Well, it looks like we're all in the South-ish part of NJ. Maybe we should get together for dinner some evening.

Boyd,

Valhalla was in the Student Center, buy a Stein and drink all night, well one night it kinda got outta hand, and some, er inebriated, students killed some of the trees on the Mall by the Planetarium etc, and not like a Dog kills grass, though I think some of that happened too, the trunks were cracked from the weight of the evening.

that was it for Valhalla for the OCC Vikings! coffeehouses continued for a bit.

Lighting Workshop
 

Some of you will know of Walter Graff, member here and many other similar web sites. Every so often, Walter gives lighting/production workshops in NYC, which are all-day affairs and cost only $100 per person for hands-on instruction. Walter just announced a series of these during the month of April and Tim Gray (see above posts) and I wanted to go, but just couldn't make the dates work.

I emailed Walter to see if we could set up a workshop for later in May for a "Private" group made up of Tim, me and any others on this thread living in NJ. We could not only receive some professional instruction, but meet each other in person for the first time. Perhaps some semi-permanent association could grow from that - a NJ Network. If you are interested, post, IM, or email me. Could be fun.

Jack Barker
Lawrence, NJ
iJack33 (AIM)
RogueCrew@Verizon.net

I just wanted to say that I think this is a great idea for two reasons:

1 - I need to learn how to light.
2 - This could be an invaluable resource for independent movie makers. We could:

a - trade actors and contacts.
b - help each other out with projects.
c - have someone to show our crappy finished products too.
d - collaborate (GASP!)

Not to make us sound not serious, but here is a little about me. My brother and I are young "film makers" interested in putting together a couple movies. We've been making videos since we were really young (he's 30 and I'm 27 now). It's now time to step it up.

We are not in it for the money. Actually, we seem to be in it for the lack of money. I hate to say it, but this is a labor of love. We have day jobs that pay the bills.

I got interested in the sound end of things. I managed to pick up a small sound kit. Mike (my brother) fancies himself as a writer. He's written a couple shorts and just finished the 1st draft of a 90 min movie. He managed to pick up a JVC HD100. This is our first real camera that we actually own. We've been using a DVX100 for the last year, but it wasn't ours.

We're filming a short this weekend. It's going to be rough since there isn't a large enough crew, but we will make do. The lighting is going to be a really rough point - we have a small kit but the only real experience I have is some interview lighting (been doing a lot of interviews for a different project). We've decided that we want to have a trial by fire with this project and learn the hard way. This will hopefully give us some experience that will help us work with others.

After this (read after next weekend) we want to volunteer on other local projects. Get some experience, meet some friends, and get a community going. Want a boom operator/sound guy? I'm willing. We can also be operate a camera, rig lights, etc. Crap, if you need a "science advisor," I might be able to help with that too. I can't believe that all the independant movie makers in NJ have their stuff together so much that they wouldn't die to be part of a community. This is a golden opportunity.

Any New Jersey Talent?
 

Hey everyone, this is actually my first post on this board. I been out the game for a while and its was such a relief to find these boards cause everyone here really seems to know what they are talkin about and thats a real breath of fresh air to me. Anyway I live in the great state of New Jersey, the manalapan area, Im 21 and have been a faithfull filmmaker since i knew how to hold a camera. The past few years have been extremely rough and I had to put off any and all projects. Now things are starting to look up and I started writing and experimenting with little projects. But what I really want is to collaborate with someone from NJ who is like me. Actually, I have NEVER had the pleasure of meeting up with someone who loves the art as much as I do. Here in Manalapan there are no serious filmmakers, anyone who i did try to collaborate with wanted to shoot an action scene in their backyard. I love action, but I seem to long for something that has more meaning then muzzle flashes. I honestly am dying to get something off the ground before the end of the summer. Im sure everyone here knows that huge huge feeling of emptiness when you have not said the word "action" in a while. If there is anyone in this state who shares my love for the art, and who would want to put two great minds together, then please reply. Again, thanks everyone for your proffessional and knowledgable info found around every corner in this site.

Chime in on the other NJ thread.

i didnt even see that.

definetly. im up for it. i wanna get back in the mix of things so bad my heads gonna explode.

Whoa! Sounds like a plan!
 

I'm in Atlantic City and have access to real cops (and real characters, as well) who want to act plus a PD here and there who will allow us to use the property. I like the idea.

Ed, Hugh. How does Sunday, May 21 work for you guys? Please email me (bottom of my post, above). If we don't get a quorum, we don't go.

Edit:

Just heard from Walter Graff. He would be glad to accommodate us and the group should be 6 in number. So come on guys, jump in.

sounds good
 

just sent you an e-mail jack. Im in.

I just noticed that earlier, I posted about cutting back on my playing time, well it's cut back to zero for the moment.

Lighting has always been a bear for me. Especially as a one person production department. Just ordered an Arri light kit with a softbox, hoping that will help a bit, the old Smith victor kit is falling apart!

Jack not sure how my schedule works but I am definitely interested.

Jack I sent you an e-mail. I'm very interested.

okey dokey, checked my schedule.... I'm in.

Lighting Workshop Full
 

Wow! I'm really psyched. I thought it would take weeks of arm-twisting to get a quorum for this gig. So anyway, I guess that closes this intake, as Walter likes to keep the groups small to allow everyone some hands-on time.

The group:
Kenn Bell, Bill Mecca, Ed Grabowski, Hugh DiMauro, Tim Gray, Mike Gray and yours truly, Jack Barker.

Thanks, Jack!
 

In the immortal words of Kevin Spacey as "Detective Jack Vincennes" in LA CONFIDENTIAL:

JACK'S BACK!

And Jack, tell your cousin, Bob, that he looks really good with that white hair of his! And he's still a hit with the ladies, at his age! HA!

Who knows, after the workshop, whiskey and coffee?

Kevin Spacey - what an excellent actor! Deservedly, also one of the Garden State's favorite sons (South Orange) and he's one of Hollywood's biggest supporters of independent film.

Oh yes! I agree! I became a BIG Spacey fan after his performance in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

There's also Roy Scheider.

There are so many, I couldn't choose. "The Shipping News", "American Beauty", "The Usual Suspects", and of course his incomparable turn on the TV series, "Wise Guy," as the sympathetic uber-villain, Mel Profitt.

Gene Hackman. Steve McQueen. Ben Kingsley (Krishna Bhanji)

Hi. Coming in to this thread kinda late. But I live in NJ (Princeton) and do documentary & video art. Not as a day job (I teach), but the video work consumes much of my free time. I wonder what types of video you other folks who are in NJ do.

Sorry I missed out on the lighting workshop, but if there's ever another, I'd be interested.

Welcome
 

Hi Carolyn, welcome to the thread and to DVInfo - maybe the best site of its kind.

We have organized the Lighting Workshop for Sunday, May 21st, in NYC and as it turns out, one of our number has had to drop out, so there is a place available. Not one of us has ever met another, except here at DVInfo and we're really looking forward to changing that and to a great workshop.

Drop me a line if you're interested.

Jack Barker
Lawrence, NJ
iJack33 (AIM)
RogueCrew@Verizon.net

BTW, my IM is always on since I work at my computer all day.

One more, but up north.
 

I'm in west Essex county, very near the border with Morris cty.

I doubt I have the knowledge and experience that most here do, but I'm hoping to increase that as much - and as soon - as possible.

Looking forward to spending lots more time on this board.

Welcome to DVinfo Denis! Will look forward to hearing about what you're up to.

New from Jersey
 

I kept trying to find time to join this forum for quite awhile and now thanks to the slow render times of Ppro I have that time.
I'm from New Jersey and have been full time working the event video business for the past 5 years using Sony and Canon cameras, Premiere, Ppro, Avid and FCP.
I hope I can be of help to this community.

Welcome Enrique! There are a number of us New Jerseyans here at DVinfo:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=7664
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=12648
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=28047

Welcome, Enrique.
 

I'm in Northern NJ, near the border of Morris, Passaic, & Essex Counties. Very new to the forum myself, and just moving up from consumer products.
Recently purchased a Panny HVX-200, tripod, dolly, a few mics, and have ordered a new computer for the latest Adobe suite w/Flash. Have been doing video on/off for family/friends for more than 15 years, and have decided to take the plunge after much encouragement from others. What I'm looking for now is more experience in the "real world." Have worked on/off with a local producer for about a year, but am always looking to learn from others, as well as my mistakes. If you ever find yourself in need of either a second camera, or "crew help" with one of your projects, contact me. If I'm available, I'll do what I can.

Denis

I'm from Plainfield, New Jersey, in Union County.

Hey Boyd, I remember your area from the time when I was stationed at McGuire AFB a looooooong time ago. Other than Pleasantville/Brigantine area and Ocean City for weddings haven't hung out much in that area lately.
Dennis, might take you up on that. I have to check my schedule because I think that I overbooked a wedding and two graduations on the same day. I'll let you know very soon.
Glenn, glad to meet you.
I checked Boyd's threads and I see a few friends there. Good to know I'm in good company and at the risk of sounding "Dumb" wish I remembered to log in more often a few years ago before I got deleted for lack of use of this forum.

I'm from NJ. Riverside Nj

Hey Jay, XL H1???, I'm green with envy. Had the chance however to compare one side by side with Sony's FX1 and was surprised at how much better a picture the Canon has. Good for you man.
BTW do you find it to be front heavy after a while of working with it?...

yeah this camera is sweet, I do find it to be very front heavy. That was my first impression when I held it. I'm so use to slinging my DVX 100a around..lol. That Camera is quite new to me I have a lot to learn.

-Jay

Canon DV out to DVI in of LCD monitor
 

Hi Jay,
i just registered two minutes ago. I'm looking for the correct doubler/scaler to link my recently checked over Canon 45 to my Acer AL 1716 LCD monitor. A stand alone box that shows me what I have, only doubled to fit the screen. This camera is used for table-top camera design set-ups on I beams and home-made steady/move equipment for a 'robotic' feedback guitar video short.
I'll settle for VGA input of monitor and composite from camera.
Wayne

More Than Refineries And Highways
 

Hello,

Proud resident of central New Jersey USA. The unwritten rule is that you have to be born here in order to make jokes about the state lol. But seriously this is a great place for filming just because the array of landscapes, climates and cities within a 50 mile radius is really stunning. Want to practice making surfing films? Head over to the Atlantic Ocean and the miles of beaches. Need an urban environment? Go north towards Jersey City, Newark and Orange. Need farmland? Hunterdon county. Wait you need a massive forest to roam around in? Pine Barrens to the rescue (but be careful, the Pineys can be weird at times). All in all, this is a great state to get in a lot of practice shooting on a limited budget. If there are any other NJ shooters out there, make yourself heard!

Chris

Careful now, I resemble that remark! I live out in the woods near Mays Landing, which is maybe 20 miles Southwest of Atlantic City.

Welcome Christopher, there are a number of fellow New Jerseyans at DVinfo. I think you're right about the state, there's quite a diversity of landscapes and people here; it never ceases to amaze me. Just recently I was exploring New Jersey's "Western Shore" which is the area along Delaware Bay. There are some really interesting little towns there which time seems to have passed by, and some spectacular views. I'll bet most people don't even realize it exists.

Here are a few threads from others in NJ:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=7664
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=12648
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=28047
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=45892
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=36486
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=34712

No you're fine :) I meant the ones waaaaaay deep in the Pine Barrens. My friend was delivering bales of hay to a farm down there when he got a flat tire. People came out of the trees throwing things at his truck and screaming to get lost. Weird.

I've never been to the western shore although many fishermen tell me its nice out there. I think I'll have to start taking exits I never stop at and just seeing what I find as I get further and further off the beaten path.

Another from Jersey.
 

Chris,

Welcome. You're definitely NOT alone here. I'm in Essex Cty, and have relatives in Somerset Cty. When not working from home, my spouse often works in Somerset Cty. Lived in Jersey my entire life, and in my youth I lived in Bskg Rdge for almost 2 yrs after moving out of Monmouth Cty.

Do you work full time at this? If you ever find yourself in need of help, post in "Helping Hands" if you do. There are plenty of folks here from Jersey.

New from New Jersey
 

hey, i'm from central jersey - anyone else?

Yep. Lakewood- Ocean County.
welcome!

Hi Mike, welcome aboard DV Info Net!