Envision & RebeccaD Present "Where Silence Falls"

I understand your concern about the second gen biz... makes complete sence.

I know that I am new to iPod but I was floored at the quality of the video on my screen, even with the 2nd gen.

Sounds like you have a sensible attack there to solve the problem. Please let me know how you make out so I can employ the tactic to my future projects.
 
YIKES!!! Finally connected with Dan this evening, and the rough cut is over 9 minutes long!!! I'll be heading over late morning tomorrow to help chainsaw some fat out of it.

On another note, I've implemented the following changes, thanks to folks like Ted, Ryan, Shawn & others who've commented about little tweaks that could be made here & there:
  1. Black shirt flicker should be fully fixed, implementing another layer/mask
  2. More dramatic opening shot, using a higher resolution image that allowed me to get in closer at the beginning
  3. My final fade out is SLIGHTLY extended so it's not so abrupt
Fairly small changes, but things that were bugging me anyway, and make me feel better about the final I'll put on the DVD for cast/crew.
 
I was wondering about the flickering shirt. Didn't know if you were trying to create a sense of the water reflection dancing off your shirt!

Very cool about the higher rez image... I love the opening shot but I can understand this choice.

And yeah... I hate abrupt! (unless it is called for!)

And Boooo.... sorry to hear about the 9 minute cut. I am having the same difficulty. But when we shot TTN, I knew that I wanted the long cut all along and just "hoped" to cut it to 6 minutes. (I know that it can be cut but the story will just not be the same.) Just seemed silly to not take advantage of the incredibl;e resources available to us NOT to shoot enough footage for a longer cut.

Well.... I certainly didn't mean to ramble on there!

Good luck with your new "adventure!"

-Ted
 
While I realized it probably had a dancing water/reflection look, it certainly wasn't intentional ... so it should be fixed now.

Our short, when read out loud, easily paced out to around the 5 minute mark (perhaps a TAD rushed), and six minutes or less easily. So I know the current 9 minutes just has a ton of fat that can get cut out ... not that with Justin's score it wouldn't be just as good or possibly even better, but I don't want to do an 'exhibition' for this round, so it must be under the six minute mark.

I was just talking to Rebecca, and if it DOES flow nicely at 9 minutes, then perhaps I'll see if Justin wants to do an extended score for it, and then we can have the 6 minute DVX cut as well. Problem is, I also want to submit this for the Spielberg thing, which requires 5 minutes or less ... I'll have to beg Justin to see if he'd want to do 3 scrores/adjustments for the same flick, lol.

Oh, and back to the BTS, Ted ... it's not a different image ... just the same one, but instead of 72dpi, I've now got a 300dpi version to work with, so I was able to start closer in, and it does have more power to it. I'll have all the files updated later tonight with this final (hopefully) version.
 
Glad to hear that the opening image is the same. That is such a nice shot and I really do love the "movement" that you added. I just love the "lines."

I am sending a PM with a question for you....
 
Getting back to you now on the PM. Grrr, you mentioned 'lines', and it just made me realize that I may not have selected the 'reduce interlace flicker' on that new higher rez image I put in the opening shot! Shouldn't matter for PC/iPod viewing, as I THINK those are both naturally progressive vs. interlaced, but I'll have to make sure I do it for the DVD.

Oh, and just to answer part of your PM ... I publicly embrace PC/Vegas for my editing choice. Some day I'd like to get a Mac/FCP set up, but I'll have to have some serious extra coin for the kind of set up I'd want out of it. In the meantime, I'm totally self taught in Vegas, it just came naturally to me, and anything else would introduce a massive learning curve I just can't afford to have at this point.
 
Cursed iPod render! I'll try your second generation render from a h.264 file, like you suggested, Ted. This is my third render, with hours into trying to mess with this, and the aspect ratio STILL isn't the same. Argh ... last time, then I'll just pick the best of the lot, if it's still not right.
 
I dunno ... said something about editing a home vacation video before, so I thought that was good enough for the contest.

Why? :)

Seriously, I don't have a clue. He said he's edited before, he's got the system that'll understand the P2 codec, where mine currently can not. Ryan was unable to fit it in with his schedule & I figured since it's just a drama, the editing should be pretty easy. Tomorrow will simply be a matter of going over, seeing what works & what doesn't, and moving the clips to taste.

I'm stressed a tad, but I know it'll all work out. Always does.
 
Thanks, Shawn. Let's just see how far those sales skills go in getting the funding I now need for TRINITY RIVER. My stress level is VERY high this weekend, needless to say, with preparing to fly out to Miami for a week on Monday morning, still needing to get my investors all set, and getting the final locked edit for the short to Justin, which is already a day behind schedule.

Oh, and in there I need to make it a special nite/weekend for my Lovely Wife, as her birthday is this coming Thursday & I'll be out of town. Drat ... I've always taken the day off for everyone's B-Day in my family, so not even being in the same side of the country will be an adjustment.
 
Wow Norm, I can feel your stress level through the internet!!!

I hope that iPod solution works for you. I'd hate to add another layer of wasted time on your plate.

As for the "lines" I mentioned and that you commented on, I hope that you know that I was referring to the "vanishing point" lines. They are very striking in the photo. I love how they come to a point on Rebecca. Very powerful. Sorry to hear about your "other" lines.

Good luck with all. Miami, huh? That'll be nice. Too bad about the timing. Gonna be weird not being with your wife on her birthday.

Be well,

Ted
 
Alright, thought that I'd comment on what my experience was like on WSF.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with Dan. He is a great guy, easy to work with, and I was able to pick up a lot of little tips / tricks watching him work. It was also a kick in the pants being able to use the remote FF. While it was cool to use, and was easy to opporate- it was a tricky combination to use with the 35mm Canon SLR lenses and the indiFOCUS.

One HUGE difference (among many) inbetween cinema lenses and SLR lenses is the lack of distance markers. Yes there are some, but going from a marking that says 10' to a marking that says infinity leaves a lot of play room .... So this made pulling focus a challange - especially when remotely done. Before shooting began, I measured and marked the lens accordingly, and then I marked the control unit with the same marks. When it was time to roll camera, I followed along with Dan gaging the distance the camera was from the talent, and adjusting the focus accordingly. When possible, I would double check my focus in his monitor, and it seemd to work ok. It would have been better to have a more accurate system in place, but I think that would require different lenses, or more time spent calibrating the lense.

Another problem that we incountered was the gear ratio of the FF unit Dan had and that of the indiFOCUS. The indiFOCUS uses non-standard pitches in the gears. So when we went to use the focus ring and mount that with the FF Dan had they did not line up. Now we were stuck- he couldn't opperate the steadicam with someone hanging off of the rig, and we still needed to pull focus..... So I bit the bullet and took one for the team / film. We dissasembled the indiFOCUS, drilled holes in, and grinded down part of the plastic to be able mount it to the FF unit that Dan had. While this wasn't a perfect solution, it did seem to work and we managed to get it done. (You can see pictures of our solution below.)

So if anyone wants a slightly molested indiFOCUS, I can get you one for dirt cheap!

Overall it was a great experience, I enjoyed working with everyone very much- and I'm looking forward to working together soon again - hopefully on TR.

Our indiFOCUS Solution-
WSFindiFocus01.jpg


WSFindiFocus02.jpg
 
Ted, why is it I have no idea what you're talking about with the lines ... unless you're referring to the lines/curbes in the street ... how they narrow into the distance towards her? I just keep thinking I'm missing out on some filmmaker lingo I should be aware of, lol.

Ryan, I TOTALLY didn't know that you basically had to scrap your IndieFocus in order to get it to work with Dan's rig. So sorry about that ... I feel I should be compensating you somehow, so let's talk when you get back. However, I DID just send you a very funny e-mail, so perhaps that's compensation enough? :grin: Lol.

Anyway, thanks so much for your dedication in helping with Dan & his Steadicam. He's worked with a LOT of professionals before, and had really good things to say about you after we wrapped.
 
Envision said:
Ryan, I TOTALLY didn't know that you basically had to scrap your IndieFocus in order to get it to work with Dan's rig. So sorry about that ... I feel I should be compensating you somehow, so let's talk when you get back.
Click to expand...

No prob. Just doing whatever it takes to get the job done, and get the shot in the can! We can talk more when I get back, thanks! :beer:
 
WHOO-HOO!!! Finally got that stinkin' iPod to look the way I wanted. Perfect aspect ratio, and I'm hoping/assuming it'll look stunning on the little screen of the iPod.

Thanks, Ted, for the suggestion of compressing back out from the h.264 file. I rendered out the best h.264 file I could in widescreen (a little over 7MB/sec data rate), so it's a fatty at over 435 MB, but did the trick for the iPod. I'll throw up the big QT file as well, as it's a little larger (640 wide), and much higher resolution ... should anyone want to download it for any reason.

Updating the online files now. Still have to update the regular .mov file & I'll have them all done.
 
Envision said:
WHOO-HOO!!! Finally got that stinkin' iPod to look the way I wanted. Perfect aspect ratio, and I'm hoping/assuming it'll look stunning on the little screen of the iPod.

Thanks, Ted, for the suggestion of compressing back out from the h.264 file. I rendered out the best h.264 file I could in widescreen (a little over 7MB/sec data rate), so it's a fatty at over 435 MB, but did the trick for the iPod.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that you got it working. But something doesn't seem right- I've got Snatch on my iPod (run time 1hr 43min) and it only takes up 393MB .....
 
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