Two Steps Back

Impatience is a curse of mine.

A few months ago, whilst feeling disheartened about a lack of access to camcorders out of hours fromthe CCAD stores, I purchased one from eBay.
From Malta!

It arrived safely but had a couple of tiny faults. I out it down to transit and acclimatisation and used the camera happily on a couple of occasions.

Last time out I realised that the xlr inputs didn't work...
Everything else seemed fine, just those inputs, meaning j was limited to use the onboard mics to capture sound.

Ho-hum. At the start of my summer holidays, I decided to have the problem looked at. I sent my camcorder off to a recommended repair centre ad waited.
Quite quickly they got back to me: "we fixed 'the xlr problem with a bit of soldering", "great, thanks, when can j have it back?"
"oh no, we're afraid there was another problem, we can't fix it, it needs to go back to panasonic themselves for investigation".

That was a month ago.

Tomorrow, I was due to film part of an instructional film for a world class blacksmith.

I don't have my camera.

I can't get one from college.

There is no budget so I'm not going to hire one.


As it happens, it appears this enforced postponement is for the best.

I'll try again next month. If the museum is still operational.

In the mean time, does anyone know where my camcorder is?!!

Costume Catwalk Show

Last Tuesday was the FdA costume construction and BA Ents catwalk event and I'd Bern asked to film it.
The brief was 'just set up a camera and film it' but, as a tv and film student, that was never going to happen.

I enlisted the help of Jess Shaw, Laura glendenan and Charlotte Mitchell, although Sophie Crawford replaced her at the last minute.

It was a three camera set up; two set up for wide-to-mid-to-close shots and one permanently on wide, taken from the dj booth. Thus last camera was only intended to capture the voices of the compares, Tim Vine and John Archer, buy it was such a good vantage point that it was decided to use it too.

I had been asked to model two outfits on the night; a cowboy shirt and a martial arts costume.
The sense if occasion overwhelmed me and I was soon line dancing and Kai-calling my way up and down the catwalk, luckily my camera ops were doing the actual filming in my absence.

The while evening took the best part if three hours - that's nine hours if footage to log and edit. There'll be no shortcuts either.
I've just got to knuckle down and do it.

Another breakthrough!

My Regent cinema project is shaping up on the edit suite now and, although I only seem to work on it in 3-4 hour bursts, there is a definite end in sight... Lucky that, being as the deadline is not far off either!
The breakthrough of the week was in finding a way to record a musical score and VoiceOver track.
I have looked around online for ready made music; I have considered adding a popular 60's track, but I've felt blocked at each turn.
On Saturday night I found enough cables to connect a synthesiser keyboard to the edit suite and, although there's a full seconds time delay, I can play semi-live into the machine.
I was also able to use this new-found knowledge to hook up a microphone and perform an early morning VoiceOver.
Bingo!
I'm still up against it with everything else I have on but j feel like I can at least control every aspect now and the work I hand in will be the truest representation of my abilities.

Bottle neck passed!

I handed in a large body of work yesterday and slept for twelve hours straight!
Makes a change from the 2 1/2 I managed the nite before.

Over the past few weeks I've had a three day film shoot at the Regent Cinema, a three day beginners blacksmith course and a coursework deadline all on top of a five day working week! Well big thanks to CCAD who allowed me to flex my time and be elsewhere the last two Fridays.
I've got a lot of footage to edit and another project to produce AND another few little bits of coursework to ace.

I'm at the blood donors right now. In case my tutors don't believe me, I really am trying to make the world a better place!
See you on the other side..!

The worst (and the best) is behind us!

We did it. Three days of filming, dozens of extras, hours of tape to sift through. The best part? I know I captured everything I'll need.

Big thanks again to all my volunteer crew, audience extras, CCAD staff and students, Rachel Meek, the Evening Gazette, Tyne-Tees news, TFM Radio, Writers Block NE and especially to Neil Bates of the Regent Cinema, Redcar.

I still require shots inside the projection booth and a little extra outside but for what I needed my extras for, that is in the bag!

Still, I can't relax yet, there's a coursework deadline midweek and another film project lined up for next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

I can do it, nothing can stop me; man-flu tried, technology tried, the elements tried. Well I'm still here and I got my footage, so clear a path - I'm going to Hollywood!

Camera set up two ROCKED!!

A couple of changes to the line up of my crew tonight; we welcomed Kass, Jo and Craig to the fold and saw the welcome return of Peter suttron, Lee, andy and Aaron.
I'm really pleased with the shots we got tonight, one of my favourites being Craig's entrance to the auditorium dressed on full WW1 costume, borrowed from CCAD's costume department.
He use of the track and dolly was spot on and the lads nailed one of my storyboarded shots perfectly.

Fingers crossed that Neil can get my DVD to play tomorrow so that we can film the over the shoulder shots looking at the screen.

Breakdown is gonna be tough tomorrow, I can't think where to even start - but that's a problem for future me. This one's gonna get some shuteye and treat himself to a lie in! Good night!

First night, in the can!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to tonights' frivolities - I haven't reviewed the footage yet but I know we captured some fantastic images.

Once again my crew were professional and motivated and quick thinking and I'd gladly work with all of them again... Like tomorrow and Sunday!

Members of the public welcome, fun starts at 6pm and ends 6.45pm sharp!