Got a big bite our of Final Cut Pro today. Allen gave me an assignment to create a "making of" the commercial we shot on Monday. I had access to most of the footage and stills and he provided a sound track. He didn't give me a time limit and he didn't remind me of how to cut things, I just got to go at it. At first, I had some difficulties because I hadn't touched the software in 2 weeks, but I got the basic hang of it. It took me a bit to just go through all the footage, but I narrowed myself down to a dozen (or two) shots to work from and just about as many stills.
Allen left shortly after he put me to work and Joe had an interview with a guy who might become an animating intern. When he left, I finally got to show Joe "Penguin Parade". He had some good things to say about it and some critical as well. But he also admitted to not being a gamer. However, he was of the mind that Purple Piece Games was my brianchild that I wanted to turn into a money-making enterprise. I sorta kept my mouth shut about that because I WOULD like Purple Piece Games to become a money-making enterprise, but it's just not feasible right now. He also told me I should hire an illustrator to do the artwork, but again, that kindof defeats the purpose of it being something Caleb and I do rather than just coming up with the games and having someone else do the artwork, even if it would look better. (we also can't really afford to pay someone for their time and artwork, which is also why I'm not using stock photos)
Anyway, when Allen did come back around 2 he also showed me how to digitize a beta tape. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough space on the harddrive, so I had to take some time to clean out some old high res files that they already had compressed versions of. When I finished that, I got back to the "making of" video. I thought I did alright having it go about 1:15 or so. When I showed Allen, he said it had to be cut way down! He hadn't given me a timelimit before, and I said so, but he said that that's how it'll work in the real world. Someone gives you a bunch of video and wants you to put it together and when you're done, tells you it's wrong. Well, Allen didn't say that, but that was the jist, even though what I did wasn't really "wrong" it was just "uneducated". I've never edited video before and I have no idea what the taboos are and hey, that's fine! That's apparetly how you learn in this biz.
So, no wipes needed, just regular cuts. I used some disolves and that seemed okay. I did two or three more cuts of it, cutting it down farther and farther, trying to get the right pacing and not repeating shots or getting bored with just stills or just video. I'm not sure how I did on that count, but again, I'm really just learning! You don't expect a 2-yr-old to walk a mile. As of now it's about :40 long, which was within the time limit Allen set (:30-:45). However, right as I think I'm about done, Allen drops another bombshell on me. "Oh, yea, most of this should be color corrected". *sigh* I know how to do that in Photoshop, but not in FCP. So he showed me some of the tricks and how to copy those filter attributes onto other clips and such. But it really was a "you gotta be kidding me" at the end of the day kind of thing. Only got some still and a few clips color corrected, but I think I'll be working on that next time.
So all in all, had a great learning day today. Kinda mad that for whatever reason, I can't play what I did on my own computer. I tried to export it so I could show Caleb, but it wouldn't even go in to MediaEncoder to compress it. I'll ask Allen about it on Monday. Already can't wait for next week!
[Hours: 10-5.30]
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
My First Commercial Shoot
Allen took me to a shoot they're doing for a commercial for a pub/grill restaurant in York. It was fun and interesting in an observing kind of way. The shoot was supposed to start around 2.30, but we got there about 2. The Director of Photography, Derek, (basically the cameraman) brought 3 lighting assistance, Sean, Biz, and I can't remember the other guy's name. They had lots of lighting equipment that I never really learned the names of, but my job was basically to be the gopher (go-for-this, go-for-that, etc).
They started in the kitchen with prep shots. I didn't really have anything to do with that because the kitchen was cramped as it was, and I wasn't really much of a help anyways. However, I did remember that there was a Postal Connections in York and Allen had Joe email them a release form to print for us. Then Allen trusts ME with his car and his card to go pick them up! Crazy! Well, it was fun and exciting in a let's-never-do-that-again-if-we-can-help-it kind of way. I probably would again if he needed, but at the time I was semi-freaked, probably because I would never let someone take my car.
Anyways, I get back and they're finishing up in the kitchen and we're starting to set up in the dining room for the finished/prepared food shots. I feel sortof in the way, but I am able to keep up with what they're doing and what they need and ask if they need anything from time to time, just in case they've forgotten I can get stuff for them. Allen told me later that I wasn't in the way at all and I was very helpful, but I still felt like a 3rd wheel. One of the cool things I observed was smearing olive oil onto appetizers to make them shiney. Allen had also brought motor oil in case the olive oil didn't work. Luckily, we never used it, so the food was still eatable when we were done. I actually got to eat a whole red velvet cupcake! Unfortunately, the only other thing I got was a roll. I did get to help out a little bit and sprinkle parsley onto some steak. They just wanted actions, even though you wouldn't really put parsley on steak. Oh well, as long as it looks good, right?
Got done with the finished shots around 5-5.30 or so, which was actually right about on time. There was a party of 8, one girl was, I believe, a server there with her parents and some friends. It was actually really nice because they were a diverse group - Asian, black, white, hispanic. I had them sign the release forms, and sat in the forground of some shots, but that was all I really had to do for that hour or so of that filming. I wandered around a bunch, talking to folks, making sure Allen and Derek had what they needed, etc. They finished with them about 6.45-7 or so and we moved in to the bar area.
That was a rather simple/easy place and we only asked two ladies for release forms. I also got to sit at the side of shot and chat with Sean. I'm very good and keeping converstions going as long as I need to (or longer, more often than not). Then they just had a bit in the foyer with a pair of identical twin hostesses. Derek also was getting camera happy and started taking headshots of all of us. Mine, I look pissed. Oh well. I got to take his though! nice...shiney...camera...*drool* We were packed up and out around 8 or so. Had some cleaning up still and making sure the food they'd prepared for us got eaten. Allen and I didn't stay and eat, but the other guys did. They deserved it and I think both Allen and I wanted to go home.
Honestly, I'm not sure I would call the whole experience "fun" persay, but interesting and informative are spot on. I got to meet some cool new people and I got to see how a shoot works and how each person is supposed to work within the group. I wouldn't mind in the least if I got to go to more shoots because I now better understand how they work and I would know where my services will be more needed. I'm also excited because I might be working on putting the commercial together when I go in on Wednesday. Allen was telling folks that it would be done in a week or so, and that means I might see some of it Wednesday.
On another note, Joe emailed me the other day to say that vectorized work was well executed and working out nicely. It made me feel great to know that my efforts were what they needed. I was also pleased and surprised that Joe even took the time to email me. It's not a courtesy you find alot nowadays.
[Hours 3-8]
They started in the kitchen with prep shots. I didn't really have anything to do with that because the kitchen was cramped as it was, and I wasn't really much of a help anyways. However, I did remember that there was a Postal Connections in York and Allen had Joe email them a release form to print for us. Then Allen trusts ME with his car and his card to go pick them up! Crazy! Well, it was fun and exciting in a let's-never-do-that-again-if-we-can-help-it kind of way. I probably would again if he needed, but at the time I was semi-freaked, probably because I would never let someone take my car.
Anyways, I get back and they're finishing up in the kitchen and we're starting to set up in the dining room for the finished/prepared food shots. I feel sortof in the way, but I am able to keep up with what they're doing and what they need and ask if they need anything from time to time, just in case they've forgotten I can get stuff for them. Allen told me later that I wasn't in the way at all and I was very helpful, but I still felt like a 3rd wheel. One of the cool things I observed was smearing olive oil onto appetizers to make them shiney. Allen had also brought motor oil in case the olive oil didn't work. Luckily, we never used it, so the food was still eatable when we were done. I actually got to eat a whole red velvet cupcake! Unfortunately, the only other thing I got was a roll. I did get to help out a little bit and sprinkle parsley onto some steak. They just wanted actions, even though you wouldn't really put parsley on steak. Oh well, as long as it looks good, right?
Got done with the finished shots around 5-5.30 or so, which was actually right about on time. There was a party of 8, one girl was, I believe, a server there with her parents and some friends. It was actually really nice because they were a diverse group - Asian, black, white, hispanic. I had them sign the release forms, and sat in the forground of some shots, but that was all I really had to do for that hour or so of that filming. I wandered around a bunch, talking to folks, making sure Allen and Derek had what they needed, etc. They finished with them about 6.45-7 or so and we moved in to the bar area.
That was a rather simple/easy place and we only asked two ladies for release forms. I also got to sit at the side of shot and chat with Sean. I'm very good and keeping converstions going as long as I need to (or longer, more often than not). Then they just had a bit in the foyer with a pair of identical twin hostesses. Derek also was getting camera happy and started taking headshots of all of us. Mine, I look pissed. Oh well. I got to take his though! nice...shiney...camera...*drool* We were packed up and out around 8 or so. Had some cleaning up still and making sure the food they'd prepared for us got eaten. Allen and I didn't stay and eat, but the other guys did. They deserved it and I think both Allen and I wanted to go home.
Honestly, I'm not sure I would call the whole experience "fun" persay, but interesting and informative are spot on. I got to meet some cool new people and I got to see how a shoot works and how each person is supposed to work within the group. I wouldn't mind in the least if I got to go to more shoots because I now better understand how they work and I would know where my services will be more needed. I'm also excited because I might be working on putting the commercial together when I go in on Wednesday. Allen was telling folks that it would be done in a week or so, and that means I might see some of it Wednesday.
On another note, Joe emailed me the other day to say that vectorized work was well executed and working out nicely. It made me feel great to know that my efforts were what they needed. I was also pleased and surprised that Joe even took the time to email me. It's not a courtesy you find alot nowadays.
[Hours 3-8]
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Oh, Gradients...i hate you
Third day. Was late, so I parked at Market rather than Water St. They had me keep working on Meridian Products vecorizing a poster or some-such. Joe didn't stay too long, which was kinda nice b/c I got to put my own music on.
The piece I was doing was a door that figures were carving with a sunburst behind the whole thing. The sunburst was easy, but the door and the outer bits and carvings were somewhat hard. The artwork was something someone had pened and/or painted at one point, so they just wanted it smoothed and as close to the image as possible. Problem was, the gradients. I don't know what prefrences they have on their Illustrator, but they're not the same as mine, so things I think I can do, I really can't, like Paint Bucket-ing lines. *shrug* It just means I have to go about what I normally do a different way. Problem with that is that I'm not used to it so I take half the time figuring out how NOT to do it. Then I do it over the was it should actually be. The gradients were really the hardest part. Getting the right color on each end and such.
Allen might take me to a commercial shoot in a couple weeks over Thanksgiving Break. I think it would be kinda cool! It would also mean another opportunity to work in Final Cut Pro and possibly get some AfterEffects action as well. I would be able to see a commercial go from start to finish. I do enjoy the Illustrator stuff and Allen told me they (not sure who) were pleased with the vectorized logo I did two weeks ago, but I was hoping for some more AfterEffects learning and even Final Cut. Oh well, we'll see about it next week or the week after which is Thanksgiving.
[Hours: 10.15-4]
The piece I was doing was a door that figures were carving with a sunburst behind the whole thing. The sunburst was easy, but the door and the outer bits and carvings were somewhat hard. The artwork was something someone had pened and/or painted at one point, so they just wanted it smoothed and as close to the image as possible. Problem was, the gradients. I don't know what prefrences they have on their Illustrator, but they're not the same as mine, so things I think I can do, I really can't, like Paint Bucket-ing lines. *shrug* It just means I have to go about what I normally do a different way. Problem with that is that I'm not used to it so I take half the time figuring out how NOT to do it. Then I do it over the was it should actually be. The gradients were really the hardest part. Getting the right color on each end and such.
Allen might take me to a commercial shoot in a couple weeks over Thanksgiving Break. I think it would be kinda cool! It would also mean another opportunity to work in Final Cut Pro and possibly get some AfterEffects action as well. I would be able to see a commercial go from start to finish. I do enjoy the Illustrator stuff and Allen told me they (not sure who) were pleased with the vectorized logo I did two weeks ago, but I was hoping for some more AfterEffects learning and even Final Cut. Oh well, we'll see about it next week or the week after which is Thanksgiving.
[Hours: 10.15-4]
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Final Cut Pro Intro
Second day today. Met with a guy who's doing a full length documentary on the Chameleon Club (located right behind and next to the school). What I'm to do is some of the photo work in AfterEffects. Basically photos fade in in a neat way. I got to peruse through all the photos and even take them home on an external hardrive so when he sends me which photos he wants me to use, I'll be able to knock it out whenever, no problem. I also got an introduction to Final Cut Pro. I was actually quite excited about it since it's something new that I probably wouldn't learn in school. Knowing that program opens up other windows to video editing which I hadn't even considered before, but because it's part of time-based media, it's a nice off-shoot. However, I won't really be using it alot, and just from the short lesson I got today, it's definately a practice kind of program. New tools, new lingo, new way of thinking about and viewing things.
That's really about it for today. Still had a good time though. Can't wait for next week.
[Hours: 1-5]
That's really about it for today. Still had a good time though. Can't wait for next week.
[Hours: 1-5]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)