Seattle Filmerica Team Forum

[Kevin Briggs]

Hey guys,

I thought it would be nice to post all imput in a forum like this to keep the thought process in the open for all involved to view and reply. I have spent some time putting together some questions that might help us come out on top. I will be updating this message board after out meeting today, so if you were not able to make it you can still get involved.


-Kevin Briggs

[Kevin Briggs]

Judging

• There will be a total of 6 judges on our panel with a broad range of skills including writers, directors and editors/special effects.
• Each Judge's report includes the following rating criteria. (12 Items, 10 points per Item, 120 points Total per Judge)
• Acting
• -If we can manage I would like to see us cast age appropriate actors if we have them. The more extras the better I think. I have some people that will be willing to come out, does anyone else? I think the extras need to be trustworthy.
• Audio Production/Design
• -Adrian Quarto for digital audio editing? Picking up ambient sound and on set sound FX.
• Cinematography
• -Any ideas?
• Costume Design
• -Any ideas? Theresa Petrey has experience in costume design. I think our best bet here is going to be a couple people willing to go thrift shopping for the crucial items we will need. Also this position might require making some calls on Friday night while the script is being written to all our members to find some of the items needed.
• Directing
• -Jeff Skinner the head honcho and ruler of all creative decisions
• Editing
• -I am a pretty good editor with a little inexperience, but maybe we should build a team to work on different parts to be assembled together.
• Graphics/Special Effects
• -Irina has training in After Effects.
• Music
• -Does anyone have any copyright free music or should we just get it from the web. I know an artist that might be willing to contribute some music.
Web sites with music:
• Use of Character
• -In order to get the full 120 points this role should be assigned to our most dynamic actor with the most experience if the role suits him or her.
• Use of Dialog
• -When writing the script the writers should take extra time making the assigned dialog be integrated with the rest of the script and maybe used in an unconventional less obvious way.
• Use of Genre
• -Ideas?
• Use of Prop
• -By far this is going to be the easiest area to gain all 120 points, so we need to come up with a creative way to include the prop into our short.
Writing the script:
Katarina Misenar. Jeff Skinner might want to be involved with the script based on his experience. Anyone else willing to spend some time friday night helping with the script?

[Kevin Briggs]

To Do List

1.) The editors need to get a hold of each other and decide what NLE system you are going to use. If different versions are used maybe output with the same codec? If we end up shooting any green screen in high def we need to be sure someone has a system that can handle it. If we use the setup at Victory with the uncompressed 4:4:4 will we be able to edit there as well?

2.) Should we create a logo for our team ahead of time to slap onto the beginning? We need to come with a name for our group by Monday morning. I'm fine with anything personally.

3.) The location should have a variety of outdoor environments and a building that is architecturally appealing so we can throw some lights up and create interest in our scenes. Theresa Petrey mentioned a Country Mansion possibly? Dustin Woodard mentioned he might be able to find some good locations. If we do green screen we won't need to worry about this.

What else? I know I missed some things.

[Shawn Murphy]

..see you at Victory Studios.

[Kevin Briggs]

Shawn I think you and I should get together to shoot some ideas back and forth. Jeff suggested that I should focus more on filming rather than editing and I agree. We might get another camera man/woman along the way, but for now it’s you and me bud. Maybe we should meet in Seattle to thrown some ideas around and make sure our skills are honed for the 15th. I’ve been messing around with light trail FX lately by adjusting aperture and shutter speeds. I hope to create something like this: http://www.rigmorweb.com/v1/video_eng.htm

Here is another example, but this is done with pared down photography, and I havn't a clue how to do this. http://www.bubble-squeak.com/site03/mo_citizens.html


I would also like to talk about lighting. Is the art team going to set up the lighting and we just tweak it on set? Do you have any gels, lighting, reflectors etc? I have none, but I might buy some if the need arises.

[Kevin Briggs]

Well we had our first meeting today. We got a lot accomplished in a little over 2 hours. I am very encouraged by the diversity of skills we have in our group. Rebecca our PA has the list of contact info for everyone, and hopefully when we get a secure server for our discussion forum she can list all our names and contact info so we can communicate more freely. Dustin let me know what you think is the best way to go about this. Rebecca will post the teams with the team leaders, that way we can see what we have and what holes we need to fill.

In our first meeting we:

-We formed teams for each of the tasks we need to accomplish with a leader in each team. These leaders will be in charge of what untimely comes from their group.

-We all agreed we would like to use our skills to produce a professional artistic short.

-We decided to shoot, and hopefully edit at one location to avoid time lost in travel etc.

-We discussed possible avenues to take for our end product.

-We formed a rough timeline for the production deadlines:

1.) 8pm Friday evening writers get together to build the script. Art and wardrobe teams work with writers to create the environment. This will include lighting the set.
2.) 8am Saturday morning Cinematographers meet to set up cameras and discuss shots, and adjust lighting to accommodate camera angles etc.
3.) 10am Saturday morning actors show up on set ready to go.
4.) 12am Saturday night filming stops.
5.) 12am Editors take over working there magic through he night to finish the rough draft.
6.) Sunday morning rough draft is viewed and suggestions for changes are made.
7.) 12pm Sunday start shooting changes and continuity footage.
8.) Sunday afternoon editors get new footage to incorporate and edit the final draft.
9.) Monday morning Final draft is packaged for appeal with DVD case, artwork etc.
10.)12pm Monday have final draft ready to mail.

[Shawn Murphy]

Shawn I think you and I should get together to shoot some ideas back and forth.

Definitely, do you have my email? (I'll email you)



I would also like to talk about lighting. Is the art team going to set up the lighting and we just tweak it on set? Do you have any gels, lighting, reflectors etc? I have none, but I might buy some if the need arises.

Under normal circumstances we as the DPs would be responsible for the primary lighting decisions, however, as we're both new we may need to defer to someone with more experience (if they exist on this project), or we can just light collaboratively with the director as he's been on enough projects to know what he wants. Also, I listed all of my current equipment on the blog site, but here it is again, there's a few items more I might want to get (some -/+ green gels for correcting fluorescents, though depending on our location we probably won't have to contend with that):


My equipment:

Camera (24P DV):

1 - Panasonic AG-DVX100A w/Mattebox
1 - Miller DS10 Fluid Tripod
1 - Schneider Truepol 4x4 Polarizer
1 - DVRigPro (shoulder mounted camera stabilizer)
1 - DIY Dollie

Lights, grip, gaff:

1 - 250w (open face tungsten with barndoors, softboxes, and stand)
1 - switchable 300/600w (semi-focusable open face tungsten with barndoors, softboxes, and stand)
1 - switchable 500/1000w (semi-focusable open face tungsten with barndoors, softboxes, and stand)
1 - Arri Fresnel 650w (semi-focusable focusable, tungsten with barndoors, and stand)
1 - DIY 5000k (daylight range) 2x24" fluorescent light
7 - Chinaball/lanterns (assorted colors and sizes)

2 - 1000w dimmers

4 - C-stands with gobo arms

1 - 5-1 reflectors

Miscellaneous: gels (diffusion, correction, CTO/CTB), clamps, sandbags, stingers, etc


Audio (Mics):

1 - Audio-Technica AT4073a boom mic (for external locations)
1 - Audio-Technica AT4053a hyper-cardoid boom (for internal/dialogue)

Editing:

1 - Sony Vegas6 NLE
1 - Sony DVD Architect3

[Kevin Briggs]

Hey Shawn,

What is your schedule like? I will be busy all day Teusday, but the rest of the week is open for now. You've got some great gear! Those lights should help out quite a bit.

-Kevin

[Shawn Murphy]

sorry about that, I sent you an email.