Final video project: Polka Party

Natalie Jacobson video story

Finally got it done after iMovie crashed on me again. Woo!

@#&#*%^!!!

I just spent two hours putting together my video. it was just about done, just adding the transitions, and then iMovie crashed.

No big deal, right? Just re-open my saved file and continue from where I was a few minutes ago.

Right?

Apparently my saving-OCD completely crapped out on me during the past two hours, because I have absolutely zero to show for it. I'm so pissed right now.

Oops, stupid SD card

I went to office hours with Natalie Jacobson today, all set to do my first video interview. I propped up the camera on a book and a coffee cup to get the video somewhat level and pointed it in her general direction. Six minutes into the interview about MyNextBigThing.com, and oh noes!!1! Memory is full on the camera!

Of course, I didn't bring a back-up card because I thought 512 mb would be enough, but nope, not by a long shot. The interview went well I thought, learned a lot about her upcoming project and she's a pleasure to talk to. Unfortunately, I only have the first 6 minutes to show for today.

It almost makes me miss using only a pen and paper. Almost.

Soundslide!

WebNG was being difficult for a while, but I finally got it to play nicey-nice with me. There's still a little bit left I'd like to do with this, namely fix the sound up a little bit more and add some bumpers in the beginning, although I don't think I'll end up doing that until I finish the sound so I don't have to go back and muck around with it too badly.

Behold:

Photo shoot!

The drum circle is a once a month thing, so for last week's class I brought with me photos of a little Lego critter I have on my desk under my lamp. It watches over me with it's piercing eyes, pointing it's laser blaster at my forehead to make sure I'm being productive (I rarely am).

During that shoot, I learned that my camera has a bunch of settings I never really bothered with before; I was able to finally get the camera's screen image to actually be what the picture looks like. Most of the time there's a nasty flash that brightens everything and ruins the picture. It's not there as much, but from time to time it creeps up.

Anyway, I didn't have pictures of anything drum-related because, as it is, that only happens once a month. In order to have something done for the Soundslide, earlier today I went on over to the Waysmeet Center and took a few pictures of Brickner-Wood and someone I want to call either Monica, Molly or Courtney (I don't remember what her name was, but I know it was one of those). Not all the drums were out, and of course there were a lot fewer people in the room banging on things, but I think what I've got works.

See the annoying flash? Blarg!

I recorded Larry Brickner-Wood saying some things and this is what I pieced together

Got my audio story done, at least as good as I can make it in under 4 minutes. I realized I have a harder time slimming down the good 'uns because he said so damn much that I felt was worthy of getting plopped in. I had to snip a couple things due to time restraints that I otherwise would have liked to work into a print story, but alas, can't win 'em all. I also decided against putting in a voice-over narration because I want to transmograph this into a Soundslide, and I feel a voice-over would go against what I've been picturing in my head.

Here it is. Be gentle.

"Larry Brickner-Wood: Drum Circle Maestro"

So the basic idea is that Larry Brickner-Wood is a campus minister and puts on a dinner-and-drum-circle event on the first Friday of each month. People show up, hit things, and have a jolly good time. I chose this story because I find it infinitely interesting that UNH has a drum circle, however unofficial it might be. I dunno, not something I'd really expect from New Hampshire.

Rip it apart in the comments.