If this finally works I'm going to be very grateful. Getting this clickcaster to work has easily been the most time-consuming (8-10 hours, believe it or not) and frustrating experience in Digital Newsroom.
First of all, the voice recorder they have on clickcaster doesn't seem to work very well, and it dropped (that is lost into cyberspace) probably four or five of my attempts to record there.
Apparently also there can be some browser issues. Make sure you use the right one!
Then I tried a voice recording using my iriver mp3 player. Big misktake! I tried uploading my voice recording on both a PC and Mac and couldn't get either one to work. The iriver instruction booklet is about 80 pages and not very clearly presented. Don't go online for help! Ten pages of instructions that don't seem to make things any clearer. Three more hours wasted on this particular effort...
Finally I recorded using a video camera, uploaded to Final Cut Pro, exported the audio file to the desktop while converting the audio segment of the video file to an aif file, then finally (after several more attempts) got it to upload to the clickcaster site. (I had to force quit three or four more times - I don't understand what's going on with that site.)
So this is the last step! If this finally works, I'm going to have a beer in celebration later tonight...
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
The Earl of Sandwich
What does a news package consist of? Sound effects, use of historical footage or images, soundtrack, reenactments, internet graphics, or other innovative video techniques?
This story was based on an assigment I had to make a video segment about the subject of "sandwiches." I didn't want to go with just the obvious choice of interviewing subjects in a sandwich shop, so I tried to use other techniques.
The last shots of the turkey farm I made by super-gluing a high-tech neodymium magnet to a camera mount. The result isthat I was then able to attach a small video camera to virtually any part of the exterior of my car.
The narrative of the story is kind of anti-climactic at the end, but I think the value of the story lies in the use of a variety of techniques to help tell a story.
Can this be a viable model for what news stories on the internet will include? I think so, as along as viewers are drawn in and engaged in the story being told.
Enjoy...
This story was based on an assigment I had to make a video segment about the subject of "sandwiches." I didn't want to go with just the obvious choice of interviewing subjects in a sandwich shop, so I tried to use other techniques.
The last shots of the turkey farm I made by super-gluing a high-tech neodymium magnet to a camera mount. The result isthat I was then able to attach a small video camera to virtually any part of the exterior of my car.
The narrative of the story is kind of anti-climactic at the end, but I think the value of the story lies in the use of a variety of techniques to help tell a story.
Can this be a viable model for what news stories on the internet will include? I think so, as along as viewers are drawn in and engaged in the story being told.
Enjoy...
Ansel Adams Photo Display
You know, I forgot that I had actually done a slide-show before. This one is a series of Ansel Adams photographs that I scanned from a large-format photography book of his then edited in Final Cut Pro.
As you'll see, it's more in the style of a historical documentary, with the use of sound effects and a music track. In addition, there's also a narration soundtrack that is somewhat like an essay, but tries to be informative and evocative without being boring.
This is one of the central questions for news packages in the brave new world of internet journalism. Can techniques from other genres, including historical documentary, be successfully adapted into this new medium? I think the answer is clearly yes, if the effect involves viewers emotionally and/or intellectually in the experience to a greater degree. Of course, paramount is the consideration that the basic integrity of the news package be respected. But more on this later...
Enjoy...
As you'll see, it's more in the style of a historical documentary, with the use of sound effects and a music track. In addition, there's also a narration soundtrack that is somewhat like an essay, but tries to be informative and evocative without being boring.
This is one of the central questions for news packages in the brave new world of internet journalism. Can techniques from other genres, including historical documentary, be successfully adapted into this new medium? I think the answer is clearly yes, if the effect involves viewers emotionally and/or intellectually in the experience to a greater degree. Of course, paramount is the consideration that the basic integrity of the news package be respected. But more on this later...
Enjoy...
Ice Climbing in Ouray Colorado
I went with CU's Outdoor Program to the World Famous Ice Climbing park in Ouray, Colorado to shoot this segment. It's a spectacular venue for the sport, and everyone from beginners to world-class athletes go to Ouray each winter.
Again, it seems that a number of subjects translate well to video, and action sports in spectacular outdoor settings seems to be one of those.
I shot this video as more of a promo-type package, and cut it as a montage with a few soundbites interspersed for variety. Because of the music choice, the package is a little bit longer than the typical two-minute news package. Nonetheless, it seems like ice clmbing would still be a good subject choice for a story on a newspaper website in part because of its evergreen quality.
Two choices help to make this pacakge unique. First, I sometimes like to go with less-obvious music choices. In this case, for an extreme sport like ice climbing, the obvious choice would seem to be some fast-paced rock-and-roll. Instead, I went with Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, which I think instead emphasizes the inherent grace and power of the sport.
Secondly, I really made a focused effort to try to edit to music, choosing shots that build in terms of imagery and drama along with the music. I also threw in a few special effects for variety as well.
Enjoy...
Again, it seems that a number of subjects translate well to video, and action sports in spectacular outdoor settings seems to be one of those.
I shot this video as more of a promo-type package, and cut it as a montage with a few soundbites interspersed for variety. Because of the music choice, the package is a little bit longer than the typical two-minute news package. Nonetheless, it seems like ice clmbing would still be a good subject choice for a story on a newspaper website in part because of its evergreen quality.
Two choices help to make this pacakge unique. First, I sometimes like to go with less-obvious music choices. In this case, for an extreme sport like ice climbing, the obvious choice would seem to be some fast-paced rock-and-roll. Instead, I went with Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, which I think instead emphasizes the inherent grace and power of the sport.
Secondly, I really made a focused effort to try to edit to music, choosing shots that build in terms of imagery and drama along with the music. I also threw in a few special effects for variety as well.
Enjoy...
Roller Derby Smackdown in Denver
This is one of my favorite stories. Filming was somewhat of a challenge in a loud and unevenly lit gymnasium, but despite that, the video still turned out fairly well.
When I filmed the end-of-the-season title match in Denver, it was actually the first time I'd seen a Roller Derby match in person. As a sport, it seemed somewhat over-the-top, and so I tried to use that same tone in my narration and choice of shots.
One bit of feedback I did get on this piece was that a couple of the shots might not be right for a traditional broadcast-type news package (as you'll see - it's still PG-13 though) but in general even these shots contribute to conveying the general atmosphere of the event.
There have been a number of documentaries and programs that have chronicled the return of this sport in recent years, attesting to the popularity of roller derby as a video subject. The reasons seem fairly obvious: action and larger-than-life characters come across particularly well on video. A few of the shots are a little bit rough, but the atmosphere of fun still comes across farily well.
Enjoy...
When I filmed the end-of-the-season title match in Denver, it was actually the first time I'd seen a Roller Derby match in person. As a sport, it seemed somewhat over-the-top, and so I tried to use that same tone in my narration and choice of shots.
One bit of feedback I did get on this piece was that a couple of the shots might not be right for a traditional broadcast-type news package (as you'll see - it's still PG-13 though) but in general even these shots contribute to conveying the general atmosphere of the event.
There have been a number of documentaries and programs that have chronicled the return of this sport in recent years, attesting to the popularity of roller derby as a video subject. The reasons seem fairly obvious: action and larger-than-life characters come across particularly well on video. A few of the shots are a little bit rough, but the atmosphere of fun still comes across farily well.
Enjoy...
News Report on Prairie Dogs in Boulder Colorado
Since the blog portion of Digital Newsroom is due on April 20th and I won't have all of my Dailycamera.com video segments done by then, I thought I'd post some of the other video segments I've done for News Team Boulder.
This package is in more of a traditional news package format, with a standup and traditional interview, but it takes a look at the controversy around not only prairie dogs, but competing interests of development and wildlife. I spoke with both Debra Flanders, a restoration ecologist and Julie Johnson, a spokesperson for Boulder's Open Spaces Program.
Prairie dogs can carry plague, and there have been outbreaks in Boulder County over the last several years. Different people present various perspectives on whether prairie dogs are a threat to humans, or whether they're an essential part of Colorado's ecology.
This package is in more of a traditional news package format, with a standup and traditional interview, but it takes a look at the controversy around not only prairie dogs, but competing interests of development and wildlife. I spoke with both Debra Flanders, a restoration ecologist and Julie Johnson, a spokesperson for Boulder's Open Spaces Program.
Prairie dogs can carry plague, and there have been outbreaks in Boulder County over the last several years. Different people present various perspectives on whether prairie dogs are a threat to humans, or whether they're an essential part of Colorado's ecology.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Grace Falls Rocky Mountain National Park
This is the third in a series of snowshoeing videos at Rocky Mountain National Park that I've done.
One of the challenges of making multiple videos on a similar topic - like showshoeing - is that they can all look alike, despite the fact that each trail and each experience in the mountains is different. So I try to include a number of different features, in filming and editing, in each one.
The beginning sequence in this Grace Falls video I created with "Motion," one of the programs in the Final Cut Pro Suite. Basically it allows you to create a pretty wide range of video effects with objects (videos, stills, parts of images, etc), text, and what they call behaviors. In this one, there's an animated sequence behind the words "Grace Falls" that's supposed to look a little bit like falling water. Somewhat basic, I know, but this is my first effort with Motion, and I think it's still more interesting than just a blank title screen with text on it.
I also included a couple time-lapse shots, some different angles and edits as well.
Enjoy...
One of the challenges of making multiple videos on a similar topic - like showshoeing - is that they can all look alike, despite the fact that each trail and each experience in the mountains is different. So I try to include a number of different features, in filming and editing, in each one.
The beginning sequence in this Grace Falls video I created with "Motion," one of the programs in the Final Cut Pro Suite. Basically it allows you to create a pretty wide range of video effects with objects (videos, stills, parts of images, etc), text, and what they call behaviors. In this one, there's an animated sequence behind the words "Grace Falls" that's supposed to look a little bit like falling water. Somewhat basic, I know, but this is my first effort with Motion, and I think it's still more interesting than just a blank title screen with text on it.
I also included a couple time-lapse shots, some different angles and edits as well.
Enjoy...
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Jamming Out at The Reef
This was a video assignment I shot on spec recently for the Dailycamera.com. It was shot in a local Boulder bar called The Reef, and shows two musicians, Brian Juan and Mike Cappo, playing piano and drums respectively.
I used three different cameras for this shoot, something I normally don't do. But because it was in a bar, I plugged one camera into the soundboard, then used the other two to supplement video footage that I could then sync up with the clearer soundtrack.
Syncing up video is a difficult and time-consuming task. Other difficulties that I encounted besides the high level of ambient noise in the bar included a very contrasty setting. The performers were in bright spotlights, and everything else was much, much darker.
Despite these difficulties, I think the video nonetheless turned out fairly well. Enjoy...
I used three different cameras for this shoot, something I normally don't do. But because it was in a bar, I plugged one camera into the soundboard, then used the other two to supplement video footage that I could then sync up with the clearer soundtrack.
Syncing up video is a difficult and time-consuming task. Other difficulties that I encounted besides the high level of ambient noise in the bar included a very contrasty setting. The performers were in bright spotlights, and everything else was much, much darker.
Despite these difficulties, I think the video nonetheless turned out fairly well. Enjoy...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)