UWOL X Idle Chatter Thread
 

Don't clutter up our pristine sign-up thread with your idle chatter. Post it here instead.

Any guesses about the mysterious UWOL X theme? I am sure that you are wrong, but you might give me some good ideas for future rounds.

Is it "Wings"?

Oliver

....As in the band with Paul McCartney? I hear he jealously guards his privacy. We're gonna need a bigger lens in order to get any close ups of the ex-beetle.

I honestly have no idea about the theme but I do like the way that the sign up thread opens with "let the adventure begin". Something involving risk taking perhaps....Sounds very promising!

Hi Brian.
Maybe I'll try the "Upside Down Club" way when I cross the Arctic Circle on my way North to Lofoten :) I kinda like the idea of drinking beer, standing on my head :/

Uwol X theme?
Maybe something with flowers, plants?

By the way Meryem:
Here's an idea for a future theme.
Ask us for a short story, novelle, dramatizing a story with at least one human being, and at least one animal or bird. Kinda Jack London inspired story. I know 3 min is a little bit too short, but it would have been quite a challenge and fun :)

Mmmm, I'm thinking if it's going to be so tough that she's giving us an extra week, that it's not so much a "thing" as an idea or a concept.

It could be a simple concept or something that is so grand in scope that it's almost overwhelming.

The thing to remember is that the theme will be something that can be universal. She's not going to throw Fall color at us when it's Spring time in other parts of the world.

So, I think it's going to be something like a feeling, or a concept but not an actual "thing."

So, it could be something like "Solitude", "Love", "Connections", etc.

That's my two cents on it.

I was thinking "Landscapes of the Mind" or something like that. On the other hand I wouldn't want it to turn into a navel gazing exercise!

I think Kevin is on the track, something like:

Outdoor Fun
Fun in the Sun
Sunrise activities
So Fun it Hurts
Extreme Video

So broad everyone can do it and the extra week should give everyone at least a weekend to get out and have some fun as well as filming.

It's probably going to be "people' oriented to make it hard. My lens freezes up when it points toward a human.

I think it will be something to do with us filming the subject - as opposed to the actual subject. Something like "the nature filmer" or "filming nature".

interesting concepts. provocative ideas.

nope!

LOVE, awww Railsback, you big teddy bear....

Steve - I have the same problem.

new toys
 

Great to hear some of you have new toys. Nothing like new equipment to excite you about getting out there and filming.

I ordered a fu 1000 in June so I would have it for this summer's shoots, on back order I was told!!! Ugggg.

I do have one new toy that I am hoping to use in the coming shoot.

Anxiously awaiting for thursday, but we will be off camping so I do not know if I can get the theme till we return!!

Had my camera over a year. Never made a dime with it but I shot constantly. Sold it the day after UWOL #9 and began getting hired instantly. How weird is that..

Not sure how but I plan to try for UWOL X.

so...i'll be the one to ask. why did you sell your camera, silly man? how do you expect to play without it? cell phone cam? isight? this should be interesting...

Playing the resale market. Figured once the EX3 hit our shores my JVC might drop a notch (or two). I have so much to learn it's ridiculous so I'm putting the down time to good use. There's a very interesting saying in racing which applies to my learning curve here - sometimes you have to slow down in order to go faster..

Using only cellphone cams and edited in a pro editing suite for a competition really could be interesting. Most good movies are about the entertainment factor and not the quality.

Especially on the internet.
with the output resolution down to 320x240, almost every mobile cam could compete ;)

I guess you could produce a decent entry with the right subject, good camera angles, good alternative camera support solutions, and good lightning. Audio can be a problem though. hehe

But thats a whole another deal ;)

Four weeks?? Heck then, I don't even have to start for three...

Gotta love the deadline rush... :)

Bob

Hey Bob...Told my wife the same thing,wait till the last week,upload and a fast half hour edit and away we go.I was then handed my camera bag and told to get out and start trying to figure out my new camera.On the old cam I did most everything in auto,so there is a whole world ahead of me learning things like Iris?..shutter speeds..and some zebra stripe function that I enabled because someone on a thread somewhere said I should.All of you kind UWOLers that offered help when I joined this group better get ready for some helping and advising...Oh yes Dale! thanks for the help so far...got the cam and loving it so far.

won't work this round! the sharks circle hungrily around bob...

Ohhhh....a challenge....I'm lovin' it! ;)

John, I think you're the only UWOL-er who might get to use Zebra stripes on actual zebras, in the wild!

I'm sitting here, worrying slightly. Not having an abundance of interesting wild animals (other than starlings and woodlice) makes the theme announcement a worrying time for me.

It's a pity St Patrick had to drive all the snakes out of Ireland, it might've given me some more interesting subject matter!

Ah, don;t sweat it Mike. I've pretty much shot every one of my films on the same trail and there's not a lot of wildlife there either.

Thanks Kevin!

I'm not exactly freaking out, it's more excitement I guess. This'll be my third UWOL, and I think I'm getting used to it.

Maybe I'm just afraid of having to climb into the bottom of that closet again for another painful voiceover recording session. Good job I lost some weight before I took up this hobby!

not to mention the fact that UWOLers find subjects like woodlice fascinating, that's how you know you're among friends. stick a macro on them and an interesting narration...back into the closet, Mike!

This will be my first UWOL and I too am very curious about the theme. I wonder if perhaps it is something that is more rare like sunrises or the Moon phases?

Something that you only get in a limited amount of time so an extra week is provided..?

Who knows. I really don't know what to expect but happy to be on board. I've loved the idea of making these kinds of films ever since I first started viewing IMAX films and National Geographic specials. I've been fortunate enough to land a job where my boss has let us use the cameras and tripods and on top of that I am going to college here in the USA in the state of Utah and there is an endless supply of amazing things to shoot. I feel ready for just about anything but scuba diving. :-)

well, welcome to UWOL, Ryan. I think you are our first player from Utah. Now you're not just playing, you're representing the entire state. Pressure!

A great state to represent. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Looking forward to seeing your corner of the world.

I love the Moab area of Utah.
After Yellowstone it's my favorite place to film.

Been trying to work out a trip this Fall or early winter.

I'm originally from Maryland, right outside Washington, DC, another beautiful area. But Utah (and the west in general) truly is a diverse and beautiful wilderness in most areas. Ever since I began college a few years back, I've never stopped being amazed at everything that is here in the mountains, valleys and deserts.

I love landscapes no matter where in the world, but Utah really has so much to offer.

Cool to think I'm the first one in Utah to play. If only August 1st would roll around sooner!

well, whaddya know...i grew up in western Maryland, Deep Creek Lake, another ridiculously beautiful area. beautiful in a very different way than where i live now...

So... tell the truth...

UWOL "X"...

We're going to have to find animals mating, aren't we?

i knew somebody was going to go there, but this is wholesome family programming. and the furry creatures need their privacy, too.

i did happen upon a pair of amorous squirrels once...

we're saving that footage for the smoky backroom action...

How could I tell that Woodlice were mating!?

Thank goodness that theme is out...!

Well, tomorrow is the big day.
My wife keeps asking me if we're going out of town this weekend or not. I keep telling her it depends on what the theme is when we get it on Friday.

But until I know what the theme is, it doesn't make sense to make plans to shoot something if it won't work for the theme.

Better go to bed early tonight Meryem so you can post the theme nice and early! :)

I hope you first timers know that this round is going to be tough because Meryem is about to unleash one of her famous curveball themes that will cause pain and torment for most everyone.
She's not usually this devious but every now and then she must love to sit back and listen to people around the world cry. :)

Also, remember that everyone here is more than willing to help.
Doesn't matter if it's your first challenge or your tenth, everyone has something they can contribute.
So don't be shy about asking questions or for ideas etc. That's what every one of us is here for, to become better filmmakers.

Course, I'll probably be one of the first ones crying tomorrow! :)

Oddly enough I'm a "newbie" on this contest, but I can't help myself posting on this board. I'm anxious as well to find out the theme to begin brainstorming ideas.

A couple of months ago, before I found the UWOL challenge site I had begun work on a 5-6 minute short film about water (missed that challenge by a few) and even though my post work isn't done on it I had already wanted to think about a new project.

I'm optimistic these challenges will fit that bill. I'm eager to get out and capture and create.

What are some of the other themes people have struggled with or "cried" about? I'm hoping even if the theme is difficult, it's a challenge that gets you excited...something you wouldn't normally do that pushes you in a new direction.

ryan,

Provo, what a great spot. lots of great stuff near you.

This just the right spot to lear lots!!!! that is exactly why I have been involved and I have learned lots and experct to continue. tons of help here and great constructive criticism!

One theme was "night" created a bit of anxiety but some great stuff was still produced, another was adventure. both aot of fun, definitely challenging.

yeah, NIGHT, haha, what a pack of whiners! you take away their light source and it's moan and moan and complain complain complain...

actually, i think that was probably the theme where the finishers actually learned the most about their cameras....

ADVENTURE did raise a bit of a ruckus as well, as did RECREATION, if anyone can remember that far back -- these themes that involve actual people instead of just pretty nature stuff seem to confuse everybody...except peter, every round is ADVENTURE as far as he is concerned, there is no other theme in this game.

oh, and there was mat's foot infection and brian mckay's frostbite, oh those were some good times!

well, we'll just see how many of you i can knock into the shark tank with this round.

i'm feeling feisty!

Betcha the next one's "LENS CAP ON".

Well??

It's after 6am already....had plenty of coffee, been at work for over half an hour...

I'm ready....bring it on...we're burnin' daylight ;)

It ain't gonna happen until Meryem has her coffee around 8AM Colorado time so she can sit back and laugh as we all complain about the theme. :)