Dawn

I've been doing further testing this month with my Canon 550D + Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 lens. However, I now also have an LCDVF 3:2, Glidetrack Shooter 0.75m and Manfrotto 701HDV. So I've spent quite a lot of money now, hopefully not all for nothing either.

You can see the test I did using all of my kit below and you can also click the link to read about the encoding process/experiments that I did.


Click Here To View HD Version and/or Read About My Encoding Process/Experiments.

The reason I wanted to purchase a camera was for my upcoming dance film. I've met up with the woman whom I've been in contact with, Allie, and she is very enthusiastic about the project. There will be about 4 or 5 dancers in the film, including Allie, who will choreograph themselves, with perhaps a little direction from me. I've also managed to get copyright clearance for the music I wanted to use in the film, which means that I will be able to distribute the film once it is complete.

The aim is to shoot the film near Christmas, however, since I will only be in Cornwall for 2 weeks at Christmas I'm currently wondering whether the film will end up being postponed until summer 2011. Either way, I've managed to get things in motion so am confident that this film will get made.

Got a few projects I'll be working on much sooner though. One of which is a feature film which I will be doing the sound design on. I filmed the auditions on my camera which I found very interesting to do. It really helped me from a directing point as well. Although it seems I'm quite far away from being a director of actors at the moment. Fate seems to be steering me away from dramas, dance films are where I believe I'm headed. I think my best bet for dramas is to wait until I've a few dance films under my belt and then maybe have a go.

I've also been doing more work experience with MyCornwallTV this past week. I did a week's work experience out on location with them last year, however, this year I was mostly editing in the office. I edited a number of Wasson?! videos which are daily updates on what's going on in Cornwall, and are the first videos that come up when you enter the website. I also shot a weeks worth of Wasson?! videos which I believe will air from the 8th to the 14th of September. You will be able to watch the videos here, at mycornwall.tv.

I also did a full day on the live rugby game broadcast which they do, for the Cornish Pirates. It was a home game so was held at Penzance. I ended up cable bashing, which is where I had to run up and down the side of the pitch where one of the camera men is and make sure the the wires running from his camera to the broadcast van don't get tangled, and are kept out of the way so that the camera man can't trip over them. It's a pretty low down job, but it was a great experience being part of a live broadcast, and I feel learnt quite a lot. You can view highlights and will be able to see future broadcasts on their Pirates channel which you can find here.

Here are the latest uploads of the Gang Show, which complete Act 1. Unfortunately due to copyright issues the producer of the show has asked me to make the videos private. But you can access them all with the password, which I have provided.
Password: temp

Act 1 - Part 6: H.S.E?

Click Here To View HD Version

Act 1 - Part 7: Tramps


I've decided to discontinue with my monthly music track simply because I have been and will continue to be very busy. But I've not given up completely so will still be posting tracks here when I have them to post!

Testing Stages

First of some horrible news, the UK Film Council has been axed. You can read about it properly here, but please also sign the petition, as the UK Film Council is an important part of the UK film industry and I think worth saving. And don't forget to join the facebook group.

Onto me now! I've been playing around with my new camera. I've got a Canon 550D and the lens I have is the Sigma 18-200mm. I'm not a photography expert, but I've found the lens to be really great and it really does produce some really stunning shots.

I'm aiming to do one test video per week as a way for me to get to grips with the camera as well as trying to get to grips with Final Cut Studio as well. I've used Final Cut Pro before as this is what we edit on at university. However, we've not used the other applications such as Color or Motion before, so I've trying to play around with these as well.

Here's a few quick non specific test videos I did though.


"A little something I shot on my new Canon EOS 550D. Was playing around and experimenting, just shooting things in and around my garden.

The sound design is all mine as well. At the forefront there are two pieces of music, both by Max Richter, which I worked together and are playing together at the same time, as well as all the other little details."
Click Here To View HD Version


"Some test footage I did of my cats, shot on my Canon 550D with a Sigma 18-200mm lens. The second shot I slowed down in post, however, I did also film it at 50fps so it should still be smooth. Obviously need to do some further tests with slow motion.

It was shot at 720p so should be in HD but for some reason has just been uploaded in SD. More tests needed."

Since I've was busy with my camera and writing scripts last month, I didn't finish any of my music tracks I've been working on, however, I do have this soundtrack mix which I created a while ago instead.

Machines by Aaron Buckley

I've two more mixes like this and am currently working on another one.

I've also uploaded parts 4 and 5 of the Gang Show which I worked on.


Click Here To View HD Version


Click Here To View HD Version

You can view all parts that have currently been uploaded here.