ago the National Geographic had an extensive article on the mounds and the mound builders culture artifacts imply. Evidence points to a thriving enterprising trade culture covering much of the eastern and central US a few hundred years before Europeans "discovered" this continent. The burial mounds you found are some of the last evidence of that left by those cultures. You had a good documentary approach, and hiking that shortcut had to be somewhat of an adventure. I've seen other documentaries in the past where the narrator was a bit out of breath after a climb up a rise or hill, so that did not seem unnatural to me. It may have even added something more than just standing and narrating. I like it, and find this sort of thing interesting and fascinating.