Lament of the Milky Way
 

Due to crummy weather day after day here in Iowa I only have a couple shots done for my film but I'd at least give you and idea of what it's about and get some feedback.

Ever since I had to upgrade my cameras to 4k for a project for the state of South Dakota, I've been hooked on filming at night. I just can't get enough of it!

So when this theme came out, I didn't think about it much at all before I decided on doing a film about light pollution ruining the dark sky and turning night into day in some places.

Recently I saw the Conservation International films again where celebrities like Kevin Space, Harrison Ford and Julia Roberts played the role of things in our environment, the sea, the land, the air, Mother Nature, etc. I really liked the tone of it. Nature kind of telling humans, you destroy me, you destroy yourself.

So I started working on an idea from the Milky Way's point of view. At first it was pretty much negative in tone from the Milky Way's perspective.

Eventually I got hung up on where I wanted to go, so I enlisted the help of a writer. She suggested to take a softer tone and so we worked on dual scripts. One negative, one more positive yet sad.

I think I'll be going for the softer one and I'll post the script below to see what you think.

I'm headed to Utah in a couple weeks and I wanted to incorporate some of the Ansazi into the film. So I have some ideas to film at some of the ruins around Moab to show how it used to be.

Basically the film comes down to two types of shots. Shots with light pollution and shots without.

The night shots will be hard to get enough of because a typical exposure of one frame might be up to 30 seconds and I'll need 24 of those just to make one second of video. So to get a five or six second shot is going to take time and with the weather not cooperating, I don't know if I'll be able to get enough sky shots.

No clear skies here for another week or so and that will mean the moon will interfere with getting shots of the Milky Way. So it's a big gamble that I'll be able to get the shots I need.
Since the darkest skies in Iowa are about two hours from me and the Milky Way doesn't rise until closer to dawn, there's no way I can get those shots here in Iowa on time. So I'm counting on my trip to Moab to get the Milky Way shots. It's do or die because I won't be able to get them back home because I have to be at work by 7am every morning.

I really like this idea for a film so even if I don't finish by the end of next month, I'll keep plugging away at it until I get all the shots that I need to finish it

Forgotten. It’s a lonely thing to be. But it was not always so. There was once a day when people in every corner looked upon me in the quiet of night with the greatest awe and reverence. My billions of stars lit up the darkness like a glowing ribbon of white smoke and cinders stretched across the night sky! Men, women, and children everywhere contemplated in the stillness my beauty, my enormity, and the meaning of it all.
Always above you, I watched as you harnessed fire to protect yourselves from wild animals and to tame the land for your own purposes. In time I witnessed the advent of electricity and your ability to read and work well into the night. I watched as your numbers grew and you created more and more light to protect yourselves from one another. You became greedy for light, just as you became greedy for everything else you believed would make your lives easier.

But now with your great lights: along your highways, surrounding your workplaces, spotlighting your marketplaces, flashing throughout your cities, you have obscured me from your sight. You are turning the distinct beauty of the starlit sky into a veil of electric haze. You are turning the night into day. With you, there is no quiet; there is no rest; there is no night.

Discounted, neglected, I am still with you -- still sparkling, still glowing, always ready to show the way. Waiting. But only from the remotest of places can you now see me. Only from the highest mountains and most sheltered, secluded wildernesses can you look upon me to reverence me and to drink in the pure beauty of my light, to experience your own smallness in the face of a universe beyond your very imaginations. Under those few remaining remnants of night sky you may sit; there you may contemplate in your finite minds my infinite, unfathomable depths.

If you listen carefully to my silence, you will be reminded: Long before you ever walked upon the earth I was here. When you have taken your last step I will be here. Long after your walk is finished, I will yet be here. And your little lights, many and mighty though they seem, can't hold a candle to mine.

This was shot before the challenge began so I'll have to reshoot it but it will give you an idea of the look I'm going for maybe.

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Here's some shots of the stars taken before the start of the challenge.

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Kevin, great idea. You should be able to get awesome color videoing neon signs. Also, the two clips you posted were really nice and crisp. Remind me, what equipment did you go with. Bob

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Bob,

I'm shooting 4K video on a Nikon D500 and the timelapse sequences on a Nikon D810.
Love shooting with both!
Talk about Nikon updating the D810 this year so if they really focus on video with it as well as improve the low light abilities I'll be upgrading to that.

Re: Lament of the Milky Way
 

Steve, put it back!!!

I didn't have time to read it all this morning when I woke up but what I read was really heartfelt!

I hope you have it saved someplace!

The whole part of this challenge is to get feedback while we are in the process of making our film.
Anything anyone has to say is always welcome!

If I remember what you wrote the text really resonated with you and you paraphrased it with your own spin.
How can you think that wouldn't be welcomed?

I hope you reconsider and put the text back!

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When I woke up this morning, my first thought was how presumptuous it was of me to think I could improve on someone else's narrative, and then have the nerve to actually publish it without even asking permission. I couldn't get it off fast enough. I'll put it back if I can find it, but I think it was simply erased.

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Heck no Steve, I welcome any help that makes me think, that makes me grow even if it just makes me look at things from a different perspective.

We're doing this two month challenge in order to get some feedback and make some mid course corrections possibly so you were right on target with your post.

I can't tell you the number of times I've watched an old film and wish I had changed this or said that.
I don't know diddle squat about flow or any of that stuff. I just put stuff together that I think looks good.

Whether you can find it or not, please done hesitate to offer anything that you feel might make something better. That's why I'm here.

If there's times when you think I'm way off the mark, call me on it. I'd much rather have someone say I didn't understand the way you showed this and if you would have added this shot, it would have made more sense.

I wish I could find some of the discussions Mat and I had about our films. I think they were legendary. 😃
We welcomed each other's critique no matter how harsh it was. We could either agree or disagree. Make changes based on the feedback or not. But if one of us didn't get it about the others film, that means other people probably won't get it either.

So seriously, if you think of anything that might make my films better or if there's something that you think is the cats meow, put it in here.
I ingest it all and sometimes I make the changes, sometimes I don't. But I think it's important to know what others, especially other filmmakers are thinking.

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And here's an alternate, darker version...
This… This is all there is. This is all we are, where we came from…

Wide open and free skies going on forever and ever. It’s infinity. And it makes you forget it all and it makes you think. It makes you feel…

It’s simple, but achingly beautiful. Isn’t it?

Serenity reaching into the depths of your being. Rejuvenating your soul fully, but effortlessly.

The emptiness and quietness embrace peace, but from time to time- I feel your absence

The day is just as breathtakingly beautiful. The landscape’s colors come to life and the birds sing.

But, you aren’t here with me. You… You are far away. Busy. And I wonder.... Have you forgotten me entirely?

How could you pick this over me?

You can’t see everything anymore, can you? It’s like you are almost blind.

Your busy city disguises my vastness.

Your attention is trapped to what’s before your eyes. Always looking for something. A parking spot. The next big thing. The next distraction.

You never slowdown, turn off your lights and wonder anymore. Do you?

You have made me invisible.

Your city lights limit you and you don’t even realize it. Do you?

Every night, your skies remain empty.

Do you ever worry that you may be empty, too?

Society has come to this point and there is no turning back. It is impossible to turn back now.

But the price you paid was ruining the sky, erasing the stars, forgetting where you came from… Is it too late?

No… It’s not.

And what do you do? What do you do if you want to find me again? To return to this vastness and feel the power of the universe?

I’m always here, you see. To return… To feel me once more… It’s your choice because I would never leave you… In fact, I have never left you.

Millions and millions of stars. Never-ending beauty. And, remember… in your city, you have none of it.

You have made it so that it’s perpetually busy. You only see…

You forget where you belong, what you are, where you come from.

The day and night create a contrast, a dichotomy, a dance.

But your city has changed this for you…

Can you bring me back? Can you bring back the night? Most importantly, will you bring yourself?

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This looks exciting, Kevin.
The last and darker version of the script? Receding almost poetic. Am I right?
The two clips gives us a hint of what awaits. Beautiful! I am looking forward already.
Because of the different languages, I have problem with going into the details of the script.
I do not know how you use figuratively speaking, which I use in my language.
Am I right when the story is without hope, or is my opinion wrong?
I'm excited about how the ending of the movie will be.
Wish I could give you more help Kevin, but my language skills have their limitations.
I haven't shot a thing yet (except for one night trying to shoot the Aurora) and now we're starting on April :/

All the best to you and hope it will stop raining :)

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Geir,

The darker one is a bit more poetic and introduces the idea that even though we seem to have everything, we're as empty inside as the night sky in a big city.

You are so far ahead of me my friend. I struggle with English sometimes and you are fluent in multiple languages. That's all from the arrogance of America in believing the world should cater to us and learn English.

Anyway, the story says that there isn't any going back. No one is going to go without lights, we're not going to drive cars without headlights and companies certainly aren't going to turn off the neon signs. In a longer version I think I could go into ways that cities could adopt shielded street lights etc. There are towns that are around certified dark sky sites that work very hard to manage growth without adding to light pollution.

It's been nothing but rain here every day with 100% cloud cover. Thursday is supposed to be somewhat clear so I'm hoping to get out to the edge of town and get some footage of the night sky in a suburban setting.

Would love to get back and film the factory transitioning from day to night but the wind will be too strong to get a good reflection in the water. Might try it anyway just in case I don't have a chance to try and film it again.

I think this is one I'll stick with even if I miss the deadline.

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Supposed to be clear after 8pm tonight.
Going to head out to the local nature center on the endless of the city to get some night sky shots that will have some stars but not really dark skies.
I'm thinking this might be the opening sequence for the film

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Go for it Kevin!

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Forecast is still saying clear skies after 19:00 tonight!

Moon is rising shortly so the sky will be more washed out though.

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Got in a couple shots the other night when it was clear. Think I can improve on the, so I will try again.
More clouds and rain in the forecast though.

Did learn how to reduce noise in low light by exposing to the right and brining down the exposure in post.
Wish I could post a pic but it fails every time I try

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More clouds rolling into the forecast for next week.
Everything else is ready to go except the weather.
Have a feeling this one won't get done until later this year.

Four months of nothing but clouds and rain s I'm fully expecting to hang out in the camper in Moab and watch DVDs the whole trip

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Voiceover is all done. It clocks in at 3:52. I have a longer take that is almost five minutes that I like better but that might be something to play around with once I'm dine with the 4 minute version.

Just need some good weather now!

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Racing to get all the shots.
Assembling all the TL footage.
Don't have as many shots as I'd like so some shots will be drawn out until I can shoot enough in the future

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Licensed second music track last night. Looks like I need to license a third to get all the way through.
Still missing several shots but rough cut with placeholders is 19 frames over 4 minutes so need to trim the gaps in the voiceover a bit. Might make the pacing not as good but don't really want to be rolling credits and have the voiceover still going.

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Third music track licensed, was out until midnight filming around the city.
Not great stuff but it gets me closer to completing the film

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Just about done!

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It's been cool to follow the making of your film, Kevin.
Looking forward to the finished result.

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I've done a lot of things different this round that I hope to utilize in future rounds.
Just glad I had a few days of decent weather and two cameras to double down on their night shots when I did have a few days of opportunity.
Probably less than a week of clear skies or partially clear skies in the whole two month period.
It's been raining and cloudy pretty much since I returned from Utah as well!

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Since this thread is still here, I'll continue to use it as my feedback thread.
I'll post more about making it in just a bit
All comments good and bad are welcome.
I know there's a lot of room for improvement and hope to polish the film up more as I get better footage

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When the theme was announced I knew I had to do something about the night sky.
It was only last year that I picked up a DSLR and was able to do night time-lapse sequences but it quickly became a passion of mine.

The timing was also perfect in that I was going to Utah to attend a night photography workshop in April.

The weather in Iowa has been terrible since the latter part of last year. Nothing but clouds and rain.
The darkest skies in Iowa are about two hours away and the Milky Way galactic core rises near dawn this time of year. Since I only get two days a month off from work, the odds of getting to dark skies and have good weather were slim.

The month of March I only had one night where I could make it to dark skies, have decent weather and not have to work the next day. That turned out to be the last shot of the film. It was also my first shot of the galactic core in 2017.

I was able to get some star time-lapse sequences a little close to home in March and April but no further opportunities to film the galactic core. So it all hinged on Utah.

For most of the week the clouds followed me from Iowa. Beautiful blue skies during the day but towards evening the clouds would come rolling in. I seriously thought I wouldn't have any footage and would end up in the Shark Tank for sure!

Finally there were a couple nights where the clouds held off enough that I could at least get some footage of the stars. Even then it was tough. Cars would pull into pullouts far away but their headlights would illuminate the sandstone in my composition ruining that time-lapse. Even had one family stop and set off fireworks with their kids after midnight shining their flashlights all over the rocks while I sat in the darkness waiting for them to leave so I could continue shooting.

Towards the end of the week there was a magical night in Goblin Valley State Park, one of the darkest spots in the country. I spent the whole night with two cameras getting as much footage as I could get. The rest of the workshop group left at 4am but I stuck it out to get every last frame that I could.

When I returned home I had one more clear night before I had to go back to work so I headed down to Southern Iowa, two hours from home to get more of the galactic core. The fog rolled in part way through the night but I was still able to get some footage.

The city shots were all done the last week of the challenge. I duplicated a holy grail shot that I did before the challenge of Quaker Oats and downtown Cedar Rapids. It wasn't as nice as the original which is higher up in this thread because of the wind but you have to go with what Mother Nature gives you.

I knew before this challenge began that I wanted to up my game a little bit. So I planned on working with a writer and a voice talent to try and take the film to a higher level.

It was tough working with a writer trying to convey my idea while hoping that whatever they wrote I would be able to cover somewhat with footage.

Working with Karen the voice over artist was great, She did an initial read, I gave her some notes and she sent back two different versions each with a different feel. I went with the more somber one. I bet the more upbeat one would change the whole feel of the film even though it's the same words.

I'll keep working on improving this film. As I get shots that I think convey the thoughts I had in my head better, I'll cut them in and eventually get the film I saw in my mind.

Would love to go to Chicago or something to get some really nice big city shots to drive home the amount of light pollution there is. Maybe there's a summer road trip in my future! :)

Re: Lament of the Milky Way
 

Kevin,

You must have been the kid in school who kept lamenting that he was going to flunk, and then when the test came, he got the highest grade in the class. Right?

This video is so beautiful there aren't words. Lousy weather? Come on, any overcast just adds to the mystery. This piece was well shot, well thought-out, well edited and well narrated. I am so glad that I revoked my "alternate" narrative before anyone could read it, because, although yours looked really wordy on paper, it turned out to be just what was needed in Karen's mouth.

And this was the first time I have ever watched one of these rotating night sky videos that the scenes were on screen long enough to be able to pick out constellations. Even Jupiter next to Spica were recognizable. Lots of fun, and a potent message.

You did it again, bro.

Thanks.

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Kevin, listen to me. I have been watching your videos for years. Hey, I even narrated one of them. But Kevin, believe me when I say that this is your best ever. The script and narration was spot on. Kevin, it is you at your best. Bob

Re: Lament of the Milky Way
 

Steve,

Glad you liked it.
Out of the two months we had to make our films, there were probably three opportunities to film the night sky in Iowa and probably three in Utah.
The galactic core rose late each evening and at first was drowned out by the moon. But by Tuesday the moon was rising late enough to give me a chance to get the core filmed before the moon would rise.
Problem is, the clouds would come in before the core would rise.
Attached is a shot after I decided to call it quits about 1am after the clouds moved in and there was no chance to film the core.

Karen did a great job with the narration. I told her I needed it to be under four minutes. She gave me two takes and I actually used the one that was longer than four minutes but just cut out the gaps in some parts to get it to time.

i think the weakest part of the film is some of the shots in the city. I will be working to replace those when I can.
The final shot was the first time I had filmed the galactic core in 2017 and it was an all night shoot. I do like that the shot holds the whole time Karen is delivering the final paragraph.

Thank you so much for your kind words. My goal was to try and up the level of what I had been doing in past challenges as well as to dole out some responsibility for the words and the voice to people that were far better at it than I could be.

Re: Lament of the Milky Way
 

Bob,

Glad you enjoyed the film. I so appreciate the kind words. I don't know, The River is still a pretty damn nice film. :)

It was certainly a scramble to get the shots I needed. I was in a photography workshop in Utah so I was torn between working with everyone to learn the new techniques in filming the night sky or going off on my own to get time-lapse sequences. I tried to balance the two so I came away with learning a lot for the future but also had some time when we finally did get clear skies to get some time-lapse sequences done.

We were shooting the zodiacal light one night at Dead Horse Point State Park but wouldn't be there long enough to do a time-lapse so I had to settle for a few still images.

Course the wind was blowing at 30+ mph so everything was getting sandblasted out there anyway. :)

Need to work on the part about obtaining fire and some of the city shots for sure but I'll also add better night sky time-lapse sequence sin the future to get it closer to what I saw in my head when I came up with the idea for the film this round.

I really feel that working with a writer and a voice artist did wonders for the film.

It's always a good feeling when people like your work, but when it comes from other filmmakers, that means a lot more. I'm glad the film connected with you!!

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Hi Kevin, Bob and Steve are quite right in their praise. I know you feel there are areas for improvement but, believe me, that would be for very minute fine tuning. As you know the more proficient you become at your art, the more time consuming and expensive small gains become. Ask any top F1 race team about the millions of dollars (dollars! Gosh I am becoming Americanized) and hours of investment to gain that 1,000th of a second over the opposition. And this what we are talking about with your entry. You have ideas of how it can be improved, viewers at this moment in time just go wow!!!

You go on and enjoy your self imposed challenge to make the improvements that I know you want to make. If you then re-post it here I know that after watching both Steve and Bob will want post their comments but it will just be a blank post as they will be left speechless lol

By anybodies standards you have produced a highly polished, first class entry. Well done.

Re: Lament of the Milky Way
 

Thanks for the kind words Mick.
Like I said above, it always means more when it comes from other filmmakers.

The parts I mainly want to rework are the fire scene and the city scenes. But as I get better at doing night timelapse I'll certainly incorporate those shots into the film.

Having two cameras going at the same time really helped get shots to five me a bit variety. Shooting about two hours for every shot meant I'd only get a few shots a night once astronomical twilight began.

BeIng out in the did skies was certainly magical! Can't wait to get back out here!
Thanks again for the feedback!

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Solid work, Mr Railsback!
This is probably one of your very best uwol films ever! Your skills of mastering the night, both photo and filming, has improved a lot.

I agree with your own comments about the "city shots" being the weakest part, but they are not bad. It's just that the night sky with all the stars are such a top quality, so all the rest has a tough time matching that quality level.

You pushed yourself hard with this film, and that is what uwol is all about!
Well done, and thanks for sharing!

A tiny little detail: The transition from the last clip to the credits, was too abrupt for me. How about making a little longer fade to black in between there, to make it more smooth?

Re: Lament of the Milky Way
 

Trond,

You were spot on with the fade at the end. It was originally longer but I had to cut it to fit in the 4 minute timeframe.
I didn't want to shift the video and audio around to get under 4 minutes and then do a longer fade so I just cut it. The non challenge version will have a longer fade out. :)

Glad you liked it!
I agree that the city section is the weakest part and I'd love to go to Chicago or something and film there instead of my little 140,000 people town!

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It's a great film, Kevin.
Thank you for sharing gold :)

Just one question:
You say the weakest part of the film is some of the shots in the city.
If you got the chance to replace the city clips.
What would you use as a replacement?

I think that a movie may not necessarily be "perfect" through every single second.
You need what I call "helping scenes", that build up the best scenes, which again give tension to/in the movie.
Well, that's my opinion, at least.

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Geir,

I'd love to go to Chicago and get some footage that's more on the order of something like this
https://vimeo.com/dominicboudreault/citylimits

I think I will have to reach a point where it's good enough and move on but I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet. 😃

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I understand. That was a beautiful video too.
Still, I think your film have it all. Both great story, good audio and beautiful shots.
I think in a short like the ones we make in uwol, thats almost unbeatable.

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Kevin,

Such a wonderful video, i love all the timelapses you have done in there, takes a lot of time and yes patience as the sky doesnt behave as we wish to.
The complete transitioning of the scenes is absolutely smooth making it a wonderful experience to view.
Idea of music and voiceover together works really well .

Very nicely done,

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Another Railsback masterpiece!
Super story and shots to match - I translated it for my wife as we watched on the big TV last night, and was she impressed ( despite my translation!)
Thanks!

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Kevin I'd meant to comment on the progress stage, not that I could add anything to the other comments at that stage. You already had some great timelapses then, and the story was compelling - thought provoking and a wake up call. I think choosing to be less pessimistic in tone leaves room for hope, and a relateable proposition for we mortals.
You've added a lot since then and it works really well together. Captivating images, and a well recorded narrative that not only complements the visuals, but the whole feels more than the sum of its parts. There's no question you spent a lot of time to put everything together and it shows. Well done.

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Just tracked your film down via the web as the Vimeo links are not working on my tab.

Wow, wow, wow, wow. That was awesome.

Can I find something to say, nope. If I had to say something it would be about the fonts used for the credits. To make them tell a story too. By look and feel of the font you can make them part of the story. They don't need to animated, coloured or over created. Just a shape that implys they are part of the story - find the right font to give a film or product the right reel is tuff and I've spend days looks at fonts.

Once again. Loved film.

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I'd like to add my voice to the others

this was awesome the visuals the soundtrack the narration, all tied in beautiful.