IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

Dave asks what projects people are working on. I am in the frustrating position
of having more or less shot the material for a new film but am unable to
commence editing for at least another month. The problem is that i am now
acquiring my media in the new high definition format called HDV. This gives
fantastic pictures but the codec is an awkward one for editing systems to
handle properly. There are not specific single frames as with say DV, but
in groups of 25 with changes in the frame being monitored but not providing
single frames. Others more technical than I could explain. There are some
systems that will edit native HDV but there have been problems. I plan to
convert the HDV media to proper HD where editing can be done frame by frame
in the normal way. In order to do this conversion I have to use a 'magic'
box which will not be operational for another month, hence my frustration.
Once I have an edit in HD I can then obtain tapes in HD (not any use for
the time being but great when HD DVD's are possible) and my normal DVCAM
(or Mini DV). My editing system (Media 100) will also allow master tapes
both in the aspect ratio I have shot in, 16:9 or the one that most people
currently view on televisions, 4:3.

I am sticking to my favourite genre, documentary, and have found an interesting
subject but it almost certainly won't be ready for BIAFF 2006. I also have
one to shoot next February when I plan to be on the same island where I shot
Pelicans Of Guana, some years ago. Ask a question Dave, and you get a book!

A few have reported in ...

CforT is making a surfer movie - cool dude! Somehow all that lingo sounds
more like Bondai Beach or California than Thurso, but your great graphic
description promises some stunning images.

Michael has shot but not edited a new documentary. Can you somehow do a download
to regular DVCAM, edit that and keep an edit list? Then when HD editing comes
along apply that list to the material to duplicate the edit in the HD format?
Anyway a new Slowe doco is always a treat to look forward to.

Willy has already told us he is working on a big historical project about
a concentration camp in Belgium.

Ken is busy building up his wedding business and organising the fiction film
competition.

Who else is ready to let us know what they are working on.

By the way, Michael, those two Aussie moviemakers Barry McNight & Roger Cowland
report that they are in the outback and have been trying out the "Sony HC1
HDV cameras. These cameras produce stunning images, however they do have
a few design faults:- The 5 -6 sec delay that ocurrs randomly when you press
the rec button can be a disaster!!!" Have you suffered that?

Dave

"Dave Watterson" <david.filmsocs@virgin.net> wrote:

Willy has already told us he is working on a big historical project about
a concentration camp in Belgium.

Oh yes, I have, Dave, but next Sunday it will crucial. I will film the execution

of six prisoners of war. I have already filmed an interview with Gaston.
He is 78 years old now. So he is not so old, but he was only 16 when he was
a prisoner. He had to stay in that camp called Breendonk,
together with his father for about three months. That camp is only 3 miles
from my house. My actors are all members of my own film club Focus and I
am very glad with it. They have no experience, but they all seem to be so
enthousiastic ! I did not know that they are so talented. I also have members
who have helped me doing other things. Up to now my film crew has been fantastic
' For my film I have also found a re-enactment group called "The German Vehicle
Group". I don't have to pay them ! They look very proud in their costumes.
One said that the "German Vehicle Group" is not a group of fascists. I hope
they are not, but they acted like real SS-soldiers ... Next Sunday an undertaker,
who is also the president of a film club, will bring 6 coffins ... The men
were executed not blindfolded, but they had to look at their own coffins
just before dying... ! But Dave, it will take about 8 months to edit this
film. It will take some time to make this historical documentary. So do
not expect that this film will be ready for BIAFF by 4th January !

Do not be worried, Dave. My other film for BIAFF 2006 will be ready in a
few weeks, ... the film about my English friend. He is a folksinger, an artist
and an entertainer ! Most of his time Brian Higbee makes handcoloured etchings.
Do not you know Graham Clarke, the other world famous Kentish artist ? He
was Brian's best man on 23 December 1967. Brian married on the same day as
my wedding day ! And Brian's birthday is 31st October. Halloween's day is
also my wife's birthday ! (Please do not misunderstand ... I love my wife
Vera !) For about 7-8 years Brian and I had a black dog. We both called it
Polly. Brian's Polly and my Polly looked like twins. They were both mongrels.
I remember Brian laughing when I was talking about my "bastard". He said
to me that "mongrel" is the right word. In Dutch a mongrel is called "a bastard"
(een bastaard). I happened to meet Brian 27 years ago and he said something
like "Maybe we will be friends for life !". In the mean time we have done
quite a lot for each other. Once I had a disastrous day in England, but
Brian helped me. I thanked him more than one hundred times, but he said :
"That's what friends are for !". So now I'm making a film about him for
his birthday, but I have also done my utmost to make a good entertainment
film for people who do not know him. I already know the length of my film
"Until You Smile". I managed to make one of 19 minutes, so not longer than
20 minutes ! Brian's version is a little bit longer.

Now I must stop writing for this forum tonight, because I still have to write
the screenplay for next Sunday. On Wednesday I have a meeting with all the
members of my film crew, the members of my club who are willing to help me.

Dave, I also have some one minute films for BIAFF and I think we have a new
Douglas Boswell in our club. Sammy Faict joined us last week. He is only
19, but he is a student at the film school in Brussels. Also Douglas, the
Unica gold medal winner, studied there. What Sammy could show us last week
is very promising. I think I will ask him to subtitle the three short films
(about 5 minutes) and send his entries to BIAFF. Some years ago I paid Boswell's
entries to stimulate him and now I do not regret. But of course I cannot
do this for every young newcomer. Anyway, I will see what I can do.

"Dave Watterson" <david.filmsocs@virgin.net> wrote:

.



Michael has shot but not edited a new documentary. Can you somehow do a
download
to regular DVCAM, edit that and keep an edit list? Then when HD editing
comes
along apply that list to the material to duplicate the edit in the HD format?

By the way, Michael, those two Aussie moviemakers Barry McNight & Roger
Cowland
report that they are in the outback and have been trying out the "Sony HC1
HDV cameras. These cameras produce stunning images, however they do have
a few design faults:- The 5 -6 sec delay that ocurrs randomly when you press
the rec button can be a disaster!!!" Have you suffered that?

Dave

Good idea about my editing situation Dave but in order to get the big discount
on my new system I had to do a swop! Anyway batch digitizing a completed
timeline is always a pain and the decks don't like all the back and forthing,
besides I want the HD picture quality now I have shot it.
The two Aussies have got the light imitation of the Sony Z1 and so I can't
comment on their problem.

"Willy Van der Linden" <vanderlindenhig@telenet.be> wrote:

: next Sunday it will crucial. I will film the execution

of six prisoners of war. I have already filmed an interview with Gaston.
He is 78 years old now. So he is not so old, but he was only 16 when he
was
a prisoner. He had to stay in that camp called Breendonk,
together with his father for about three months. That camp is only 3 miles
from my house. My actors are all members of my own film club Focus and
I
am very glad with it. They have no experience, but they all seem to be so
enthousiastic !

This sounds fantastic Willy. What an ambitious project!

' For my film I have also found a re-enactment group called "The German
Vehicle
Group". I don't have to pay them ! They look very proud in their costumes.
One said that the "German Vehicle Group" is not a group of fascists. I hope
they are not, but they acted like real SS-soldiers ...

Now there`s a subject for a film! A film-within-a-film. A film-maker gets
some enthusiasts in German uniforms to do a re-enactment....and then....
Quick get me some paper, I feel a script coming on.


For about 7-8 years Brian and I had a black dog. We both called it

Polly. Brian's Polly and my Polly looked like twins. They were both mongrels.

Absolutely nothing wrong with mongrels Willy! We have always gone for mongrels
as they make far better dogs. Lively, full of energy, individual, unpredictable
and slightly crazy....

Mmmm, seem to ring some bells that. I wonder if that`s why I am attracted
to mongrels?

Ken.

Yup, surf's up. Today saw the start of shooting on "Seven Shades", a romantic
comedy silent being filmed on that lovely iffy Quarzchrome 50asa B/W Russian
stock. The project has finally come off a 32 month shelf from our list scripts
which form part of our "Micro Trip" feature. So far 5 sections of "Micro
Trip" are in the can and work will continue on further sections over the
coming months. We have cleared our first two town locations on "Seven Shades"
(which is being dual filmed with miniDV for alternative version) and move
to the countryside in about 2 weeks to complete shooting while around christmas
we hope to be filming "Haunted House".
Last night 90 minutes of miniDV were shot at a local gig and the footage
will be used for additional angles in work by one of our collegues who covered
the event with 2 main camera angles.
The surf film, as yet without title because we can't think of anything that
won't be cliched, will be chipped away at over the coming months until the
is a suitable amount of random bits for a feature combined with our archive
Thurso surf footage from the last 20 years. Incidentally, if you go to Bondi
Beach you are very likely to find surfers who know the world class reputation
of Thurso's surf. (part of why we made a point of filming it all these years).
"Crux Of The Oxon" which was filmed and edited a couple of years ago has
been pulled from the shelf for clean-up editing and soundtracking- at last.
All footage from "Confusion" are to be reviewed including 40 minutes of outtakes
from this all super 8 movie.
First film for a covering feature on skateboarding, P-K, line skating, BMX,
Scooters and Surfing has been shot on location. Action sport shooting continues
as additional topical cover which can be made into docu-features later on.
Six weeks ago work began on "My Caithness", a bio-doc in which a childhood
will be recounted, legends and tales told and new images of buildings, long
gone, will be included.
So in all that looks to be about four feature films we're working on of
which "Micro Trip" will be the first to be completed and shown to the public.
It will include, Seven Shades, Dr Judas, Haunted House, Crux Of The Oxon,
The Bilbster Adventure and a whole lot more we haven't yet made or received
from our members.
Then it should be the surfing movie because we hope to tie in public screening
during either the British Professional Surfing contest in September or if
we're damn lucky enough, the world event in March/ April.
After that it should be the turn of "My Caithness" sometime in the fall
of 2006. Along the way "Caithness At The Home Movies" will get it's next
screening. Man, I've barely got time to heave a breath!

"Michael Slowe" <michael.slowe@btinternet.com> wrote:

"Dave Watterson" <david.filmsocs@virgin.net> wrote:

.



Michael has shot but not edited a new documentary. Can you somehow do a
download
to regular DVCAM, edit that and keep an edit list? Then when HD editing
comes
along apply that list to the material to duplicate the edit in the HD format?

By the way, Michael, those two Aussie moviemakers Barry McNight & Roger
Cowland
report that they are in the outback and have been trying out the "Sony
HC1
HDV cameras. These cameras produce stunning images, however they do have
a few design faults:- The 5 -6 sec delay that ocurrs randomly when you
press
the rec button can be a disaster!!!" Have you suffered that?

Dave

Good idea about my editing situation Dave but in order to get the big discount
on my new system I had to do a swop! Anyway batch digitizing a completed
timeline is always a pain and the decks don't like all the back and forthing,
besides I want the HD picture quality now I have shot it.
The two Aussies have got the light imitation of the Sony Z1 and so I can't
comment on their problem.

After noting the problems that Michael is experiencing with editing HDV and
other snags which I have read about with other users, I really wonder what
the average amateur film maker is likely to gain by purchasing a HDV camera.
One obviously needs to buy more special equipment and expensive software
in order to get the best out of it. Personally, I have no intention of changing
my Sony 3CCD miniDV camera as the picture quality is quite superb already
and will satisfy anybody when projected on a very large screen. My philosophy
is that it is the quality of content which matters and what is going to entertain
an audience - whether it is fiction, documentary, or otherwise. Mini DV already
provides a picture quality that we could only have dreamed about in the days
of VHS cameras. Obviously, if my camera is lost overboard, or written off
in some way I would have to replace it with the nearest equivalent - which
may well be a HDV model, but for the time being I am well satisfied with
the VX2000. It really is a pity that Michael cannot edit his film yet, as
I'm sure we are all itching to see it - please make sure that you finish
it in time for next year's 'Lily' festival Michael.

Peter Rouillard

noting the problems that Michael is experiencing with editing HDV and

other snags which I have read about with other users, I really wonder what
the average amateur film maker is likely to gain by purchasing a HDV camera.
One obviously needs to buy more special equipment and expensive software
in order to get the best out of it. Personally, I have no intention of changing
my Sony 3CCD miniDV camera as the picture quality is quite superb already
and will satisfy anybody when projected on a very large screen. My philosophy
is that it is the quality of content which matters and what is going to
entertain
an audience - whether it is fiction, documentary, or otherwise. Mini DV
already
provides a picture quality that we could only have dreamed about in the
days
of VHS cameras. Obviously, if my camera is lost overboard, or written off
in some way I would have to replace it with the nearest equivalent - which
may well be a HDV model, but for the time being I am well satisfied with
the VX2000. It really is a pity that Michael cannot edit his film yet, as
I'm sure we are all itching to see it - please make sure that you finish
it in time for next year's 'Lily' festival Michael.

Peter Rouillard

Peter,I would not have changed at all save for the fact that my Sony DSR
300 DVCAM camera was large and awfully heavy, especially with the necessary
heavy tripod. It seemed the obvious step to go to the new smaller, lighter
Sony Z1 and I am delighted that I did, the pictures are amazing and I am
not needing any more hernia operations! The editing will be fine once all
the gear I need is available. This format is becoming standard for all small
professional production companies who do not want to spend £20,000 on HDCAM
(or £80,000 on full HD). The resultant DVD's (the distribution format for
us all soon) will negate the current degrading of picture quality that we
get with DVD's from DV. You can edit HDV now at reasonable cost either with
Final Cut or Premiere Pro but I am wedded to Media 100 and wanted to stay
with it.

"Michael Slowe" <michael.slowe@btinternet.com> wrote:

Peter,I would not have changed at all save for the fact that my Sony DSR
300 DVCAM camera was large and awfully heavy, especially with the necessary
heavy tripod. It seemed the obvious step to go to the new smaller, lighter
Sony Z1 and I am delighted that I did, the pictures are amazing and I am
not needing any more hernia operations! The editing will be fine once all
the gear I need is available. This format is becoming standard for all
small
professional production companies who do not want to spend £20,000 on HDCAM
(or £80,000 on full HD). The resultant DVD's (the distribution format for
us all soon) will negate the current degrading of picture quality that we
get with DVD's from DV. You can edit HDV now at reasonable cost either with
Final Cut or Premiere Pro but I am wedded to Media 100 and wanted to stay
with it.

I am not familiar with the DSR300 DVCAM Michael, but if it is anything like
the pro cameras I used in the '80 and '90s I take your point in finding something
smaller and lighter! After looking at the 4 main HDV cameras reviewed on
the dvuser website, I think you have picked the right one with the HVR Z1E
- this certainly looks an impressive piece of kit and I am delighted that
you won't run the risk of further hernias! I also quite liked the JVC one
they reviewed - bigger and heavier than the Z1, but with many real professional
features, including its Fujinon lens with a real built in iris for real manual
exposure control. I look forward to seeing some HDV footage on the big screen
with the right equipment in the future.

Peter

"Peter Rouillard" <rouillard@cwgsy.net> wrote:

smaller and lighter! After looking at the 4 main HDV cameras reviewed on
the dvuser website, I think you have picked the right one with the HVR Z1E
- this certainly looks an impressive piece of kit and I am delighted that
you won't run the risk of further hernias! I also quite liked the JVC one
they reviewed - bigger and heavier than the Z1, but with many real professional
features, including its Fujinon lens with a real built in iris for real
manual
exposure control. I look forward to seeing some HDV footage on the big screen
with the right equipment in the future.

Actually Peter, although I am not an equipment freak, I have been reading
the HDV forums, and there has been a lot of technical trouble with the JVC
(seems par for the course with them) and in any case the new Canon is certainly
the one at present but of course there is a snag - it's expensive! I agree
with you - I have the right one, now I have to make decent films! By the
way, yes, my old camera was the pro. Sony that you used, although you may
have used the Digi Beta which has a similar body and weight. I am much more
mobile now and with the type of films that I make this makes sense.

Thurso surf footage from the last 20 years. Incidentally, if you go to
Bondi
Beach you are very likely to find surfers who know the world class reputation
of Thurso's surf. (part of why we made a point of filming it all these years).
Then it should be the surfing movie because we hope to tie in public screening
during either the British Professional Surfing contest in September or if
we're damn lucky enough, the world event in March/ April.
After that it should be the turn of "My Caithness" sometime in the fall
of 2006. Along the way "Caithness At The Home Movies" will get it's next
screening. Man, I've barely got time to heave a breath!

Did you see the film 'Giants' which was a documentary on the history of surfing?
I took my grandsons and they loved it. The footage, particularly the modern
stuff, was so spectacular I would not dared to have tried to follow that!
Are you shooting from the water with special camera housings and of course
you will need a helicopter with gyro mounts (only joking)but even with long
lenses it would surely be difficult to capture the exitement. You are certainly
ambitious (and brave).

Our Halcyon Daze group now has a script to be shot end of October and should
be ready in time for BIAFF. A tale of love in retirement or as someone put
it love among the ruins.

The HDV scene is a rapidly developing one. Sony and Canon have opted for
1080i and JVC for 720p so there is an immediate incompatibility between these
two offerings. The Sony top end HDV camera here in the US shoots HDV also
SD DVCAM in both NTSC and PAL. The Sony/Canon 24p is some sort of compromise
but the JVC offers genuine 24p as well as the 720 30p. The editing scene
is slowly sorting itself out, I will upgrade to FCP5 along with a G5 which
has native HDV editing. I also have the Sony Vegas Studio Platinum ($149
including Sound Forge Studio and Acid Music)on a dual processor PC and this
will edit HDV 1080i, not surprising for Sony software. I believe that for
the present shoot in HDV and then down convert to SD and have all that HDV
footage available for future use. I have owned one JVC camera in my career
and that convinced me not to own another.

Ned C

Did you see the film 'Giants' which was a documentary on the history of surfing?
I took my grandsons and they loved it. The footage, particularly the modern
stuff, was so spectacular I would not dared to have tried to follow that!
Are you shooting from the water with special camera housings and of course
you will need a helicopter with gyro mounts (only joking)but even with long
lenses it would surely be difficult to capture the exitement. You are certainly
ambitious (and brave).

Alas I missed it along with that other one that came out shortly before it.
Thurso can be seen on satalite sports channels from time to time.
My own project will be filmed from land unless I get some input from another
source. Either way having seen how big and mean Thurso East get's, I'm staying
firmly on the shore.
Fortunately the bay offer good vantage points to film from. At the shore
at Thurso East the surf curves round the reef to the camera right and this
brings surfers close in. Had it not been for the Victorian blowing the rock
bed to kingdom come to move the river from the beach to create a tidal harbour,
the reef would not be like it is today. The construction of a defending wall
round what was left of Kirk Ebb also added a good view point to look right
into the waves' barrel for some totally awesome footage (must try and get
some) from the harbour point. To the left of the harbour point is Kirk Ebb
(Shit Pipe) and further over by 100yrds or so is the beach which is a neat
1/4 mile long. Then there's Salvation Cave and Rock Well and further still,
round the bay from the Bishope's Palace, is the beach at Scrabster (port
of Thurso) which is about the same length as Thurso beach.
Overall, with only a 2x tele converter, good close-ups are possible from
land. To the east is Murkle Bay and Dunnet Bay which offer some great surf
to film.
Lots of options on this project.

"Michael Slowe" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Dave asks what projects people are working on.
My film "Until You Smile" is almost finished. I still have to work on the

sound. I have the impression that many film makers neglet the sounds on their
films. Working with sounds is also an important part in the film. On my
casablanca prestige there are 5 tracks now. So I can mix 3 or 4 different
sounds. Making a harmonious sound track is very important in any sort of
film. In this film my friend Brian Higbee sings "Streets of London". In these
forty seconds while he is singing I show things like the Horse Guards, Big
Ben, Hyde Park, London Buses, the Underground, the Tower of London, Shopping
in Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, The Horse Guards, London buses, etc.
... I took sounds from the shots I had taken and I mixed them using fade
ins and fade outs. I also used a DVD with sound effects. I found Big Ben
striking the hours on such a DVD. I did my utmost to avoid any shocks in
the sound. When going from one sound to an other different one. Also this
part of film making is fascinating. At the end you think that you have the
right balance : commentary - music - sound effects - original sounds. Everything
seems to be OK at home, but showing your new film in the festivity hall
sometimes gives a bad ballance.You can't hear the commentary. The music is
too strong. You give the music track less decibels at home so that you cannot
hear the music very well, but in the festivity hall the balance will be perfect
then.