Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Green Screen

Today I have a "green screen" shoot at my kids preschool. We are shooting each kid to include in the end of year memory video.

Things to remember about green screen:

Light Background Evenly, avoiding hot spots
The talent needs to be as far away from the screen as possible in shooting space
Light talent separately from green screen wash
Back light talent if possible
Make sure talent isn't wearing green! (including logos or cute hair bows!)

I hope I can get a good key from this stuff!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Fonts

I recently purchased a new product from Digital Juice, called FONTS. They are similar to layered PhotoShop files and are created within the software that Digital Juice provides free with purchase.

My weakest area is graphic design. Digital Juice has been posting free tutorials on their webpage to teach people how to use the FONTS, but also tips and tricks on how to layout the text.

Here are a few examples of how I've been using them recently:

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

New Venture

One new venture I am embarking on is the collection and online sale of stock footage. I purchased a Sony HD Camera (HVR-1ZU). I am shooting various scenics and am preparing a list of clips I'd like to go out and get. I have researched many online stock footage sites and have found Pond5 to sell my footage. They have great commission on sales, allow you to set your price for your clips and allow you to retain complete copyright on your clips.

My first set of clips have been approved and are now online and available for purchase.
You can see my portfolio here: Stock Video by PremierImage at Pond5: The World's Stock Footage Marketplace
It takes about a week for the preview files to be rendered at a higher quality, but you can still view the clips now.

They have a good referral program as well, so if you are thinking about selling your own clips, click on my link above and I'll credit for you signing up.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Current Projects - March 2009

One reason for starting this blog is keep it up-to-date with current projects I'm working on.

National Charity League (NCL)- Senior Presentation Video

I am in the middle of a large project I do every year at this time. NCL seniors have a presentation in April. So, each girl writes a letter to her parents about their relationship, experience in NCL, and other thoughts as she gets ready to graduate. Each parent writes a letter to their daughter. We record the letters in studio, privately, one-at-a-time. We edit the letters together with music as a background and then palce graphics, text, and photos of each girl growing up.

I also edit a 60-90 second logo loop for the video screens during the rest of the event that contains a looping animated background, the theme, a 3D animation of their logo, and event information.

The final thing I do for them is create a dinner photo montage that loops to be played while they eat, that contains all the photos of the last 6 years of the senior girls' experience throughout NCL and the charity events they worked on.

Pre-School End of Year Video

Next week, my husband and I are shooting 65 pre-school children on green screen to be used in an end-of-the year memory video. I am planning on having each kid dance, wave, and smile for me on the green screen. I will then key out the background and replace with an animated looping background, add the kids names in fun new fonts I just purchased, and lay down some fun and cute kid music.

The Horton Family Anniversary Party

I am almost ready to begin post-production on a 2 camera shoot that we did for an anniversary party that had guest speakers, testimonials, and a live performance.

Starlight Serenade High School Musical (Choreography and Production Supervisor)

I am in the middle of rehearsals for a musical that I am Production Supervisor and Head Choreographer on. The show takes place in a library and takes the audience through music and musicals that were inspired by literature. The show and rehearsals are run "workshop" style, with auditions in December and the show in April/May. The all-girl cast has 3 months of voice class and dance class, where they learn about performance and are trained in the two disciplines for the live performance at the end of the semester. Alll girls who audition are placed in the show, based on level. I will also shoot the show with a 4-camera set up and edit a memory DVD that will cover auditions, rehearsals, tech week, and the show.

Sacred Heart Fundraising Video

I am in the pre-production phase of a fundraising video that will take me to Massachustes, where I will shoot a series of 10-12 interviews. The subject of the video is missionary work in India, Texas, the Bahamas, and Molokai, as well as a brand new Retreat House in Massachustes. A photographer has already traveled to the locations and have shot 4000 photographs of the missionary work that is being done. A videographer is currently gathering video footage and I am traveling in June to get the interviews done. I will then compile all of the footage in a final video with a tentative completion date of Sept. 1.

Fr. Damien is Named A Saint

On October 11, 2009, Fr. Damien will be canonized a saint in Rome by the Catholic Church. I have been contacted by the Sacred Heart priests (Fr. Damien was a priest in this order) to edit a video of the life of Fr. Damien. In January, we shot footage in Molokai, where Fr. Damien lived and worked among the lepers. Once a script is given to me and old footage is gathered, I'll be compiling the footage into a video.

A new Start

Welcome to my new blog! The topic of this blog will be video production and editing. It may include guest writers, and will consist of conversation, tips, tricks, new projects, and other resources for the producer, director, editor, and all the hats we wear!

As I begin compiling information to post on here, please let me know if there is a topic you'd like me to research and post about or if you'd like to be a guest writer.

You'll find polls on the right that I would appreciate if you participated in. On the bottom, you will find industry links that I have found notable and useful. If you would like to submit a link, I'd be happy to consider it, so send me a message.

Thanks
~ Jen