While I sit here watching the Saints play the 49ers in the divisional playoffs, I figured I could use the time to update y’all as well.
Last week I had a bit of an upset… it’s a bit of an understatement… I was about to have a heart attack! I KNOW you never update your system, make changes, or anything like that when you are in the middle of an edit. I am in the middle of editing both Hotcakes and Eric’s Illumination, two local indie shorts. My system was running a slower GPU (graphics processing unit), a BFG GTX 280. It was capable, but nowhere near what I needed. I also wanted to update the amount of RAM I was running, again to speed things up.
I thought about it, and figured that, as long as I am not making any changes to the hard drive or system settings, I would be OK. I opened the box, swapped out the old graphics card for an EVGA GTX 580 AND an EVGA GT 520.
(Game update: Saints just scored a touchdown! 24 – 23 against SF!)
OK, back to the update. I wanted the two graphics cards to run my three 22″ monitors. I like the idea of major screen real estate. Since the driver for the old card and the new cards was the same, everything worked great.
I then replaced the 6 sticks of 2GB RAM for 6 sticks of 4GB RAM, giving me a total of 24GB of RAM. Adobe Premiere and After Effects loved it! I figured I was golden at this point, but…
There’s always a but, isn’t there?
I was running a Core Temp gadget on my desktop and noticed that temps were hovering around 90C. Not good. They usually hovered around 40C. If I wasn’t careful, I could easily burn up the CPU, motherboard, computer, or the entire house!
Grrr…
Best Buy came to the rescue. The local store had a Corsair H60 water cooling unit in stock! (A great simple $69.00 buy.) Running back home, I installed the unit. I had to basically tear the machine apart to install the unit. After carefully and thoughtfully putting everything back in place, I pressed the ON button.
Nothing.
I restarted, and again, nothing.
I left things alone and went to dinner. Let things be for a while and go back with a fresh frame of reference. It was my anniversary and we had reservations. After being married for 29 years, I know my wife. We had reservations and there was nothing on this earth that would have prevented us from going! So, we had a great time.
When we returned, she let me play with the computer for a few minutes. Thinking about everything that had happened, I disconnected and reconnected each cable and made sure that the drives were connected to the correct ports.
With crossed fingers, I pressed the ON button and…
like butta… everything worked! I had crossed two of the SATA cables and the machine didn’t like that. Now that everything was operational again, I checked Core Temps again. They rose and fell with processing, but were now hovering or averaging around 39C! Life is good again!
Both Eric’s Illumination and Hotcakes are in the rough cut stage. They’re respective directors and producers are happy so far with the product, and, isn’t that the point?
(Game update: Saints just scored another touchdown! 32-29!!!)
OK, back to the update…
I realize that I am concentrating on the tech side of editing and not the esthetic side. I’ll cover that in a later update. Now, was I worried about losing things if the machine went tits up? Actually, not really. I had previously backed up my video RAID to a networked drive, my DROBO device. I had also installed a little program called GoodSync that watches my video folders and copies over, in the background, any changes I’ve made. If I lost anything, then it would be 5-10 minutes worth of work. That’s acceptable. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way. ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR WORK!
So for now, all is well with the world. I’ll post an update soon about my actually non-technical editing process so y’all can see what I do and, maybe, tell me where I’m wrong!
(Scheise… 49ers won.)
So maybe everything is not well with the world… at the game at least… but in film editing, everything is currently copacetic!
Now I’ll go cry into my beer!
OK, horse racing analogies aside, I have begun full fleged post-production mode with Hotcakes and Eric’s Illumination. We just wrapped production on Hotcakes, the new short by Jo Custer, this week and now the ball is in my court. Eric’s Illumination, by Tony Pallo and Destiny Abigail Judah, wrapped a few weeks ago, but I’m still gathering the elements needed to finish the edit. Both films are a challenge in different ways. One will require a helluva lot of CGI, ADR, and TLC to complete. The other will be more straight forward but with a nearer deadline and a director who deserves the best.
Each film will get the best I can deliver… and then some. I feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment, but I always do when starting a new project. I’ve discovered, at least with myself, that it’s the starting of a project, or phase of a project that is intimidating. It makes me want to just get in the car and drive to Florida… (Jo, that’s for you…) But once I begin, the edit usually flows and I only stop when my head crashes on the keyboard or my wife needs me to take care of the garbage. I’m domesticated, don’t you know…
OK, how do I start? It’s actually pretty easy, yet time consuming. Step One is to copy all of the footage to my “Video Raid”. It’s organized by shoot date and by camera. On Hotcakes we used a Canon 7D and 60D and recorded audio to a Zoom H4N digital recorder. The next step is to protect the footage by duplicating it on another drive for safety. I’m copying all of the original files over to a networked drive. I’ll also copy over the project files at the end of each edit. I’ve become a huge stickler about backing up my files. Too recently, I’ve been burned by taking digital files for granted and having them deleted. Not a good thing!
For Eric’s Illumination, I’ve started editing and have been manually syncing the audio and video files. It’s time consuming, but relatively easy… if you’ve used a slate. For Hotcakes, I’m not going that route. I’ve played with PluralEyes software when I was playing in the 48 Hour Film Project. We shot with a Canon T2i and recorded double-system sound with the Zoom H4n. There wasn’t time to conform audio and video by hand, so I downloaded the free 30-day trial and synced everything up. It went like a charm! I will use Pluraleyes again for Hotcakes. I’ll have to buy the full program, but for $149.00, it’s well worth the price. Check it out for yourself if you don;t believe me!
I’ll post more as the post-production progresses for both films!
SIDE NOTE: While working on Hotcakes, I’ve gotten some hands on time with both the 7D and the 60D. Granted, they’re not the Canon C300 Cinema EOS camera or anywhere near a RED camera, but they take some gorgeous pictures! I’m thinking about upgrading my T2i to another HDSLR but need to make a decision. Which one? I’ll post my thoughts here a little later on on my version of the pro’s and con’s of the T2i(550D) vs. the 60D vs. the 7D vs. the 5DMkII. Your comments are most welcome!
Hotcakes is a short film scheduled to go into production around Thanksgiving 2011! The story, written by Jules Alder, follows a trio of men very recently released from prison. The final script was completed just last night! Production will take place over a three night period near the end of November, details to follow, in St. Bernard Parish.
Hotcakes is a micro-budget production that will concentrate on story and not special effects. As they say, content is king! There will be a fundraiser held on location soon and a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds, again, details to follow. If you’d like to know more, read the original 5 page script, get to know the characters, go on over to Hotcakesmovie.com and look around. More information will be posted there as well.
If you’d like to help, donate, or attend the fundraiser, then simply give me a shout!
I recently completed a series of VFX shots for the short “Toll Road”. Most of these shots were in the category of “annoyance removal”. In other words, removing those annoying items left in unnoticed in the frame during production. Those included a crew members’ reflection in a window, c-stands left against a wall, a BBQ pit that couldn’t be removed at all, and most annoyingly… several blaring red fire alarms on exterior walls.
Now, everyone knows, or should know, that the best way to handle this is to make sure you don’t include it in the first place! Well, I hate to admit it but, that’s easier said than done! And once it’s there and you can’t reshoot, what do you do?
Fix it in Post!
Fixing it in post is a bit of a challenge. The camera moves a bit in most shots. Not a lot of movement, mind you, but enough to make life difficult. And then the actors move in front of said annoyances which basically triples the amount of work necessary to fix. What to do? I must say, that my task was made a whole lot easier when I decided a long while ago to use the Adobe Prodcution Premium Suite of programs! I’m currently using CS5.5 and love the ease in which the different programs integrate with each other. After editing the short using Premiere, I could easily see which shots needed touch up. The process is actually relatively straight forward.
PHOTOSHOP
Step One: Locate a clean frame (or as clean as possible) within the shot that has the offending element and export it as a .PNG (portable network graphic) file. I then open that file with Photoshop and save it as a .PSD file. This way I can go back and re-edit if neccesary.
Step Two: I duplicate the layer and edit the new copy. This way I have an unblemished layer to work with if something happens that I can’t undo using the History panel. I then use the “Spot Healing Brush” to simply and easily remove the item from the background. It’s a very easy process. Here’s a link to a video on Adobe TV that explains it better than I could: Spot Healing Brush with Content Aware.
Step Three: Once I have made my corrections to the still, my next step is to select and delete everything in the frame that I don’t need, leaving only the “fixed” areas. I then use the eraser to erase and feather the edges of the fixed bits to blend them into the video.
Step Four: Save the darn .PSD file then save again as a .PNG. The PNG file will save the transparent areas so I won’t have to worry too much about alpha channels and all that humbug!
PREMIERE
Step One: Right click on the offendoing clip and select “Replace with After Effects Composition”. This will open After Effects, allow you to save it as a new .AEP (After Effects Project) file and give you what you need to remove those annoyances.
AFTER EFFECTS
Step One: Select a point in your clip that is visible throughout and track the motion of that clip. Take a look at this clip to give you an idea of what this is all about. Motion Tracking and Rotoscoping.
Step Two: Import your corrected PNG file and drag it to the composition. Apply the tracking data to it. You may have to adjust the positioning of the PNG file to get it right.
Step Three: preview the Comp. If it’s good, render it out; if not, fix it!
Step Four: This is the hardest. If the talent goes in front of what you’re replacing, you need to duplicate the video footage, layer it on top of the PNG file, create a mask, and painstakingly frame by frame make sure your annoyance stays out of view while keeping your talent looking normal. I’m not going to go into detail here, but if you want to know more, go to Video CoPilot.net. Those guys are AE experts!
Back to PREMIERE
Your project should now include the results of your efforts and the new video has none of the distractions of which you were previously plagued. Life is good. My learning curve wasn’t as immense as I thought it would be, but I did learn one huge thing. Most VFX and compositing isn’t done for special effects like laser beams, flying munchkins, or the like. It is for small corrections and updates; things that you might overlook while watching but would bug you subconsciously. The best editing (and VFX compositing) is where the viewer sees none at all!
I’d suggest you visit the links above and search for others, then try it out yourself. Good Luck and enjoy!
Yesterday I received two award certificates from the 2011 New Orleans 48 Hour Film Project. I knew I had won these but didn’t get the actual certificates until yesterday due to a number of unrelated reasons! Ah well… C’est La Vie! Still, I wanted to share these accomplishments with everyone who helped make that long 48 hours a success!
Our film, Marshall for Senate, won the Audience Award Honorable Mention for Group B and our 48 second trailer won Best Trailer at the IFN 48 Hour Recap Screening. I again want to thank my cast and crew for all of their hard work during this fun and tiring weekend!
I am an independent filmmaker here in the Greater New Orleans area. I am constantly trying to improve my craft, at times by bettering my gear, at others by bettering my techniques. I am always in “learning mode”. There’s always something new out there that you can add to your kit. Go find it! In addition, I am constantly trying to expand my “circle of friends” and establish relationships with other independent filmmakers in this area and beyond. Making and maintaining these relationships is very important. Do what it takes to help out when you can. If it’s for pay, terrific! If not, do it for the experience and the potential for future work. Also, you will have others in your now expanded circle to help you on YOUR film!
We are all “doing what it takes” to see our visions realized. A lot of people are trying to make it or break into the “industry” by working as P.A.’s, grips, extras, etc. I have nothing but respect for anyone who has a goal and does what it takes to realize it! This is what I believe this country is all about; seeing an opportunity, knowing the risks and going for it anyway! Kudos to you!
There are others out there, like myself, that are taking another route to realize their creative visions. We work day jobs and spend whatever free time we have working toward our dreams. There are obstacles in whatever way we choose. Neither is the right way nor is it the wrong way! I’m trying my best to “do what it takes” to see my films finished. After working 8-10 hours a day to feed my family, I am editing a piece for a friend. I am shooting on Sundays for another. I am also planning MY next opus and looking for ways to accomplish it. We do what it takes.
OK, what the hell am I really saying? Do whatever it takes to see YOUR vision realized! Make colleagues and friendships. Keep your eyes open and constantly be learning. Help out when and where you can. Don’t burn your bridges behind you. Struggle but go for it. Don’t be put off by the naysayers who think they are better than everyone else. They don’t know you! Your vison probably is much different from mine but that doesn’t make it any less valid. We need to help each other and work together to see our dreams realized. We can do it! We can do what it takes!
On Twitter, I am known as @LaFilm. If you follow me, or not, let’s start this trending: #NOLAFilm. If you have a nugget of information to share, something of interest to our local filmmakers, a cool website or posting, or just want to say hello; then tweet it with this hashtag! Spread the word and let’s build a true community of filmmakers!
Rest In Peace
Tony Reale of NextWaveDV posted the video below talking about the recent 337 Complaint filed by Litepanels in order to block the importation and sale of other LED lighting systems used for film, video or photo in the United States. This action, if upheld, would give them a monopoly and eliminate all other affordable options for filmmakers.
Find out more here: http://bit.ly/ledthreat
If you agree with Tony and us here at LaFilm.net, please spread the word!
Representative Harry Marshall is running for the U.S. Senate. His campaign promise? Moving Forward on Proposition 9. Will he make it?
“Marshall for Senate” is our entry in the 48 Hour Film Project here in the Greater New Orleans area. The film, written by the unique and talented Jules Alder, is poor Harry’s story. We had a great time working with new friends and colleagues on this film. As usual with a project like this, we didn’t start as early as we wanted, but were able to finish shooting Saturday evening. We had some paperwork issues to overcome Saturday night, but editing was completed, delicious Thai food was consumed and the final film was turned in on time! We were told that we were the 7th of 36 teams to turn in our film! I think that is a great accomplishment!
I want to officially and publicly thank my cast and crew, the team! who worked so tirelessly to make this weekend a reality.
| The Cast (In Order Of Appearance) |
||
| Harry Marshall | … | Mike Franklin |
| Tami Bison | … | Marisa Welles |
| Catie Madison | … | Catie Smith |
| Vinny/Papparazzo | … | Tony Pallo |
| Amy Madison | … | Lisa Mackel-Smith |
| Annabelle Travis | … | Terry Spitale |
| Mesa the Horse | … | Scarlett O’Hara |
| The Crew | ||
| Producer | … | Tracy Krieger |
| Assistant Director | … | Jo Custer |
| Second Assistant Director | … | Teresa Alvarez |
| Assistant Camera | … | Jenny Martin |
| Location Sound | … | Johnathan Berguno |
| Chief Lighting Engineer | … | Kelly Jude King |
| Hair Stylist/Makeup Artist | … | Crystal Wells |
| Catering | … | Spitale’s Deli & Catering |
| P.A./V.P. of Anarchy | … | Noah Noble |
Special Thanks to Jesse & Alysha Wimberly for providing us their home, being so gracious during an extremely long day filled with our foolishness, and allowing Scarlett to star in our film!
The premiere will be next Saturday at Lupin Hall – NOCCA. The official info is below:
| Date: | Saturday, August 20th, 2011 |
| Time: | 4pm, 6:30pm, 9pm |
| Place: | Lupin Hall – NOCCA, 2800 Chartres St., NOLA |
| Tickets: | $10 (Purchase them here…) |
| Notes: | There will be one screening per group. Group A will screen at 4pm, Group B at 6:30, and Group C at 9pm. The group listings are on on the web site. Tickets are on sale now at the link listed above. |
Tell your friends and neighbors to come on out for Group B (6:30 PM screening) and vote for “Marshall for Senate” as the audience favorite!
For those of you following the progress of Team LaFilm this year, here are a few updates. We have our cast and crew set. We have a few locations ready, but will scout more this weekend. The game plan is coming to fruition and things are looking good. For the past three years, I’ve helped build teams of people who have not really worked together before. I actually kinda like the team building aspect of things, even in a competition like this one. This year is no exception. I won’t name names just yet, just as I won’t name locations or other tidbits. Let’s let that stay a secret for now!
Our cast is ready and willing to do what’s necessary to make this short a good one. My crew, though I haven’t worked with them before, seem to be a very professional lot, especially my DP who asked all the right questions, of which, I hope I gave all the right answers! My writer is raring to go and is also my 1st AD. She is top notch.
One suggestion I would make to anyone building a team for the 48 Hour Film Project is to gather them together before hand and shoot a little something so everyone knows their job on set and make sure everyone can work together. We’ve done this last weekend and will do it again this weekend. It’s a good prep strategy! I’ve also decided to go the HDSLR route and shoot double system sound, with a Canon T2i being the main camera. Syncing the audio and video will take extra time, but it will be worth it in the end. Shooting classic film style will keep everyone on their toes. I’m a bit nervous about that, but the look will be outstanding.
As far as post is concerned, I’m rendering out 9 minute clips of HD video to the preferred digital format. I’m testing to see how long a render will take so I can gauge how long I have to tweak the edit before I HAVE to start rendering and creating the deliverable! I actually have an hour drive to get to the drop off point, so that needs to be factored in. I can also see approximately how big the file will be so I can have either blank data DVDs or a large enough flash drive available to create the copies. I’ll test copying speeds as well so I have that time to also factor in. So, to boil it down, if drop-off ends at 7PM on Sunday, I’ll subtract an hour for the drive, approximately 30 minutes to create the final file, another 30 minutes (approximately) to copy the files to two flash drives or data DVDs, so the final twaeks MUST be finished no later than 5PM! Take away an hour drive at the beginning and I’m actually looking at about a 45 hour project! Can I do it? Like the builder guy: Yes, we can!
For more on the 48 Hour Film Project in New Orleans this year, go to: www.48hourfilm.com/neworleans. They’ve listed the teams and the screening groups already. If you haven’t purchased tickets to see these films, do so now so you won’t miss out! I’ll post again before the start of the competition.
Good Luck to all 36 teams this year! And y’all need to wish us luck, too!!
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