This is becoming akin to an Instant Message service :)


It was indeed shot in frame mode @ 25fps (I never use normal).

Thanks for giving my dad some credit, for someone reluctant to be on video, he did a stellar job. Perfect type casting :)

TV mode is simply when the XM2 allows you to specify a shutter speed, and it automatically selects the corresponding aperture. It does not mean it has to be interlaced footage.

Were there any particular shots that you thought could have done with some depth of field? (I have some ideas).

Also, do you recommend any filters for a softer/warmer look?

Thanks

I guess I can post it on the board, it's just that I have quite a few criticisms from the first time I watched it. I've been writing some essays too Hilary, so I haven't had time to properly develop my criticisms (hope that doesn't scare you!)

Anyway, Rob - most of the time I do post both criticisms and praises. It's just here I find I have very little praise (I'm very sorry Hilary, but that's just the way it is). I just feel it is more appropriate to tell Hilary, if s/he wants to know, and then if it's okay, I'll post them up. I hope that doesn't bother anyone here?

I'm totally fine with it.
Once again, if its constructive and in good spirits.

Thank you all for posting back here. Amelie, I can't judge what
you have to tell so perhaps you should e-mail it to Hilary first.
Perhaps she can better "decide" if it should be posted here or
not.

Thanks!

Hilary,

I have been through the entire film school path down here in oz, and also had my dealings with the AFC and so on, if you want any feedback or advice on going down that road, and/or getting in touch with some professionals feel free to drop me an email.


Just click on my profile.

Zac

That’s really kind Zac. Your email wont display, so I just hope you'll catch this.

I'm at hilcam@optushome.com.au if you would rather respond via email.

I'm currently completing a degree (Media & Communications) at UNSW, but I’m always pretty eager to get more experience, whether this is doing a production with friends for a local film festival, through work in the industry or through something like AFTRS (Aus film, tv & radio school). Although, obviously, I have much to learn, and more still to prove, before I get any distance down that road.

Could you post a rough/short timeline (if you could call it that) for how you went about it? And any hints on how to pick up skills/contacts/'get-your-foot-in-the-door' on the way. Does creating a portfolio of your best work help?

Thanks.

PS/ I noticed on the 'DV Film Look' forum they recommended using a Cokin Sunsoft filter to get rid of the clinical harshness of DV. So I went off and grabbed one today, looks great, cant wait to use it in whatever I happen to do next... i'll be sure to post it up when I do. :)

PPS/ I signed up to a free 16mm camera usage course at my uni, I hope that it actually eventuates and doesn't just disappear like some of these too-good-too-be-true offers tend to do.

So how is it all going, Hilary?

I ended up getting a good mark for this little clip.

I'm heading out to a small inland town (about 2hrs from Sydney) next weekend to shoot a short film with about 8 other people (young crew), just for fun. I'm also talking to an enthusiastic group of people (including one film industry person) about getting together to work on a more serious 'non-profit' project for Tropfest (a premier film festival down here). The scripts already written (a dark comedy, just what I love) despite it being not due for the festival competition till Jan 2004 - should be good. So no shortage of things to keep film wannabes like myself occupied :)

Zac's email to me was very helpful. I might add though, that I would consider the help and resources at DVI Community as an imporant contact to have. :)

P.S.
Do you think editing footage from a Sony PD150 and a Canon XM2 (to be used in the next thing i do) will present any problems. (I'm shooting in frame mode, and will therefore have to de-interlace the PD150 stuff, but apart from that - the colours, lux etc).

Also we will be using DAT tapes for sound; but quality wise, is this really any better then hooking up the boom mic to one of the Cam's 'line-in'. I guess it'll be better for portability reasons alone.

Glad to hear everything is going okay Hilary! Matching camera's
can be problematic from what I've heard. I haven't done anything
like that myself so I cannot realy comment on it, other then: try
it out before you decide to go down this route.

I imagine it would be more easy if you are doing heavy color
correction on the movie anyway. Keep in mind that it is probably
best to try and get the settings as close to each other as possible
(shutter speed, iris etc.) to get matching movement signatures.

DV audio is pretty good so I don't think DAT would be needed
if you can get the signal into a camera. But that might be a drawback
as well. If you have a sound person with his own recording device
he is able to move freely from the camera, which might come in
handy. Ofcourse you will need to sync the audio and video up
afterwarts (again, do test this!!) so make sure you have something
like a clapper so you can see/hear where the sync is.