With the recent acting debut of my canine companion Bogey, I decided to revisit the script I wrote for her. It is quite amazing how different a script reads after you haven’t set eyes on it in over a year. Maybe it’s because I’m reading it with fresh eyes, or maybe it’s because I have learned more about writing since last July. Probably a bit of both. The biggest thing that I noticed when I reread the script was the lack of tension and conflict. It’s the same problem that I have noticed in a lot of other short screenplays that I have read. It seems to me that taking a break from writing after a draft may not be such a bad idea. If I ever finish a draft of my feature, I’ll remember to take a break before rewriting. So it looks like my next order of business is a rewrite on Strays.
Monthly Archive for September, 2007
I have recently gone on an equipment shopping spree. New camera, sticks, wireless mics, lenses, and other production goodies. Here’s a list at the iD CiNEMA site. My favorite item in the lot is the Steadicam Merlin. I have used a number of camera stabilizers in the past that range from small hand held stabilizers up to full size units from Glidecam and VariZoom. This is the first time I have used a Steadicam product, and I must say that the Steadicam reputation is well deserved.
The Merlin is an extremely well built piece of precision machinery. Everything about it from the fit of all the parts to the finish on every surface is perfect. Some other stabilizers utilize components that were not made exclusively for the stabilizer. Every piece of the Merlin was engineered and built for the Merlin.
Setup was a piece of cake with the help of the included DVD and merlincookbook.com. The Merlin Cookbook site has a list of settings for most consumer and prosumer cameras. This really facilitates the initial process of weighting and balancing the unit. I set the Merlin up in no time using my Canon HV20 while watching the included DVD. I started out using the HV20 instead of the XHA1 because of the difference in weight. I have set up and experimented with the XHA1, but I’m sticking with the HV20 for a short time while I hone my Merlin skills.
Handling the Merlin with a small camera is so light and nimble that it feels almost effortless. The entire unit is so small that it’s a little bit awkward doing subtle pans and tilts. A light touch is the key even with full size camera stabilizers. Because of the overall small size, this is even more pronounced with the Merlin. A little goes a really long way.
The practice footage that I have been shooting is looking nice and smooth. I’ll post some test footage in the next few days if I can find some time to review what I have shot. Speaking of test footage, I need to get back to running in circles around my wife and jumping over the sofa. More later.
In the meantime, here’s the intro video from the Steadicam Merlin DVD.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBQRDMgo53I]
My dog just acted in her first commercial this past weekend. It was a commercial for the search engine, fetchthatsite.com. Bogey was great. I can’t wait to see the finished spot. I don’t think the spot is going to be on television. From what I know, it will be an internet ad. I’m not sure where it will be available, but I’ll put it up here via YouTube when I get my copy. I whipped up a web site for the new star using iWeb. You can find it at bogeythedog.com. The spot will be there as well as a sample reel of her favorite tricks and behaviors. This makes me want to dust off the short screenplay that I wrote for Bogey last year. The project was set aside for a few reasons, most of which have been overcome at this point. I think it’s time to make a film.
Supercharge Me! is making the rounds. Jenna Norwood has just returned from a screening of her award winning documentary in Seattle, and now the film is screening at the Central Florida Film Festival this weekend. It screens Saturday, September 1st at 7:30 p.m, and Sunday, September 2 at 8:30 p.m.. I will be at the Sunday screening to help Jenna had out LaraBars, and take part in the Q&A session after the screening. So stop by and say hi.
