Video StudentGuy

Once I got back from NAB I got a little sleep, did a little non-film garden work and learned the value of the Assistant Director. It's their job to budget time and and make sure everyone is on schedule.

During a recent night shoot I got some ideas about budgeting time on the set. You need to respect the needs of other people, set a stop time and stick to it and be prepared to stop even when you're not ready. You can't push people to work beyond their limits and not pay a higher price later on.

On Wednesday, the last day of seminars at NAB I attended a series of classes on Flash Video as well as an introduction to the Adobe Media Player. You should google the AMP because I believe it has significant implications to independent content producers.

Thursday was the last day of the exhibition and I chose to look at prosumer cameras from JVC, Canon, Panasonic and Sony in order to see what the state of the art is for filmmakers such as myself and what the future might hold.

There's also been an interesting back and forth between myself and Mike Jones in the comments section of episode # 84 about new codecs and cameras and the larger picture of how to evaluate and choose the right camera for you needs. You'll see a counterpoint on this subject between Mike and a reader on his blog.

I have to confess that after an entire day looking and handling cameras from the above mentioned 4 manufacturers the most important thing I leaned is that I barely have a clue as to what the determining factors of an effective video camera. The debate rages on without a clear winner and I'm just beginning to realize I what it is I need to know.

Here are the classes I've attended over the last 3 Days

Sunday Classes
    Keyframing in Avid
    Understanding Podcast Metrics
    Long Form editing in Avid (Documentary Production)
    Main Title Design for Film and Video (in After Effects)
    Mastering Media Management for Avid Editors

Monday Classes
    Emerging Web 2.0  Technologies
    (walked the show, saw Panasonic)
    Broadcast Worfkow on Avid (Documentary Production again)

Tuesday Classes
    In Depth PS CS3 for Video
    In Depth Color Correction in Avid
    Looked at XD Cam at Sony
    Blender at Lowell - blenderlights.com

Color Correction and Avid Production. Lots of on lighting in earlier classes

I'm just giving a quick overview of my state of mind and the classes and show booths I've seen. I've included a superficial comparison between Sony's XD CAM and Panasonics HVX200 and newer HPX 170 (arriving sometime in the summer) Also info about the new AVC Panasonic.

Please excuse the pops, I chose not to rerecord so I could get this out quickly.

The week before I took off for Vegas and NAB, I got in some shooting, in particular on my documentary.

I began my film project by shooting two interviews, one at the Wesleyan Potters, a craft coop and the other of a professional potter at Birch Mountain Pottery.

Both shoots gave me trouble with the lighting, but overall I got a lot of good footage and excellent sound bites.

I also dedicated my weekend to handling the lighting on a classmates film, John.

In this show I'm talking about the classes I attended and some general commentary about Las Vegas.

Here are the sessions I sat in on, check out the full schedule

Friday Seminars
  Fast Start with Apple Color
  Digital Video Production: Lighting

Saturday Seminars
  Practical Triming for FCP
  How to build a blog to support your podcast
  Making a living off of your podcast
  Under Podcast Metrics
  Effective Documentary Production

I thought I'd pass on a few notes and travel tips as I make my way to Las Vegas for NAB.

Lots of episodes this week and not a lot of time to write notes.

In this show I run down the film project status of each person in class. I also managed to get in two days of shooting for my own film and I try to describe the lighting work I did over the weekend for John's film.

Projects are accelerating

A classmate, John is in the lead with his film project. He has a shoot on the weekend and I'm handling the lights.

    We've done a lot of planning, but due to unknown space

restrictions, and a lot of unknown unknowns, we're going to have to

play it by ear as far as framing and lighting are concerned. There's

going to be lots of communication back and forth between the DP and

lighting

Tuesday we discussed our shooting schedules in class. I'm scheduled to

shoot Thursday and Friday. What a relief to have something to shoot

before I go to Las Vegas.

One week left, let me know what you would like me to report about NAB

Lots of activity this week, but little to do with my own film project. Almost all my attention was devoted to Directions, the annual networking event sponsored by my company. I spent four days shooting interview spots of about 30 people. Add to that a lighting gig I'm doing for John's film. John is a classmate, we've worked together on a couple of class projects in the past. He's way ahead of the curve as far as film projects. He's already rounded up his cast, location, got the crew and is shooting throughout April beginning the first weekend of the month.

Somehow I've become the lighting guy. I did a significant light role in our last class project, the Killer, I obsessed about the lighting for the Directions promotional interviews and the video I just shot at the event. That's only because I felt it was a really weak facet of my skill set. Now I think I'd like to work with the camera.

I'll have time to work with the camera on my own project. I'm anxious about getting some footage shot before leaving for Las Vegas. NAB is putting a huge who in my schedule as far as shooting is concerned. I'd feel better taking off the time knowing that I've begun. With all the distractions and obligations it's difficult to get started, but it's harder on my stomach if I don't.

NAB is beginning next week. The exhibition begins Monday April 14 and the seminars start the Friday before. Let me know if you want me to check out specific vendors and you're interested in learning more about a particular technology.

Whether to use the Canon XH-A1 or the Panasonic DVX200 is more than

just HDV versus HD, or tape versus P2 solid state. It comes down to

what you know, and I know the Panasonic better than the Canon. Brand

wise, I'm all over Canon. The first film SLR I purchased with my own

money was a Canon FTb. Tough as a tank; I loved that camera.

It's

just that I believe that it's easier to create when the tools being

used are transparent, that is, they're so familiar that they're

effortless to use, acting as an extension of your body. At this point I

can't say this is true for any video camera I've used, but the

Panasonic is the closest. In the show I give a little detail on the

advantages it has over the Canon.

One of them is the ability to shoot in true slow motion. I've put some examples on my YouTube page of slow motion and accelerated motion footage and as well as a video demonstrating rack focus.

We've

spent a lot of time in class reviewing the data forms we need to fill

out to create our production book. The book, which is a collection of

forms signed, lists of names and shots, drawings, sketches and other

information that represents the roadmap to our final destination, the

finished film. It's a work in progress, but we do have to something to

show before the end of the module.

Don't forget to send me questions you want answered while I'm at NAB,

the National Association of Broadcasters conference, coming up in mid

April. I'm available for meetups if you're in Las Vegas at the same

time.