Hey gang,
I have 20yrs experience in audio production
8yrs experience in video production
and 3yrs experience in DVD Authoring.

I've used a friend's VX2000 for the last 6 months (nice friend) but he needed to use it for a weekend and I thought, "I can't live without this camera"...so I bought one of my own.
While I've worked with AVID and Discreet video editing systems, I find that I can do everything I need at home using Final Cut Pro.

Anyway, I'm looking to find out more information about this great lil' camcorder. I've heard about the audio hiss, but I've never experienced it. Maybe because I've never used the onboard microphone. I always use a lavalier or a shotgun on a boom pole.

If youse guys have any questions on DVD, let me know.
I also moderate an Apple DVD Forum at
http://www.DVDMadeEasy.com

- Chip

Hi Chip,

Thanks for joining us and welcome aboard! Sure appreciate the link to your site, it looks most helpful and I recognize the name of Ralph LaBarge on your forums. Effective and effecient DVD creation is still a mystery for a lot of us including myself so hopefully we can learn from each other and establish a mutually beneficial relationship. We're at your disposal and it's great to have you here.

Welcome aboard Chip! Good to have you with us. What'd you use
to make DVD's? Scenarist I assume? I've always wondered what
professional DVD authors use for mpeg encoding, you know?

Hi Rob and Chris, thanks for the warm welcome.

As for encoding, I typically use a Sonic Solutions SD-2000 hardware encoder. I author with either Sonic's Creator or Apple's DVD Studio Pro. I'd like to note that you can get some pretty good encodes with Apple's software MPEG2 encoder, as long as you have good source material.
As for the use of Scenarist, it's really expensive. Creator on the Mac or Fusion on the PC are much more popular (as are other pro DVD authoring suites).

- Chip

I am new to the board. I have been looking around for about a month or 2 and just signed up recently. This board it great for upcoming DV filmers. It has helped me out so much already. I was just wondering how you find out about these DV "tradeshows". I have never been to one and I think it would be a great experience. I live in the Chicago area, so if it was downtown at the McCormick place or somewhere like that it would be very easy to attend.

Thanks
Ryan Krga

Hi Ryan,

Click the "calender" link above as we post them there as we go. Not aware of any in the Chicago area yet, but that can always change. Primary venues are in order: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco.

Welcome aboard Ryan! Good to have you with us!

There are usually some threads as well regarding this subject.
Before any major event usually somoene starts a thread, so
keep your eyes open on that. One such (long) thread can be
found at:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8

I am a 21 year old film enthusiast.

Canon GL2

Welcome aboard Gilbert. This must be the shortest introduction
ever. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and what you are
doing or planning to do with the GL2?

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman : Welcome aboard Gilbert. This must be the shortest introduction
ever. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and what you are
doing or planning to do with the GL2? -->>>

Hi Rob... I decided to make a short intro to see if this forum has users willing to say hello reguardless of the first impression.

I plan to use the GL2 for a documentary project I have for 2003. The documentary will be about underground music disc jockeys. I will be doing a bit of traveling to the west and east coast to cover events and interviews with some DJ's I have lined up.

Besides that, the GL2 sits in it's hard case waiting for a project or an idea.

I am still putting a short together for this summer...

Well, you've got a reply from at least one "user" :)

Sounds interesting your project. I've been visiting the underground
DJ scene here in hollland every once in a while and usually enjoy
it very much. Great relaxed parties.

Summer is great time to shoot a short and ideas usually can
be found everywhere. I myself have a tendency to have big
ideas (which require a lot of talent, grand locations or other
impossible things for a low-budget indepedent movie maker).

I wish you luck with your projects, and see you around!

We seem to have a rush of new Chicago-area members lately. It's good to have you with us. pop the lens cap off of that GL2 and fire-away!

Hello,

This is my first post. I just wanted to introduce myself to the community. Apologies ahead of time for my tendency to type too much (and for the smell but technology precludes you from worrying about that).

I graduated from college a little over a year in ago. A little under a year ago, I realized that I have absolutely no interest in what I studied. While a business degree is by no means a waste of time, it doesn't exactly float my boat. Maybe there are kids out there who grew up saying, "Someday, I'm going to collaborate on inventory management strategies for point-of-sale fulfillment initiatives," but I wasn't one of them. So I've decided I want to do something creative with my life and have spent the last year dabbling with various creative endeavours, when not staring blankly at a computer screen in a drab cubicle. I'm intensely interested in writing and hope to someday make a living with the written word. I've only recently stepped up my efforts to submit pieces and writings though that rowdy voice of self-doubt in my head tells me I might have better chances of success playing the lotto. If there is one thing that keeps cropping up as I read and research, it's the notion of persistence. Without persistence, would anyone achieve their dreams? (not to mention effort, money, support, resourcefulness, luck, inspiration, perspiration creativity, etc.) I think there is something to be said for artful communication and it is my intention to do it over a variety of mediums, including film, among others, with all the expected and unexpected speedbumps along the way.

Lately, I've been attempting to diagnose myself with personality disorders in hopes of explaining my behavior and so far I've come up with mild social anxiety disorder (which may help explain my troubles with women), Chinese buffet addiction (which may also help explain my troubles with women) and I-Can-Do-That Syndrome, which manifests itself when I read the newspaper or listen to radio documentaries or watch television documentaries. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I can reproduce the work of the greats in any field but I can't help but think that with a little effort and determination, I can contribute to the creative world. My goal is to produce/direct/write/film/screw up/create documentaries and have several ideas for projects tumbling around in the mill. It seems like such a genuine form of communication. Of course, I know nothing about it, which is why I'm here.

I've been researching DV and the craft of filmmaking for a while and discovered DVinfo.net only recently. It has proven to be an extremely valuable source of information and stands out amongst the crowd as a well-organized, well-reasoned and up-to-date wealth of knowledge, especially in terms of practical know-how from a collision of wisdom and experience that the members bring to the forums. It is refreshing to find a group of people so enthusiastic about their shared interests. I will certainly have plenty of questions for everybody as I take my first wobbly babysteps into the world of filmmaking. My hope is that eventually the number of answers in my head will outweigh the number of questions.

I live in the Chicago area, am about to invest in a camera (most likely GL2), have a decent computer and am excited about contributing to this community. I'm looking for any experience I can get so anybody seeking assistance in the Northern Illinois/Chicago area don't hesitate to drop me a line.


- Eric Thompson

P.S. told you I type too much

Your self-introduction reads like the introduction to any number of current comedic films. Interesting and fun to read. You'll find that a keen sense of humor comes in handy here.

Glad to have another Chicagoan with us. We actually have had quite a few folks from our area join lately. For a long time were were deluged with Texans.

The ears of Texas heard that Ken, it seems like there are enough people to have a Chicago vs. Texas baseball game(with the members who post regularly, with 3,040 members, less than 1% are on at any given time-come on people, let us know you are alive)

Welcome Eric, don't worry about the long post, it's always good to hear someone's story. You have a good attitude which is important, never give up untill you attain your goals. Ask away, we are all happy to share our experience, and like Adrian said(I think it was him) "the only dumb question is the one that is not asked"

I was in Chicago once, great city, see you on the boards.

Eric,

Sounds like we share common disorders. Next time you're in Tokyo look me up and we'll go complain about women while stuffing ourselves at a Chinese buffet.

Good to have you join us!

Eric,

What type of documentaries interest you? and what are some of the subjects you are considering filming?

I'm new here as well and while my story is not exactly like yours there are similarities.

There is a LOT of research to be done in order to learn how to make a documentary and this is one of the best sources for current information on several areas.

Good Luck

Hey guys,

Thanks for the responses.

John: sounds like a plan. I've always wanted to eat chinese buffet on a different continent.

Carl: I'm honestly interested in everything.

I like very thoughtful documentaries that present information in an intelligent, deliberate way but that are still accessible to regular people. I think that every person out there has a story to tell and hope to make my documentaries so that someone who on the surface would have nothing to do with the subject would find some commonality. That whole shared human experience thing. I definately want to incorporate humor. It not only keeps the audience interested, it will keep me interested. Nature documentaries are compelling as well though I think I would incorporate the humans and their interaction with nature in my films, like the personal journey of an environmental researcher.
The idea of being a fly on the wall appeals to me. I want to document emotion and struggle and the mundane and laughter. All that good stuff.

The notion of a regular 9 -5 office job depresses me greatly. I'd rather be out doing stuff, seeing interesting things, creating, entertaining others. I'd take an 16 hour day doing something creative than an 8 hour day staring at reports in a claustrophobic cubicle.

A few subjects I'm considering:

A group of deer hunters in Northern Wisconsin, friends of my father. They shack up in this tiny cabin, drink beer and wax masculine for a week in November. Schools get a week off for deer season in northern wisconsin. Think of that Canadian show Strange Brew, in real time, but with swear words.

I've always been fascinated by the crabfishing industry. I think it would be compelling to be a part of the crew on one of those boats and film the men interacting and show the nitty gritty of what that life is like and the dangers involved. Logistically, I'm a long way off from doing this and I think I would have to work one of the boats as crew before I could be just a lurking filmmaker. Details, details, details.

I think a piece about religion in America would be compelling. To show various faiths and belief systems that people have, no matter how wacky or off-mainstream it might be. Not to espouse anything, but just to document.

I heard on the radio that they have rat shows, like dog shows. Maybe a piece following a contestant through the process of preparation and showing. Would make a good narrative with plenty of opportunity for genuine emotion on film. That could be funny and interesting. Think of the movie Best In Show but with rats.

I have a few more ideas that I hope to get off the ground. Obviously, thinking about it is one thing and doing it is another. since I have no experience, I don't intend to tackle any of these right away. My hopes do go beyond mere hobbyist status as it would be fantastic to do things like this for a living. At least, that's how i feel now. When I get my camera, which I'm ordering soon, I'll probably practice by filming my dogs and interviewing my family members. Need all the experience I can get. Even if it is just schlepping gear around for somebody else. Funding and time are also a couple of hurdles I need to overcome. Might also dabble in shorts though I tend to dream bigger than my means can provide as you might be able to tell.

What kind of stuff are you interested in? Any current projects?

- Eric Thompson

I like the labor movement documentaries the best. This is probably just because I find them so compelling.

My favorite docs (not necessarily in any order):

American Dream, Roger & Me, American Movie, American Standoff, Harlan County USA, The Civil War (and all the Ken Burns stuff), just about any American Experience or historical doc.

I also like Blue Vinyl, Startup.Com, Salesman, and a lot of others.

I'm currently in the research/pre-production stages of a self-financed project.

<<I've always been fascinated by the crabfishing industry. I think it would be compelling to be a part of the crew on one of those boats and film the men interacting and show the nitty gritty of what that life is like and the dangers involved. Logistically, I'm a long way off from doing this and I think I would have to work one of the boats as crew before I could be just a lurking filmmaker. Details, details, details.>>

Eric, there's a recent documentary done on this very subject. I've seen it aired a couple of times on the Discovery Channel. You're right, it is fascinating what they do...and I never realized just how dangerous it is until I saw the show.

Carl, I haven't seen all those movies you named. Looks like I have some catching up to do. American Movie just plain rocks. I've always wondered how they found that guy in the first place and how the people filming it funded themselves during the film. They must have had backers. Or self-funded possibly. Do some filmmakers have distributors who fund their projects or does everybody have to produce it and then shop it around. Wonder how that works.

John, Discovery already beat me to it? Blasted! Actually, I've seen other documentaries about that subject, too. Maybe I need to come up with more original ideas.

- Eric

Eric,

If it is the crabbing industry that you are interested in filming then I would suggest that the Eastern Shore of MD-VA is probably the best. Home of the MD blue crab, this area has both colorful crabs and even more colorful crabbers.

Situated in the Chesapeake Bay area, the countryside is beautiful-marshy backwaters and wide, expanding vistas. Plenty of ocean shots are available too since the Eastern Shore sits out on the east coast.

Crisfield plays host to the annual Crab Derby and is arguably home to the world's finest crabs. As an added benefit, the dialect of natives is unique, both in form and style.

Tom

Eric, firstly: welcome aboard! As this forums wrangler (and I can't
say my English is as good as yours, unfortunately) I appreciate
it very much that you wrote such a lengthy (and humorous)
introduction. Thank you for that.

You know... we all have begun where you are standing now. In
fact I don't think I'm too far away from that point just yet. Perhaps
you are still in the sand and I just crawled out of the playground
so to speak.

One thing we seem to have in common is a large field of interest.
When people ask me what I like it is hard to give them an answer.
I like so much. Some people have even gone as far and "accused"
me of not doing much different things. This probably happens
because of the fact when I do things I do them so passionately
and that takes up a lot of time; leaving not much left for other
things.

I currently have a 8-5 job and thinking more and more about what-
if I left the job.... but bills need to be paid as well and currently
that takes precedence. I did however go down from 40+ hours
a week working to 32+. So that means I have a 3 day weekend
each week now which should allow me much more time to get
busy shooting movies....

Again, thank you for your introduction and see you around!

Eric,

From what I have I have heard Chris Smith needed some place to do some editing on his previous project and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee agreed to let him use the facilities. This is where he met Mark. This is where and when he also got the idea to make the doc about Mark. Although there was some outside funding I believe he said the bulk of the expenses were self-financed using credit cards (the figure $28000 comes to mind).

An interesting side note was that during the filming process Chris wasn't sure what stories were going to pan out and for a time he followed some other people such as Matt Wiseman (the guy they show doing the shaving movie), but those tangents didn't work out at it led back to only Mark. As you seen in the film, the movie was originally supposed to be about the making of Northwestern. Sometimes the story takes you somewhere else.

With the support of my wonderful wife, I'm starting my own video production biz. Wedding vids, birthdays, whatever I can get.

I've been working in office cubes for 10 years in the Loop (Amoco corp [now gone], Arthur Andersen [now gone]), I just can't sit in another cube until I die.

So far so good. I did a bunch of freebies for friends and family with my GL1 and got a nice reel going. Now I'm charging a bit below industry standard so I can help my wife out with the bills and buy even more toys...oops, I mean equipment.

I recently upgraded to a GL2, a Manfratto tripod with fluid head, a nice Samson UHF32 wireless mic and some other essentials. I'm also about to pick up a Lowel light kit (DV Creator 55 Kit) in a trade with a company I'm shooting my first 30 second commercial for.

I'm at that point where it's make or break time.

I edit on a dual proc Pentium using Pinnacle Edition 5 (after spending years learning Premiere, I don't miss Adobe one bit).

I used to have about 7 websites to show off my work, but the SDSL was too expensive and I traded it for a cable modem ($19/mo), so my websites are down.

I've sold some crime footage to the news and done an interview with local NBC regarding some of the gang shootings I've taped.

I'd love to do a documentary, but I just can't stay focused on one issue long enough. But I am about to turn in a 30 minute DV to cable access to run on Saturday midnight. It's just a compiliation of some interesting stuff I've shot around the city.

Maybe I can figure out how to run my webserver (port 80) through my cable modem and I'll let you all know.

This looks like a great forum. I plan to visit often.

Now I have to go do some things to make the wife smile when she gets home (laundry, dishes, repair, etc), while I also figure out how to make the GL2 look like film.

Welcome, Edward! A friend of mine once drove from Winnipeg to Chicago, had 2 beers then drove back. I asked him what Chicago was like, he replied, "I donno, I was really tired!" :)


PS: true story from the early 70's.

Hi Edward,
I too am in the Chicagoland area.
Maybe I'll see you around sometime ;-)
Don

Hi all!

I'm a copywriter for an in-house advertising group who was offered, and gratefully accepted, the chance to spearhead our department's move into DV and multimedia. I'm specializing in the DV part.

I got the chance to basically put together a workstation setup from scratch—the sky wasn't exactly the limit, but we were given the freedom to order pretty much whatever we want. So right now I'm using/learning to use:

- Panasonic DV100 camera
- JVC combo DV/S-VHS deck
- Sony monitor
- Audio Technica shotgun & lavalier
- Sennheiser handheld mic
- TO-97 3-piece light kit
- DA-1P DAT recorder for field audio

I'm editing on a new dual 1.4Ghz PowerMac w/ a 23" Cinema Display and a brand-new install of Final Cut 4.0.

I'm really looking forward to learning to use this. I shot my first footage (just test stuff) today and logged and captured it in FCP. Man, this is cool stuff. I could get used to this. :)

Anyway, I know I'll be having lots of questions, and I look forward to getting to know you all.

Dan

I've been in Chi-town for awhile, I'm a novelist/screenwriter. I decided it was time to make my low budget feature: 7 actors, one location, no dogs-kids-sfx-cgi.
It's a thriller covering one night in the life of 6 college kids and one security guard...

So I'll see you guys in the forums - best of luck in all your endeavors~

ae
Alex

Welcome aboard, Dan! Good to have you with us. There are quite
a few people from Chicago area here. Looks like you have a fine
system (I'd love to have a Cinema Display myself -- although I
ain't working on a Mac)!

Good luck with your projects!

Dan welcome, yea thats not a bad system at all.

I have two of the panasonic-ag-dvx100
pinnacle pro-one
custom built pentium1.8 ystem lacie scsi drives and all.

Hey they are shooting the folow up movie to barbershop in chicago. You should try to go overto the set.

Anyway good luck and keep on editing.

Welcome Dan its good to see Chicago family here. Good luck in your film projects.

Dear Dan: I just happened to be reading the posts and saw you were from Chicago. I just wanted to say hello. I leave near Cubs ball park. When the team was doing good, I could hear the crowd, and when we were not doing very good, it was very quite. I bought a GL2 in March, 2003. That's what got me started reading the DV Info Net. I shot my first job in March and knew that I wanted to be able to edit it. So I am very slowly trying to learn Premiere 6.5 and I have a matrox 100x add on board. I bought 14 hours of instructional material. I am still on my first 3 hours. I am going to start from the begining on the first 3 hours now that I just finished it. Anyway nice to see that you are from Chicago. My regular work that interfers with my video is being a lawyer. I do Bankruptcy and real estate closings.

Good choice on the DVX100.
I've got both the DVX100 and the DVC80 and I'm pleased with them both. Much easier to take around than my JVC GY-DV500.

Is there any Chicago people in the forum??

Just wanting to know if there is anyone in the area that's all.

Here I am! Direct from Chicago proper.
I was born here, went to College downtown. And, I'm still here.

Lived in the Chicago area all, well most of my life. My kids live in the area, my wife lives in the area, my dog lives in the area, my mother, sisters, neices, nephews, grandchildren and various other sundry animals in the family all live in the area.

Speaking of Rockford, I'm doing 2 weddings there in the next 4 weeks. I've never done one there and now all of a sudden 2. HMMMMM, is there a special meaning to that?????
Let me consult my Chicago SunTimes horoscopes just as soon as I get done reading about how inept the Bears were yesterday;-0
Don

I live way up yonder in Andersonville Foster and Clark area. Lived here most of my life went and joined the Marines saw the world came home saw the USA then settled down in Chicago.

I grew up around Foster and Kimball by North Park College before it became whatever it is today. There was a CTA bus terminal and an Army reserve artillery post about a block from where I lived, River Park where I played baseball and smoked my 1st cigarette and of course a couple of great Chicago style Hot Dog joints. About 4 black away was the original Chicago Choo-Choo resturant,where they served the food to you at the counter on an HO scale train. It was very cool for the 50's.
Ahhhh, the good old days. (Not really-if they were so good we'd still be living in them).

Foster and Clark, not all that far from the Romainian Deli and the Taffy Apple factory. One thing about Chicago, the food, anything you want.MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Don

Foster and Kimball.....As to the base it is a Marine Corps Reserve Training Center I have worked for Toys For Tots there. As for the area I went to River Park as a kid as it was right across the street from us, I lived in Chapin Hall a children’s home at that time. It's gone now as Swedish Covenant Hospital bought the land and developed when they closed down.

Yes, it is now a Marine Reserve base. I forgot they made the change a while ago. I went to Budlong school and walked by the original Swedish Covenant to get to school and had a lot of kids from Chapin Hall and Lawrence Hall in my classes.
Small world Tom.
Don

I just spent this past weekend in Chicago and had a wonderful time. Great food, steaks and chops, and as always a great town with very hospitable people. Could only have had a better time if it had been a little warmer. Other than wild horses, I can't think of anything that would get me to go to St. Louis.

I'm actually a home builder with a relentless passion to learn more about DV. Would love to get involved with a project with some other locals and learn more about the craft. Definately willing to volunteer my services for interesting projects. Have Vx2000 & Premiere. Just playing with the stuff for fun right now.

Chicago suburbs.

Hi Bob,
Welcome to a great forum.
I'm in the NW 'burbs.
Don

I'm Here too! CHICAGO
I'm actually a home builder with a relentless passion to learn more about DV. Would love to get involved with a project with some other locals and learn more about the craft. Definately willing to volunteer my services for interesting projects. Have Vx2000 & Premiere. Just playing with the stuff for fun right now.

Chicago suburbs.

Hi Bob and Don

I was a general contractor mostly kitchen cabinets and baths prior to jumping into the computer field to which I found I could do my filming on the side.

I'm back I found this page again I lost track of it. Busy burning a DVD for a film we finished this last summer. I think they are going to burn 50,000 for distribution.

I just moved to Rockford from Anchorage, AK. Been here just under two months now. It's great being close to a big city like Chicago, although I'd rather go to Green Bay to watch football :-)

Hi David,
Welcome. Anchorage huh? Rockford????? Seems like a big leap, what brings you down from up nort, as we say in Chicago?

I'll be in Rockford on the 12th to do a reception somewhere over by the speedway (race track) I think.

Well, good to have you here, best to you,
Don B

As you can see, we actually have quite a few members in Chicago (including me). During the past year we've actually seen a bit of a surge in Chicago membership...mysterious!

Chicago's been my home most of my life. Aside from our often, but not always, disheartening professional sports scene Chicago's certainly among the most livable cities in the United States. Unless you're very adverse to cold winters it's a hard place to tear yourself away from.