Al Bundy

I keep hearing Al Bundy in my head saying to his wife in mock affection, “Ah, my little thumbscrew.” My favorite was, “Ah, my little albatross.”

Thumbscrew

I just love that word. I’m working on a picture of a thumbscrew for a piece of technical instructions, that’s why.

DVD Commentaries

I’ve been listening to some at work. I’ll have the DVD playing on my second monitor or minimized while I’m actually doing something other than watching it. I really like Ron Howard’s commentaries.

I wish that when you read a review of a DVD, they reviewed the special features. More often than not, it’s a review of the movie which you’ve most likely already seen. I want to know if the DVD is worth buying. Are there two editions? I want to know if the extra money would be well spent.

Speaking of … I can’t wait until Grindhouse special editions come out.

Opportunities

I’ve been offered three side-job paying gigs in as many days! Yay! A private Excel class, some video editing and some photo/video shooting at a wedding. Wow. I’m super geeked and grateful to God, man, let me tell ya.

Red Eye Capturing and Shots Remaining

The first time I captured the footage for this I did the whole 50 or so minutes we shot and the audio gradually drifted out of sync in this as well. Tonight I’m doing it in smaller chunks and it seems to be fine so far. Natasha had captured takes of everything but I want everything we shot. I am sure my opinion of what shots are good will be very different. I have a … “different” vision for what I want my cut to look like.

I still want to get some cutaway shots in the restaurant and the class still has yet to get the final hospital scene. Apparently, it’s just a problem with getting scrubs which I think we should be able to get at any thrift store. Too bad I don’t still have mine from my nursing school days.

Audio Syncing Mysteries

Working on the footage of The Perfect Neighborhood tonight I figured out (I think) what was wrong. I thought the audio was drifting out of sync because it was imported/converted at the wrong frequency but I think the camera might have been paused, put on standby or shut off at some point for just a few seconds and I found that spot so it’s back on track. There may be more of those but at least I know what’s wrong so it’s just a matter of fixing the problem if it arises again.

The most difficult thing now will be to sync the second camera. Two were used. One for close-ups and another for wide shots from the back of the auditorium (the camera usually used for following the pastor who gets shown on two giant video screens at the sides of the stage). That one will be harder to sync because I can’t watch peoples lips … I hope at some point there’s a close up or something.

They have a big need for video stuff at church but I’ve been so busy with my silly day job and then making time for the family I haven’t been able to help. I hope that changes.

Children of the Revolution in Detroit

The Children of the Revolution were friendly, fun and funny under the tent.

I missed a couple acts I wanted to see that day and I only saw a couple songs by these guys.

Fourth Friday Detroit Latin Rhythm

We arrived and the peeps were hanging out inside the Compuware building and the Hard Rock and huddled under the VIP tent. I got some video (I’ll post it soon) of people dancing in the Compuware Building and of the musicians and peeps hanging out in the tent. There was delicious chicken fettucine and the best chicken strips I’ve ever had in the buffet. We had a total of 8 (count ‘em EIGHT) drink tickets and I was only half-way through them and Nikki wanted to go home and gave three of them away. Once she realized my movie wasn’t going to show, her steam and motivation to suppress her feeling ickiness faded.

The good news is, one of the features that was supposed to show in September is having production problems so the three shorts that got canceled for August will be shown in its place. The best part about that is we get ANOTHER free dinner and another two sets of drink tickets!

Date With Nikki

It was still a very cool date. We had fun. I love her SO much.

Rained Out

After the storm passed and things started to clear up, the schedule resumed … which was cool … the Children of the Revolution played … we sat next to them in the VIP tent and joked around with them and Frank, director of The Detroit Film Festival, sat at our table … but the film festival was cancelled because we wouldn’t go on until, like, 2 AM, so my movie will show in September. Frank was unassailably cool. So were the CotR. Footage of me, Nikki, and the CotR to follow. I have to call everyone to tell them not to come. We get free food and drinks in September, TOO!!

Fourth Friday … the countdown

The following was written over a period of time while I captured, edited, rendered, and uploaded the three videos:

I’ve been down there twice so far to tape activities. Very sunny & mostly blue skies just after noon and starting to get gray skies but still very hot just after five. Weather.com forecasts thunderstorms for the rest of the evening and they made an announcement about possible inclement weather. As long as I get my free buffet and free drinks from the Hard Rock Cafe, it can rain though I’d much rather my movie actually did get screened.

In the first video, you’ll see the band Universal Xpression and some shots of the park and surrounding landmarks including one of those weird motorized trollies (as if they could replace the ones we gave San Francisco). That was taken just after noon.

The second video is about six or so. You’ll see 2-4 couples that are local and national champion tango & salsa dancers and some salsa lessons. One couple has been married and dancing over 30 years.

It’s starting to get dark out (it’s about 6:30 PM) but sunset isn’t until like 8:20 PM.

Uh oh … I just heard some thunder … a couple in a row … and it’s really dark out … I’m waiting for Nikki who is supposed to meet me here at the office … otherwise I’d rush down there and get my free food & drink now. I keep hearing the words “tornado watch” and it’s all giving me a real big rock in my stomach.

At 7:08 … the Severe Thunderstorm is definitely here. I’m sure Comerica Park is emptying. It’s the worst it has rained all week. I wonder if it stops if the music will start again and if they’ll still have the film festival…

The good news is, as of 7:24 PM it is ten degrees cooler, so if everything isn’t cancelled, it’ll be much more comfortable.

Subtitles and Drop Shadows

It took me forever to find the drop shadow effect in Final Cut (under the Viewer’s Motion tab, of all places!). Last night or the night before, I was lying in bed with Grace watching some documentary and I noticed they had a semi-transparent white rectangle behind their subtitle which helped them pop even more. Definitely something to remember.

Color Correction In Final Cut

One of the things I have to deal with, shooting in a corporate environment (and not yet having a budget for a proper lighting kit – 2008 can’t come fast enough!) is the icky yellow lighting. The offices have it and so do the stores. I can, however, get rid of that pretty satisfactorally (is that a word?) in Final Cut.

Here are before and after pictures. Pretty simple correction. I just used Effects > Video Filters > Color Correction > Color Corrector. I clicked “Visual” and just pulled the center thingy toward the cyans/blues and away from the yellows. Just like I’d basically do in Photoshop. I’m very happy with the result.

Back at the Detroit Historical Museum

I’ve never been able to say “I have dance rehearsal” until now.

For the video portion of the multi-media bit, we filmed some more of the “historical “footage today. This will all be mixed in with some yummy stuff from archive.org from and about various time periods.

These first two are Barrie looking like she’s in a Sergio Leone flick.

And Chris in the coon-skin cap I made him buy.

The crap that is on our expense reports is ridiculous. Green makeup, Spider-man costume, sombrero, saint candles, songs from iTunes, Dan is at a recording studio today doing a song about Little Caesars to the tune & background music of the “Love Boat” theme…

Barrie took us out to lunch after which rocked. Free food always rocks. We went to the chinese place on Woodward I like. It’s good food for cheap. The only down side is the homeless people come in the restaurant, right up to your table, ask for food, and then get really belligerent if you don’t give them enough.

Here is our turn-of-the-century manager taking an order over the phone.

Barrie, looking great, coming out of her hotel (I love the barber shop next to it).

The public relations guy who was supervising asked us, “Is this SUPPOSED to be really cheesy?” I wanted to say, “No, as a matter of fact, what are you trying to say?” but couldn’t keep a straight face.

Here’s Barries feet on a great reproduction of the old paved roads.

I didn’t know they used to pave roads using tree stumps. Cool, huh? I did know, however, that Detroit had the first paved roads! And the first stoplight.

Little Caesars is, of course, a Detroit-based company, and this is one touch I really, really liked … an authentic antique Vernors (also a Detroit-based company, if you didn’t know) soda fountain. Isn’t that insanely cool?

The cash register didn’t have a 5. You can’t have everything, I guess.

Here’s a bust of Mr. Cadillac, the man what landed in Detroit 306 years and one month ago and started to build St. Anne’s (which I wasn’t allowed to film in because the Arch-diocese of Detroit derelicts my balls) two days later.

It is an absolute pleasure filming with these two. As much as Chris may goof around, he’s a complete professional, shows up ready and gives it every thing he’s got. Barrie is always just herself which is always great. She won either Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress in Las Vegas last year. Chris won Best Documentary or something ridiculous. This year, he actually is doing an actual documentary and it’s going to be amazing. I can’t tell you anything about it, though, because it’s a secret. Shhh…

Raining again today

I hope it doesn’t rain Friday night. How much plainer can I say that? Last night it wasn’t supposed to rain like it was supposed to (I heard 80% chance) but it was disgustingly humid so we left the Tigers game early. It would have been more comfortable had it rained.

I hope it doesn’t rain Friday.

Credit Where It’s Due

I, just in the nick of time, remembered I needed to put Robert’s stylist/costume designer in the credits. She, who goes by the name orangesperm.com, is shooting a commercial tonight in Hart Plaza.

Love Boat

In addition to this multi-media/dance thing for Vegas, I’m also reproducing the Love Boat theme/intro… the stuff I get to do and call it “work” is pretty amazing.

Thunderstorms

According to weather.com there will be thunderstorms today, tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

It’s been raining for two days

What if it rains Friday? What if it rains all week and stops in time but the park is all wet and no one feels like being outside?

Madre TV Show?

I was really thinking about it but this morning I realized there are already far too many shows with fathers who are absent or inept. I don’t need to add another.

In Vegas

The “historical” shoots I’ve been doing are for a multi-media thing we’re doing in vegas. The movies will show with music and then dancers come out (I’m one of them – no lie). I’m thinking of not using the ephemeral footage I found. It would be cool but I just don’t think it will fit.

Over lunch,

I met the director of the Detroit Film Festival to drop off a new DVD. He gave me some posters for that night that have my movie listed and told me me and another person from the movie get free parking, free dinner for two at the Hard Rock, access to a catered VIP area and three free alcoholic beverages each! I’m thinking Robert would benefit the most from networking and such. I should make sure Josue gets in, too. Being, like, 16 or 17 though … dude… he could be the designated driver!

He assured me that everyone at that organization loves the script and what they’ve seen so far and they’re promoting the fact that it was filmed in Southwest Detroit heavily. Wow. No pressure.

Added Subtitles for Maria’s lines (in English)

for the exchange between her and Andrea about boys and blow … um … *ahem* … I’d hate for the audience to miss that.

I’m Even More Excited

Than I was before. All these little changes and tricks that make it better … I’m so excited. Both Rebecca and Dan said they’ll be there.

It sounds so much better

I’m using the 3 Band Equalizer filter and just dropping the High Frequency and High Gain as low as it’ll go. Next I’ll try getting rid of some rumbling and other noise.

Hurray for Filters!

Tonight is class. Tonight is Final Cut in class so I opted to do my editing in the air-conditioned comfort of my office on my dual 2 GHz 5.5 GB RAM machine rather than the original iMacs at the Detroit Film Center where it’s ten billion degrees.

Natasha gave me a quick introduction to the audio filters before class began and I’m cleaning the hiss off my audio tracks in Madre Sabe El Mejor. Also, I finally found out how to apply drop shadows to text! AND how to copy that attribute to multiple clips! It’s a very good evening. My subtitles look much, much better.

What Happens In Vegas … Is Boring

So I’m being sent to Las Vegas and I’m trying to think of something cool I can film while I’m there and have a sweet background. What could I possibly come up with that would be original? Yeah … a crime story … something about … gambling … or … prostitutes …

How about … “My Date With Prince”? Or … Elton … they’re both prettier than Celine …

I continually learn how important planning and pre-production are. If nothing else, taking your time in both pre-production and during the shoot. Sure, there seemed to be a lot of wasted time the nights we shot at the restaurant, but it’s easy, I think, to get disorganized when you’ve got people without well-defined roles when everyone is taking turns and, like my Madre project, little time for planning or shooting.

All in all, both experiences have taught me a lot.

I’m still craving more audio and lighting experience/learning. My bosses got me a DVD called “How to keep your do-it-yourself video from looking like you did it yourself.” From what I’ve watched, it’s not very good. I was hoping for – with lighting, for example – a person standing in various lighting setups on camera so you could see the difference. It’s all lecture though. Why make a DVD? Why not just write a book with no pictures?

With Madre, I learned that I need to allow myself more confidence and authority as a director.

Something that sticks out for me from the Red Eye shoot is having to stop repeatedly while the air conditioning or something turned on and waiting for it to stop so we could begin filming again. That’s something I wish I’d done with Madre – allowed myself some flexibility. The situations are different, of course, but still.

Natasha is a much better teacher than the teacher of the first class I took. Note to self: don’t forget to ask about audio filters.

Oh. Crap. I. Just… remembered … something … I am in serious trouble …

Pix from Classy Class

I’m tempted to get some footage on my own. Of Robert driving to the airport, of the airport, him walking through it. It’s not like we’re graded or it’s a competition, but I still feel like I’d be cheating. I suppose I could share this footage with the others. But then my project will … you know … yes, I want an advantage … that’s really my whole life. What can I do that’s special? That no one else can? When do I get recognized and set apart? Where are MY Mary Janes?

Below are pix Natasha, the teacher, took during our first couple nights.

First is Danny. He’s one of the people who suggested we film this elaborate fantasy sequence involving an evil clown or something. Danny missed a couple weeks of class and when he showed up for the first night of filming I totally didn’t recognize him and asked him if he was taking a class there (at the Detroit Film Center). He said yes and I asked him what class.

The Detroit Film Center is moving. To Eastern Market, which is very cool but not within walking distance like the current location. They’ll have air conditioning at the new location which will be very nice for the people who can get there.

In the locker room at the Y, there was a notice with little phone numbers to tear off for space in an artists’ thing at Eastern Market. Apparently, there’s a common area with common equipment and individual areas or spaces you can rent. The rent was super cheap. I’m doing a crappy job of explaining it but, wow, wouldn’t that be cool? I took a number but don’t know what happened to it.

Speaking of the Y, the blubber is melting off which makes me happy. I’m glad I have class tonight and tomorrow – I have an hour or two between work and class to work out both days.

This is me with the shotgun mike that really wasn’t working. See how chubby my cheeks are? I really don’t like my mouth or chin. As a young man, I was good looking. Now I’m just … ridiculous.

Here’s Maggie with one of the Joe’s in the background (and, of course, a cup o’ joe in her hand). The poster on the wall is for a Roy Orbison concert in 1970, I think. The whole restaurant is full of cool knick knacks. I need to at least get shots of those. And of Robert through the window. Well, as long as I’m doing that, I may as well get him driving to the airport, etc.

Jose and I going over the shooting script and shot list on the second night. Jose helped me with my subtitles on Madre a wee bit.

I think this is getting ready for a shot of Ariana dropping off coffee or french fries. The fries were never as good as the night we came to scout the restaurant.

Maggie, Jose and the other Joe on the first night of shooting. What I like about this is we’re done at 10 PM or so. When I shoot at night for Little Caesars it is often an all-night affair. I don’t think we’ve ever finished before midnight even on an early finish.

Natasha and Joe (and Roy Orbison).

I want to mention how scummy the hotel is this restaurant is in. When you walk from the restaurant into the entrance of the hotel … the smell assaults you like a homeless person crazy on crack covered with their own urine and puke. I remember this hotel from 20 years ago. When I was just going into the Air Force, we stayed there. It was disgusting then and seems as utterly depressing and revolting now. The bright spot is that City Club and Labyrinth are downstairs.

Robert looking thoughtful.

Okay, I’m not done

Just watched it with my wife, La Niksta. I forgot subtitles on the very last scene which has an important line in it – when the priest invites the transvestite to church. Also, Nikki confirmed a hunch I had that even the English parts should have English subtitles. Oh, and I definitely didn’t keep the subtitles within the safe zone … I don’t know if that will matter on the big screen but I should probably do it anyway.