UWOL #1: "Clear Skies" by Ruth Happel
 

As Meryem suggested, I am creating a thread for feedback on my video. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Here is a link to it, as set up on uwolchallenge.com-

http://www.uwolchallenge.com/challen...ClearSkies.mov

This contest was really a great inspiration for me. I have been shooting video for years, but this is the first time I actually used an NLE to put together clips to make a film. I found the process challenging but a lot of fun- I guess that is why this is called a challenge! This gave me the nudge I needed to help me start learning a lot of new skills, and actually doing something with all my footage.

I shot this with my latest camera, the Panasonic PV-GS500, and recorded the audio with the Zoom H4. I edited using Vegas 7 which I had as a free trial download, and have now decided to buy. It opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities.

Thanks again for putting in all the time and effort to develop uwol.com and the challenge. I found this forum and challenge within a few days of finding this site, and so far dvinfo.net has really helped inspire me to learn all aspects of video. Thanks so much!

Ruth

Ruth,

I enjoyed your entry very much. I thought it was very clever. Where do you people come up with all these ideas? I had a smile on my face the whole time I was watching this. Thanks.

Rick

i can't comment on quality of entries, as an evaluator, but it sure puts a smile on my face when people mention how much they learn along the way. nothing teaches you how to make a video like completing a video. thanks fer playing!

Ruth, I like your idea and humor, got a good laugh too :-)
Even though I would have liked more "wildlife-stuff" you did pretty well.
Congratulation with a well done project.

Rick, thanks for the comments. Glad it made you smile.

Per, I appreciate your comments. I consciously chose not to do a traditional wildlife video, though I shot quite a bit more "wildlife-stuff". My background is largely in audio- I have produced quite a few environmental sound recordings, and done sound installations for science museums, nature centers, etc. Although this has helped raise awareness of environmental issues, I have chosen, at least for the moment, to take my video in a more humorous and more directly political direction. Having been a wildlife biologist for many years, I am very concerned with conservation issues, and my ultimate goal is to help raise awareness through my videos.

Any comments or suggestions on how effective this was would be appreciated. I understand this is a polarizing issue, but technical comments with politics aside would be great. Thanks!

Congratulation Ruth with a well done project.
I'm sure you had a lot of fun doing it.
I like a sense of humour in a film, and yours made me laugh, so now I'm in a good mood, thank you.
PS
I wonder if I can get my "bushes" to talk too :-)

Good Fun
 

Fantastic imagination...or were those bushes actually talking? Fun to watch and I'm sure it was fun to make.

BTW I love the underlying message.

Brian

Ruth,
What a fun film!

At first when you panned down and I caught site of something on the bush I was like "What the heck is that?" Then when I figured it out, it broought a smile to my face.

It was a fun film but it still got a good message across.

Loved the outtakes. Reminded me of Toy Story. :)

Geir and Brian, thanks for the comments. Yes, all bushes can talk- you just need to have a bush whisperer to bring them out of their normal silence :)

Kevin, thanks for the comments. I'm glad the pan down had the desired effect. It didn't compress well, but I left it in because I wanted to move from the straight narration to the humorous tone in one scene.

Ruth

hahaha, Very creative idea! I liked the way you panned, it looked nice.

I would say to maybe stay away from the political thing, but that might just be me.

Good footage, funny story, nice job!
~Gabriel

Ruth:

A great movie all around. I really liked the various voices.

Randy

A good message in a funny little film.

It made me chuckle.

Ruth, I think it was just great. Besides the great camera work it was such a unique way to portray charactors. This concept would be wonderful for doing childrens health education programs. Thanks for shareing. Bob

Just what this contest needed. I loved it. You are for sure in my top 5 favorites.
Was that the paper mill in Aberdeen, WA? Nothing on the Lord's green earth could smell as bad as that factory.

Randy and Cody- Glad you liked it. It was hard to figure out how to make bushes look funny- they are tough actors to work with!

Ruth

Hi Bob,

I'm intrigued by your suggestion of using this for children's health programs. How do you think it might be adapted? Thanks.

Ruth

Steve,

Actually the photo was of a refinery up in the Skagit. I went up there to film the geese, swans, etc. But ended up going with the bush/Bush theme instead. I know what you mean about that paper mill in Aberdeen. It really smells BAD! I'm glad you liked the film.

Ruth

Hi Ruth!
 

I can certainly see that you put much thought into your dialog. I liked the pH dude. lol Robin did a great job!

Another thing that you did very effectively, was to add the SFX of the chainsaw in the background. Adds to the whole destruction feel. Good job

Best wishes~
Bradley

Thanks for your comments. Robin was glad to hear her pH dude doctor character was appreciated!

Some of the SFX were understated, since I didn't want to overwhelm the dialogue. So I'm glad you noticed sounds like the chainsaw.

Ruth

Very nice and interesting way you made your film, Ruth!
I like to see when people are creative and do things the way we don't expect it to be done.

I also noticed the SFX you added, and you did a great job.


Trond

This one took me by surprise, because I wasn't expecting what came after the first scene.... Very imaginative use of shrubery,,,, //////// Fairly easy to film given the Bush family name.... wonder how you would of a president by the name of Palm....:)

Trond,

Thanks for the kind comments. I have a background in nature sounds audio, so tried to work that into the soundtrack. Some of it was pretty subtle, so I'm glad you noticed.

Chris,

I'm glad the video surprised you- that is how I set it up. I made a quick transition from straight nature doc style to complete humor. Hmmm, I'll have to think about Palm :) It would be hard for me to shoot that in the PNW!

A very happy and effective way to pour satire on a nasty social problem, Ruth
and an Oscar surely for the costumes. The cast from Radio Rhodo spoke well and truly. Thank you indeed for coming in ...

Brendan,

Thanks for your comments. The rhodies are pleased- they worked hard on their look to make it trendy :)

Ruth

Ruth this was pretty good. It takes some real imagination to come up with these ideas. Well done.

Gordon Hoffman

Gordon, thanks for your comments.

Ruth

Ruth, I work for a center at CDC that deals in chemical exposure to residents living around hazardous waste sites and also emergency response with EPA. We are always looking for ways to get health based information to children in a form that will keep their attention. I once videoed a hand puppet show that Emory Medical School students came up with called "PAL" Pesticide, Asbestos and Lead. Kids react well to cartoons, puppets and "talking plants". Just look at a couple of Saturday morning cartoons. Kids relate to these things and if they can learn about health, ie lead from a talking bush well why not! It is sad to say that I often deal with communities that have very high rates of illiteracy so I try to use videos as often as possible. Bob

Bob,

Your job sounds interesting and very important. That is great you can inform about serious issues with your videos. Sad that video is the medium of choice for you because of illiteracy, but more and more it seems to be the preferred form of communication regardless of literacy rate. Maybe talking bushes could help communicate messages to kids in a way they would understand and enjoy- certainly worth a try. Good luck with your work.

Ruth