New Video

FINALLY! I know that's what some of you are thinking. "He finally finished and uploaded that video he said he was going to make about a month ago".

      This video has gone through at least ten edits, some drastically different from others, I've been bouncing it around getting suggestions, etc, but it's finally here and much much shorter than it was originally.

       I have been filming mostly at Zona recently, but I did film the Masquerade at the Roberson museum for my BingSpot section. I finally drafted up some release forms and printed those out, I made framed signs for public spaces so people know they'll be filmed if they enter. I just need to get some stands for those now.

       I'm going to start editing another video now to keep my brain int he game and stay familiar with my increasing archive of footage.

       Enjoy the video, I know it's not perfect, but the documentary isn't done yet, so it's sort of to be expected. yes the sound is weird, I did that on purpose. Trust me, I have an experimental background.

       OH! I swapped out the videos all by myself in the HTML and got rid of the link to my KickStarter page! so...props to me.


Have a great weekend everybody.

-Kevin

YEARGH

     I'm at my parents' house and getting very anxious to get back to Binghamton tomorrow. Zona opened last night and on Christmas night and again tonight and will "officially open" on NYE which is also when I need to be filming the Masquerade. I am getting flustered since I'm not there. angry even.

     Used a loop Christine made for the video and I think it's just about done. it went from 5 minutes - 4 minutes to now less than two. I've been cutting information out left and right so it's not too explanatory.

     Found out that in New York State there's a 30% tax redemption or whatever (I know nothing about taxes) on all costs associated with making a film.... then I found out documentaries don't count. I guess it's probably because the state is hoping to increase employment opportunities by helping productions and realizes documentaries employ not many people at all.

     Trying to figure out the best way to capture BingSpot talking about or promoting Zona.

     Realized I need permission to film large groups of people and have called the guys from Arkansas to see if they have any advice. they said just put a sign at the door giving people a heads up. I also posted on LinkedIn and got some good advice there too. basically just get the property owner's permission then put a sign up.

That's all for now.

     -Kevin

An Update

       I've been waiting till I had this short video I'm making done to have a big exciting blog post, but that'll have to wait because wow a lot of things have been going on lately.

I'll start by saying Happy Holidays!!!

     The video I am making was almost done when I showed it to my adviser who gave me a whole bunch of advice, so ... I started making changes but it was during finals time and Christmas came and it's family time and all of these things are very distracting and creatively disabling. So I'm going to restart my efforts on that in a day or two when everything settles down.
      Zona is trying to open in the next few days, and that's crazy and frustrating for me, because I am not in Binghamton and don't have a means of transportation. Before I skipped town I gave Shawn (manager of Zona) a camera and asked him to make sure he home-movie's it up if they open before I get back. Honestly, I think a less polished home-movie esque style is much more fitting for the Zona timeline anyway. we'll see what happens. I'm coming back to Binghamton the day before NYE so I can film BingSpot's masquerade in the Roberson mansion.

I just had a Skype conference call with Christine Spilka who will be teaming up with Jesse Tranvaag to make the music for this documentary (and the CD many of you will receive from the KickStarter campaign). We were throsing around examples and ideas and she's going to be writing a lot of music these next few months. thank you modern technology for allowing consumer grade video conference calls :)

When I get the video done I'll upload it. For now here's a link to the CD Christine's band put out recently: http://thejeanjackets.bandcamp.com/ (keep in mind the music for the doc will be almost completely instrumental).

That's all for now.
Stay warm and drive safe! Big winter storm tonight in the southern tier.

       -Kevin

Stick In The Mud

       Sometimes I feel completely lost when thinking about how to put this documentary together... It is a scary notion, the idea that I might have absolutely no real talent and my confidence is all in my head. When I'm editing it just feels like blocks. each clip is a square and I'm just putting different squares together it feels dry and typical and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get into any sort of flow. I want my editing style to be as graceful and fluid as the strokes of a paintbrush.. A paintbrush wielded by someone else, of course, because I don't know how to paint. (Maybe taking painting lessons would help me)

      I am currently editing a short preview of what I want my documentary to be based on the footage I have now. We'll see how that goes. I'll definitely post it when it's done. But that is due Friday, the same day as my two final exams and the film show I have to project for (which is always a nightmare). We'll see how this goes.

      I'm interviewing Sean from VINES today with four very open-ended but crucial questions for my film. Even if I don't use the answers in my documentary (which I probably will) they'll help me organize a little better.

     On Thursday I am filming Joshua and Michael from BingSpot as they tour the Roberson Museum's mansion and finalize their plans for decorating and where each event will take place for the New Year's masquerade.

     I finally got the chance to film at 84 Riverside, and it is an absolutely beautiful building. I'm planning on building a dolly (plans found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnjif5KDjSI&feature=g-high-c) because these shots will all be about the building, not about people or sound, so I need to make the shots very conducive to transitions. maybe some time-lapses of the sky above the tower... more to think aobut.

Hobey Ho Let's Go! (name that reference)

-Kevin