Tuesday 28 December 2010

Man-Flu Delerium

So ends my second night without sleep but I suppose, at least, I'm used to it now...

Having a cold as a kid, I distinctly remember being very upset that I missed sleep, like it was something I owed someone and could never get back.
This time round, I've been playing a lazy version of 'six degrees of Kevin Bacon' - lazy since I took Manu more than six links to get from Virginia Madsen to Clint Eastwood... Well, four o'clock in the morning I wasn't playing for points - just to keep myself sane!

I do have an excellent job lined up for tomorrow: I'm helping Neil Bates, of the Regent Cinema, make final adjustments to the place ahead of the grand reopening 'soon'.

In other news: thanks to the boxing day sales and eBay, I now have a few more component parts for my new edit suite. I've yet to hook it all up but I should now have a separate output monitor. 'Should' - if it doesn't work then I've potentially got a nice new paperweight!

Must submit to my man-flu once more, good night/morning.

Friday 17 December 2010

I'm going outside, I may be some time...

Everything went like clockwork today as I filmed the sunrise over Redcar and much more besides. Following on from last night when I filmed the sunset, I have loads of footage to edit down for establishing shots, cutaways and close ups - there's just one problem: I am, or at least was, quite unfamiliar with the Panasonic DVX100 and it's only after handing it back that I have the opportunity to sus out how it works!
In fairness, it's hard to know what buttons you've pressed when you're wearing two pairs of gloves and I'm sure I knocked the ideal settings off more than once.
That's the trouble with breaking in new kit when you're up against the clock and the elements, I'm just glad that I hadthe opportunity to do as much as I did and hopefully I can learn from my mistakes.

I'll be putting my new edit suite through it's paces over the holidays and not touching a camera again till the new year, so, all being well, I'll have my technique down when it really counts - shooting a cinema full of people!

Thursday 16 December 2010

The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away

Life here at Living Bliss Entertainment Productions is moving pretty fast these last few days and spinning on a sixpence too.

Given current workload and personal commitments, I could see no way how I could possibly have shot off any footage for my Regent Redcar project.
In a short notice turn of events, I found myself with 2 days to spare - just enough to hire out some kit and return it before the holidays, thus dispensing the need to tKe out additional home insurance and try and find the room to store it all!
Everything was sorted and I was working well past 3am this morning, preparing risk assessments, release forms and shot lists.
I was a little bit groggy when I woke up but couldn't help but notice the BIG FAT RAINDROPS rattling my window!!!

Yeah, thanks for that. First close the cinema indefinitely, then tease me with free time and available kit, then crush all my outdoors establishing shots with THIS!!!

I believe I proved a few weeks ago that weather cannot stop me but it sure does give me a headache.

I. Et I get something in the bag - just watch me!

Saturday 11 December 2010

I'm just holdin' on (baby)

As my Regent Redcar film project forms, I have been in a quandary as how to best describe the type of music I want over it.

Did I mention I'm feeling all mockumentaried-out? I've just seen so many in the last few weeks - great fun to watch and to make, but I'd rather take a more disciplined approach to this one, so I'm hoping a more movie trailer oriented piece will increase shelf life.
What I want to promote is the fact it's run by volunteers: Neil's own friends and family - the same people that rescued the place back in the 80s.
My vision is now less based around comedy and more like a feel good film trailer - and that needs the right sound track.
By chance, this morning, I heard a fantastic little track by P J Proby called (I'm just) Holding On Baby - a 60s soul track.
Lyrically, it's a tough sell; the guy has been dumped but is putting on a brave face it seems. But musically it's perfect. It's got a classic feel, it's uplifting and dynamic and it builds quickly; I'm sure it would be great to edit to.
so here's my mission: obtain the rights to use an instrumental version of the song and, if it doesn't actually exist, find some musicians capable of recreating it.

Follow the link below to check out the track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5BRHQxBnY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Monday 6 December 2010

Focus!

After a flat spot in my regent Redcar project, a quick catch up with Mike Boyle has really helped me focus on what I want for and from it. Certainly now I know a few more things I don't want to do: I'm going to avoid mockumentary and also jot overstate any quirks and features that might be personally impressive or interesting to myself but a hard sell to the general public.
What is now for certain is my intention to push the family run business that has survived against the odds and flourished enough to install new equipment while keeping prices the best in the region. Thus is in no small part down to the fact that everyone who 'works' there is a volunteer - everyone is there for the love of cinema - now that's not a bad tagline!
I'm going to treat this as a kind of pop video now, edit beautiful shots to the music, shits that show a working day at the cinema and the experience the audience could expect, both in and around and before, during and after.
I'm going to check out local music talent, as well as royalty free music online and music contacts I have to see what best fits the project.
Consider me on the move again!