I have just uploaded a short docu entitled 'Nottingham Nights'.
It is a side-product from my current work on the new illuminatus video and shows the night life our beloved City of Nottingham in all its glory.
You can watch it on my MySpace front page or in the documentaries section on my YouTube channel: HERE.
WARNING: this is both a STUPID and rather DEPRESSING video.
Enjoy.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Friday, 9 October 2009
"Religiosity" still featured on the MyRuin website
I just visited My Ruin's MySpace site and noticed that the video I did for their song "Religiosity" is still a rather prominent feature on there:
www.myspace.com/myruin
Big thanks to Tairrie & Mick. Was a pleasure working with you guys!
www.myspace.com/myruin
Big thanks to Tairrie & Mick. Was a pleasure working with you guys!
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Buying second-hand gear over the internet
Just a little account of a recent experience I had, trying to buy a camera second hand over the internet.
I found a really great offer on a Sony HDR-FX1 on the Gumtree website (£800!!). The guy was supposedly from London, posted a good picture of the camera and its accessories, and the description and how much he had used it also made sense and sounded plausible.
However, when I got in touch with him he said he was now actually in Italy for work and that the camera was with his brother in Newcastle. He said he could post it down to me, if I paid him a deposit of £300 up front via Western Union. In fact, he even offered for his brother to come down by car to drop it off in person.
When I queried if I could pay by PayPal or by credit card, he said that PayPal had ripped him off previously and that he therefore did not use them anymore (n.b. that was the same reason he gave as to why he did not use Ebay anymore).
He did give me a number in Newcastle to call, which seemed to be diverted somewhere else (he said to Italy). The guy sounded reasonable enough on the phone. But I still made it clear to him that I would not just send money to someone I did not know, for an item I had not seen up close to check if it was working etc.
So as a final offer, I then suggested that I drive up to Newcastle myself to pick up the camera and pay for it in cash. And that was the last I ever heard of him...
Lessons: NEVER pay ANYBODY money for ANYTHING you have not absolute proof of they actually exist. TRY to stick to official websites like Ebay, where you can check the seller's ID and feedback ratings - the longer they have been around and the better their feedback, the less likely they will rip you off.
I guess the fact that the offer really was too good to be true, should have been the most obvious clue. But as long as you're careful, there's no harm in trying.
Right, now back to the hunt...
I found a really great offer on a Sony HDR-FX1 on the Gumtree website (£800!!). The guy was supposedly from London, posted a good picture of the camera and its accessories, and the description and how much he had used it also made sense and sounded plausible.
However, when I got in touch with him he said he was now actually in Italy for work and that the camera was with his brother in Newcastle. He said he could post it down to me, if I paid him a deposit of £300 up front via Western Union. In fact, he even offered for his brother to come down by car to drop it off in person.
When I queried if I could pay by PayPal or by credit card, he said that PayPal had ripped him off previously and that he therefore did not use them anymore (n.b. that was the same reason he gave as to why he did not use Ebay anymore).
He did give me a number in Newcastle to call, which seemed to be diverted somewhere else (he said to Italy). The guy sounded reasonable enough on the phone. But I still made it clear to him that I would not just send money to someone I did not know, for an item I had not seen up close to check if it was working etc.
So as a final offer, I then suggested that I drive up to Newcastle myself to pick up the camera and pay for it in cash. And that was the last I ever heard of him...
Lessons: NEVER pay ANYBODY money for ANYTHING you have not absolute proof of they actually exist. TRY to stick to official websites like Ebay, where you can check the seller's ID and feedback ratings - the longer they have been around and the better their feedback, the less likely they will rip you off.
I guess the fact that the offer really was too good to be true, should have been the most obvious clue. But as long as you're careful, there's no harm in trying.
Right, now back to the hunt...
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Working on the new illuminatus video
I have been working on the new illuminatus video, Rising Tide, for a while now.
I filmed the band in the studio back in June. A few weeks later I did a day of filming with young Matt Davies who is the protagonist in the video, 'protagonist' being quite a big word, as he basically had to sit behind the wheel of a car and look moody for a few hours.
Overall the video has been taking shape. But progress is quite slow, as I am trying quite a few new tricks with effects and the rendering is taking a heavy toll on my PC.
More news soon.
I filmed the band in the studio back in June. A few weeks later I did a day of filming with young Matt Davies who is the protagonist in the video, 'protagonist' being quite a big word, as he basically had to sit behind the wheel of a car and look moody for a few hours.
Overall the video has been taking shape. But progress is quite slow, as I am trying quite a few new tricks with effects and the rendering is taking a heavy toll on my PC.
More news soon.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Looking for a new camera
I am currently on the hunt for a new camera.
Up until now, I have been using Sony's HDR-HC1. And I will most certainly continue to use it, due to its great quality and host of manual functions, other "mini" Cams never offer normally (which is probably why Sony stopped selling them soon after they came on the market).
In addition to the HC1 I am also using Sony's HDR-CX6. I bought it merely as a "side arm" to use for additional side-shots or while on the road. Its extremely small size and lack of any moving parts (no tape!) are perfect for all of that. And so the issue of high video compression and not-so-great (but good enough) video quality did not matter so much.
But now, in view of new productions with a higher budget, it is time I invest in a camera that will offer full progressive HD and the much coveted 24p.
So far I am looking at Sony's HVR-Z5U and HDR-F1000, which look great in terms of low-light quality. But Canon and Panasonic also seem to have some decent alternatives.
In the end it is a matter of budget. So I might even go back to the Sony HDR-FX1 if I can get my hands on a cheap 2nd hand one. Although it only simulates 24p, it does produce some magnificent footage.
Up until now, I have been using Sony's HDR-HC1. And I will most certainly continue to use it, due to its great quality and host of manual functions, other "mini" Cams never offer normally (which is probably why Sony stopped selling them soon after they came on the market).
In addition to the HC1 I am also using Sony's HDR-CX6. I bought it merely as a "side arm" to use for additional side-shots or while on the road. Its extremely small size and lack of any moving parts (no tape!) are perfect for all of that. And so the issue of high video compression and not-so-great (but good enough) video quality did not matter so much.
But now, in view of new productions with a higher budget, it is time I invest in a camera that will offer full progressive HD and the much coveted 24p.
So far I am looking at Sony's HVR-Z5U and HDR-F1000, which look great in terms of low-light quality. But Canon and Panasonic also seem to have some decent alternatives.
In the end it is a matter of budget. So I might even go back to the Sony HDR-FX1 if I can get my hands on a cheap 2nd hand one. Although it only simulates 24p, it does produce some magnificent footage.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Making sense of too much internet
In between checking who else works in film & video in the East Midlands, I'm currently also figuring out how to make sense of this explosion of new websites, blogs, video sharing sites and other ways of exposing my work to the public, which I have voluntarily set off in the last few days.
The internet sure gives you the ability to do everything. I'm just not sure that everything is really what everybody should be doing.
In any case, I still have the new illuminatus video to finish. Plus, I'm currently talking to Nottingham's heaviest band Drag The Lake about a video for their latest release. Scary stuff.
Soon more.
The internet sure gives you the ability to do everything. I'm just not sure that everything is really what everybody should be doing.
In any case, I still have the new illuminatus video to finish. Plus, I'm currently talking to Nottingham's heaviest band Drag The Lake about a video for their latest release. Scary stuff.
Soon more.
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