Here is a diagram of this technology that can be installed to the DVX which will bypass the DV compression process that occurs when recording to tape. It is called Andromeda and there is a link to their website on this blog. They have some really nice stills captured with this method. It makes the DVX an HD camera.  

 

 

WHAT IS SIDEWALK SCRAMBLE...

About a year ago the folks over at Sidewalk created this event called the SCRAMBLE. It is basically a 48 hour movie making competition. People from all over are welcome to organize a SCRAMBLE team and face the challenge of creating a short movie from writing, shooting and editing within 48 hours. It takes place over the course of a weekend beginning usually around 6pm or 7pm Friday night and finishing 48 hours later that Sunday night. Each SCRAMBLE event has different rules to insure no team has cheated and written a script ahead of time. For example, teams must include certain props and sometimes even lines of dialogue in their picture. Lately there have been genre stipulations (example: musical horror).

WHY I LOVE THE SCRAMBLE

For local filmmakers this event has really stirred the creative juices. Nothing like a little friendly competition to push the envelope. When organizing a team a filmmaker learns a great deal about the nuts and bolts of filmmaking - where are we going to shoot, when are we going to shoot what, what in the heck are we shooting, what MIGHT we be shooting, who are we shooting, who's running sound, what camera are we gonna use, what are we going to eat, will we sleep and when, who's gonna edit this thing, what are they going to edit it on, when will they do that, where will they do that, what lights are we going to use, how many cars do we need, music anyone?, where are we going to come up with costumes, what kinds of tool are we going to need to build that thing...etc..

There's a bunch of stuff I left out but you get the idea. In answering all of these questions relationships are introduced, formed, strengthened and tested. And if there is one key to good filmmaking, and anything for that matter in life, it is good relationships. These relationships happen between the filmmakers, families, business owners and the people on the streets sometimes. I think I'm going to cry....maybe later.

So filmmakers get a chance to work together under certain conditions. Over time teams have mixed company and begun to build upon each others' tactics and strategies. All of this helps to maintain, perpetuate and improve the skills that Birmingham filmmakers have. These skills stay with the filmmakers as they do other non SCRAMBLE projects. Also, all those relationships travel with the filmmakers as well from project to project building and sometimes breaking on themselves.

Not to mention for the general public this event is a nice departure from the norm. To see a gaggle of folks with a camera and a crazed look in their eyes frantically pulling together some sort of diabolical scene on the city streets is...well...refreshing in my opinion. It also turns into an interesting screening event with awards that public seems to enjoy.
The filmmakers can get feedback on there work after the screening.

And, most tangibly, after 1 event Alabama claims sovereignty over a large collection of new short movies. I think the last SCRAMBLE event produced around 40 new shorts.

3 SCRAMBLE EXPERIENCES

Below are a collection of stills that I have yet to explain. They are from 3 different SCRAMBLE entries that I worked on, "Who is Collin Cherry?" (Pros/Cons), "See You On The Other Side" (Team Bloodjet!) and "The Talisman" (Lucid Pictures).

The Talisman

The Talisman is about a paramilitary operation to retrieve an enchanted ancient artifact that goes wrong. Here, Kevin Wayne scans a mining cabin for potential life threats as he tracks the escaped test subject.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See You On The Other Side

This is Stephanie (the ex-girlfriend) running from Steve (the Stalker ex) on the roof. This scramble entry had to be a musical horror. It turned out like a sort of music video. The ex-girlfriend sings the tragic love story as she is stabbed to death by her ex - the chorus being " I fell in love...with trouble."

 

 

 

 

Cheri Ellis explains how "wonderful" things are in Colin's world.

Who Is Colin Cherry?

Jennifer Price cracks me up This is a mockumentary about the legendary Colin Cherry. An artist of impressive caliber; according to his entourage. We spend the weekend with this production team as they prepare for the big performance, learning the nuances of their working relationships.

Here is a layout I did for the Colin Cherry DVD. 

ADVICE ON SCRAMBLING

Well, here it is finally.

I worked on three different teams for three different Scrambles. Only one of the three teams actually successfully mad teh entry deadline - Team Bloodjet!

I was present during production for all three.

The first "Who Is Colin Cherry?" I was a grip.

The Second "See You on the Other Side" I was the lighting/DP

The Third "The Talisman" I was the lighting/DP and camera operator

So my perspective is from a production standpoint. Which is funny because what I have to talk about is mostly related to post production.

THE MOST INTERESTING...

Both projects that did not get turned in on time had the same reason why. And I have heard this issue from other teams as well. So - the lesson is learned.

The problem - mastering the edited project to tape and/or DVD so that you have something to turn in ON TIME!

Production went relatively smoothly on all three projects. Sure, it was fast paced and tense at moments but overall - we got 'er done.

Some informative facts -

"Who is Collin Cherry?"

wrapped principal photography around 1am Sunday.

"See You On the Other Side"

wrapped principal photography around 11pm Saturday.

"The Talisman"

wrapped principal photgraphy around 9pm Saturday.

The point is. There was plenty of time to edit each of these projects. And all three of these projects were ready to watch - from the computer they were edited on -

It was getting them to a deliverable medim that stopped the show.

So to prevent this from happeing to your team I would suggest testing out the procedures with the same equipment that you will be using to master to tape in advance of the whirlwind 48 hour blur - that is the scramble.

I would also suggest installing a failsafe - a VHS (or a dependable realtime DVD recorder) deck that is hooked up to your system and ready to record in the blink of an eye. At 1 hour from the time you plan on walking out the door with your project to deliver it - stop the editor. Give them 10 minutes to make necessary adjustments and then play your sequence out to VHS or DVD. This way you've gotr something in the event of catastrophe.

A New Chapter In "Filmmaking History 101"

Ahh...technology. I couldn't say whether I love it or hate it. But it has definitely been a blessing to those of us creative types who enjoy a carefree approach to filmmaking.

These days you can get a tremendous bang for your buck when it comes to digital video. This means that more and more aspiring filmmakers are getting there hands on the tools of the trade.

The tools themselves are becoming more and more intuitive requiring less and less technical expertise. People are shooting on a whim. And with affordable PC or Mac based workstations they are editing whimsically too. So what does that mean?...(really not much in the BIG BIG BIG PICTURE, but for the purposes of this somewhat focused BLOG thing here - it means... something)

It means that there is going to be a whole lot more content out there. And a whole lot more of that content may leave quite a bit to be desired.

Technology cannot replace Talent. TNT baby! (man that's so cheezy) But for those of us who are talented (and I am, if I do say so myself) technology enhances the performance of the project.

So the good content is going to get better and the bad content is going to get worse.

Cinema Verte has a hard-on in its' grave right now.

So what does this do to the "Filmmaking History 101" textbook? It adds a new kind of filmmaker to the mix (probably several new kinds actually).

I don't know what to call it - maybe a hobbie filmmaker on steroids?