Well here I am
 

Hi I am from Edinburgh in Scotland and I joined back in December 04. I have found the advice on this site very useful.

I work with two XL2's and having worked with Macs for ever I edit in FCP 4.5 and use DVDSP 2 for dvd production, Motion for 2D animations and Cinema 4D for computer modelling and animation. I work mainly on producing educational related products, but would one day like to turn my hand to producing short films.

I am still learning my way around the XL2 but have been delighted with the quality it produces. I have also found on more than one occasion, that people tend to take you more seriously when you unpack your XL2 for it looks like it means business..

Hi Eric, glad to have you aboard!

Hello from Glasgow Scotland
 

Hi guys, been hiding in the shadows for a long time learning some great tips and thought it was about time I became a member and introduced myself.
Im 25 years old and im currently in pre-production for a short movie i will be shooting with my canon XL2
I intend to show this around some local film festivals.

Hi Chris,

Nice to "see" you come out of the shadows. :) Welcome!

Best wishes on that movie; maybe you can share some favorite clips here when it's completed.

I understand there are some heavily haunted castles in or around Glasgow. Have you tried the Ghost Hunter thing yet?

The castles around this area make for great sets, as most will accommodate film makers, But i dont think ghost hunting is my thing ;) . When I get some footage from the short I will be uploading clips to this site to get a bit off feedback.

Hi Chris
 

I live not far in Cumbernauld.
I am new to this video shooting. History is my thing and I have upgraded from a Canon XM1 to XL2. I would like to get some tips from someone with more knowledge in filming.

Hi
 

Hi Chris and Alex above. I live in Larbert which cant be far from alex. Do you know of a good club for video nuts like us in the glasgow are. I dont mean the sort of club where they hold a pic competition once a year and the rest of the nights they just practice one upmanship and brag about the equipment they have.
I was once in a club like that in Fife

oops. Its been a while since I was last here, thanks for the nice welcome. Its great to see im not the only one in the area! Alex Calderhead I must be within 5 miles of you, would be great to meet for a beer and discuss projects!
My short movie is coming along nicely but I have also taken on two documentrys and a feature length movie thats eating up my time too, but as promised I will get some clips posted of my projects when I can.

Hi Chris
 

I received your email. I Have sent you an email to your personal address.
Drop me another email with your phone number and I will give you a call.

Help given
 

Thanks Alex for coming over to give me a start in understanding Premier Pro.
I can follow things better if i see them than reading from the book. I need another night though. Tried again to re edit and got stuck. Must be an age thing with me!!!!

Again, its been a while. the DVD im making is eating up a lot of my time and trying to set up the interviews around everyones schedules is proving a pain! Alex i have lost your number mate. I would still be happy to have you come film some interviews and meet some of my crew.

Lost Number
 

Hi Chris,

I have sent you a separate email with my phone number.

Cheers,

Alex.

Hello from a fellow scotsman in Hong Kong
 

Hi guys, it's been a while since I lived in Scotland, but it's good to know the indie film thing is doing good there. I am originally from Glasgow, but I have been living in Hong Kong since 1992. I am running a small production company here, you can go to my website to find out more www.glowproductionhouse.com Any way I am orginizing an outdoor film festival here in April 06 and I would be glad to find out more about your films for the coming festival.

Welcome Aboard, Mate!
 

Hi Chris and Merry Christmas! You won't find a better online family than the one you have right now. The folks here are very eager to help with advice, equipment sales and general all around good neighborliness. As a matter of fact, as a salute to you, I am enjoting a Walker's Scottish Shortbread right now with my tea! Mmm mmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Welcome Collaborators in Scotland
 

Hello Friends,
This is my first post, I have been here gleening for a while. I thought perhaps I might plead my case on the DV info court. I look forward to hearing from anybody interested or has had similar project experiences.
Firstly, this my first earnest attempt at producing, directing, editing etc. a professional quality DV project. Without the specific story details, let me say I'm involved in an international filming documentary that has me presently editing DV footage from Kimberton Hills, PA. USA. The bulk of the documentary is on two locations in Scotland. The Aberdeen location and the Stirling, Scotland locations have required me to seek out collaborators. I began posting at Scottish film sites as well as the Universities' student boards. I have requested filmmakers as well as a DOP, photography will be needed at the sites as well. I have received offers to help from sound and voice professionals and a few individuals that have photo experience on independent shorts. The documentary is historical in nature, but I am using selected music from resident Scots as well as a Canadian guitarist. I will hope to complete the location filming by May.The media then will be sent in hard copy to me in the States where I will attempt to extract my vision from it. I would appreciate hearing from those who have has similar projects completed and those in Scotland that might want to shoot some DV for a day at each location. I can offer credit and copy for your efforts. I will also like a couple DV cameras available to shot a live session at Clyde FM radio, in Glasgow. I hope the talent will have a few songs to duet and chat with our interviewer. That footage will be provided as "Extra Features" on the DVD. Thanks for letting me bend your ear...
Adios,
Christo Aaron

Glasgow filmmaker!
 

Hey all!

My name is Fraser (obvious from my username hehe) and I'm in Scotland, just outside Glasgow. I studied HND Television operations and productions at James Watt College in 2004 and I was at the BBC's Training program "E-Force" in 2003.

I've made three short films to practice my skills and I'm developing my feature film "The Journey" which we'll be shooting on mini DV this summer in Scotland.

Obviously my company Silly Wee Films hasn't made a big name for itself yet because we just started out in September last year but I hope that people might take me more seriously once we complete "The Journey". It's been really diffilcult getting money for it, and we're confident we'll be able to shoot it for £20,000. I've got a great experienced team on board and the actors are great, so fingers crossed we'll be able to make something great. Obviously it's my debut feature film so I'm not expecting it to be a massive hit, but as long as people can enjoy it for what it is, the actors get show-reel material out of it (and hopefully more work!) and I learn from it, then that's all that matters, right?

Anyway, I agree with Andrew Graham of Camerashy (a great production company in Edinburgh!) that we all should do our best to help each other out, and I'm more than willing to help people out if I can :)

I hope to speak to you all soon

- Fraser

Hi Fraser, welcome aboard (H)DV Info Net, good to have you with us!

Fraser, Need any help?
 

Hi Fraser,

I'm an experienced videographer who will be visiting Edinburgh in July or August 06....Was wondering if you need an extra hand...Also was wondering about the International Festival, and/or the Fringe Festival. I believe these are held in late August.

Thinking about documenting some of this on my own, or as a collaboration. Basically looking for a "working vacation".

Any ideas or offers?
Thanks.
Pat Celec

Fraser, I'm a steadicam operator based in Glasgow, if you want some steadicam in your film gi'me a shout and we can work something out. :D

John.

Hey Fraser, welcome to DVinfo.In here there is everything you ever need to know about filmmaking. And I see you already have some very good offers.

Pat the edinburgh film festival is on the 14th - 27th of august.....i really should go along myself one of these years!

Andy.

More about the fesitvals in Edinburgh
 

Thanks for the update on the film festival, Andy....Aren't there more events, again, in Aug '06 ?? Reading about the Fringe/International Festivals in travel brochures...Similar to "open mike nite" - where acts go up on stage, doing all sorts of acts/tricks, etc. open to anyone with any talent.

Looking to do some sort of documentation of this, and wondering if anyone else is covering these festivals?

Either that, or to help with existing coverage. I'm so sick of weddings, want to document events now. It would be interesting to run second camera on a Scottish wedding....anything different appeals to me...

Any further thoughts?

Hi Pat,

Don't worry, there are a tonne of things on during the fringe/festival, the film festival is just one part of this. It's the best time of year to be going to Edinburgh :D

John.

Hello Pat, I think you will find that the Fringe activities are vast in comparison to an "open mike nite".
There is no "stage" . The whole city of Edinburgh is the stage! Acts take place on street corners, in halls, in parks........ just about anywhere.
I must say that as a Scot I have still never been to the Edinburgh festival. This year I will travel home to Scotland with my family - but it will be in July. So I will be a wee bit too early for the Festival.
Have a nice time......

Greetings from Bonnie Scotland !
 

Hi everyone,

I just joined the forum following my recent Canon XL-2 purchase and thought I'd 'go with the flow' by giving some details about myself...

Televison cameraman is my day job and how I got to be there goes like this... Back in 1988 aged 17, when I left high school with little or no qualifications, I realised I had two options in front of me, 1: Go full time in the supermarket I was already working part time in, or 2: Find something I wanted to do, go learn how to do it and hopefully make a job out of it?

So I enrolled in a basic, entry level media studies course at my local further education college, having harboured a latent interest in photography and video making for some time. The course was really basic and simple but gave me the chance to play with video cameras, editing equipment and some lights. I was truly bitten by the video bug and after a year on that course spent another 3 years doing more advanced television courses until in 1993 I got a Higher National Diploma in Television Production.

Throughout that time I made contact with local small scale production houses, mainly low budget corporate work and wedding coverage. I got little one off gigs with these guys, building up my experience and skills. In 1992 I was given the opportunity by the BBC to take part in a workshop weekend for young people at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, where along with some other media and high school students we made a little film about being young and trying to break into the business. The film was shown in front of some of the biggest players in global broadcasting, and we came away from that experience feeling super charged and ready to take on the world.

After college and a period of unemployment, I got involved for 8 months in a little community video workshop, making 'local news' programmes to show in handicapped homes and centres for the elderly and impaired. Through that programme, I was offered in 1994 the chance to do 10 weeks practical work experience, with the local ITV television broadcaster 'Scottish Television' in Glasgow.

That 10 weeks turned into a job as a camera assistant, working on all kinds of Betacam SP shoots, including drama and feature work for various TV shows. Eventually I was let loose behind a camera myself and spent 5 and a half years there as a staff cameraman filming multi-cam studio shows, outside broadcast events and single camera lighting shoots.

In 1999, I was offered a 'Senior Cameraman' position within the BBC and that is where I am to this day. I do all kinds of exciting work, in all kinds of places. Just 3 weeks ago I was onstage at a rock festival shooting The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Who to name but two. Last year I shot one of the UK 'Live 8' concerts and got to meet people like George Clooney, Claudia Schiffer, Bono and Bob Geldof. Next week I'm lighting camerman on a new pre-school kids drama programme called 'Me Too' airing on BBC television this September. I shoot on Digital-Betacam and DV-Cam most of the time as well as the odd thing on Mini-dv. At the moment we're re-equipping with HD formats at both the high and low end of the the programme making spectrum. Next year we're moving to a brand new purpose built, state of the art HD broadcasting centre on the Glasgow riverfront. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus/pacificquay/

Shooting rock music is one of my favourite things, but I also enjoy working in drama/soaps, sports coverage and one off events such as arts festivals, big public affairs such as royal or state events and whatever else comes along.

What I really enjoy is the variety the job offers and think myself lucky I chose this path or I might still be stacking shelves in that supermarket with a sarcastic expression firmly stuck on my face.

At the moment I'm about to use my XL-2 in 25p mode to shoot a rock video for a friends rock band www.logan-net.com They're doing well and have been hanging around the UK rock chart with their last single for the past 5 weeks or so. It's a great life in video/tv and I'd especially encourage anyone who may be leaving school or be unemployed or wishes a change in career to shoot high and go for it. I've never looked back and that's nearly twenty years of creative satisfaction !!!

Hi Allen, welcome aboard (H)DV Info Net. Thanks for the detailed introduction,
good to have you with us!

Thanks for the intro. Sounds like you've had a fun career so far and a wealth of knowledge to share. Welcome to the group.

Sounds like you've had your fun.
 

I've forwarded a copy of your post to a confused girlfriend who is a fine photographer looking for a new career. Hopefully, she'll have as much fun as you obviously had. :)

Hey Allen, Just thought id say hi since im in the neighbourhood.

Your training is pretty much the same route i took, 1 year motherwell college doing media studies and 2 years at stevensen for my HND in TV Ops. The only difirence is i wanted to work for myself.

By the way I was at Tin the park at both the chillies and the who, i was watching all the camera crew so i probably saw you there.

The who were amazing.....wot a gig.

Andy.

I was the man shooting Chad Smith, now there's a good guy !

Hello from Scotland
 

Thought I'd say hello and introduce myself.

I am a fulltime professional photographer with a studio based in Largs in Scotland, specialising in the wedding market, travelling throughout the UK.

I turned fulltime pro 18 months ago after spending the past 15 years, first as a graphic designer and then I have no idea how but I ended up in IT Support and then as a IT security consultant with IBM. I gave up the boaring consultant job via voluntary redundancy and did what I have always wanted to do when I turned 30, work for myself. I have always had an interest in photography and video from about 15 when I started making money at a Saturday job.

I have more experience in the photography side so used those skills to get a business off the ground and provide some kind of income. 18 months later I am now getting to indulge my interest in video, having just recently purchased a XL1 from ebay (and a few accessories) to learn video techniques and video editing. The XL1 will hopefully help me to educate me and practice skills and begin picking up some work before I spend money on a more expensive piece of kit.

The longer term goal is to hopefully pick up wedding video bookings for dates where we don't have photography booking. And where we are booked for weddings maybe have a few people we can call to join us and do the video side.

Been lurking a bit to gleam as much about the XL1 system as I could, now time to give a little back and start posting......

Hi Craig, welcome aboard DV Info Net, good to have you with us!

Anyone From Scotland - Dundee
 

Hi
Is anyone here from Scotland, especially the Dundee area. I am looking for people from all aspects of film, video and photography who are keen to make shorts and music videos and generally have a bit of fun doing it. The music videos is a side that may become commercial quite soon as I have already done 3 of them and hope to expand very soon
Let me know, it could be fun.
Cheers Martin

Hey Martin, could you give a bit more information, is the work paid or unpaid ? do you have any examples of music videos you've shot?. I work as a freelance camera/steadicam operator and editor based in Lanark, its a fair bit way from dundee but if the work was paid i would be interested.

Cheers
Andy.

Hi martin,

I would be interested in helping. I have made a couple of music DVD's. The most recent being a live performance of Albannach soon to be released.
My interests are varied though including historical documentaries.

Alex.

Just an update to my previous post. The launch of the Albannach DVD, Albannach: Circa B.C. is scheduled for Jan 2008. Details at:

http://www.albannachonline.com/store...cts.php?cat=35

Thanks for your replies guys
The work isnt paid just now as all the music videos I do are for up and coming bands so the micro budget I have is usually spent on fuel and food for the couple of guys that help out for nothing. The plan is to get a decent portfolio under my belt before taking it to the next step. My latest project is quite exciting. I will be filming a series of safety videos on oil rigs up in Norway......hopefully that will be the commercial kick start I need. So if I have the budget for a steady cam, I will know who to call.
Alex, It would be great to meet up and do some projects together, where exactly are you based?
Thanks to all
Martin
PS you can see the latest video for "Limber" at myspace, just search for firechill productions. Its a spoof of the TV programme "Most Haunted"

I live in Cumbernauld.

Hi. Another Scot here, based in the Dundee area. Just in the very early stages of getting started up so not much to report at the moment. The day job takes up too much time so I have to snatch the odd hour here and there trying to get things off the ground! :)

Hello Scotland. Hoping and planning on going to Scotland this next year. Guess there will be a big "Gathering" in July, with elements of my clan going to participate. Hope to have a new HD camcorder by then (well before then) to capture as much color and pagentry as possible. Will be then traveling up to the north after the celebrations to Caithness, to see the country of my ancestors.

Mike