Upload Process - Report issues here

[Larry Rutledge]

Since this system is fairly new we've run into a couple snags, which I've tried to resolve as quick as possible. However, during the process I have received multiple messages for each issue as people run across them. To help centralize this process, I'm creating this thread to track issues and eliminate multiple reports of the same issue.

If you come across any issues, or have questions about the system, just post them here and I will respond to them as quickly as possible.


Issues reported to date:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Typo - Last checkbox references "HorrorFest" (Resolved)
2. 200 MB upload limit (Resolved)
3. Upload filename limited to 32 characters (not resolved at this time, compatibility issue, still testing)

Thanks,
Larry

[Wild Imagination Films]

Looks like it's gonna be a long night watching the films upload. Hope you can fix the filename size limit.

[Larry Rutledge]

No worries on the filename, it renames it to the correct full name based on the values you entered into the form (real name, dvx user name, title). Send me a note when the upload finishes and I'll check the server to make sure it's there.

Peace,
Larry

[Nicolas]

Due to copyright problems, we're out. Sorry. Next time, maybe. ;)

[Larry Rutledge]

What? Wait? Why? Is it just because of copyright music? If so, one of our talented composers could probably provide you with pre-made music they have. You have until Thursday morning to get the file uploaded (still time to fix it).

If you decide not to do that, you can still leave it in as a non-competition film (exhibition only).

[Nicolas]

Have you seen the film? Please do so, it's less than 4 minutes.

[jeremytuttle]

Do exhibition only. Let us see it.

[givemefood]

I have attempted 4 times and right in the middle of the upload, the connection to ur server goes down. My internet connection has been fine.

[Larry Rutledge]

That's strange, there are no connection issues that I am aware of. I have been connected to and working with my server all day, and several others have successfully uploaded.

Can you tell me what OS/Browser you are using? Also, do you have any other background processes (Particularly Screen Savers if you are on Windows) that might be interrupting the progress? I know one person had trouble uploading until he disabled his Windows Screen Saver.

If that doesn't answer it, let me know and I'll create an FTP connection for you to upload directly (just be aware, it is slower).

[givemefood]

Well i tried again, and it failed just now. Im on professional win xp and i have been using firefox.

[givemefood]

if it still fails, is it ok if i upload just the .mov file? Or do u still need the .mpg? the mpeg file is huge

[Larry Rutledge]

For now, just uploading the ".mov" is fine. We can figure out what's going on with the other later.

Peace,
Larry

[givemefood]

OR can you email the ftp instructions? Im stepping out for a bite and will be back in a few. Will try after that.

My email is tonyonline @ hotmail

[Larry Rutledge]

E-mailed. It's weird. I am also on XP Pro, using Firefox and it works great for me. It would be nice to figure out what the "problem" is so we can implement a solution before the next fest.

Either way, feel free to just upload the contest file for now and I'll work with you later on the MPEG file, or use the FTP information I just e-mailed you.

Sorry Again for the inconvenience...hopefully you can get it up now.

Peace,
Larry

[givemefood]

Ok Larry... the ftp connection is failing. Here's what im getting

---------------------------------------
Looking up host "ftp.nrestudios.com"
Connecting to 72.29.72.117 port 22
Can't establish connection --> ftp.nrestudios.com:22 @ Wed Jan 31 22:10:50 2007 (122-1)
---------------------------------------

I even tried port 21 with and without SSH/SFTP and i'm using CoreFTP.

I also tried uploading just the .mov file and even that is losing connection in between.

I'm kinda frustrated right now.

Anything else we can try?

Thanks for all ur help. I appreciate that.

[Larry Rutledge]

This is strangely frustrating...I'm not sure how to proceed. Since the time I gave you the FTP information, four other uploads completed successfully. And I just now tried connecting to the FTP server both from a web interface (http://www.net2ftp.com/) and from the Windows FTP service (Start | Run, type "cmd", click OK, type "ftp ftp.nrestudios.com") and both ways work fine.

You might try pinging my server, perhaps your ISPs DNS doesn't see my server for some reason. You can ping by clicking "Start | Run" then type "cmd" and click OK. At the command prompt type "ping nrestudios.com" and see what kind of a response you get.

Beyond that, try using that web based ftp client I posted above and see if you can connect from there.

Let me know. Sorry for the hassle. We'll get it one way or another.

Another idea...if you have a server where you can host it (web or ftp based), and give me the connection and/or link info, I'll go grab it from there for you.

Peace,
Larry

[leofernandez]

how do i make a .mov file into a .zip file on a macbook pro?

[Larry Rutledge]

Well, you only need the .zip if you are sending the fest version and higher res DVD version. Otheriwse, you can just upload the .mov file.

I'm not a Mac user, so unfortunately I can't help there. You might ask in teh more general fest threads, someone there should know.

[leofernandez]

oh ok.

[leofernandez]

how long is it supposed to take to upload? my movie has been uploading for about an hour now...

[leofernandez]

Im not going to be able to finish uploading my movie tonight. is taht going to be a rpoblem? what time does the uploading deadline officially close?

[mikkowilson]

Please read the other thread with Upload Instructions. It states multiple times that there is no "solid deadline". You will have time to upload over the next 12 hours or so.

Please reserve this thread for technical issues relating to the upload process.

- Mikko

[Norm Sanders]

Ok Larry... the ftp connection is failing. Here's what im getting

---------------------------------------
Looking up host "ftp.nrestudios.com"
Connecting to 72.29.72.117 port 22
Can't establish connection --> ftp.nrestudios.com:22 @ Wed Jan 31 22:10:50 2007 (122-1)
---------------------------------------

I even tried port 21 with and without SSH/SFTP and i'm using CoreFTP.

I also tried uploading just the .mov file and even that is losing connection in between.

I'm kinda frustrated right now.

Anything else we can try?

Thanks for all ur help. I appreciate that.

Boy, at that point I would just upload your file to your own server (or anything else you've had success uploading to, and see if Larry would be kind enough to pull it from there & upload it himself ... unless it's already taken care of.

[spidey]

having problems uploading going to try to make an another atempt.

[spidey]

it wont let me submit says somethingi is wrong and i renamed it five times. is it the zip file?

[macgregor]

It took me several hours to be able to upload a single file. ALl fields say Macgrgor, since i had filled the fields so many times that i was tired of doing it.
So please someone change it to the real name, which is eighteen seconds.
I´ve been awake for too lonh, i will try the mpeg2 tomorrow. Thanks

[Larry Rutledge]

Sorry for the trouble...I saw your file and will take care of re-naming as necessary

Thanks for persevering, we're still working the kinks out of this new system.

[Steve_Arm]

I think next subject will be a reservation uploading queue. Films uploading only on specific times and not all together.

[Larry Rutledge]

Well, the plan, when the full system is built, is to set up a predetermined upload window (this will be controlled by the system).

The part people may not like is it will be a HARD cutoff. However, instead of finding out today that you have until midnight two days from now, you will be told early on that the upload window is from one specific date to another (preferably a week).

If you go to the upload page there will be a countdown showing how long until the uploads can begin. Once the upload window is active, it will countdown how long until it closes. When the end mark is reached, the upload gate will close.

Hopefully, people will use the first date as their "soft date", which will help stagger the uploads better. In addition, it still might be necessary to implement a "reservation queue" as you suggest...at a minimum, limit the uploads to "x" number of transfers at a time.

That's the plan anyway :)

[leofernandez]

can anyone recomend a good way to compress the movie file?
Wen I made mine .zip, it only went down to 528 MB and I need it to be no greater than 400 MB.

[Larry Rutledge]

Wow, how big are your source files?

I've increased the upload size limit to 600MB, see if that works.

[leofernandez]

ok great. Thanks alot!

[abraham]

my brother [TheMacB] and i are having some conversion problems -- i noticed he started a thread that was promptly closed and i was wondering if maybe this would be the correct spot. he's at work, so i will just copy what he said:

stupid sexy h.264
"help! anyone know what this weird grey stuff is coming from? its supposed to be all black. title fades in and out. i'm using Super. converting from AVI. the entire six minutes is fine except this second and a half at the beginning. any ideas?"

and from our own thread:
"i'm having a really tough time getting this h.264 to work. something really weird is going on at the beginning. there's one opening title over black that for some reason keeps changing to gray for about 1 second. then the movie starts and everything is fine. i'm about ready to give up. hopefully people can just disregard the second second of our movie. can't wait to watch all the others!"

***EDIT, all taken care of. Thanks Barry, Larry and Geoff

[Inexistence]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before but wouldn't it be easier on
everyone if we uploaded just the 40meg web version first? This way everyone
could take their time encoding/uploading the dvd versions without the bottleneck.

[RomanJaquez]

I've increased the upload size limit to 600MB, see if that works.
What do you mean?
Can I re-upload my entry? I compressed it pretty hard to fit the 200MB limit with the MPEG2 for the DVD

[J.R. Hudson]

I cannot get any of my files to load !

[Larry Rutledge]

The 200MB limit was immediately increased to 400, when it was first pointed out. Because there have been issues with the upload, we are allowing people to re-upload the DVD version later (probably next week when things slow down a little bit). If at that time you want to re-compress, re-upload you will be able to.

John - what do you mean? What happens, doesn't happen? Any errors?

[snodart]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before but wouldn't it be easier on
everyone if we uploaded just the 40meg web version first? This way everyone
could take their time encoding/uploading the dvd versions without the bottleneck.

:thumbup:

[J.R. Hudson]

I am uploading to WIKIUPLOAD where Larry can then Download as his server (nor Jason's due to me being on ie7) is accepting my film.

As soon as it is up; Ill PM the link !

In the meantime, Ill be doing some directors commentary for the DVD !!

[Larry Rutledge]

John - Got it, thanks. I am uploading it to the staging server now. You are officially in the fest :thumbsup:

[Norm Sanders]

I am uploading to WIKIUPLOAD where Larry can then Download as his server (nor Jason's due to me being on ie7) is accepting my film.

Must have been something else causing the issue, John, cuz I'm on IE7, and didn't have a single hitch with the upload. :undecided

[Larry Rutledge]

At the time John, and a couple others, tried to upload I was running scripts to move files to the other mirrors. All the people trying to upload at that time reported issues. So, I think that my hosting provider has a governor on either my bandwidth or my concurrent connections, or both.

Going forward I'll have to stage the uploads, perhaps in a reservation style (e.g. get your name on the list we'll page you when your tables ready) type system. Or something along those lines.

Glad it mostly worked well for the majority of entrants. I think that was the smoothest file acquisition we've had yet :)

[RomanJaquez]

So, let me see if I am following? Can the movie size be 400mb and then next week re-upload the DVD version? This is fair. :)

[Larry Rutledge]

The contest version of the film has to be 40MB or less. The 400mb file size was for the .zip file which should contain the contest version (40MB or less) and the DVD version (one mpeg-2, or mpeg-2 and ac3)

[RomanJaquez]

Thank you for clarifying that to me.

Can I re-upload my entry... I have improved in the compression quality... the first one has a green line in the screen which I managed to get read off. Please! :)