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For every moment studying drives me crazy, there's a dozen moments where I wish I was back studying already.
During the big festive Christmas break I've been struggling with searching for any type and kind of inspiration, mainly watching massive amount of tutorials. I think I might be getting back to after effects some time soon. While digging through some shelves I found my 3rd year hand-in dvd with this sequence on it.

This brings back memories: it is the first movie I ever shot with a dslr back when I had no idea of frame rates, resolutions or codes (not that I have much now).
Shot on canon 500d, approx 2 hours; edited in premiere/after effects (some 5-8 hours). Was soo much fun to make!


Kurt - J. Ochmanski
Audio: Isaac Hayes - Ike's rap II (I do not hold any rights to this audiotrack, the video is for educational purposes only).

Shameless self-promotion break

I developed some of the studio pics from the last time.
Again I'm still in the early-middle part of getting used to 5d mark II so the results probably do not explore the full potential yet Im happy. For now

Wedding invitation research part 3 - simple, well-shot, nice.

If this is really the same day edit as it says, well done.

From the technical point of view extremely well done, appropriate use of dollies (there were some moments where a slightly more creative transition would fit more, but that's just random thoughts).
Very good sense of atmosphere - this 4 minute edit managed to capture an entire day in one sequence: the preparation and the ceremony. It gives away all the emotions associated with the wedding both the happiness and stress alike. It is very traditional in the structure, joyful although not too funny. The music is on the bandwagon as well - a classic tearjerker.
I believe this is a part of a bigger production, but does the trick of video-documentation. Thumbs up again.

In my work I intend to have something on a similar level. I would not keep it classy and romantic only though, so the humorous sequences are as important. Then again, it all depends on the client. If the couple is just staring at each other during the meeting and whispering poems.. well, you probably wouldn't want sequences of someone telling nasty jokes during the afterparty.
Again, random thoughts.
Overall well executed, if it fulfils the client requirements, way to go.

Wedding invitation research part 2 - bigger hit

And now for something completely different...

I have no ideas if it was one of them behind the concept and the editing process but this is just too good to be true.
The whole movie displays an amazing knowledge of contemporary blockbusters both music-wise and with the visuals (the indiana jones logotype for instance). It's a good fun and has this romantic edge to it as well (which is something to be very careful with - there's a very thin line between 'cute' and 'cheesy').
Put together very nicely, I liked how it featured the mixture of casual and dynamic footage, much like the popular form of a movie trailer which it was supposed to mock.
This production is a good example how someone educated in contemporary arts (or at least someone going to the theatre every now and then) has a great advantage over a casual video-maker. The ability to paraphrase some iconic and memorable scenes gives a nice angle to a production as well as makes the viewer laugh. This is accompanied with a selection of music from several big productions, it just all fits well. Thumbs up, very high.
After all I am just a part of random audience and I still enjoyed. I surely can imagine all the laugh their families had.

Wedding invitation research part 1 - why?

Well as said below - this is going to be way less interesting than the sports mixtapes.
I'm not sure what is the decissive factor behind the quality of an average video of this kind. Is it the market? Well could be.
The sport/freestyle videos are in general made by this next guy who enjoys performing as much as the actor for the sole purpose of documenting an event with their own point of view. It doesn't seem like much cash-related thing, more of a hobby.

This is a picture I took in Barcelona last summer and I imagine most of the stuff is made in a similar fashion (taking aside the promotional videos like the one for Levis bmx I featured some time ago)

So with sports - it's all about fun (or it's about money, but we'll get back to this).

The wedding market is completely different. It is a long known fact : people who get married tend to flush their money wherever it is humanly possible: orchestra, outfits wore once in a lifetime, expensive food, open bars and so and so. This is where the media specialists kick in: if the happy couple is willing to spent several hundred on little things like tissues with their names, why wouldn't they want to spent something extra for good quality photo/video coverage?
And yes, they do. For this reason alone a whole different category under photography has been listed: the wedding photography. This tends to have its own prizes and awards and is advertised as a completely different thing. It is right to certain extent: after all the whole process combines in equal measures studio and photojournalism.

Anyway, back to invitations. So for every happy couple there's a few even happier fotographers and camera guys who are ripping them off with a grin on their faces. Some husbands and wives decide to take a less traditional approach and rather than send beautiful papeterie, they would rather video their invitation and send it over to people. And since a professional would charge them dearly, there is another alternative - video it yourself...
Well, there is a reason why they are called professionals....

The 'not your average video invitation' to me seems... well, nothing but 'not average'.
A domestic camcorder produces less than satisfactory results even in such controlled environment as your living-room sofa. The unscripted footage might or may not work, here topped up with really poor sense of humour it just gets even more... well, average.

More research to come!

Facebook - handle with care

Before I get into posting research about the wedding videos and invitations (which is reaaaally boring) there is this one idea I had in my head for a while now.

Facebook, the social network giant. Freedom of speech, freedom of use.. but really?

Every teacher and every person to ever work for a serious company would tell me the same: watch what you post and what you get involved with while using the social networks.
There's been plenty of stories of people who lost their jobs due to reckless use of facebook: the one I can recall right now is some girl who while changing jobs decided to boast about it too soon.

Well OK, this is plain stupid. You don't tell the whole wide world about these things before they actually happen, especially if you're moving to a rival enterprise.

What about social life then?
I heard that wicked party pictures and excessive usage of the 'less productive applications (come on, we all know what I mean)" can have a bad impact during the trial period. That is understandable of course. Nobody would hire a binging party animal who boasts to the whole virtual world how hungover they were during their last shift.
On the other hand I know plenty of people who brainwashed with marketing and self-advertising methods make their facebook page like an interactive CV. Not a single song, no up-coming trailers, no witty comments about weather (oh come on, we all do that!). Every single status update is a deep reflection on how a random event in their life benefited their career (which most likely they havent started yet). "I just went hiking with 5 friends. We came back alive, I lead the flock, cause I go hiking often. Love my team-work and leadership abilities. I am sure every multimillionaire business executive should be a hiker"

Is this normal?
Like every other human being on the planet, I *am* shallow. I love good feedback and attention so of course I will post every good piece of artwork I produce. But hey- this is a social network website. I'm a casual guy - I do work to pay the rent, I have plenty of work at the university but at the same time - I drink, I party, I am a terrible smoker. I make mistakes, I love to waste my time watching soap operas and I play Angrybirds on the bus (instead of reading "succesful in 30 days" kind of books). I'm human.
Should I hide all these facts and present some warped artificial version of myself only to secure a job opportunity? Do the serious companies expect their potential grunts to be machines who after their 9-to-5 go back home and instead of  living their after-hours keep the tie on?

Maybe I look at this in a non-professional manner. But trying to image a potential employee for my non-existent company - if the interviewee answers that their past-time activity is personal development, self-promotion and forbes.com, well... I'd still hire you based on the vacancy requirements but  hey - you're a freak.

P.

Number you don't need to know before you die

Came across an interesting company introduction.  Completetly unrelated to any of the projects Im working on, still fun to watch.

Good stuff!

I have this weird feeling that I will need a short break from filming shortly.  I browsed some of my older stuff yesterday and remembered the good ol' times of Photoshop and Illustrator. Well, could be fun to get the dust off the pencil box over the Christmas break.

In the meantime I managed to get a sneak-peek into the photographic studio and get some random shoots. The quality is unbelievable, will post some as soon as I process the pictures.

5d fieldtest /streetsport

Ok so I pulled together a quick edit of last week's Streetsport.
The edit - well, it is what it is, several clips put together. The film quality - well that's a different story.



To compare - the previous streetsport clip I put features almost  exactly the same lighting conditions. The only difference was it was shot with 500d.



The difference is pretty significant. Again - good to have both. If the overheating issue is as serious as some say (I don't think a powerplant would overheat in this cold... guess will have to wait until it's warmer to actually find out) I could always swop bodies and leave the other one for a rest.

I had some doubts about the reason behind using DSLR for video recently. Is it because it's cheaper and easier to use than a professional video camera? Or do we actually 'feel the vibe' and enjoy the different/better quality these little babies produce?

There are already enough people arguing over the statement above so no reason for me to join the battle. Facts are better than opinions and the fact here is - due to large size of the sensor the DSLR (especially full-frame) can beat any camera in low light conditions.
Turns out it is appropriate, and worth it.

Classic: Spin/God is a DJ

Oh my my... this blogging thing seems to really get me..

Anyway, going back for a while to the research part and my reports at the sime time...
As I focus on DSLR video making while browsing a ton of publications on the change it has brought about to the video industry I often come across the phrase how it spawned an army of indie film-makers and finally gave them  some decent equipment to work with for a fraction of a cost of professional video camera.
Anyway, I think this would classify in the 'indie' not sure if was shot with a DSLR.

One of a finest examples of good film-making and a pinch of humour together..

I remember you could get higher quality somehwere but still, even on 240p it's entertaining. Enjoy!

Another cold shooting night

But it was worth it I think.
We've been hanging around the pitch with the cameras for over 2 hours but I think we managed to get some nice footage out of it. The idea was to set the cameras up to get pictures for a time-lapse + get some decent footage on the go. I think it will turn out quite well as I've already seen Richie's beta-version so as soon as I process mine  (or as soon as I finish the reports that is) we can combine it into a more complex sequence (apparently getting two points of view instead of one can enhance the quality. We will see though).

Again it was good practice of shooting in the field with pretty random lighting plus I am (sloowly) getting the hang of 5d and grow to appreciate having two cameras.

I really do admire these kids - I could barely stand the weather with the thickest clothes and they've been happily running around in t-shirts... brr!

Rush: Skate now

http://vimeo.com/13931404 (again, please follow the link. It's safe out there trust me)


An amazing example how a little well-thought CGI can benefit a production. If the song could be described as a 'feel-good' or sunny, the colorful grading really goes well with it. The production puts a lot of focus on the character/the performer which makes it more 'filmy' than regular performance mix-tape. Good use of short sequences, apropriate slow-motion in the build-up/filler parts. Very eye-catching transitions between slow-motion and normal tempo during the tricks. The audio is rather not standard for a skateboarding film (in therms of pace/music genre) yet gives the production qualities of a feature movie + the lyrics obviously fit, captain obvious.

Top Nine: Rydel House

This is an extraction from a breakdance mixtape. Most likely shot with a HDSLR, the mixtape features a set of songs put together to work as a whole. Less popular songs, very good interaction with the video (see the  part around 1.40with the trumpet sequence). A fairly good choice in the clips length - they can both showcase the performers and shift according to the tempo. The changes in length give the impression of unpredictability: if the music video is too structured it becomes boring as the viewer can foresee a change in sequence. A variety of focal lengths have been used, which again is good for unpredictability and some variety on the screen (this is key element in productions of this length : another breakdancer would love to see the whole production anyway, but a casual viewer may be bored after a while).

Basketball freestyle

7. Basketball Freestyle

(http://vimeo.com/2901745 a vimeo link. Sorry  I haven't figured how to embed these yet)

This is relatively short compared to the rest of the clips (only 1 minute). With the clips unusal length, it still manages to include a quick 'filler' clip : this gives character to the production as it is not 'just' a flat performance sequence. Rather un-popular choice for the song, yet well-thought: of all the sports I used in this research reel basketball is probably the fastest in therms of pace; hence the insane tempo of the song keeps it well together and manages to squeeze in quite a performance in under 50 seconds (plus the first filler sequence). Good combination of static shots and dynamic panning/close-ups

Sean Freestyle (football freestyle champion)

6. Sean freestyle champion

The movie opens with a strong post-production and animated logo. This video is shot extremely well: with a use of multiple cameras and/or multiple focal lengths and angles. The superb quality is achieved thanks to amazing capabilites of a RED camera (shot on 120 frames per second then slowed down to 25 achieving spectacular high-quality slow-motion). A less popular  yet catchy song used for the background music. Contrary to the previous entries, this video puts an equal emphasis on the tricks and the performer/character: while other videos focused on the performance, this is rich in close-ups. It features some dynamic shoots, probably with a support of a shoulder rig or a glide-cam. The RED camera's capabilities enable amazing depth-of-field

Fort Minor - Remember the Name

5. Fort Minor - Remember the Name (alternate stunt video).

This is an alternative version for the music video of Fort Minor's hit single 'Remember the Name'. This clip is a good example of combining several performers together and at the same time featuring the 'casual' music video elements (the close-ups for the vocalist etc.). This video is a great example of how the movie sequences can respond to key elements in the song's structure: the ball hits the ground with the first drum part, the skater lands accordingly with the 'gunshot'  sound etc. Good post-production. An extremely popular song with a rhytmic structure that mixes classical instruemnts with strong drum and bass lines makes this production an instant-hit

Levis BMX freestyle

4. Levis BMX Pro team remix (2007)

Amazing post-production and opening titles, a lot of slow-motion, good choice in dynamic and rhytmic audio, good soft transitions between clips. The movie is in slow-motion for the sequences without drums and speeds-up for the rest of the song. A well thought-through production

Urban Freestyler: Basketball

3. Urban freestyle: Basketball.

A commercial series sold as a mixtape. Good camera work, a lot of post-production (time-remapping, slow motion etc.) Terrible choice of music (this is true for the whole series): the 'heavy' hip-hop is rather repelling and contrary to the song in goosebumps would not be appreciated by a casual listener. Very poor design work: the series is advertised with a brick-wall background as its trademark

The Nosebleed Section

2. Hilltop hoods - the Nosebleed Section

A set of bmx freestyle sequences accompanying a popular Hilltop Hoods song. Slightly more active camera, random cuts: the editing obviously focused more on the bmx tricks rather than tempo of the song. The author preferred to leave longer, uninterrupted freestyle clips at the cost of relevancy to the song. Good choice of rhytmic and ear-catching song which falls into viewers head and stays there for a while. Very little post-production (the old-movie intro, single time remapping and some fades to black are the only examples). Interesting fact: the video itself has approx 6mln views on youtube, whereas the orfficial Nosebleed Section video has only around 500k

Notic - Goosebumps freestyle

1. Goosebumps freestyle (the Notic)

Notic was an AND1 (a popular sport accesories company) rival in 1990-2000s. The Goosebumps freestyle is a well put-together mixtape, it makes fairly good use of the music in the beginning of the sequence, then after it progresses (see clip 5) it gets slightly more random: the clips do not follow the rhytm too well, yet the visual value of the tricks remains high. There is no dynamic camera movement (no panning etc.), most of the time it's just sequences shot off a tripod in fixed position. The movie was filmed in several locations then put together. A good selection of rhytmic movies, the hip-hop music is well-associated with basketball as a sport. Good post-production work (time-lapsing) at the beginning. The author has used the advantage of fixed camera when Goosebumps gets closer to it: cutting the middle-part of the clip so the player seems to be 'fading in' closer and closer (0:30-0:33)

Audio: Jay-Z - U don't Know (remix)

Streetsport

Ok getting started.
I have no clue how this content (apparently massive after a while) can be assesed in 20-30 minutes as I was told. Anyway, it's like that....

Project 1: Streetsport RGU.

The research.
Originally I pulled together  a research showreel: a couple of inspirational/visually attractive sequences that may (or may not) enhance the production.
In a set of posts to come I will put them up here with a brief description/analysis.

The product:
Along with another Viscom student we went to shoot several events and a freestyle session and then aim to put this together as a promotional video.
Oddly enough, this is 80% done already, or at least I think so.
...
Just recently I have been thinking this could take off as a pretty good short documentary... just random thoughts. Now that after months of saving up  I finally got my 5d Mark II I should be able to raise the bar a bit. Will see.

HI!

Howdy!

I study Design for Digital Media at Robert Gordon University. I made this blog for 'research purposes' -however stupid it sound, it might just work.

At some point it would be full of videos which I would analyse for the benefit of many, or at least for my grade.

Have a good read...phew. That was not as bad as I thought!