Thought I'd beat Trond to this thread this time around. :)

Had the whispers of an idea last night. Starting to gel a bit more this evening. Running it past a friend of mine to see if there are holes too big to fill or if the story doesn't flow well. Waiting to see what she says before I get too excited about this idea.

Already thought of and discarded two other ideas just because I know I couldn't pull them off in twice the amount of time given.

With work I have about an hour of daylight to film every day. Some of the locations I'd like to shoot at require about a ten to twenty minute hike and then setting up the gear.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don;t have to work this weekend and that the weather is nice so I can get out and shoot.

Ah, Kevin, how did that happen. :)

Seems like we both will have an issue with available daylight this round.
I'm thinking about making a night film, but no clue how to make that possible. Kinda few power sources for any lights in the middle of the woods.
Oh well, still plenty time to figure out something... or come up with plan b, c, d... :)

Hope everyone do well.
And remember, all players must strictly follow uwol rule #11 at all times:
Have fun!

It sure is quiet around here! I hope that means that every one of you who signed up is busy working on your entry! Trying to get some info out of Dylan on the donations to give an update.

How is everyone doing?

Filming tomorrow. Weather is turning crummy after that so may be my only opportunity to film before the deadline.
No clue what I'm filming yet, just know that I'm filming. :_

Dang it, I was working on my little comedy entry, needed some timelapse footage to make it work, had a great window of opportunity and weather to film, then my shutterboss malfunctioned, must have had a short, wouldn't turn on, smelled like plastic was burning and the 3v CR2 battery heated up, tried 3 different batteries and the same thing happened so I sent it back to BH Photo today and I have no plan B, yet...

That's too bad! I am really in the mood for a comedy. Hoping and trusting that a plan B will come to you soon, Bill.

Still haven't shot a single frame.
Have an idea, and hopefully I can shoot my entry next week when I have a few hours available during daylight.

Yeah, this short amount of available daylight is really hampering things.
Normall I'd have quite a bit of time after work to go out and shoot. Now the sun is setting by the time I get out of work and drive anywhere.

This is beginning to sound like the Challenge that was too challenging. I am having time issues myself.....Have an idea, but weather killed it here all week.

Kevin- At least you can brag “entirely shot during the golden hour”!

I’m not able to play at all due to scheduling. With this theme I know you guys are really going to shine. I’m looking forward to watching.

With all these tales of woe, and with such a small number of you brave souls even attempting this, Dylan and I have agreed to extend the deadline! You now have until DECEMBER 31 to submit your entries!!

Hoping with the extension we can free up a few more shooters (Mike Sims??) to join the fun. :)

That's a most welcome extension of the deadline.
Daylight will be found and films made. Wohoo :)

“(Mike Sims??)“
Ha! Sounds like a challenge to be Challenged. I’m tied up until after the twenty-first, but if my idiot brother-in-law turns out to be wrong and a comet doesn’t land on my head then perhaps I’ll be in with a chance.
Wohoo :) indeed.

Well, it SHOULD be golden hour but with all the grey clouds it's more like DUD hour. :)

Went out and filmed today. Got some footage shot today. Not everything I wanted but there was a reason why the number of shots was limited. But, I'm ok with that. So I'm sure I'll probably get dinged for it, but it is what it is. I wouldn't have pushed for extra shots regardless.

Filmed a bit yesterday and wanted to put some of the footage in the editor to see if it flowed at all. Well, got all kinds of dropouts. After messing around with some stuff it looks like my graphics card on my laptop if wonky.
I ordered a new MacBook Pro but it won't get here until the 14th-17th. Without the extension, I would have been dead in the water!!

Here's a frame grab from some footage I shot the other day after the sun had set.
It boggles my mind that there is such beauty out there and in the past year that I've filmed at the nature center I've encountered less than a handful of people.

That's some spectacular colors, Kevin!
Hope you get your laptop up and running again.

I hear crickets

Arrrgh! Got back after two days in field and found the hot water heater failed and my editing suite awash. So far, other than the carpet, nothing seems ruined except my schedule… Don’t know yet what this will do to me. Fingers crossed!

Kevin, that looks like a beautiful spot. Amazing as you say more people don't go there.

I am not going in on this round because I have continuing vertigo/dizziness issues. No longer sure if it actually did have to do with the film I made, or just coincidence this all started at that time. Seems to be something seriously wrong with my inner ear, but so far no one has figured out what or why. I think with time I will compensate, but in the meantime watching videos, let alone editing them, makes me off balance. I hope to be back to normal enough by next round to join in again. Just checked in today to see where everyone is, for a vicarious sense of filming.

Hope you're feeling better soon Ruth!
I had vertigo once. Gut up feeling find and promptly crashed into the wall. Couldn't walk a straight line to save my life.
Had to go to a therapist who flung me down from a sitting position to a dead stop and then tapped on my skull next to my ear to dislodge the stuck crystal in my inner ear. Had to sleep sitting up for two days to make sure it didn't get stuck again.

Keep us posted!

It is sad that more people don;t get out in nature. On one hand, I love the fact that I have the prairie and the woods all to myself. On the other hand, it's sad that no one visits because if people don't love the prairie and the woods, they tend not to be willing to save it.

Finally got my new laptop and will have most of things set to go Tuesday so headed back out in the morning to start shooting the bulk of the film. Hope it turns out!!

Kevin,

What you had is part of what happened to me, though in my case I think the crystal that appears totally stuck is because of a complete wipeout of one of my inner ear systems. Still, I am hoping this goes away on its own one of these days, so I can get back to filming.

I definitely know what you mean about people not being willing to save the wilds if they don't see it or care about it. So although i too enjoy having woods to myself, I am happy to share if it means it will be protected and there for everyone to enjoy.

Glad you got your laptop, and good luck with the shoot. I always enjoy the lyrical beauty of your films.

I feel for ya Ruth! It's certainly no fun trying to walk and crashing into everything.
I know some cases are so bad they make you nauseous. Hope you find some normalcy soon!

Big storm moving into Iowa tomorrow and into Thursday. Up to a foot of snow.
Will have to revamp my idea since I have footage shot in sunny 50 degree weather and now will have a foot of snow and single digit temps. Kind of hard to match shots there so I'll have to come up with an excuse why we have snow now. :-)

Thanks Kevin. I only briefly had the total vertigo, so am thankful for that. Just annoying it has gone on for months. But the good part is that I have rediscovered photography, which doesn't bother me. And I am really enjoying the slow pace of still images again. I guess making lemonade from lemons is important.

Sounds like you are getting the full spectrum of weather. Iowa seems to be leaning toward extremes right now. Going from 50s to single digits with snow is quite a change. But at least you will have a diversity of footage to work with :)

Yeah, but now I have a continuity issue because I shot out of order. So I need to come up with a reason why we have snow. :)

At least the world didn't end.... it is officially winter, so that is a good reason for snow. Good luck with your film, I hope to be able to see the fruits of your creativity.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
Hope everyone do well :)

Merry Christmas Trond and all my UWOL and DVC friends!
Hope yo are all getting some great footage!!

Hello my fellow filmmakers! I have to sincerely thank Lorinda and Dylan for the extension! This month has been so incredibly hectic that there was no way I would have been able to film without the extra time!

For the past year I have been working on my debut album and less than a week ago I sent it out to be printed! This opened up a small window of time to shoot the tree-themed video, O Tannenbaum.

Andy and I are primarily musicians (he plays Tuba, Cimbasso, and Euphonium and I sing) in NYC and this is the busiest time of year as we are performing or rehearsing nearly everyday. For us, the biggest challenge was finding a moment to storyboard and then film. We managed to find some time at around 1am over the course of 2 late nights and shot, edited, and made the soundtrack.

Am really looking forward to seeing the submissions! Blessings to all of you this holiday season!

A heavy downpour and thunderstorm took down our internet for Christmas so apologies for the belated Christmas greetings. Hope you all had a wonderful day.

It has been around a long time, but you may find this just as amazing as I did: how not to take down a palm tree SA style!

How not to cut a tree down South African style using a pickup truck - YouTube

Hope everyone is nearly finished . . . no time to work on New Year ’s Eve! :)

I've shot a few sequences, but two snow storms the last weeks have messed with my plans.
Still plenty time to get the shots I am missing (I hope).

Was out shooting this morning. I think I have different weather every time I've shot. Hate to see how I'm going to piece this together and make it all fit!

Here's a shot of Indian Creek this morning.

Well, today I sit down and try to write out a story to fit with all the footage I've shot.
Hopefully I can come up with something compelling!

I failed to shoot anything; too busy.....


I did manage to leave a donation in the fund though; so I look forward to watching and voting! Best of luck everyone.

Same here, I'm afraid - unexpected overseas travel in the middle of the month left me out of time.

I also managed to donate, and am looking forward to seeing the entries!

I have now reached plan E or maybe plan K... or something like that.
Like Kevin, I have experienced different weather each day. From snow storm to rain to sunshine.
But I think I have enough footage to put something together.

Simon and Paul, too bad your time didn't cooperate this round.
I look forward to see your entries next time.

I hade an idea, i hade one day to shoot (not a perfect day), but I have not got a single day left for editing and VO. To bad, well se you all in next challenge.

Cheers and I wish you all a happy new year.

I am a few hours away from finishing but unfortunatley New Year's Eve plans must go ahead so I will definitely not get this in on time. I will however submit my entry for comments as soon as it is finished as it is so nearly done!

I’ve been so indisposed that I saw neither the forest nor the trees.

This group just keeps improving, much like the DVInfo which supports it. I applaud each of you (and that includes you DVC folks too!) for your 2012 works. I sincerely wish for 2013 to bring us all good health, good fortune and, most of all, much more good video. Thanks team.

Holy cow, people are falling like... well, trees around here!
Still in it but trying to get a red food dye stain out of beige carpet. That's gonna be my morning right now.

I'm done. Uploading my plan K, or was it plan Z... to youtube and vimeo as we speak. :)


Anyone remember the username/pw to the uwol vimeo page?

Unfortunately, I have also failed at getting a film done. I just could not break out of several things that have been going on in our life to get out to do shooting. I feel bad about not getting this done, especially in light of the history of the Challenge and the bringing together of UWOL and DVChallenge regulars. I hoping for a better New Year, and wish the same to all !

Since I am new at this I may have done something incorrectly. I finished my film and uploaded it to YouTube, then sent the link and title to the email address provided in the rules. Was I supposed to upload it to Vimeo also? If so, I missed the boat on that step.

I would appreciate it if someone would point me in the right direction if I have strayed from the path.

This has been a great experience and I hope to do more in the future.

Thanks,
LeRoy

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year.

Uploaded mine to YouTube sent Lorinda the URL.
Couldn't upload to the Vimeo UWOL page cause I didn't know the password and the file is too big to upload to my Vimeo account.

Wish YouTube would default to HD instead of 360 because the video looks crappy unless you play it back in HD

LeRoy, you did just fine! As for you, Kevin and Trond, give me a minute to refresh my memory on the Vimeo account and I will send you upload info. No worries if it is tomorrow; I have your other links.

Good heavens, are these going to be the only three films we get?!?

Should be four films with Toni's

Well, of course *slapping self on forehead.* She sent it to my email several days ago, and my memory only goes back one day. It doesn't go to the future at all anymore...I thought the challenge ended tomorrow night!

Wish YouTube would default to HD instead of 360 because the video looks crappy unless you play it back in HD
Kevin, I believe youtube play my HD videos in HD as default. Check your account settings. Might be something there.

Mine defaults to 360p. It's a 1080p file so not sure why I have to change the setting every time I want to watch it?
Other videos play in HD right away. I have the play in best rez box selected but that makes no difference at all. But that's why I host my own videos and don't use YouTube.

The file was too big for Vimeo when I tried it last night so I'll compress it and see if I can upload it again.
Why am I paying for a plus account on Vimeo when I can't even upload a 4 minute HD video without compressing the hell out of it?

Kevin, I'll check my youtube settings and get back to you later this week.

I'm uploading to Vimeo so hopefully it will look better. I mean how many people know to switch their settings to HD on YouTube if the video quality looks bad? Probably not a lot.
Just bought Compressor and will set it for optimum settings for Vimeo and upload again. This is like the fourth time I've tried uploading to vimeo. The file is only 635MB but Vimeo keeps crashing.