Delta-Four-Tango

Ok I haven't updated my blog in a while and thats because I've been losing badly at Modern Warfare 2 for the past few weeks.
So, onto the topic of today's post.

I've finally started working on my first feature film!!. Based on the Call of Duty : Modern Warfare series, it will follow a squad of British service men fighting against an invasion in the UK.

Work on the trailer for "Exodus" has started with the compositing of the title scene. Footage for the trailer will be shot after the New Year, and edited once the required software arrives from the US.

So don't expect an update for a while, but you'll know when things progress with the adding of a youtube video.

The Mac Morons?

If you haven't been checking out my YouTube page, I've recently uploaded two videos to it. Both of these were shot on my MacBook, using the PhotoBooth application. I've had a bit of success with them, currently the first one is on 88 views, with the second following up with 19. My channel is finally getting some videos on it!!

Anywhere, here it is for you to enjoy =)

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEditorsCave#p/u


Wow that one was a short post.....

Editing is for lazy people......

Editing is for lazy people? No I haven't had a change of interest in the industry. But its a point some people bring up at times. Is editing really just for people who like to sit in a chair and push buttons on a keyboard, every button representing another part of your eyesight being lost? Weelll..... yeah thats kinda it really. But if you stop and think, most other jobs include a chair, and as an added bonus, you keep your eyesight!!! Directors sit in chairs. Cameramen sit in chairs. Actors are in chairs. Sound people are in chairs. The most active job on a film location. Well if you find yourself rushing around everywhere, chances are you are a runner!! This is basically you being someone's slave for that day. And the next. And the next.....

Anyway, now that I've cleared that up, on with todays post. This one is about my hate of the fact that my college's post production software isnt compatible with my post production software on my laptop!! This just annoys me. Fine my software is a basic version of the software at college, but its the fact that trying to move the file from the college software into my software doesn't work. I mean the file's are exactly the same, so why can't i use both software type's!?!?
At least you get a very helpful notice pop up. It reads, "General Error (41)"
Now doesn't that just tell you everything you need to know?

Now, I told you a while ago about a music video I was making (I think). If not, it doesn't matter. It's s***. So I will save your souls the disappointment of suffering the viewing of it. But I will be uploading the film coursework I am editing. Remember I do the editing and not the sound or cinematography, so if any trolls decide to tell me how the cinematography is "obviously done by a retard, you fag...", I wont be caring.

Just before I sign off for today, I just want to let you know that I will be starting the vlog version of this soon! So the youtube account will be linked in every post. I may even make this one my first vlog topic. Gotta start somewhere.

Happy editing!!

This fire is out of control...

Well where do I start. Everything going wrong.. Actually there, just answered my own question.

So, as I said, I had a photography job on Thursday, the one just gone. That day I had carried around my laptop, my DSLR, my tripod and a motion picture camera. May not seem like much, but it is certainly bloody heavy!!!. I used my SLR during the day, taking pictures of my friends, just because I wanted to. But then, the camera started to not focus when taking pictures. To my discovery, I found that the zoom ring had managed to lock in with the focus ring, thus meaning that whenever I zoomed in, the focus would change. This also managed to overide the AF settings on my camera. Luckily, to save the day, I borrowed a SLR from my college. Good old Orpington College.

Then on the way there, got caught in traffic. For an hour and a half. So was an hour late when I got there. And was told to go home.

The things you do for someone and they muck you about....

Boom Boom....

So then, I did promise an update after filming on Tuesday, but last night I had a hardcore night of xbox I'm afraid.

Anyway, to put it bluntly, it went very well!! Very strange for one of my projects! Everything got filmed yesterday, so I can finally do some editing. I will only be doing visual editing, as the sound editing is being done by another person in my group. As its a short film, there isn't much editing to do, or at least you wouldn't think so would you? But there is. Even though most shots are going to be linked by straight cuts, everything has to be put in order first, as everything was shot in continuity.

After that, some shots may be put into After Effects to see what can be changed. As there is a scene with a gun going off, this shot will definately be going into After Effects to add a muzzle flash.

So, I have no idea when it is complete, but when finished it will be up on YouTube and on here.


Today, I want to shoot some media stuff, but don't ask me when it will be ready, as it probably wont.....

Fill My Little World...

Now that I've had the xbox switched off, I've uploaded some videos to YouTube. Shocking I know!!
Anyway, so far I've uploaded my first short film (and when I say short, I mean short. There is also an outtake reel from an old project, plus something which probably wont be watched much, the interviews for my media music video (read of the horrors about it in my earlier post from today).
Here's a tasty link : http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEditorsCave

Plus, BIG NEWS!!!
On Thursday, I have my first photography job. This is at my old school, and will be taking place at their Art and Technology block. It was opened about 3 years ago, by the illustrator Quentin Blake. As long as everything goes well, the results will be posted up on here.

And I know, I still owe you all some direct images from my flickr account. Maybe tomorrow =)

Oh and because i was asked nicely, i'll mention the lovely Emily Hann, and dedicate this post to her.

Sugar and Spice....

Don't ask about the title, but it's the closest song title to what will be in todays post.

So, when you think that everything is going well in your production, you then realise it isn't. This happened to me today. I realised I'm a week and a half away from a deadline for my music video, and nothing has been filmed!!!

But as was mentioned before, the legends that are my friends, have stepped in to help me out. You can always count on your friends to help out. And further to that, I dedicate this post to those wonderful people. Don't know if they will end up reading this though, but the thought still counts.

Anyway, on a happier note, I'm off filming tomorrow for my film coursework, so I can finally get back into editing something!! My coursework group hope to get all the filming done by tomorrow, so I will of course update tomorrow on how everything goes!

Happy times =)

Get This Party Started...

Without planning to, I'm already making a new post...

you may remember me telling you this a few days ago..

"This wont be one of those blogs which is only used as some kind of internet diary telling you about some wonderful ham and cheese sub that I ate like 4 months ago."

Well, I have to admit I wasnt being totally truthful. Well, I was at first but now I've changed my mind. But, I won't be talking about just me, but about my friends and what we get up to in and around the wonderful location of Orpington College.

To be honest, Monday isn't the best of days to talk about. It's a long day, with not much happening. The first lesson is the best, me and my friends in a film lesson having a laugh and a joke. The following four hour break is the best bit though. Usually spent in Mc Donald's and the local bowling alley, we spend much time laughing and not much on our work. But at least we are having fun. We all have our own bowling names, but today was different. We returned to having a theme, this time being Super Mario characters.

As usual, I lost. But it was a fun game. Anyway, this is getting too personal!!

That was the bulk of my monday with my mates. Fun isn't it?
Pictures tonight if media coursework and Modern Warfare 2 don't take priority!!

Till I Collapse.....

As a continuation from my post yesterday, it's now the turn of the actual production to cause problems for me!! It's not someone completely messing me about, which I must say is not an uncommon thing in the world of the film industry. It's just a little re-arrange as the location being used cannot be accessed unless we have a certain person with us, and they were not available!! Doesn't that just suck!!

So with a big production being delayed for two days, I now have more time to do things like this, writing something onto the internet and making websites like this one buy more servers! But a post is a post, it's what the site is for. But I'm rambling now. Typical...

Anyway, if I don't spend my whole evening doing media coursework, I shall treat you all to some of my photographs, which I will post direct to this blog! So you don't have to go through loads of silly links, not that they are bad or anything.

Happy editing!!

"Over and over....."

If you haven't noticed yet I'm kind of trying to relate the titles of my posts to the content in them. This title is courtesy of Hot Chip. Much obliged.

Anyway, this post is about one of my hates as an editor. Maybe you can guess what I'm about to talk about..... No? Pre-production work. The icon of sin in all film work. Writing a synopsis, a plot, script writing if necessary, storyboarding and sourcing actors!! It may not seem like much, but this can sometimes take up to three months!!

Thankfully, I have many friends who like pre-production work. But, as I am now getting into making films myself, I find myself doing more pre-production work. My storyboards can be incredibly basic, but get the message across. Actors can be difficult to sort out, but as long as you know drama people, that is usually the best option to follow.

The synopsis is easy, just give an indication as to what your production will be about. The plot is just a more detailed synopsis. The script, when linked to your storyboards, really kick start a production.

The production work is always fun. You may have arguements and fall-outs, but at the end of the day you'll all be laughing. Try making an outtake reel when filming, always good for memories and showing your mates the fun of filming.

Then post-production =)

I'll save that one for a later date...

Going deeper underground...

So, I thought I might as well start expanding on what I do, and the tech I have become familiar with in my drive to fame and fortune as an editor.

I started off with good old Photoshop. This was my first venture into editing. My first few tries didn't exactly turn up many good results. As in the cuts around objects were bismal to say the least. But as time progressed, my abilities improved to what they are like now.

After that came the introduction to motion picture editing. My first editing programme used was Final Cut Pro. I easily got the hang of it in about an hour. From then on, I could edit nearly everything, and knew exactly where to find everything I wanted.

Then came my need for special effects. As wonderful as Final Cut Pro is, it has very limited effects options, which means editing in this programme alone gives very basic films. Here is where After Effects comes in. One of the biggest and well known special effects programmes going at the moment (well the best ones for a student anyway). The capabilities of this programme is amazing. You can practically do anything you want with it.

Anyway, there you have it, a bit of info on the apps I will be using to bring you the best images and films I can create =)

Opening the doors....

So, another blog to add to the millions of blogs already in existence. BUT, hold it there. You haven't seen mine yet. This wont be one of those blogs which is only used as some kind of internet diary telling you about some wonderful ham and cheese sub that I ate like 4 months ago. No, this blog will be my main centre of photography and films that I shall be capturing and producing in the future!!

Doesn't sound so boring now does it?

With this, I will show all you people out there my photography, my films and maybe some other stuff. This whole thing should get a kickstart when my coursework is underway, which shall be producing a music video AND a short film!!. To add to that, I will be starting up a vlog account, which will be added to my YouTube account in time.

If any og you are interested in the processes involved in making films or doing certain styles of photography, message me and I'll let you in on the knowledge!!

Anyway, that's my introduction to my blog finished.

Don't wait forever for an update...