Barry and Jarred's 2 week Blog

[ViewVideo]

I have been reading DVXuser.com for many months, and am facinated by everyone here, specially the forum leader Jarred and the Guru Barry Green. Many times I wonder, what is it like to be these unsung heros of our little world here?

So here is my challenge, Why dont you two if you have time give us a blog, even if its only for a couple week? *I don't know if I am the only one that thinks it would be neet to see what you guys do everyday beyond this forum.

Is it a Challenge?

[Zoomforce]

Ill bite if Barry bites.

[David Jimerson]

Isn't this site a blog unto itself?

[ViewVideo]

yes but I want to see what these two's days are like, a behind the scenes if you may of the world behind DVXuser. Perhaps Im just wierd.

[Barry_Green]

My blog's easy:

11:30 a.m. *Stagger out of bed.
11:31 a.m. *Log on to DVXUser.com
3:00 p.m. *Put in a half-hearted effort to actually get some editing work done
3:15 p.m. *Get bored, go back on DVXUser.com
4:15 p.m. Print out labels, ship out DVX Book/DVD's.
4:30 p.m. Go back on DVXUser.com
6:30 p.m. *Panic because I still haven't done any editing work. *Start editing.
8:00 p.m. *Go watch 24/Idol/West Wing/Apprentice/Joan of Arcadia or whatever's on that night
10:00 p.m. *Agonize that I should go back up and do some more editing.
10:15 p.m. *Rationalize that it's 10:15 p.m. at night, who works that late? *Pop in some Stargate SG-1 DVD's and veg out, telling myself that I'll get up early tomorrow and get the editing done.

Lather, rinse, repeat.





Well, okay, that may not be a "typical" day... but it's my goal! :)

[disjecta]

My god, that's so like my day, it's uncanny. :o

[Zoomforce]

ha ha... i bet most of our lives are so similar its scary.

[David Jimerson]

Right down to the SG-1 DVDs . . .

[trwhisner]

The SG-1 DVD's are great. I watch them for the Directors behind the scenes stuff. That is some of the best filmaking material ever shot. Martin Wood and Peter DeLuise rock as directors.

[mickeloaf]

How insightfull Barry!! Man, I feel vendicated. I thought I was the only one that was like that. Of course, I sometimes have spurts of amazing productivity that makes up for the flake-out days. All I can say is thank goodness that the real truth is not always known.. :)

[speedbump]

Barry-

We are metaphorical sucklings of the same teat.

LOL- "11:31 AM - log on to dvxuser.com"

"3PM - Put in half-hearted attempt at working"

[Zoomforce]

Its kinda funny... there are so many viable excuses not to work in a day that working almost seems like a waste of time.

[Barry_Green]

Okay, before anyone takes me too seriously, realize that January has been totally off the hook, probably my busiest month ever, and I'm working full days nearly every day this month! :)

Heck, I'm only on season three of Stargate SG-1... ;D

But there have been days... oh, yes, there have been days...

[BLUESPIDER]

Barry watches American Idol? That's too funny and so is the show. Okay back to editing... :)

[Aejaz]

Haven't actually seen both of you...Jarred and Barry. Is it possible if you could post one of your photographs ...with the DVX...XL2 and FX1 ...may be :D

[Neil Rowe]

...man, for the last couple months my average day is like: get up at 6am and work till 2am. not kidding. im so tired right now that i could puke. i thought i had yesterday free, and i got a list a page long on changes wanted for a DVD. some being big changes requiring me to peel back all the onion layers of editing, compositing and FX work to the original concept where something needs to be changed to the very thing that i suggested to begin with and was told to do otherwise. ..you guys are killing me .. killing me.. with all the talk of quiet afternoons, and vegging out to prime time, walks on the beach, trips to the bahamas, free candy in your mailbox. sniff... where's all the love gone :'(

..i did sneek out with the fam for an hour of sledding yesterday though. and theres some good stuff on the horizon from all the hard work... i hope.

[Zoomforce]

ok.. here you go.. day 1,
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/jan21.jpg

This is where I will be for the next 6 hours.

[HansK]

Well, my girlfriend is doing her doctor residency at the moment. Any time I feel overworked I just think about what she is going through. My life is easy.

[David Jimerson]

ok.. here you go.. day 1,
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/jan21.jpg

This is where I will be for the next 6 hours.

Can't hate the setup. That little Toshiba is like an icon . . .

[Taylor Moore]

Hey Jarred,
What type of projector are you using?

[Zoomforce]

its funny cause its actually not a toshiba... but the toshibas do kick ass.

[David Jimerson]

Wow. Looks just like it at this level of detail. What is it?

[Zoomforce]

its an Advent.. basically the same thing but the advent has AV and Menu buttons on the front of the monitor, which the new toshibas dont :(

[Zoomforce]

Im using a Sony Projector.

[Barry_Green]

Okay, since Jarred posted, I guess I have to also...

This is what I'm working on right now. *Corporate video for their annual rally, and I'm currently working on cleaning up the audio. *Picture is pretty much locked, except waiting for my 3-D guy to deliver the ship graphics. *Faces have been blurred to protect the innocent:
http://www.icexpo.com/Trek1.JPG
http://www.icexpo.com/Trek2.JPG
http://www.icexpo.com/Trek3.JPG

Gotta finish this up by 6:00, because then tonight I go to their offices to shoot a mock music video for the same event.

Then tomorrow morning a short mock episode of "Fear Factor", which has to be finished up in post by tomorrow night, because Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday we start a new corporate video for a different client, this time a "Wizard of Oz" video. *Then Wed thru Sunday is shooting the Shot Show. *Then the following Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday we're shooting a pilot for a sitcom. *Then Thursday I have to deliver the final of all these corporate videos because the big rally we're doing them for takes place Thursday morning.

And then this month will be over. *<WHEW>.

So, no Stargate SG-1 until February 4th... *;D

[David Jimerson]

I think I may be the only person in the entire country who hasn’t built a set of the Enterprise bridge.

[Zoomforce]

Barry is the king of Corporate! thats some cool shiznit.

Im pretty much in the same place I was this morning :)

[dakotapod]

That looks groovy Barry! Fun stuff 8)

Wish my work was as fun!

[Neil Rowe]

..that does look like it would be alot of fun. always different with a deadline over your head though. none the less those video themes seem like a great recipe for some wacky shinannigans. :)

[Barry_Green]

It's definitely more fun when you have time... deadlines change everything! Oh well... now I'm off to do the "fear factor" episode... :)

[Zoomforce]

ok day 2.. off to LA..

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/day2b.jpg

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/day2a.jpg

[Barry_Green]

Ah. Day two. Got up early and shot a spoof "Fear Factor video for the real estate company. Here's a shot of the guy who wasn't successful in his assigned task...
http://www.icexpo.com/ff.JPG

Been locked in the editing room ever since, and will continue to be until the clock turns into day 3...

[dakotapod]

That must be a FUN company to work for! (I mean for the employees) We used to do yearly productions but they were sterile and lame.

[Zoomforce]

lol barry gets all the fun jobs :)

[J.R. Hudson]

NO doubt; I thought he was going to say "Meanwhile, on my Undead film..."

Jarred, are those airlines as 'Roomy' as they say? Are you able to stretch out there? :P

[Taylor Moore]

From the swag in Jarred's pictures, looks like the big man is travelling in first class...
Jarred do you have enough head room? :P

[Barry_S]

Well, if you notice, he's in *front* of the bulkhead--aka first-class. *I was on the same plane, but down in the cargo hold wedged between a crate of terriers and a shipping container of mail.

[Zoomforce]

yes first class is the way to go, tons of room..... 5 foot guys dont really fit in coach, let alone 6' 7" big ugly dudes like me.

[Elvis]

Hey Jarred, who's the babe? Are your toes cold?

[dakotapod]

dont really fit in coach

Is that what you tell your clients when you toss them the bill for "first class" expenses? *:)


EDIT: Jarred, I have to ask, did you used to live in Edmonton at one point and maybe partake in the pubs on Whyte Ave?

I used to play there back about 6-7 years ago and you look familiar.

[Aejaz]

Barry we have yet to see which class do you fly... ;)

[Zoomforce]

yes.. edmonton born and kinda raised.. on whyte for sure... Rebar is the only name I can remember right now.

[ronik15]

I like this topic! I hope Jarred and Barry will post daily pictures again!

[Barry_Green]

Today's a day off, so nothing new to post...

[Zoomforce]

damn i wish i could have a day off :(

to close yesterday,

here is arrival at LAX.. waiting for the damn rental car shuttle bus:

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/airport.JPG

get to Le parc our hotel around 4 or 5.. go straight to the pool.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/leparc.jpg

then to dinner at LaLa's
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/lalas.jpg

[Zoomforce]

day 3

Mels Drive in on Sunset for breakfast:

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/mels.jpg

Then to Santa Monica for some Boardwalk fun

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/la1.wmv

Then off to the Satellite Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/awards2.jpg

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/awards1.jpg

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/awards3.jpg

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/awards4.jpg

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/awards5.jpg

Tim Robbins and Jerry Lewis where funny as hell, but the rest of the show was a little dry.

and just got home.. well back to the hotel home that is.

[Isaac_Brody]

Schmooozing. Looks like a good time. :D

[BLUESPIDER]

Jarred, I know a guy who looks almost like you except he has brown hair. What were you doing at the satilite awards? Did you accept anything? Looks like you guys were having alot of fun.. ;D

[dvpixl]

dang jarred, you're taller than Tim Robbins.

[Zoomforce]

Yes, I got 2 inches on that boy... :)

didnt win anything :( but got some good stuff in the grab bag. :)

[Neil Rowe]

..looks like fun :)

[ronik15]

Barry, is it possible to have a picture of you in your editing station (like the Jarred's first one)!

[XCheck]

Hmm..., this thread is starting to look like it should be renamed 'Our beloved leaders'. And all this from the peasantry's own free will. I wonder what they would do for Jarred and Barry if they had guns and gallows at their disposal... ;D

Wow! Jarred, I hope you got an autograph from Tim Robbins.

[Barry_Green]

Today was the first day of a three-day "Wizard of Oz" corporate video shoot. Not much new, except that we were using the obscenely expensive ReflecMedia greenscreen system.

Man, am I unimpressed.

The guy who bought it had thought that it would solve all our past chroma key problems... when using fabric greenscreens we'd get wrinkles and such, and here this ReflecMedia stuff is supposed to be so simple to use that you just lay it out and get perfect keys. Nope. Every wrinkle, every seam, every everything shows up just like it does with a conventional fabric greenscreen.

So you have to go through nearly just as much hassle with it as you do with a regular fabric. I mean, I guess there's an advantage in that you don't have to light the screen separately, and don't get green spill on your subject's edges. But you do get green spill all over your subject because you're blasting a green light at them. You can overpower that with your subject lighting, but... well, whatever. The NAB demos are *FAR* more impressive than the reality, at least as far as our first day with it goes.

Tomorrow, more of the same. Jarred's in town, we'll have to see if we can make time to take a pic or something.

[Zoomforce]

Hey day 4 i think...

travel day, well travel hour really, LA to Vegas. Natpe tommorow and I lucked out as the Snowboarding Business show is in town as well.

[steadicamsteel]

Hi Barry,

Long Time Listener First Time Poster. I used the reflecmedia screen a few months back. It sucks....

Did you get a grey Halo around the subjects you were shooting? We were shooting DigiBeta and we had the MAC there capturing SDi out the DigiBeta Back end. The CG Guy was totally unimpressed with the key he was pulling. We ended up placing the Talent literally against the Fabric to get rid of the Halo! So we couldn't backlight and had to become very creative when placing the other Light sources.

[filmmaker58]

I cant wait to see the pictures of Gandalf and Frodo....err Barry and Jarred together.

[Jan_Crittenden]

ROTFLOL. Too funny, Gandalf and Frodo. Sorry, just hit a funny bone.

This is kind of fun, watching you two guys. ;-)

So Jarred, I recognize the young lady as the woman in the Art History Film, so is that Nick next to her?

Having fun watching,

Jan

[Elvis]

O.K. what is a blog?

[Barry_Green]

See, the thing is, Pat KNOWS I look like Frodo... well, more like Gimli, actually. *I don't think you *can* get a shot of us both me and Jarred in the same frame... one of our heads would get cut off the frame for sure.

Man, today was a *long* day of shooting. *Not too thrilled with the ol' ReflecMedia. *You can't get the camera close to the subject, or the green LED ring will irradiate the subject... not too flattering when your subject's pearly white teeth start looking green.

Halos? *Yeah. *We were using Serious Magic Ultra for keying, and it ended up pulling a usable key out of the footage. *And yes, we did usually have the subjects right up against the fabric. *It's neat technology, sure... and I'm sure it has its advantages, but man... I mean, the fabric alone is like $6,000! *If I wanted to spend $6,000 to improve my chroma keying, I think I'd spend it on a new Panasonic 4:2:2 DVCPRO-HD camera... er, well, that's how I'd prefer to spend it, now if only there was such a product! :)

Another thing is, because of the mic placement on the DVX, we have to use three spacer filter rings to get the LED ring far enough forward to clear the mic. *Which means VIGNETTING. *Ugh. *So wide-angle shots are troublesome, but then again you can't get the camera too close to the subject anyway, so wide-angle shots are pretty much not an option.

Note to Jan: on future cameras, please make the microphone removable! *It interferes with the Formatt matte box, it interferes with the Chromatte... sure would be nice if you could just pop that thing off of there and get it out of the way.

I missed getting together with Jarred, there's just no time... I've got tons of stuff to do to get ready for tomorrow's gig, and it's a 7:00 a.m. call. *Don't know how long the J-Dogg is in town, maybe we can do something tomorrow or Thursday.

[Aejaz]

See, the thing is, Pat KNOWS I look like Frodo... well, more like Gimli, actually. *I don't think you *can* get a shot of us both me and Jarred in the same frame... one of our heads would get cut off the frame for sure.



OK ???...Barry so let it be your photo alone, then...I think the King (Gandolf) has to make a return now....to a frame. :)

[BLUESPIDER]

People say I look like Smeagol. :D

[Jan_Crittenden]

O.K. what is a blog? 8)

Well in a way it is sort of like what Jarred and Barry are doing here, but in some cases it can be more politcal or like this one http://www.hdforindies.com/ more germain to this industry. *In general it is a person's research posted on the internet in the order that they found it that supports their basic thesis. *I thin that the best ones are those that just research and then analyze, and don't use it to prove a point.

Hope that helps,

Jan

[Barry_Green]

blog derived from 'blog, which was an abbreviation for "web log".

[alexdias]

:D
Is there anything that Barry doesn't know???
;)

[nickybee]

So Jarred, I recognize the young lady as the woman in the Art History Film, so is that Nick next to her?


Hey Jan, yes that's me.

Nick

[Elvis]

What awards were you up for guys and gal?

[Zoomforce]

Alright.. just got back to Vancouver for 1 day so i will try and do a 2 day photo update.

[Elvis]

Jarred what awards were you up for?

[Zoomforce]

Alright... so Monday we go for breakfast at Venice beach, then hit the airport where I drop Dominika and Nick and head to Vegas

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/jarred3.jpg

Here I am totally lost at the Vegas Airport wondering where my bags are.

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/vegas.jpg

Here I am totally lost on the strip wondering where my hotel is.

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/strip.jpg


Tuesday

So I goto Natpe.. Tedd Turner does his thing and its all and all kinda boring. Have a few sucessful meetings with aquisition managers of a few larger distributors and then I see Kato Kallen walking around and decide that's enough of Natpe.

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/natpe2.jpg

Downstairs from Natpe.. is the SIA snowboard industry show, with all next years stuff for all buyers to see. Somehow I get in, but as soon as the camera comes out I get in tons of trouble. Back To Natpe.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/snow.jpg

House of Blues time for dinner in the Mandalay bay with Charlene an actress,
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/charlene.jpg

and Robin Webb, and an amazing writer that was having way to much fun.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/writer.jpg

I go back to the Luxor where im staying at around 8pm for a nightcap and meet some people at the lounge, including
a stunninG Italian Painter named Deb .*We have some drinks, go close down a few dance clubs and wander around till we realize its 6am. *:o I was amazed how quiet Vegas is right before the sun comes up.

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/girls.jpg

Anyways.. so around 8am I realize trying to sleep is retarded and its raining like mad so I go have breakfast with my new friend and bail out to the airport. *get on a crappy sold out flight and get stuck in a coach seat that was way too small for my long long long legs.

Arrive back at Vancouver around 7pm. Turn on the computer and get ready to pack and ship a load of batteries before people get really mad.

[Taylor Moore]

Jarred,
Amazing pictures...your look like the Robin Leech of DVXUSER.COM

Been to the SIA show before and met Craig Kelly..an icon. :P

[Zoomforce]

lol.. Robin Leech uck.. Remember this is all work related.. well kinda. lol.

SIA is really cool... some cool stuff but as a consumer it sucked cause its all stuff I cant get till next year. Taylor.. when I get back in Feb we gotta hook up and go boarding.

[HansK]

SIA is really cool... some cool stuff but as a consumer it sucked cause its all stuff I cant get till next year.
Kid in a candy store! Jeesh, it would have hurt too much to see all the new goods since I just bought a whole new setup. Now I'm hoping for some more Sierra pow-pow! :D

[Zoomforce]

sorry we got off track.. Nothing Exciting happening today. Just shipped out all the batteries and Got unpacked. Gotta pack again in a few hours, so its off to dinner.

[Barry_Green]

Is this blog still going? I was hoping it'd turned into a snowboard thread!

Oh well... today is catch-up day, done shooting the Wizard of Oz corporate video, so today is catching up on the stuff that's been neglected -- taxes, sending out 1099's to contractors, dealing with the State taxation bureau, etc. Just ordered a new camera (DVX of course) for a new indie feature that I'm working on with Filmmaker58 directing... ordered from Rush at EVS of course... shipping the first order of DVX Books to Abel Cine Tech... finished up post on a DVD for the 15th anniversary video of a company... pre-lit the booth for the Shot Show last night, and tomorrow all day shooting that convention... plus probably a lot of other stuff that I can't think of right now.

[Neil Rowe]

barry, you sound like your pretty busy right now, hope youve got time to breath during all that going on! perhaps you should get a hot tub if you dont have one already.. a little wine.. some exotic foods youve never heard of.. the whole deal.. some R+R to balance things out. ;)

..jarred dude, i just cant stop thinking how pissed my wife would be if i went to vegas and came back with pictures like that. LOL . hope it was a good time man. the SIA would be cool you need to take your little pen cam so you dont get busted next time, cept i cracked my butt so hard on a rail last week that i dont want to see a board for a while. seriously, butts are not supposed to be blue. somehow it messed my shoulder up too. ..bah.

[Zoomforce]

Alright.. So Friday..

Back to the Airport Again at 8am.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/airportvan.jpg

nothing like a 12 our flight to make you wanna start thinking about jumping out of the emergency exit
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/Flight.jpg

But at least the screens where big :)
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/screen.jpg

Land in London at 8am London time, missing one bag but they find it. Off to the tunnel.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/tunnel.jpg

Breakfast at Pauls on bedford street downtown in covent garden.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/pauls.jpg

Then a little shopping tottenham court road.. got really tired and went home
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/street.jpg

Its now 4:30pm here.. but i have been up more or less 24 hours so its time to crash. Got work to do tommorow and gotta be alive.

[hvpz]

Welcome in our time zone, Jarred !!

Are you working for a travel agency ?

;D

[Slimothy]

Is it cold in London? Noticed the sandals!

[dakotapod]

Without reading back 6 pages... What's the deal with the road trip Jarred? What are you working on?

Or is this a "Confessions of a dangerous mind" deal and if you tell me you have to whack me?

[Zoomforce]

Its cold as hell, my feet froze... Time for shoes. People looked at my feet then looked back up at me like I was a dumb american . (they where only half right; I'm Canadian :) )

Wooo hooo.. so i just got up, time for dinner. Purpose of this London Trip is for a doc on military contractors.

[Barry_Green]

Yesterday was shooting all day for the Shot show... it's a convention for the firearms industry and hunting and such. First product was for a line of camouflage lingerie... I guess there's a market for everything, the interviewee said that it was a very popular product.

Today is hopefully final post day for the big Trek video and all its ancillary videos (the total production is 4 main videos plus editing the master program together). Then it's back to the Shot Show next week, followed by shooting a pilot of a sitcom...

[ronik15]

Barry, is it possible to have a picture of you in your editing station?

[Slimothy]

Lol. It's gotta be freezing in Canada too! You're one crazy mofo! Good luck and enjoy London.

[Barry_Green]

I'm not much for pictures... might ruin my deal with the federal witness relocation program. ;D That's why I slipped an old Harrison Ford picture into that Studio article... plus I'm not all that excited about being photoshopped into TC's wedding picture! :)

[ronik15]

We're waiting it for a while! At least take a picture of your studio if you're that shy ;D

[LloydC]

plus I'm not all that excited about being photoshopped into TC's wedding picture! :)

hahaha :D

[ronik15]

hehe ;D

[Zoomforce]

I've got a photo of Barry :)

[ronik15]

Can I see it ;D PM or post it here!

[Zoomforce]

If he wants to protect his identity then thats his decision. I kinda like the whole mysterious thing.

[Daniel_Runyon]

OK. I have full respect for Barry's status as international man of mystery. So, I've cropped and blurred beyond recognition an authentic photo of Barry Green. If you want it taken down, thats fine, but I feel this will only enhance the mystery even further!

http://www.nohands-studios.net/~dwrunyon/barry.gif

I'll never reveal the rest of the photo nor give any further info about it, not even in a PM, so no need to waste time. Barry...if you want feel free to authenticate it, your secret identity is safe with me!

BTW, and absolutely seriously...last night I had a dream that Jarred came to GA and I asked him if I could grab the DVX and shoot a 30 second clip to post in the blog thread, and he said sure, but I never made it back....on the way I saw a legendary independent filmmaker (who shall remain nameless!) enjoying the company of a woman in a hammock, so I filmed that instead! Sure, I know its weird, but you cant help what dreams you have!

[Barry_Green]

I thought that picture looked familiar... actually, in all honesty, that IS my picture... that's my gray and black "Westwood" jacket! :o

[Zoomforce]

I think Barry's photo is worth 10,000 on the paparazzi lists..

Im in London still about to go for breakfast, and its 1am over back in the real world.. my internal clock is getting so messed up. Stuff is so damn expensive over here and I can't figure out why.. seriously stuff is 2x the price as the us. Just doesnt make sense.

[Barry_Green]

Part of why is because the dollar is plummeting in value, so it takes a lot more of them to buy something overseas, and everything in the US is cheaper when using "foreign" currency.

Okay, blogging out -- it's 2:00 a.m. and I just finished up the 4th and final video (assuming the client doesn't want changes!) Man, these all-day/all-night work sessions sure were easier when I was 20! Oh well... they're "in the can", so now it'll be back to the shot show, on to the sitcom, and then...

... well, maybe I'll be inundated with 10,000 DVX Book/DVD orders, so I can quit doing this crazy stuff! :)

[boo]

I've got a photo of Barry :)

wait a minute...didn't you guys receive an autographed photo of barry when you purchased his book? ;D

http://homepage.mac.com/e_motiondvdprod/.Pictures/mag-rd03.jpg

[dakotapod]

I had an opportunity to meet Barry awhile ago and here is the proof...

http://img149.exs.cx/img149/4559/bigfoot2si.jpg

[Barry_Green]

Boo, that is probably the funniest post of the year. I think I have to take Pookie's advice; to look like that picture I gotta go get a hair transplant. Of course, according to Dakota's picture, I have plenty of places to transplant FROM... :)

[Zoomforce]

lol you guys are nuts.

[AndyJ]

Part of why is because the dollar is plummeting in value, so it takes a lot more of them to buy something overseas, and everything in the US is cheaper when using "foreign" currency.

Yeah Jarred, if you want to buy a big mac here in London, you're gonna hafta remortgage your house in Canada first...!

Welcome to rip-off Britain! ;)

[Peabody]

Where do you get that camouflage lingerie?

[Barry_Green]

Don't remember the company name...

[Zoomforce]

Alright.. been slacking but had good reason, went from London to Sierra Leonne Monday, Arrived late and was escorted via HIP helicopter to our guides.. thank god for our guides cause we probally wouldn't of made it past the parking lot.

Its definately a different world out here, but the amazing thing about this part of West Africa is that everyone seems very happy and very proud, You wouldn't be able to tell there was just a war or that there was immense poverty. Its pretty cool actually. Filming begins tommorow, so that will be interesting, hopefully the trusty DVX can hold up in the heat.


http://www.dvxuser.com/africa.jpg

[Neil Rowe]

lol. jarred in munchkin land. have fun, and beat the heat.

[boo]

awesome picture jarred! just awesome! :)

[J.R. Hudson]

Follow the Yellow Brick Road!

Damn, they must think JMan is a giant. LOL! :D

[Young-H._Lee]

ive been reading this for a while, very cool

[mrbimmer]

how do you surf the web out there ;D

[Zoomforce]

actually a few people in Freetown have internet (The place I am using costs them $9000 USD per month for 2 way satellite). Believe it or not though everyone has cellphones, and new cellphones that we dont even have in the US.

[Avenger007]

this was one of the coolest threads. Im amazed you guys lead these kind of lives in just one week...if im correct. What are your titles exactly? Film Director...editor...video production....?

[Barry_Green]

My title depends on which job I'm working at the time. *I've been hired as a producer, line producer, writer, UPM, director, cinematographer, video tech, camera operator, sound mixer, boom operator, teleprompter operator, editor, field producer, 1st AD, tape playback operator, and... well, I'm sure some more. *And that's just in the last year.

... and some jobs, for nonprofits, I've done *all* those on the same gig (like I'm sure many here have).

But 95% of my work nowadays is as producer/writer/director/editor over my own projects.

[Voytek_Stitko]

they have no faces i heard
dvx are permanently fixed to thier head so all you see is the dvx
cant remeber if its dvx 100 or 10a

[J.R. Hudson]

Barry's title is simply:

GURU

[boo]

Barry's title is simply:

GURU

aka: JEDI MASTER :P

[Barry_Green]

... and if you've seen my REAL picture, you'd know WHICH Jedi Master.

Hint -- think short, green, with furry ears, and kind of old...

[Harish_Kumar]

http://www.nightscribe.com/Entertainment/jedi.htm

this one is close

[ronik15]

His power is in his ears! ;D

[Newbie4sure]

day 3

Then to Santa Monica for some Boardwalk fun

http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/la1.wmv

Then off to the Satellite Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel


Thats awsome quality (well compared to my canon mv500i), how did you do it?

[Zoomforce]

Its with the new little canon powershot sd200... the movie mode is 640x480 30fps... and it also shoots 60fps high speed... best movie modes of any still camera. Drop a 1 gig card in there and your set.

Anyways.. still in Africa.. I goto the airport in a few hours and will be in london for 8 hours for a layover, so will be able to update the photos of the last week while im in Gatwick. :) sorry for the sparce news.. only one place in Freetown has high speed internet.

[Newbie4sure]

Does the DVX footage look better then that? i have only seen compresed footage from the DVX and that digital camera looks better quality?

[Zoomforce]

you just need to be lucky with compression :)


anyways, so here is my last week in one long photo montage.

Heres london last week... last 1st world breakfast for a week
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa2.jpg

Getting on the Plane to Sierra Leonne
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa3.jpg


First Breakfast in Africa... I know it looks pretty normal.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa4.jpg

Next to the hotel.. was a school, you seen this one already.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa5.jpg

Ok that was alot of work.. time to eat again.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa6.jpg

Since we are here in Africa to shoot a doc.. we drove around
basically to scout locations for our interviews.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa7.jpg


This is how I was checking DVXuser.com out...
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa20.jpg

Any woman here could carry me on her head if she wanted to.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa8.jpg

Stray dogs are everywhere... if you see one look at you like
this please dont stand there and decide to take a photo of
it.. its getting ready to jump and rip your head off.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa9.jpg

Coke was a big hit with me in Africa.. cause its bottled you know its pretty safe. Wont give you the pooos but will rott your teeth.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa10.jpg

Oh me working again.. sometimes you gotta sit in the sand
to think about the next shot.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa11.jpg

Don't know what their excuse is.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa12.jpg

2 British military guys we met.. *the only military guy
I met actually that didnt talk about guns all day. nice lads.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa13.jpg

Ok.. getting close to work time..
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa14.jpg

Oh.. this guys name is Jim Davidson? supposed to be famous in the UK.. dont know what the hell he was doing at our hotel in the middle of West Africa telling jokes but he was pretty funny.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa15.jpg

Ok.. DVX is out.. its hot.. focus... focus.. sweat.. focus..
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa16.jpg

K.. works done.. time to go... wakeboarding?
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa17.jpg

Looks like fun?... ha ha ha. Good thing I bought medical.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa18.jpg

This Dude was the coolest guy in Africa with his hard hat.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa19.jpg

Wait.. sratch that this is the coolest guy. hands down.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa21.jpg

Wandering around the jungle again..
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa23.jpg

Ok.. Helicopter ride back to the airport.. back to London we go.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/africa22.jpg

[GregJacobson]

In that 5th photo it looks like you have a small bong on the table. ;D

[Zoomforce]

Its funny.. it wasnt but that restaurant they all sit around and smoke some sort of Lebanese pot... no middle class in Freetown per say.. really poor africans and really rich Lebanese. Cool thing is the rich and poor get along alot better over there than we do in north america.

[thartley]

Its funny.. it wasnt but that restaurant they all sit around and smoke some sort of Lebanese pot...

Like a hookah?

[ronik15]

Thanks for sharing your experience Jarred! Did you enjoy wakeboarding even if it wasn't a wakeboard boat ;D

[Zoomforce]

Wakeboarding was cool.. but I definatly need to try it on a lake rather than the ocean.. the waves made things a little difficult.

[BLUESPIDER]

dude Jarred, I'm so envious of you. You get to travel and get paid big paper for this. Seriously, thanks for making me jelous. :P

[Zoomforce]

Dont be envious.. at this point I would pay anything to be in my own bed right now... its been a little crazy.

Anyways, Last night I go from London to Rome, Italy.. I take this airline called EasyJet.. It was the most insane airline I have ever flown. Basically what happens is they give you no seat assignment, wait till 15 minutes before they take off and tell you the secret gate at the airport... so everyone runs and tries to get the best seat. *at 6' 7" and carrying a good 40pounds of gear it was relatively easy to bowl people out of the way.. needless to say I got the best seat on the plane.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/italy2.jpg

Looking out my hotel window. Rome by far is the most beautiful
city I have ever been too.. the girls and guys are all very attractive
and style is everywhere... not a bad place to hang out for a few days.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/italy1.jpg

Every mile or so is some bizarre intersection that has impressive fountains and statues or such.. this is one of the more famous.
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/italy3.jpg

Stumbled into some sort of shoot..
http://www.dvxuser.com/blog/italy4.jpg

No work to do in Rome... Rome is just a sort of "I made it out of Africa without being killed" treat.. Only here till Friday then I start heading back to Vancouver... oh I cant wait to be home.

[Aejaz]

I thought the first Italy shot was one of the streets of *Stockholm *;)

Awesome pics Jarred

[Zoomforce]

does Sweden look the same? I gotta make it to there someday... maybe next time, you can show me around :)

[navitas]

Wow! Looks like you're having fun!

//EasyJet is great! :) It's like riding a truck on a bumpy road :)

//Rome indeed is great! But my favourite city in Italy is still Florence and litle town in Tuscany "San Giminiano".

//FYI: The most beutifull city in the world is still NYC <- oh, my God. I think I recorded there about 15h during my 2 weeks stay :)

[Aejaz]

It will be really a pleasure...Jarred. But dont arrive here before May and after September...Stockholm is at its best in between. :)

[Zoomforce]

Cool.. I was in NYC last month with our very own Barry G... and yes its a cool city but I wouldn't say its the most beautiful... by a long shot.

Maybe I will see you in the summer Aejaz.

[ronik15]

Did you take the pictures with the dvx?

[Zoomforce]

no photos are with my little canon sd200... DVX was used for work only... well if you really can call it work.

[Aejaz]

Maybe I will see you in the summer Aejaz.


Looking forward to it. Just let me know in advance.

[Aejaz]

;D

[monkeyking]

Noticed you were using a monopod for an interview. Traveling light, no tripod? Don't see any mikes either. What did you bring in your duffle?

chris

[Zoomforce]

Yes.. I wasn't about to lug a studio tripod through the jungle.. and it was interview stuff anyways so a monopod was fine. Used Senh. G2's for mics.. Had a very minimal Kit, no mattebox, no filters, nothing fancy. Just enough to get the job done.

And thats it for Photos... my little Canon Powershot died yesterday... the second one (sd200) that has broke in the last 2 months. Good thing, cause thats about 2 weeks anyways :)

[navitas]

man... what are you doing with them? :)

[Zoomforce]

Nothing.... well the first one broke (the screen) in my pocket in NY and this one broke in my hands as I turned it on on my flight from Rome to London.. It was too bad because I was about to shoot a photo of *our stewards.. two gay guys in tight orange shirts with their heads shaved bald.... would of been a priceless photo. regardless.. it sucks cause both of them broke in the middle of travel.

[navitas]

You've got some baaad luck....


btw. I wish you'd made that picture... :)