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…waiting to be explored. And every gig is a learning experience – fortunately I don’t have to make a real living at it these days.
What were yesterday’s lessons?
On my side:
1. Triple check the damned camera. My JVC GY-DV300 is a sweetie, but for some reason she’s been putting forth an error notice – a nasty one. So I did a reset to factory default and she went back to being the willing partner I need on shoots. Until I went on the shoot yesterday, when nasty error popped up again and I had to resort to the HV20.
2. The good lesson – always have a backup plan. Thank you HV20.
3. Depth of field is a bitch. Trying to throw a background out of focus in a small room doesn’t work…especially when the client wants a wider shot.
4. Gonna hafta windsock the lav. It is SUPER sensitive when lying against talent’s shirt or even skin or hair.
On the clients’ side:
1. Communicate what file format you need final video in…learning you want flv or smf after the shoot when I don’t have the conversion software makes me feel incompetent. I really like to please, but was unable to comply.
2. You were fun to work with…easy going and willing to listen (ideal client profile) – and you paid promptly.
3. Uh…I love you, but I kinda expected to shoot right away (okay, I will admit it was nice to have that extra 30 minutes or more to experiment with my setup…but the day did kinda drag on).
And finally – as usual – I learned a lot from my clients as I did the shoot. My family law (divorce) lawyer client taught me that there are caring attorneys with high moral standards. Today’s clients taught me about some new sales tactics for online selling. I also learned that folks who dream the impossible dream are damn hard workers, stretching their lives thin and focusing on the goal.
Wonder what the next gig will bring.
Tradition…a word with BIG MEANING.
Tradition has warm connotative meanings – reaching into the past and remembering what has been and will always be. Think holiday traditions. Foods that are cooked for certain celebrations. Colors and sounds. Smells…all tied in with good feelings.
But tradition also has a negative connotative meaning. The rut. The way it has always been done…and by inference, WILL always be done. So…uh…why are we going this way? “Because this is the way we’ve ALWAYS gone.” But…uh…there’s a new bypass that will save us 45 minutes. “No…this is the way we’ve ALWAYS gone.”
Yeah – tradition.
Choose a topic…a story idea. Here…I’ll choose one for you (as a former teacher) – and I choose the educational calendar. Tradition dictates that the school year is (now loosely) based on the agricultural needs of the country. Kids are needed for harvest…then are released to school in September once a lot of the farm work is done. Tradition – talk about separation of church and state – everyone takes a week or two off for “winter break.” Be honest – Christmas. And it’s back to school for another stretch until – tradition again. “Spring break.” Easter. Now spring and planting time are here and we have to get those kids back out in the fields…so summer “vacation.” (But not for those ole time kids…summer hoeing and weeding and working.)
The educational calendar is full of traditions…some good/some bad.
Story idea: now you choose your topic and list the traditions/good and bad that are tied in with it. We have several calendars we have to contend with – the January-December calendar that is the chronological year…and the fiscal calendar. Why do we drive on the right side of the road and other countries/continents the left? Are the common rules of etiquette good or bad traditions? Which traditions are good for us…which make us feel good…which make no sense?
Why should we care? Sometimes traditions box us in…keep us from seeing over the edges of the box so that we never fully realize what is possible.
I don’t know what YOU’RE thinking – I was referring to prostitution. As in when news forgets who it is and decides to strut in full frontal costume through the promotions or marketing department. Uh…they tried that back in the day too, but then the news directors didn’t bite – they bit back and refused to take part.
Great little slant on how CBS stations are “prostituting” their news to promote the new series Hawaii Five-0. Check it out here. It’s a hoot(er???).
BTW the “Five-0″ refers to Hawaii’s status as the 50th state admitted to the union.
…not just another opinion.
What brought this on? A query for help with Final Cut Express and media management from a sports videographer who was ALREADY doing it right. He just needed help with a couple of tweaks in color correction, but for some reason thought he was doing it wrong.
Folks searching for the perfect camera for whatever mission in life they have – looking for a recommendation, rather than doing some thinking and research.
I’m finding more and more that folks don’t need advice as much as reassurance or direction. I WILL NOT make recommendations for gear for others. It’s easier to explain my logic, how to think through the requirements needed for the job, and how to research. So whatever you see on this site is what works for ME. Not you. That’s like saying, “I like your shirt.” and buying the identical shirt in the same size and color – no matter that you’re smaller and the color makes you look like an aging corpse.
When I have an opinion I also try to support it with FACTS. Such as, I like “such and such a camera” because (add facts in here). The facts might be a long lens for wildlife work, low light ability for shooting inside, a combination of cost and functions that make it a good deal despite it not having everything I want or need.
Reminds me a a freshman I once tried to teach how to write an editorial for the school newspaper. First she had to come up with a topic – and she chose abortion. Then state her opinion: abortion is wrong. The support with facts: because it is bad. Uh…let’s try again. Facts: my parents and church tell me its wrong. This went on for quite a while, with me trying and trying to explain that a fact is solid and does not change.
As in: abortion is wrong because it is murder. Murder is defined as the taking of human life.
Or: abortion should be a personal choice because women are not slaves (slavery is illegal) and should not be told how to manage their own bodies. (only with more details and force)
So if you want help, first follow these simple steps:
1. Define what you want or need to know
2. Make a list of the essentials of what you want/need to know (these are not extras/this list should only include the absolutes of what you need to get the job done or make a decision)
3. Research and choose the top two or four or whatever
4. Make a decision
Good luck.
This is a continuation of an earlier posting on P2 camera workflow.
So once you’re done in the field shooting with P2 it’s all good – back to same ole same old routine. Right?
Not quite. This is where my limited math skills do me some good. Let’s take a look at how much hard drive video takes up when you move from camera to computer. I’m using the five minute threshold, but ran some tests once and we’re really talking about 4:35.
VHS & SD digital video – 5 minutes equals one GB
High def from HV20 camcorder – 5 minutes equals three GB
P2 – 5 minutes equals six GB
With my old SD and HV20 HD I use 350 and 500 GB hard drives. Lynn works with terabyte drives. She needs storage big time since she can’t archive on any other media easily.
That was my P2 adventure. Shooting must be carefully planned – each shot must count. Be EXTREMELY careful when deleting files – you could wipe your entire card or day’s work if you push the wrong menu button. Plan ahead – make sure you have sufficient storage space – then double that. And finally, enjoy the amazing quality of your final product.
This week a bugaboo that has been sitting in my brain for some time. Are schools REALLY keeping up with technology and learning? As youth become more and more techno-savy, as their learning styles change, are their schools adapting and making use of technology that will reach out and connect…or just making gestures?
Today’s primary and secondary students absorb information differently than old geeks like me. My generation (and a few that followed) learned by the book…seat time. Yeah, we had multimedia…filmstrips, movies. I even remember the first time i saw a TV in the classroom – on the day President Kennedy was assassinated. Not a lot of fanfare, but remarkable at the time. Principal and upper grades teacher Malen Stroh hauled a small TV out of somewhere, set it up, and introduced us to live news – a watershed moment in history and our lives.
But what is happening today? Teachers are encouraged to use technology, but at the same time most districts bind their hands and feet with rules and regulations meant to “protect” everyone. Too many schools love to point out the computers in the classrooms as the “be-all” solution. So while I was teaching video production, I couldn’t have open access to youtube or news videos to show my students. Cell phones and personal electronic devices were forbidden in the classroom (even as certain teachers ignored the rule in favor of creative uses such as recording music to rehearse the choir, bluetoothing music from cell phones to my personal laptop so they could move by thumb drive to their editing station).
Story idea: try this. Survey the students in one school to see what personal electronic devices they use in their everyday lives. Then as how these devices dovetail into their academic lives and how. If at all. Good luck.
Oh – and here’s number two. Take a drive with a fellow employee at rush hour. One of you concentrate on keeping out of trouble…driving. The other have a still or video camera and tape the number of folks who are multitasking as they commute. You can focus on carpoolers, but the really interesting ones are those driving alone. I’ve seen everything from drinking coffee to cell phoning to putting on mascara (with both hands yet at 70mph in the fast lane) to texting with both hands while merging at 55mph.
Story idea: this is a visual story only. You don’t need words when a picture is worth a cool thousand. See how many variations of “look ma, no hands” you can get in one commute session.
Now be careful out there…
…in Pismo Beach, California. I’m down here for a few days to check out the workflow of a friend’s P2 camera. Former KOVR reporter Lynn Diehl has a sweet deal working along the Central Coast Wine Region of California. A semi-weekly wine show called Wine Region News, which appears online and the old-fashioned way, on television.
Lynn Diehl
First off, Lynn began with the right gear – she went with Panasonic P2 cameras that shoot both hi-def tape and to P2 cards. She rarely uses tape…that’s more of a backup system. So when I asked her about workflow, she had a few things to say.
First, the workflow is more film that tape based. Huh? As she explained, with tape you can keep rolling, keep rolling – but with P2 cards you get a limited amount of time per card (about 17-18 minutes) and the cards are expensive (just checked on B&H Photo and a 16GB card runs around $400. Re-usable, but they don’t have unlimited lives.
I began in film and recall the unofficial limits we had for shooting. 100′ for a VO, 150-200 for a VOSOT and 400′ for a package. Respectively 2-1/2 minutes, 4-5 minutes, and 11 minutes. It took careful planning – you didn’t just shoot, you had to think it through to make sure you got all of the required shots. We won’t even get into exposure (NOT automatic).
So shooting was different…and the Panasonics are different too -very compact and well-thought out with more goodies than I would have thought possible. XLR input, choice of auto or manual focus, iris, audio. Choices of on-cam mike, inputs can be mike or line. 13X zoom (yeah, we all miss the real glass of newscams). Even the white balance button is in the familiar location just in front of the camera below the lens on the right. And more. Wow.
Kathy Newell
It took fifteen, maybe twenty minutes to get used to handling the camera. I scoped the vineyard…on a steep hill with a series of dips down to a pond below. Had to drive through several access gates – the first one to get into the vineyard and the second to access the cattle grazing area with pond.
The drill was drive, set up, shoot, walk, shoot some more, and then pack and drive again. I was constantly adjusting iris and focus – didn’t rely on the auto system at all. The light was too tricky. I wanted dark shadows and glowing highlights…both in the detail shots of the grapes as well as the wide views of the sun rays hitting the slopes.
The camera performed beautifully…kept track of time with a countdown in the viewfinder.
Only worry was the herd of juvenile cattle. They LOVED me…started stalking me and getting as close as they could. Of course while I loved them back, I had to remind them I was the boss and shooed them away whenever they got too close. A couple of hormone-silly boys started butting heads too close to the car (is two feet too close?) so I packed it in and went down the hill, only to be followed by the entire herd at a rapid trot. Oh well…enough shots here. Back to the rest of the crew.
(to be continued…)
I almost hate to admit it, but some of my best story ideas come while cruising and dreaming or hitting garage sales. At the latter remember – you have to TALK to people to get information.
So at a garage sale just down the street I ran into a friendly guy and we were wandering and checking out the stuff he had for sale when another neighbor yelled out, “Hey why don’t you put your fire stuff out!”
He had me right there…as a dusty old bag was pulled out and there it was! Nomex! You wouldn’t understand unless you’ve been in a forest fire. Fire retardant clothing. Bright yellow. Outrageous. Brought back memories.
Turns out Tony was a former volunteer firefighter. A dying profession. It seems that rural fire departments in my area are no longer allowing volunteers to man the trucks and hoses and haven’t been for some time.
Used to be in the outback areas if you wanted to fight fire, you had to do it yourself. Many of the men in the community would sign up and at the sound of the bell (or phone) they’d drop everything and head to the smoke (or accident). For a while I remember there being an issue with not enough volunteers. And now this.
Story idea: what is the status of volunteer firefighting in YOUR rural areas? Is it still thriving or has it died out due to lack of volunteers or (worse yet) bureaucracy?
And speaking of volunteerism, how easy is it for folks to volunteer at schools in your community? Now I just retired from teaching a little over three months ago – and when I went back on campus the first few times it was okay but then – WHAM! The doors slammed shut and I was told I needed to complete a volunteer form and get fingerprinted. Same for my daughter who at 18 was a recent grad of the school and had been training the school’s color guard for nearly a mont.
Problem? They slammed down so hard and fast that no one know what we needed to do exactly to get the paperwork done. Some kind soul finally figured it out and got the proper forms up to the front desk. And the district finally confirmed that yes my fingerprints from teaching were still good…but now my daughter has to PAY to volunteer. Sweet.
Story idea: with all of the cutbacks to schools and complaints they don’t get enough help – are they making it hard or easy for folks to volunteer? What kind of barriers are set up or what kinds of incentives are given to help out?
Enjoy the week – I’m on the road again.
Here’s a press conference I’d love to see, but most likely will never happen.
How many ways can a simple statement be misinterpreted?
(Thanks to Clifford Otto for posting the above on his facebook page.)
As with many of you, I’m outa here for the Labor Day weekend, so thought I’d post a few ideas before heading out the door.
Three months - Twenty two - Thirty six
The first one is personal – for me as well as you.
Who are your grandparents (or meaningful elder)? Who are they REALLY?
We tend to ignore or revere our elders…now is the time to look at them in a totally different light.
Once they were just like you. Ten years old…a teen…a young adult…they had mid-life crisis…had fears of growing older. They have been through every stage you have been through and survived and they can look back with or without regrets at their life and are able to understand the connections along the way from the safe distance of time.
Story idea: interview someone old, someone close to you. Force them back in time to their youth and have them talk about everyday things. What they had for breakfast. What their favorite toy or saying was. Slang from their youth. What they hated/what they loved. Ask them how things have changed…where they might have had a party line shared with other families, what do they think of cell phones that can shoot video, stills, and surf the Internet.
Just think about it – maybe as teens they couldn’t even conceive of the changes they have lived though.
Not think about this – can YOU imagine the changed YOU will live though?
Second and final idea.
It is Labor Day Weekend. Symbolic of many cultural themes. The end of summer. The beginning of the school year. A change in seasons.
How many of you or your audience have ever celebrated the true meaning of Labor Day?
Story idea: check out your community and see if there are any local events, picnics, meetings that hone in on the reason for the quintessential three day weekend. Does anyone show up? Ask them why? Then head out into the community and do a survey on what is really happening – what does your community do to celebrate Labor Day and what do they think it’s all about.
Not the most original idea…but I remember covering labor and union meetings held on this first Monday in September back in the 70s, where labor was truly honored. I’m not too sure that is happening any more.
See ya next week…the Drunken Hippo calls and I’m off to the Delta to join a bunch of crusty river rats.
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