UWOL #1: "Clear Skies" by Ruth Happel at DVinfo.net

Ruth Happel · January 23rd, 2007, 10:10 AM

As Meryem suggested, I am creating a thread for feedback on my video. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Here is a link to it, as set up on uwolchallenge.com-

http://www.uwolchallenge.com/challen...ClearSkies.mov

This contest was really a great inspiration for me. I have been shooting video for years, but this is the first time I actually used an NLE to put together clips to make a film. I found the process challenging but a lot of fun- I guess that is why this is called a challenge! This gave me the nudge I needed to help me start learning a lot of new skills, and actually doing something with all my footage.

I shot this with my latest camera, the Panasonic PV-GS500, and recorded the audio with the Zoom H4. I edited using Vegas 7 which I had as a free trial download, and have now decided to buy. It opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities.

Thanks again for putting in all the time and effort to develop uwol.com and the challenge. I found this forum and challenge within a few days of finding this site, and so far dvinfo.net has really helped inspire me to learn all aspects of video. Thanks so much!

Ruth

Rick A. Phillips · January 23rd, 2007, 10:35 AM

Ruth,

I enjoyed your entry very much. I thought it was very clever. Where do you people come up with all these ideas? I had a smile on my face the whole time I was watching this. Thanks.

Rick

Meryem Ersoz · January 23rd, 2007, 10:41 AM

i can't comment on quality of entries, as an evaluator, but it sure puts a smile on my face when people mention how much they learn along the way. nothing teaches you how to make a video like completing a video. thanks fer playing!

Per Johan Naesje · January 23rd, 2007, 10:54 AM

Ruth, I like your idea and humor, got a good laugh too :-)
Even though I would have liked more "wildlife-stuff" you did pretty well.
Congratulation with a well done project.

Ruth Happel · January 23rd, 2007, 11:11 AM

Rick, thanks for the comments. Glad it made you smile.

Per, I appreciate your comments. I consciously chose not to do a traditional wildlife video, though I shot quite a bit more "wildlife-stuff". My background is largely in audio- I have produced quite a few environmental sound recordings, and done sound installations for science museums, nature centers, etc. Although this has helped raise awareness of environmental issues, I have chosen, at least for the moment, to take my video in a more humorous and more directly political direction. Having been a wildlife biologist for many years, I am very concerned with conservation issues, and my ultimate goal is to help raise awareness through my videos.

Any comments or suggestions on how effective this was would be appreciated. I understand this is a polarizing issue, but technical comments with politics aside would be great. Thanks!

Geir Inge · January 23rd, 2007, 11:51 AM

Congratulation Ruth with a well done project.
I'm sure you had a lot of fun doing it.
I like a sense of humour in a film, and yours made me laugh, so now I'm in a good mood, thank you.
PS
I wonder if I can get my "bushes" to talk too :-)

Brian McKay · January 23rd, 2007, 02:53 PM

Fantastic imagination...or were those bushes actually talking? Fun to watch and I'm sure it was fun to make.

BTW I love the underlying message.

Brian

Kevin Railsback · January 23rd, 2007, 07:06 PM

Ruth,
What a fun film!

At first when you panned down and I caught site of something on the bush I was like "What the heck is that?" Then when I figured it out, it broought a smile to my face.

It was a fun film but it still got a good message across.

Loved the outtakes. Reminded me of Toy Story. :)

Ruth Happel · January 24th, 2007, 10:30 AM

Geir and Brian, thanks for the comments. Yes, all bushes can talk- you just need to have a bush whisperer to bring them out of their normal silence :)

Kevin, thanks for the comments. I'm glad the pan down had the desired effect. It didn't compress well, but I left it in because I wanted to move from the straight narration to the humorous tone in one scene.

Ruth

Gabriel Yeager · January 24th, 2007, 01:19 PM

hahaha, Very creative idea! I liked the way you panned, it looked nice.

I would say to maybe stay away from the political thing, but that might just be me.

Good footage, funny story, nice job!
~Gabriel

Randall Allen · January 24th, 2007, 03:50 PM

Ruth:

A great movie all around. I really liked the various voices.

Randy

Cody Lucido · January 24th, 2007, 04:13 PM

A good message in a funny little film.

It made me chuckle.

Bob Safay · January 24th, 2007, 05:19 PM

Ruth, I think it was just great. Besides the great camera work it was such a unique way to portray charactors. This concept would be wonderful for doing childrens health education programs. Thanks for shareing. Bob

Steve Siegel · January 24th, 2007, 07:34 PM

Just what this contest needed. I loved it. You are for sure in my top 5 favorites.
Was that the paper mill in Aberdeen, WA? Nothing on the Lord's green earth could smell as bad as that factory.

Ruth Happel · January 24th, 2007, 09:18 PM

Randy and Cody- Glad you liked it. It was hard to figure out how to make bushes look funny- they are tough actors to work with!

Ruth

January 23rd, 2007, 10:54 AM	#4
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	Ruth, I like your idea and humor, got a good laugh too :-) Even though I would have liked more "wildlife-stuff" you did pretty well. Congratulation with a well done project. __________________ - Per Johan

January 23rd, 2007, 11:51 AM	#6
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,343	Congratulation Ruth with a well done project. I'm sure you had a lot of fun doing it. I like a sense of humour in a film, and yours made me laugh, so now I'm in a good mood, thank you. PS I wonder if I can get my "bushes" to talk too :-) __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

January 23rd, 2007, 02:53 PM	#7
Brian McKay Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Canada Posts: 289	Good Fun Fantastic imagination...or were those bushes actually talking? Fun to watch and I'm sure it was fun to make. BTW I love the underlying message. Brian

January 23rd, 2007, 07:06 PM	#8
Kevin Railsback Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 1,544	Ruth, What a fun film! At first when you panned down and I caught site of something on the bush I was like "What the heck is that?" Then when I figured it out, it broought a smile to my face. It was a fun film but it still got a good message across. Loved the outtakes. Reminded me of Toy Story. :) __________________ --==Kevin==-- http:naturephotostudios.com.com

January 24th, 2007, 01:19 PM	#10
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	hahaha, Very creative idea! I liked the way you panned, it looked nice. I would say to maybe stay away from the political thing, but that might just be me. Good footage, funny story, nice job! ~Gabriel __________________ Gabriel Photography

January 23rd, 2007, 10:10 AM	#1
Ruth Happel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Black Mountain, NC Posts: 488	UWOL #1: "Clear Skies" by Ruth Happel As Meryem suggested, I am creating a thread for feedback on my video. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Here is a link to it, as set up on uwolchallenge.com- http://www.uwolchallenge.com/challen...ClearSkies.mov This contest was really a great inspiration for me. I have been shooting video for years, but this is the first time I actually used an NLE to put together clips to make a film. I found the process challenging but a lot of fun- I guess that is why this is called a challenge! This gave me the nudge I needed to help me start learning a lot of new skills, and actually doing something with all my footage. I shot this with my latest camera, the Panasonic PV-GS500, and recorded the audio with the Zoom H4. I edited using Vegas 7 which I had as a free trial download, and have now decided to buy. It opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities. Thanks again for putting in all the time and effort to develop uwol.com and the challenge. I found this forum and challenge within a few days of finding this site, and so far dvinfo.net has really helped inspire me to learn all aspects of video. Thanks so much! Ruth

January 23rd, 2007, 10:35 AM	#2
Rick A. Phillips Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: kingsport, tennessee Posts: 123	Ruth, I enjoyed your entry very much. I thought it was very clever. Where do you people come up with all these ideas? I had a smile on my face the whole time I was watching this. Thanks. Rick

January 23rd, 2007, 10:41 AM	#3
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	i can't comment on quality of entries, as an evaluator, but it sure puts a smile on my face when people mention how much they learn along the way. nothing teaches you how to make a video like completing a video. thanks fer playing!

January 23rd, 2007, 11:11 AM	#5
Ruth Happel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Black Mountain, NC Posts: 488	Rick, thanks for the comments. Glad it made you smile. Per, I appreciate your comments. I consciously chose not to do a traditional wildlife video, though I shot quite a bit more "wildlife-stuff". My background is largely in audio- I have produced quite a few environmental sound recordings, and done sound installations for science museums, nature centers, etc. Although this has helped raise awareness of environmental issues, I have chosen, at least for the moment, to take my video in a more humorous and more directly political direction. Having been a wildlife biologist for many years, I am very concerned with conservation issues, and my ultimate goal is to help raise awareness through my videos. Any comments or suggestions on how effective this was would be appreciated. I understand this is a polarizing issue, but technical comments with politics aside would be great. Thanks!

January 24th, 2007, 10:30 AM	#9
Ruth Happel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Black Mountain, NC Posts: 488	Geir and Brian, thanks for the comments. Yes, all bushes can talk- you just need to have a bush whisperer to bring them out of their normal silence :) Kevin, thanks for the comments. I'm glad the pan down had the desired effect. It didn't compress well, but I left it in because I wanted to move from the straight narration to the humorous tone in one scene. Ruth

January 24th, 2007, 03:50 PM	#11
Randall Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 192	Ruth: A great movie all around. I really liked the various voices. Randy

January 24th, 2007, 04:13 PM	#12
Cody Lucido Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 206	A good message in a funny little film. It made me chuckle. __________________ www.CodemanStudios.com

January 24th, 2007, 05:19 PM	#13
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	Ruth, I think it was just great. Besides the great camera work it was such a unique way to portray charactors. This concept would be wonderful for doing childrens health education programs. Thanks for shareing. Bob

January 24th, 2007, 07:34 PM	#14
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 840	Just what this contest needed. I loved it. You are for sure in my top 5 favorites. Was that the paper mill in Aberdeen, WA? Nothing on the Lord's green earth could smell as bad as that factory.

January 24th, 2007, 09:18 PM	#15
Ruth Happel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Black Mountain, NC Posts: 488	Randy and Cody- Glad you liked it. It was hard to figure out how to make bushes look funny- they are tough actors to work with! Ruth