Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Lorinda, don't worry. It is still many days until June 1st. :)
But a signup thread can be posted soon anyway.

Let me know if you want a helping hand.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Lorinda, I reckon you should use the the following theme: "Pastoralism"......harhar (*joke).

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Quick, Lorinda! Break out the camera. We've got to get behind-the-scenes shots of you agonizing over the next theme. (No joke.)

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Haha, Mike that's funny!
Go for it, Lorinda! ;)

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Just a reminder:
Remember to sign up for the UWOL challenge.
Signup thread is open, and challenge begins June 1.

You don't have to complete the challenge, but a "behind the scenes" film of you (trying to) make your June entry, must be submitted for the Around the world, by July 31.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Hopefully you all are busy with the UWOL 26 now. Notice UWOL 26 and ATW have different deadlines!
Deadline for submitting your entries for Around the world, is JULY 31.

Remember:
Even if you do not complete the UC26 challenge, please notice that your Behind the scenes for the ATW can also be about your difficulties making your uwol challenge entry.
(How you struggled finding time, the difficulties finding a good idea... and so on.)
Feel free to be creative.


Submitting footage:
CC is open for any suggestions about how to do this.
So far, the plan is to upload your submissions to a specific folder in my Dropbox account.
Unfortunately, this requires everyone to have their own dropbox account, so I can share access to the folder we will use. (You can get your own Dropbox account for free at www.dropbox.com)

Are there better ways to submit footage? If yes, please share your ideas!

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Trond,

Do you have any guidelines to offer for the Around The World Footage? For example, how much of it should be nature footage, and how much behind the scenes (just rough, like half of each, or mostly nature, etc.) How many minutes do you want from each person? Should it be a finished package, as for a UWOL challenge entry, or would you prefer just edit-ready clips?

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Thank you for the heads up, Steve.
Let me discuss this with the CC, and then I'll post here within a couple days.

Sorry for the delays. I have been without a computer the last month. Just got my new one, so I'll be more productive from now on.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

I also have been really out of the loop for the past month and I wasn’t sure until recently whether I would be able to edit or not. It now appears that I probably will. I have a number of things that I have needed to discuss with Trond and will try to get it all done in the next day or so. I believe I have another possible way to deliver videos for editing that we need to talk about as well as the issues that Steve mentioned.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

A reminder of the guidelines: (As published a while ago)

Contributions should have roughly this structure, and be around 5 minutes total:

Intro B-roll
Interview 1 (may be VO)
Sequence B-roll (member filming)
Interview 2
Sequence B-roll
Closing PTC (may be link to next section)

This gives enough freedom for people to add what they want, as long as it contains some wildlife/ nature/ outdoors (B Roll) and some BTS - either interview, or VO, or just shots.


Notice:
1. To make the editing process easier, please leave some "head and tale" in the beginning and end of the clips.
2. All contributions should be roughly edited, but editors may further edit to make everything fit.
Editors in cooperation with CC will have the final word about the editing.
3. Everyone should also send a paragraph describing the clips and what they feel is their significance.

4. Submitting the contributions:
We have discovered some issues with Dropbox, and MS and myself are working on a possible alternate way to submit the contributions to the editors.
It appears anyone with a basic / free Dropbox account will overload their storage limit of 2 GB as soon as the total size of all files in the shared folder exceed 2GB.
There is also reportedly some issues with Dropbox degrading image quality, but I have not noticed this during my testing this weekend. Further testing will be done the next few days.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Hi Trond and Mike:

What about using Vimeo for this? Perhaps you could have a UATW channel similar to how you are using Vimeo now to upload the UWOL challenge films. People could upload their clips as private and also enable the setting to allow you both to download the videos from the Vimeo site onto your own computer.

Just a thought.

Also, will their need to be a standard formatting for these clips? Like the requirements being NTSC, 960 x 540, Mp4... whatever, so you are dealing with similar clips?

Just thinking out loud, you guys know what you are doing for sure!

Cat

P.S. Trond, that was a nice offer to Gordon on the Tales thread :)

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Good questions.
I think we should aim for the best possible image quality, which means HD. If anyone still shoots SD, I'm sure we will find a way to incorporate this into a HD film.

Regarding PAL/NTSC:
One will have to be converted into the other. Luckily with HD, that only means change the speed a little bit. Shouldn't be any trouble. (Or am I overlooking something?)

I'll discuss this with the CC, and get back to you soon.


Submitting via Vimeo:
That is something we definitely should check out.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Another question. Has anyone considered whether the format is going to be 1st person, where each participant talks about him/herself on screen, or will it be 3rd person where the narrator talks about them, or a combination? It will make a difference in how each of us put our segments together.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Steve, let me get back to you on this one. I'll discuss it real quick in CC.
Initially the thought was to have the contributors talk about themselves and the process about making their uwol26 entry.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Heads up, guys and gals:

Due to the very few submitted entries to the uwol 26, CC has desided to make some changes for the UWOL Around the world (ATW):

1.
Deadline for submitting to uwol around the world: Extended to August 31.

2.
Everyone who SIGNED UP FOR uwol 26 may submit.

3.
Those who did not submit for uwol 26, will be permitted to submit for the ATW, with the same theme IMPACT as a basis... and also based on already published requirements for the ATW. (the interview, b-rolls... and so on)


Hopefully these changes will make it possible for more uwolers to participate!

-----------
The extended deadline will also buy us some time to work out the best way to deliver your contributions to the editors.
We will provide detailed info as soon as we can.

Information about preferred file types will also be provided soon.
(An "editing friendly filetype" is required.)
-----------

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Update:
The editors have now done some testing, and desided that preferred file format for submitting your contributions, will be Avid's DNxHD.

This is a codec that works well both on windows and mac.
(Requires quicktime installed on your computer)

Codec can be downloaded for free here:
Avid Codecs 2.3.7 Download

If someone for any reason is unable to convert to DNxHD, editors might be able to help.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Interesting choice of codecs. I have no idea how to convert to an Avid codec. I use a program called "Wondershare" which will allow me to convert among a dozen different codecs, but Avid isn't one of them. The export function on my Adobe Premiere 5.0 doesn't list Avid as a choice, even with Quicktime.
I read the information on the Avid codec download page. It implied that any other codec converted to Avid would be at 720 x 480, which sounds a lot like standard definition. Does downloading the codec install a conversion function?

If this can be done, some exact instructions should be provided.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Reread the Avid download page. I was mistaken about the SD. Sorry. Still need instructions.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

I'm pretty new to that codec myself, so maybe Mike Sims could chime in with his expertise.

But here is how I chose the DNxHD codec when exporting from Premiere CS6:

1. Select format = Quicktime
2. Under video settings, select codec Avid DNxHD
3. Select "Codec settings", and choose the settings (resolution, frame rate and bitrate that matches your video)
4. Export

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

DNxHD won’t show up in the list in Premier until after you install the codec. I export out of PP5 with no problem. Most editing programs can export it just fine once installed. Avid used to let you download and install just DNxHD. Now you download an installer for all their codecs and choose which to install.

Dad is coming home today and I still have a few ducks to line up in a row. Tomorrow I will try to put together a guide to installing and using DNx. If it turns out to be a problem for anyone, we will work with you. You can also always uninstall DNxHD later if you don’t want it on your machine.

As for the 1st or 3rd person question, the interview questions will be 1st person. Everything else it doesn’t matter because we can overdub in 3rd person by narrator if needed (unless you are looking right into the lens!).

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

I’m working on a guide and some tips for the DNxHD codec but the going is slow (probably because I can only work for five minutes at a time before being called away!). I am making progress. If anyone gets going with it in the meantime and has any specific questions, be sure to e-mail me. Thanks.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

That is good, Mike.
I'm pretty much offline the next few days due to family visiting.
After that I will try to check out our alternatives for the ftp file submittings.

Stay tuned. I'll keep you updated.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Update:
Mike Sims and I have now started testing the UWOL Vimeo page, to see if we can use that one to submit the contributions. (Thank you Lorinda and Chris for approving this!)

So far, with mixed results. Full scale (my uwol 26 entry encoded with DNxHD) failed, a short video successful.
Testing continues the next couple days.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Update:

Mike Sims and I (in cooperation with CC) have been testing the UWOL Vimeo account this week, and still haven't made the final conclusion if we can use it or not for submitting the videos to editors.

Problem:
Uploading of large video files encoded with DNxHD, fails. From my testing, anything above around 45sec -1min, gave me upload issues. Short files with the same encoding are uploaded successfully.

I have also tried the Cineform codec. Which Vimeo does not accept at all. (Upload goes well, but as soon as upload completes, I got an "unknown codec" message.

Then we began testing with different raw videos from various video cameras. Here we have had more success. My uwol 26 entry (Raw video encoded with Canon MXF as it was straight from the camera), was successfully uploaded, and I could then download the source file from Vimeo a few days ago.
(Upload took a good 5 hours on a 10mbps network)

Discussion now is if the best might be to have everyone submit their contributions in whatever raw video format their camera record. And then editors (Mike and I) do the conversion to DNxHD prior to the edit process.

Another option we are thinking about, is if it will be less trouble to have everyone submit their videos on a DVD-R via the good old postal service.

...............
CC has still not heard from Chris Hurd about possible access to the UWOL Vault and all the old entries.
Working on it, and I am trying to contact Jeff Kramer. (Thank you Meryem for the heads up about him)

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

I haven’t had a lot of extra time this week (fighting a Closteridium infection in my Dad) but I just wanted to clarify a couple of things from Trond’s post. When he says “raw” he means the native format that your camera records in, not the raw sensor data (I think most everyone got that but some might get confused). Also we are talking about a DVD-R data disc not a DVD video disc encoded to MPEG2. If your camera records MPEG2 you would still make a data disc. Ask if you are unsure how to proceed.

If we agree to go with delivery by disc and mail there will be some expense (postage). Depending upon where you live it will likely be much cheaper to send it either to myself or Trond. Send to whichever is best for you and let us sort out the rest of the logistics. From some parts of the world either might be a significant cost. If you find it prohibitive, please let us know. We may be able to find some subsidy or an alternative way to deliver for you. We don’t want the cost to prevent anyone from participating.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Hello everyone,
Sorry it has been quiet here lately.
Unfortunately Dale had to withdraw from the project. Not sure if he will be able to join in again at a later time.
CC is therefore reduced to Paul Wood and myself at the moment.

Testing of the uwol vimeo page is completed, with the results Mike and I mentioned in our last posts here.

Still no luck in getting access to the uwol film archive. But I have not given up hope yet. Hopefully Chris Hurd or Jeff Kramer get back to me with positive answers soon. Emails have been sent to both of them.

So, how are you guys and girls doing?

If anyone plan to submit their submissions by mail instead of via the uwol vimeo page, please write an email (through dvinfo) to either Mike Sims or me, so we can work out the best and least expensive way.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Trond,

Are we supposed to just use Vimeo's published parameters, or is there some special way this footage should be provided?

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

You should upload with best possible quality.

That means whatever native file type your camera provides, and then Mike or I will convert it to DNxHD before editing.

Uploading DNxHD encoded files longer than about a minute, failed during our tests, and Cineform is also impossible to upload to Vimeo. Therefore I say "the best possible quality you camera can provide".

If anyone has trouble with this, we will work out an alternative.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

You are probably aware of this, but Vimeo recommends certain compression settings that are definitely not the best that most camcorders, or editing software, can produce. Here are their guidelines.
https://vimeo.com/help/compression.

To upload 1920 x 1080 material you have to be a paying member.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Do not follow the Vimeo compression guidelines. They are intended to provide the best possible results for playing the video on Vimeo. That is not what we intend. If the author sets the permission while uploading we can later download the original file. We want the original file. We don’t want to download or even watch the Vimeo compressed file. It will be deleated after Trond and I download the original high quality file. We are using the account provided for UWOL by Chris Hurd and 1920 x 1080 is no problem.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Thank you, Mike for adding the details.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

IMPORTANT:

The UWOL Vimeo account has a 50GB capacity limit, with only about 40GB available at the moment. (Which we didn't notice until yesterday)
Therefore we have to limit the simultanious uploads of your videos.

(As a reference, first submission was uploaded yesterday and is about 12GB in file size. It took between 18 and 21 hours to upload, and so far I have spent 11 hours downloading - 78% completed)


New procedure:
When you are ready to upload your submission, post in this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/uwol-cha...nes-guide.html
Mike or I will then notify you when you will be allowed to upload.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

The cheapest and easiest way to send a DVD is via Airmail letter (not parcel) post. Simply sandwich the DVD (without plastic box) between two pieces of A5 card and place it in an A5 envelope. If using cereal box card you may need three pieces to make it a little firmer. A well-tried and tested method.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Thanks, Marj! Now I'll be watching the post for your letter. ;)
Hope things are going well with your big project.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Pleasure Mike - possibly quicker and easier than uploading. :)

Re my project, yes, thanks, but as a result it won't be possible for me to be involved in this.

I look forward to seeing the outcome of your efforts.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

IMPORTANT:

The summer months (in the northern part of the world), was probably a busy time for many, and maybe not the best time to have deadline for your submissions.

Therefore, CC has decided to extend the deadline:

NEW DEADLINE: OCTOBER 31.

Also: UWOL 27 will be included with the same rules and conditions as UWOL 26.
This means: Anyone who sign up for the September challenge (UWOL 27), and / or signed up for the June challenge (UWOL 26), can submit for the Around the world!

Hopefully these changes will give more people a chance to be a part of this film.

PS, if you haven't done it yet, remember to sign up for the September challenge!
Let's have fun!

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

This doesn't have to be an issue. Let me know how much capacity might be required, and DVi will provide it.

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Chris,
Thank you for the offer. It is impossible at the moment to know how much space is needed, as it depends on how many submissions we get.
If we need more capacity, I will get back to you.

Thank you once more for everything you have done to make DVInfo what it is today!

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Hi Trond,

No worries, if and when we approach the bandwidth limit, just let me know and I'll get it increased!

Re: Collaborative #2: UWOL Around the World
 

Thank you very much, Chris.

By the way, isn't it about time you sign up for an uwol challenge now? :)