I'm someone who usually leaves the sound component till the last moment, but I've been thinking about sound for a while now, convinced that I need to have music backing my video sequences. Thus, I've been familiarising myself with a DS program called Rytmik (by Cinemax), avoiding the likes of GarageBand.
I met with Alistair today and he suggested, based on the vague description I have, that I instead use the sounds from the environment, citing Blow Up as an example of such a thing.
Alistair did back up David's advice that if I did want some music that GarageBand could be useful - only to remember to avoid the guitar and piano loops as they are quite recognisable.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Rule of Thirds & the Photographic Triangle
All the shooting I've done thus far is wrong but it needed to be wrong for me to learn... Bloody hell!
Ok, so after showing Christopher a number of shots from the last 5 tests, he pointed out that it all needs to be lit correctly since things can look flat, and shot correctly and thus what I've done is wrong.
The following resources should get me on track...
Re: The Photographic Triangle
http://www.flickr.com/groups/technique/discuss/17163/
Re: Composition
http://photoinf.com/General/NAVY/Photographic_composition_Balance.htm
Ok, so after showing Christopher a number of shots from the last 5 tests, he pointed out that it all needs to be lit correctly since things can look flat, and shot correctly and thus what I've done is wrong.
The following resources should get me on track...
Re: The Photographic Triangle
http://www.flickr.com/groups/technique/discuss/17163/
Re: Rule of Thirds
Re: Composition
http://photoinf.com/General/NAVY/Photographic_composition_Balance.htm
Thursday, March 24, 2011
More Test Shoots - Haircut & Ceramics
I managed to get the 5D... Played a little with the camera the Tuesday with Thom but this really was the first time I'd used the 5D.
Haircut
With the 35-107mm lens, I took footage of another haircut, this time of Diana... I underestimated how much memory shooting with the 5D can take... I soon run out of memory and had to switch briefly over to the HV20. There were some very cool shots but I still felt restricted in the space and just generally...
[OMG! Lint inside camera and a mark on sensor caused marks on all haircut footage - JP replaced camera but in doing so, I missed the opportunity to visit the hairdressers to do some panning product/chemical type shots. The person who had the camera before me needs to be shot, even just for cross-threading the filter.]
Ceramics
Not wishing to have the camera and not use it, I went back to the Ceramics workshop - this time I focussed more on the objects around the workshop, panning across the things that took my interest, using the focus on the lens to run across the surface of objects. This was a fun exercise.
On a side-note, importing footage to APR422(HQ) seems problematic so far... I'm getting considerable lag with the imported videos... JP has offered to assist with this process so I'm hoping this is fixed when I see him tomorrow.
Haircut
With the 35-107mm lens, I took footage of another haircut, this time of Diana... I underestimated how much memory shooting with the 5D can take... I soon run out of memory and had to switch briefly over to the HV20. There were some very cool shots but I still felt restricted in the space and just generally...
[OMG! Lint inside camera and a mark on sensor caused marks on all haircut footage - JP replaced camera but in doing so, I missed the opportunity to visit the hairdressers to do some panning product/chemical type shots. The person who had the camera before me needs to be shot, even just for cross-threading the filter.]
Ceramics
Not wishing to have the camera and not use it, I went back to the Ceramics workshop - this time I focussed more on the objects around the workshop, panning across the things that took my interest, using the focus on the lens to run across the surface of objects. This was a fun exercise.
On a side-note, importing footage to APR422(HQ) seems problematic so far... I'm getting considerable lag with the imported videos... JP has offered to assist with this process so I'm hoping this is fixed when I see him tomorrow.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Test Shoots - Tea, Cleaner, Haircut, Ceramics
So, I've been playing with my camera, shot some basic stuff like me making a cup of tea.
The aim was to observe the actions that were being undertaken so that I could later replicate those in the studio environment.
1. Cleaner
I also organised to follow the cleaner (Maria) for the morning. Got up at 7:00 and followed her with the video camera filming the various things she does in the morning. This was a lot of fun and she was most accommodating. One thing I realised very quickly was that she was going at such a pace that shooting actual action was definitely going to be too difficult.
Some things I hadn't expected though, like the way the vacuum tube wobbles around when the cleaner is out of shot or following the untangling of the vacuum power chord.
2. Haircut
This was fun. I followed my partner to the hairdressers... again the hairdresser was very accommodating. I couldn't get in close enough to the action since I was using my HV20. Also, the light wasn't quite as good as you'd expect.
Something that became very apparent was the lack of anonymity with the actions of the hairdresser and the assistance who washed his hair - they had rings and tattoos that would identify them very easily. Definitely something not to forget if the services of someone are called upon again - which highlights too the need to get in closer with a good lens.
3. Ceramics
Another fun activity. There was plenty of light and there are so many things within the workshop that take an interesting picture, the kilns, buckets, machines, clay, etc. Definitely need to shoot with a better, closer lens.
One issue within such an environment was the cleanliness... it's dusty and potentially wet, depending on how close you get to the action.
The aim was to observe the actions that were being undertaken so that I could later replicate those in the studio environment.
1. Cleaner
I also organised to follow the cleaner (Maria) for the morning. Got up at 7:00 and followed her with the video camera filming the various things she does in the morning. This was a lot of fun and she was most accommodating. One thing I realised very quickly was that she was going at such a pace that shooting actual action was definitely going to be too difficult.
Some things I hadn't expected though, like the way the vacuum tube wobbles around when the cleaner is out of shot or following the untangling of the vacuum power chord.
2. Haircut
This was fun. I followed my partner to the hairdressers... again the hairdresser was very accommodating. I couldn't get in close enough to the action since I was using my HV20. Also, the light wasn't quite as good as you'd expect.
Something that became very apparent was the lack of anonymity with the actions of the hairdresser and the assistance who washed his hair - they had rings and tattoos that would identify them very easily. Definitely something not to forget if the services of someone are called upon again - which highlights too the need to get in closer with a good lens.
3. Ceramics
Another fun activity. There was plenty of light and there are so many things within the workshop that take an interesting picture, the kilns, buckets, machines, clay, etc. Definitely need to shoot with a better, closer lens.
One issue within such an environment was the cleanliness... it's dusty and potentially wet, depending on how close you get to the action.
Monday, March 14, 2011
It's in the Titles
When I think about which videos that truly impress and inspire me, I think about TV title sequences.
So I finally finished compiling my list of the best Title Sequences and they are:
Live Video
Runners up include: Boardwalk Empire (Imaginary Forces), Damages (Bigstar), HBO Boxing (Digital Kitchen), Justified (Elastic), Misfits (MOMOCO), Nip Tuck (Digital Kitchen), Southland (Imaginary Forces), Tilt (Digital Kitchen) and Weeds (Thomas Cobb Group).
Animated
Runners up include: Brat Bratu (Armada), The Cape (The Picture Mill), Chuck (Imaginary Forces) Fringe (Red and Retro), The IT Crowd (Shynola) and Sanctuary (Pure).
As anyone can see, Digital Kitchen and Imaginary Forces feature heavily in my list. I don't believe I'm being biased toward these companies, I believe they just happen to make the best sequences at this time. And this is why I set the bar high in wishing to emulate the quality of such high quality work.
So I finally finished compiling my list of the best Title Sequences and they are:
Live Video
- Six Feet Under by Digital Kitchen
- Dexter by Digital Kitchen
- True Blood by Digital Kitchen
- House by Digital Kitchen
- Rescue Me by Digital Kitchen
- The Pacific by Imaginary Forces
- Underbelly S2
Runners up include: Boardwalk Empire (Imaginary Forces), Damages (Bigstar), HBO Boxing (Digital Kitchen), Justified (Elastic), Misfits (MOMOCO), Nip Tuck (Digital Kitchen), Southland (Imaginary Forces), Tilt (Digital Kitchen) and Weeds (Thomas Cobb Group).
Animated
- Breaking Bad by Vince Gilligan
- Fringe by Andrew Kramer of Video Copilot
- Misfits by MOMOCO/Maguffin
- Rome by A52
- Rubicon by Imaginary Forces
- United States of Tara by Jamie Caliri
- The Walking Dead by Prologue Films
Runners up include: Brat Bratu (Armada), The Cape (The Picture Mill), Chuck (Imaginary Forces) Fringe (Red and Retro), The IT Crowd (Shynola) and Sanctuary (Pure).
As anyone can see, Digital Kitchen and Imaginary Forces feature heavily in my list. I don't believe I'm being biased toward these companies, I believe they just happen to make the best sequences at this time. And this is why I set the bar high in wishing to emulate the quality of such high quality work.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Major Proposal & Feedback
It seems every time I discuss my work with anyone, especially in a group situation, I come away feeling as if I've been punched in the guts.
Depite my Keynote presentation being railroaded at slide 3, the general feedback was that I should remove the deliberate insertion of the murder/death symbolism in the work and focus on 1) getting the practice down first, because 2) that symbolism and imagery will come in that process.
Essentially I've been directed to just go for it, start shooting... thus, I have scheduled some test shoots for next week. I can't get the 5D but my HV20 should suffice for this exercise. As a result, the aim will be to film my three subjects (hairdressing, ceramics and cleaning) so as to observe the actions and work out what it is I need to film in the studio.
Depite my Keynote presentation being railroaded at slide 3, the general feedback was that I should remove the deliberate insertion of the murder/death symbolism in the work and focus on 1) getting the practice down first, because 2) that symbolism and imagery will come in that process.
Essentially I've been directed to just go for it, start shooting... thus, I have scheduled some test shoots for next week. I can't get the 5D but my HV20 should suffice for this exercise. As a result, the aim will be to film my three subjects (hairdressing, ceramics and cleaning) so as to observe the actions and work out what it is I need to film in the studio.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Local Production Companies
In producing the proposal for our major this week I took the time to research the local production companies who, from an online perspective, could be worth a look. I say this in the interests of possibly visiting some of these to see in a practical sense how the production process takes shape in the real world.
These are in order of how impressed I was by their online presence.
These are in order of how impressed I was by their online presence.
| Barecage Productions | 62488444 | | |
| Nimic Productions | 62622439 | ||
| Silver Sun Pictures | 62479999 | ||
| Plum Media Group | 62800100 | ||
| Missing Bits Productions | Pat 0408582848 Adam 0438003533 | ||
| Enemies of Reality Media | 62970432 | ||
| Image Makers | | ||
| By George | | ||
| Dynamic Media | 62480160 | ||
| Men of the Hour | 0409072549 | Online form. | |
| Get It! Productions | Check new site later: www.gip.com.au | | |
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
NTSC -> PAL = Camera Familiarisation
When I purchased my Canon HV-20 I quickly found out I'd made a mistake since it was NTSC and not PAL... woops.
Well, thanks to some brilliant work by jollyrogerxp over at hv20.com, I've managed to switch it over to PAL and thus I've started familiarising myself with the camera again.
It is apparent that I also need to familiarise myself with the 5D as well. Ick.
Well, thanks to some brilliant work by jollyrogerxp over at hv20.com, I've managed to switch it over to PAL and thus I've started familiarising myself with the camera again.
It is apparent that I also need to familiarise myself with the 5D as well. Ick.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Subject Imagery Expansion
Hairdresser (CIT, Tangles?)
- pots of chemicals/dye
- bleach
- gloves
- slow wash/massage - like ogasmatron
- basin - cleaning, washing cut hair away
- gruesome story on front of womans magazine
- nick ear
- sharp scissor blade
- womans' hand
- approach back of head
- comb sanitizer
- product (steam?) from straightening
- warning labels
- cross out name in booking
- looping chords
- red dye - towel, drops on scissor
- dummies heads
- sweeping/vacuuming hair
- closing shot: barber chair
- product pans
- vacuuming close-up of hair, nail.
- dust pan bristles
- chemical bottles
- power
- gloved hands over surfaces
- garbage
Chef (too obviously questionable)
- Knives
- Sauce
Potter/Ceramicist
- glaze
- kiln dials
- wire
- blades
- tools
- footprint
- dust
- hands
- pinch pot
- throwing actions - centring, pulling up
- foot using pedal
- scrapings from turning process
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Complimentary Dilema Update #2
So I met with Chris today.
In regard to which direction I'm going in this was brilliant.
After chatting with him I've decided to drop my Dyslexia idea and the Cloud/Liquid in a fishbowl idea.
So, Video complimentary here I come.
The plan will be to make similar video sequences in both the major and the complimentary. Brilliant.
In regard to which direction I'm going in this was brilliant.
After chatting with him I've decided to drop my Dyslexia idea and the Cloud/Liquid in a fishbowl idea.
So, Video complimentary here I come.
The plan will be to make similar video sequences in both the major and the complimentary. Brilliant.
The ideas thus far...
- Animated DVD Spines on shelf - using the images from the spines, much like my mosaic work, you could show moving images using the spines as an animated image source.
- Dyslexia Animation - attempt to convey to others how I visually see the world and have done for years... possibly using the images from the tests used to diagnose me.
- Beautiful swirling things - why are they beautiful? Clouds, water... cup-of-tea - the swirling patterns as the milk mixes with the tea, hypnotic, fascinating. Go larger, like a fish bowl.
- Title Sequence emulation - video mixing normal/mundane (haircut, cleaning, ceramics) with murder/death ala Dexter, Six Feet, True Blood.
- Gross-outs - Rather than gross someone out using something nice like in the past, try deliberately using gross things or try to turn those gross things into fascinating things - e.g. the macro landscape of dog poo.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Dante Fabiero
Essentially if you read the interview here you get the same info he spoke about in person.
Of note was his particular emphasis on ensuring that people are socially normal in order to succeed. This was a good point but definitely directed more to the younger in the audience.
It was good though, well worth the time out.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
3rd Year & Object Porn
I've been thinking tonight about what really impresses me.
I believe I have a strong idea for my major but even though I have two relatively good ideas for my complimentary, I've realised tonight what I could do to really achieve my goal of making a piece of work that a company like DK would sit up and take notice of.
I've realised that the beauty in the truly impressive title sequences is not only the various aspects I've listed privately but it's also how they've shot inanimate objects... which leads me to my thought... object porn. How to light an object, how to better take video of an object, both inside and outside objects.
Let's face it, it's what I've been doing with my jars, etc. anyway... maybe that's what my complimentary needs to focus on! Now how to make it work...
I believe I have a strong idea for my major but even though I have two relatively good ideas for my complimentary, I've realised tonight what I could do to really achieve my goal of making a piece of work that a company like DK would sit up and take notice of.
I've realised that the beauty in the truly impressive title sequences is not only the various aspects I've listed privately but it's also how they've shot inanimate objects... which leads me to my thought... object porn. How to light an object, how to better take video of an object, both inside and outside objects.
Let's face it, it's what I've been doing with my jars, etc. anyway... maybe that's what my complimentary needs to focus on! Now how to make it work...
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