Tom Pearson's Multimedia

Hi,
I'm closing this blog down soon. Here is where you can see my work:

http://www.youtube.com/user/acandymancan

Thanks

Hello. It's been a while since I've updated this blog. My new year’s resolution is to make myself post more about the work I've been doing, not only is it a requirement of the course, it also helps me clear up things in my head.

So onto the subject of HD capturing. I promised Jools that I would put up a tutorial on my blog. This was last term, eek. Sorry Jools. I have instead decided that I WILL eventually put up a tutorial on how to capture (at NTU specifically) HDV. However I am a little busy with 3rd year things. So expect to see it possibly sometime after Easter when the majority of my work would have been handed in.

...is a pain. I’ve been trying on different devices and different computers including my own at home and the university provided ones. No such luck. My peers and I are all having problems with this and have had to eventually capture our HD 1080i (50) recorded footage in widescreen DV. At least the aspect stays a nice widescreen.

I think the majority of people have now filmed. We each helped others out. I recently finished helping on Jason and Ollie’s production. Both of theirs went smoothly.

Other then that PRP is going fairly slow as I am putting most of my time into client. Oh and as I remember my live client is full steam ahead. Plans to go film a lab opening in Hull on the 27th is underway. So I'm pretty much sorted as far as client is concerned.

Currently writing this I'm trying to recapture my footage in HD with no luck. I think I'm going to get on an edit the DV version anyway.

I started writing my proposal yesterday after finally settling on an idea for my 20 second advert. I have all my initial research plonked into a word file for easy access and referencing for later on (for times like this when I had to write my proposal) however I've now hit a few bumps and am a little confused. I looked up the guide on the NTU NOW to see what they required format and structure wise. It was simple, an intro/ background & context / designs and justifications / Time management plan. I started to go ahead and work on writing it up, on what I would be producing and why etc.

I then had a look at my housemate’s version. His proposal was short and sweet: Bullet pointed, concise and easy to read, however not much information. I had initially done some research on the web to get some tips on writing proposals. This led to lots of information which was really good. It made the structure given to us for writing a proposal seems so basic. I wanted to make so many more sub-headings. However the guide told me otherwise. So basically I've had to stop and rethink about my structure of my proposal. Whether I have too much spiel in there and whether I need to get rid of it. Sigh.

Ok, well after trying really hard to think of more ideas I kind of just kept stumbling back to my old ones. My favourite one of which was the one below. Here is a very short description I emailed Jools:

A band starts playing their first song. The lights are set, the atmosphere is electric. The shot cuts to each of the band members starting to play their instruments. As the song progresses, the atmosphere and set starts to subtly disappear. The light show and quality of sound progressively gets worse. The instruments are replaced by cheap alternatives of cardboard cut-outs. Drum sticks turn into flumps ( http://www.sweetgreetingsshildon.co.uk/images/uploads/soft/barratt-flump.JPG ). The list goes on. Eventually the band stops and have a look around. They look at their equipment which is now almost non-existent. They look bemused and amazed at what has happened. The shot then cuts to one of them members, POP, his shirt is gone. He runs off crying hysterically. Screen cuts to black with a written message and voice over. " Illegal file sharing ruins the entertainment industry" "for more information about illegal file sharing go to .... "


He said it was an alright idea, however I should lose the flumps (it was just an example of what I could do in the first place) and focus on exactly how it should look and the visual style. He said I needed to be confident on this. I am fairly adept at after effects and feel I can pull this off well.

Great, now I can finish my proposal

After going to Jool's tutorial, it was clear to me my ideas had not been thought through enough. I already knew they were only the first works of ideas but it seemed as if they were all shit in what he was telling me. (quite upsetting because I chose to actually think of something different rather than the usualy boring scare tactics they always use). No worries I guess. Ive been totaly stuck on what to do. And what with hand in tomorrow, I have all the research done but no proposed product. Sigh.

Basically it comes down to a few key words. I would like to base my project about either : Browsing, Intamacy or Timeline. Just working out exactly what to do is hard. Especially since I only have myself to come up with ideas. Friends and peers have had the usual suggestions explaining old piracy adverts which have been done and are now getting dry and used.

I'll post up here tonight what I've got.

I had a chat with Danny a few days ago about my research title. I initially had something along the lines of this.

" How has online distribution of moving image material affected viewing behavior?"

I later found out I had somewhat been going in the wrong direction with my question. As I explained the above question to Danny he went on to talk about distribution to cinemas and the costs involved and so forth. What I was actually trying to get at with this question was "why do people choose to view audiovisual material in their chosen environment, e.g. a cinema / TV screen / Online viewing etc". After I explained this he went on to talk about more cinema related topic of which it occurred to me. So thanks Danny for help rounding my question. The new question goes as follows.

" How have the improvements in cinema quality changed the purpose of visiting and viewing moving image at cinema venues?"

Ultimately it is in the same direction I am wanting to go with my research. I'm still refining it a bit so it may still change. But if Danny thinks the topic is ok, I'll defiantly be looking forward to working on it.

This is a word file I've been writing to help with research in regards to client project -->




Client Project Initial Research

Background to file sharing and Internet piracy


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing

A short intro to file sharing.



http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2007/10/riaa-shifts-legal-battle-to-a-new-front-sues-usenet-access-provider.ars

RIAA starts to sue Usenet providers moving away from p2p focus.



http://www.usenet.com/usenet.html

A provider for Usenet. Proposes access to articles and discussion forums on UseNet



http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/online/e-business/news/index.cfm?newsid=13443

Internet users are converting from p2p to UseNet and file hosting for illegal downloading. Reasons for this maybe because of lawsuit actions taken by the entertainment industry. Results we commissioned by Ipoque



http://www.ipoque.com/company

Ipoque is a company that offers products that allow you to view data traffic. These products can measure peer to peer (p2p), Instant messaging (IM), Voice over IP (VoIP) and more.



http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=103218

Lady who uploaded a game got fined £16,000 in charges.



http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article721133.ece

Two men prosecuted for uploading over 8000 songs online. Once again uploaded not downloader prosecuted



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1046607/Up-25-000-British-illegal-downloaders-
sued-300-games-developers-turn-courts.html

More and more people being prosecuted.



http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-net-closes-in-on-internet-piracy-1772820.html

Lots of info on what is being done about Internet piracy.



Wired UK magazine 08/09

New approach to how digital distribution should work alongside Internet piracy to create better sales.



Similar Adverts


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p8o467rWts&feature=player_embedded

Student produced work from Andover College. Not great and a bit long for an advert. Copies’ similar adverts made by the industry. Kinda naff



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orEhUEcxHeY

A pro-piracy advert. “Sharing is caring”. Make’s you feel a lot less guilty about illegal downloading. More enjoyable to watch



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soRDTbkZSM0&feature=related

Another pro-piracy campaign. “Sharing is fair”. Same comments as above



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZm8vNHBSU&feature=related

The well know advert of Internet piracy. Often shown at the start of DVD’s. It is loud, annoying and somewhat frustrating to watch.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZZx1xmAzg&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Funny spoof highlighting the problems with the above advert



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LkWKvMCzqA&feature=related

Famous actor appealing to stop Internet piracy. Comical and amusing to Jack Black lovers like myself and it did appeal to me greatly because of this reason. However It might not of done if it was anyone else.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE9-W9JNjio&feature=related

Another verbal reasoning scheme. Except this time its targeted to (I’m guessing) on people aged 15-25.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=685wtb-j3xU&NR=1

Another famous person talking about Internet piracy including scare tactics. Once again it was speaker specific, although she may be a big name somewhere she really isn’t to me, so I care a lot less.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wssfl22Hhp4&feature=related

Scare tactics used to stop people downloading. Somewhat ridiculous “Piracy funds terrorism”. Can also notice sounds of jail door slamming, subconscious scare tactics once again. Not enjoyable



Conclusions and suggested ideas for project

• There are many types of online downloading taking place, examples found include: Peer to Peer, UseNet newsgroups, File hosting websites

• It is illegal to upload or download with out copyright permission. It is ok to do these things with copyright permission (obviously, duh) for example, if you already owned a CD.

• Not many people are being prosecuted for Internet piracy in the great scheme of things. However this is becoming more common with public attention

• Those who are being prosecuted are generally the people who upload files for mass distribution rather than people who download these files

• Types of prosecution include: fines, IP and web provider restrictions, Prison

• The act of aggressive court proceedings by the entertainment industry in regards to internet piracy has suggested a decrease in illegal activity

• It was also suggested that decreases have been because of users migrating to other forms of online downloading such as UseNet and file hosting websites, rather than p2p services

• Therefore piracy has not ultimately been affected by court proceedings

• Other suggestions also show how internet piracy and file sharing has improved sales of music

• Many adverts trying to promote anti-piracy are fairly negative, choosing to scare the viewers. This is not only annoying but also depressing for the viewer.

• Some adverts have tried to achieve a more positive outlook, where by using celebrities to appeal to the audience to stop illegal downloading. However this then becomes talent specific, meaning that only people who have high knowledge and respect for the person will accept what they are telling them

• I aim to make a more positive advert without relying on having to verbally tell people to stop downloading. Could be done through the use of powerful metaphors. Could use a comedic or inspiring theme.

I'm currently doing some research into adverts that promote awareness of file sharing and internet piracy when I stumbled across a website called Unruly Media. This company basically has everything to do with the operations of seeding viral videos. They have a really good website with a viral video data tracker to see who and when they were watching an online video.

Anyway, I stumbled across this one, it's absolutely brilliant.

Last night I was searching for some good software to help me with my time management this year. Currently I'm working on my macbook for all of the time control odds and ends. I found a sterling piece of software called OmniPlan. I am yet to fully complete my schedule but so far its already proving useful.

I have also created my own xcel spreadsheet to see the total amount of hours I'm actually doing. This data coupled with a graph shows how well I'm spreading my real time. It's great as a visual aid.

here is an example of what it looks like:

(click to make bigger)


The data entered is not true as the dates have not come to pass yet. I was testing to see if my formula worked (which is does!). This will help a great deal in showing me where my time is going. I'm currently working on my Gantt chart which I will show soon.

I've just started my 3rd and final year at university so this is just an introductory post to what is to come. There are lots of things to do this year. I have 3 different modules to complete. These include a research project, a client project and another module ( starting next term ) which helps with understanding and become a successful practitioner.

I'm now 2 weeks into the term and have been told the key to this year is time management. This can be done with the aid of software to create a Gantt chart. I will be setting one up tonight to get a good grounding of where I stand currently and what needs to be done when. It has been suggested during each week I should spend 2 days on Client, 2 Days on Research and 1 Day on Successful Practice and Principles (SPP).

Anywho, lots of work to get done and mountains of research to look through.

In last week’s seminars we showed our film's to the others to get some feedback. It was a good opportunity to see what people had to say about my work. From the general consensus people like the way my film looked, the aesthetic quality of it all. However its biggest drawback was that there was no real turning point or "Beat" in the film that people could understand. They said that it was clear that my main character had some issues and it was also clear that he overcomes these issues by the end. But there is no big turning point in the film to show how he has gotten from A to B.

I think they are completely correct. Unfortunately I don't have the shots required to make this better, I really wish I did. This makes think about the pre-production stage where I was first writing the script. It is here where I should be getting my story solid with no flaws! It is obvious, once again, that haven't spent enough time in the pre-production phase. It had showed in the final product and people pick up upon this. They say that a good script can save a film if it is poorly edited, but not even the most excellent of edits can save a film made with a poor script. In my mind this is very true.

For that last 4 days I have been working as a runner on set of a short film called coffee. This is the first real bit of work experience I have had so far, and it was a great help to solidify my theory knowledge of AV production. I’m actually quite upset that it's over. Although the long days of filming (9am - midnight hehe) were tiring, I really started to get the feel of the filming process and had made some good friends by the end. I can't wait for the finished product now. Unfortunately, I was talking to the director and they had almost no budget left for post-production and were having to plan some bake sales in the summer to raise the money hehe. Good times. Anywho, here are some pictures that Ollie took from while we were on set.

After having a review with Jools early this term I have kind of made an approach on what I want to do once I leave Uni. Currently I have high interests in becoming an editor. Obviously as an editor you must know your software well in order to proficiently carry out editing tasks. Currently I'm using Adobe Premier pro CS3 and I have recently got Final Cut Pro for my Mac. The question is which software is being used in the industry? Knowing this will prepare me for what is to come. I'm fairly sure AVID is top dog at the moment with Final Cut following behind. I have no idea where Premier sits in all this so I decided to do some research. Here are so forums which I’ve been reading up on the subject:


http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=64621

http://digital-filmmaking.blogspot.com/2007/06/best-film-editing-software.html

http://www.brettanderson.co.uk/forum/read.php?3,28536

It seems, from what I can assume, that AVID is still the most widely used package for industry editing. Alongside that are FCP and Adobe suites including Premier.

Now that I know this, it’s time for me to get learning some FCP (since I have it) however AVID is going to be a bit harder to have a play on.

Currently I feel very competent on CS3 Software such as Premier / After Effect and soon to know better, Encore (for DVD authoring). By preparing myself like this for industry it gives me better prospects towards my future career.

OK, Ive been doing the editing for my 6 minute film. After spending a bit of time with my footage it now seems a little clear that I probably wont have enough usable content for 6 Min's. Oh dear, not good. I'm going to get slated for this if it comes up a minute short... ergggg. OK so plan of action and things to take into account:

. Title Credits must take up about 30 seconds of this piece (in my mind at least)
. Credits possibly another 15 seconds pushing it.
. ......

So basically I'm going to have to work around some problems but it will be ok in the end (I hope).

I'm just very disappointed in how things have turned out. If I could, I would scrap the whole thing and start fresh with the things that I know now. Too bad I now don't have time to do this. However there is a ray of light. I was talking to Jools in review week about the content of my work and saying that the actors and the script were not up to the standard that they are expecting. However my Production and Post-Production skills are much much better and I will be able to prove this in the final outcome. Im just annoyed that im going to be slated for something that I already know about. That once again, I did not put enough time and resources into Pre-Production.

Well, third term has started and I am wearing a little thin. Things have been getting a bit much at home and at uni. But at least the show will go on.

I have decided to write on my blog about some of the things that will be happening soon, and the things I must complete. Here's a quick list:

. Work experience - Assistant to the Director of Photography on a short film being shot in Nottingham over 4 days. The short film is called Coffee and its quite surreal piece. I am excited about this and yet at the same time worried that I might mess up since it will be my first proper AV work experience. Well, good luck to me I guess.

. Editing my own film - I am having issues with this due to lots of reasons. I am not overtly going to spill my problems, as many of them are personal and not technical. I’m not too happy with some things of this project i.e. the actual scrip and acting, but It was a first attempt and I have learnt a great deal. I need to read up a little more on the best way to edit etc.

. EPK - Electronic Press Kit. I need to learn a bit more about this an assemble one for my short film.


There are a few other things but those are the main ones that I must tackle very soon. Blogging It up here helps formulate it in my brain and since it's public to the world, it gives me more incentive to do it quicker.

So, on the 25th of March, Jason Bickers, Ollie Tristram and I did some filming for BCS Broadcasting. We filmed clients of BCS Public Relations at the IPTV World Forum event in London Olympia. Things went very well as a group and the outcome was good. Here are the different videos that Brian Dolby (Managing Director of BCS PR) comissioned.

The main piece for clients:



Specific to SeaChange client:



A small clip for BCS themselves:



And finaly an interview with Sam Baird of Whitehill Media:

Ok so ive pretty much done my pilot edit. What I mean by this is that I've got everything where I want it and how i want it to look before I start tweaking it. However I think some more oppinions would help. I know that most people have already done thier edit a while ago. The only reason for me finishing it now was that I had been so pro-paperwork after last term. Ive been compiling my production file for the past few days and its looking really good. So yeah, watch it, and comment, would be helpful. Its basically the first 50 seconds of the first scene so don't expect huge story line plots and twists. Enjoy.

note: I shot and edited in HDV. Vimeo is currently converting it but here is a DV version, hence why it's slightly squished (sorry i'll change it soon)


In Excess Pilot (Offline Edit) from Tom Pearson on Vimeo.

Debs' lecture a few days ago got me thinking a lot more about title credits in film. Of what I originally thought not much of, I now have a big respect for.

We watched the intro to the film The Number 23. The title sequence for this film had been heavily designed. We watched it multiple times to see all the layers that had been put into it.

Things that I picked up on were:

-> The progression of music types from historical to more modern sounds
-> Selective vision. The creator gives you just enough time to see relevant information
-> Historical information in regards to the film
-> Blood and the movement of the blood was carefully thought about

All these factors are all ready inbuilt in the film's narrative. But what was most interesting is that although I hadn't seen the film (well I have but can't remember it too well) I felt like I knew what it was about and had a good impression for what I should be expecting.

Time to take these thoughts and project them onto my own work.

So as for my title credits, I had a think and it’s quite hard to get to grips with ideas. My film is about lack of control and being trapped in this lack of control. I felt this was the way I could go about designing my title sequence. Things that could represent this:

-> Powerless
-> Weak
-> Confused
-> Chaos
-> Anxiety

After brainstorming some of these points, I had to come up with ways that I could put this into my titles. Currently I don't have many ideas as to how I can go about this or what exactly expresses "chaos" or "anxiety, but Debs gave me a few ideas, Such as colouring outside of the lines.

I need to think of some more ideas and choose my best options to reflect my film during the opening title sequence before I go full steam ahead and start designing. Sorry for that lack of example by means of video. I've been searching whilst writing this and can't find it anywhere. I'll have another look harder later and see if it’s about.

Well, things are going well. I feel a lot more comfortable with my work now that I know I’ve done it a lot better than I did the first time. However, I was just thinking about my 3rd and final term of this academic year.

This term we are required to give in a 1 minute pilot of our film. This should be absolutely fine for me. The thing I’m concerned about is the next term project which is to give in the full 6 minute feature film that we have been working on this whole time. The only thing I am a bit worried about is my actors. I personally am not happy with the final result. And at the end of the day as Debs was saying if you’re working in the real world and something is not right, you will have no production at the end of the day because it will not be shown at all! So, if I’m not happy with it, then I think it’s time for a rethink.

I also didn't like my ending, it was a bit... how I put it.... LAME. This along with the acting made the overall piece a bit weak. However I did shoot it well and have been told my technical skills and composition are good. Time to work on the narrative again.

My plan of action, since I have until the end of May to actually hand this in. Is to

A) Research some new actors, professional ones instead of just friends
B) Re-work the script to fine tune it
C) Re-shoot at the beginning of third term with A and B ready to go

So yeah, hopefully I'll have time to get this done, I'll be a lot more pleased with myself if I do. I need to make sure I don't overburden myself with work in the third term as I do of course have to do my DVD authoring. Time to get to work ^_^
Oh yeah and here’s a screen shot of my film: