Slowly, but surely

I am hoping to get more (if, not all) of my student films online. I have a basic setup here at home where I am still not able to fully digitize my films without any technical glitches. I can't even digitize it, period. For the digitization, I have to use the Dell PC downstairs using a VCR and then find a way to transfer the file to my Powerbook, which so far has been done by burning a CD. I use Final Cut Express to convert the files for the web. I can't afford the Pro version, and I figured that a more streamlined editing software like FCE will be more than adequate for any editing that I wanna do. I also figured that an FCE would run better on bare-bone hardware, than say FCP. All I know is that my digitizing efforts using the PC downstairs has resulted in video glitches and hiccups where the audio gets severely out-of-synch. There is also this case where the video itself is smaller than the surrounding screen, such as the case with "About A Girl" and "Cynthia's Cell." Although, there are some instances in my film were audio was purposely out-of-synch, it is not that bad, as is the case with the current version of "The Messenger." That film's audio also got really chopped up and distorted, which was probably due to a combination of a crappy A/V capture device and how the Master Tape's audio was already on the borderline of peaking. I have decided to showcase my work with these technical difficulties, anyway, because something is better than nothing.

Soon, I am hoping more RAM and a couple hardware acquisitions will make this whole digitization process go smoother with less glitches. I'll probably re-digitzie the films that I already have online, as well as, digitize my other films. In the meantime, I am hoping to digitize a few more films, like "Night Child," "Give Me My Slippers, Or Give Me Death," and my senior-thesis film, called "Misdierec+ion," using my current setup. So, be patient.

Also, at some point, I am going to ask permission from the director, if I could put up his documentary that I worked on as the cameraman and editor during the summer of 2001, called "Ocidentes." It was a Brazil-NYC production about a poet's journey into the night. The film gave me more opportunity to explore NYC right after graduating from college. I remember it as one of my more interesting summer, when summers were more care-free. The video also ended up being really interesting and I was proud of it.

As to what happened with my other blog for those of you who never read it? Well, I had been writing it for almost 5 years and it was about time it went its own way. Either, it nor I, had any parting words, except for a couple of obligatory clicks of the mouse and that was all it took. Anyway, if it makes you feel any better, I have this new "blog-baby" to tend now, so I probably still won't be gaining anymore sleep.

Speaking of sleep, I should do just that.

2 more of my student films

This video, called "About A Girl" was made freshman year (Fall 1997) in college. It was shot on Hi-8 and edited using a Sony linear editing deck. I thought the actors (Evre and Brian) did a brilliant job.

The next video (below) was shot on film and edited in-camera using a Bolex H16. I had access to a film-to-tape transfer system in school to digitize the film and edit it using Final Cut Pro. Being already edited, I didn't do much editing except add some colored mattes in the background. The superimposition was done in-camera by rewinding the film and exposing it twice, which a Bolex camera allows you to do. Being a film student enabled me to do this multimedia report instead of a written one, which I was more than happy to do.



The film was inspired by Vertov and the Russian Future-Expressionist films. There was an accompanying soundtrack to the film that I have since lost. So, you will have to imagine music playing in the background.

2 of my student films

The video above is called "Nonsynch," made during sophomore year (Winter 1999) in college. It was shot with a Canon Hi-8 camcorder and then edited using a Sony Hi-8 linear editing deck.



The film above is, called "The Messenger," made during my junior year (Spring 2000) in college. It was shot with an Arri-BL using 16mm Kodak Double-X Negative Film, if I remember correctly. I then had the lab transfer the footage to Beta tape, in which I then used an Avid to edit the film together.

I'm starting over

Goodbye to the old, hello to the new.