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On yer Bike

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long_lens1Today was the first proper job using my new camera –
the Sony NEX-FS100 camera.

Staff from the Rezidor Hotel Group were part way through a charity bike relay taking in all of the company’s 32 hotels in the UK. And I was asked to shoot and edit the Yorkshire leg.

I met up with the client’s production team and Lee from VisualMedia at 7.30am in York, where we confirmed a few last minute details. I got a few prep cutaways and then shot three interviews including York’s Mayor. The riders set off at 9am and headed to Leeds via a short break at Wetherby.

It was a good chance to test the camera handheld and on a tripod, I was particularly impressed with the quality of the 10x kit zoom lens which came with the camera. I shot a lot of material on the long end of the lens and even with an expensive Variable ND filter attached, it held up well in the edit.

After a brief lunch in Leeds, some new cyclists joined the relay team and they headed to Manchester across the Pennines. The weather came in for a few hours but I continued filming under a brolly where I could.

Everyone seems very happy with the finished film:

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admin

X Marks the spot

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fcpx_iconIt’s my birthday…
So I treated myself and bought Apple’s Final Cut Pro X.

There’s lots to learn here it seems, yet after a few hours I’m feel I’m getting comfortable with it. The first job is to convert my showreel, edited in Final Cut Pro 6 onto a X project. That’ll keep me busy for a few nights and help me get used to the enormous interface changes.

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admin

Gift of the Gab

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ideasbynet1Ideasbynet wanted to redesign their website to include demo videos for 37 of their best selling products.

So over the course of two days I filmed Carla doing her very best QVC style presentation. I used two camera to save time, and synced them up in post production. I also created opening and closing graphic stings with sound effects.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The videos are all live on the website, but here’s an example:

 

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admin

Book ’em Danno

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ideasbynet2The guys at Ideasbynet.com created a cool scrapbook,
which together with a variety of props and practicals was brought to life for this fun video.
In the end it took eight of us, and a morning of rehearsal to get the final take.

I found some suitable music tracks, sound effects and light leak flashes then produced the final video in 1080p High Definition.

Over 2000 views and counting…
 

 

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admin

Leeds Local Television

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This morning I launched a new website:
LeedsLocalTelevision.co.uk is a domain I’ve bought recently to help local businesses find me.

I’ve added basic information about scripts and filming techniques, so visitors have a better understanding about what I offer and what to expect from any video production.

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admin

Harrowing Harrogate

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coppice_dental1Another Yell job today…
Coppice View Dental Practice in Harrogate was the scene, where I faced my fear of dentists and got down to business.

I helped the interviewees with their words, trying to keep things natural sounding and without them worrying about keeping to the script. Here’s the link if you dare…

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admin

Flagging already?

flying_colours1Yet another quirky shoot for Yell today. This time for Flying Colours Flag Makers in Knaresborough.

I directed this on the hoof, deciding to get the staff outside holding a Union Flag. The time-lapse of the flag being made had to be orchestrated to happen in less than 5 minutes, when in reality it takes many hours to make.

It seemed a nice idea to get the staff involved again, by having them holding various flags up to camera. They all obliged, as I encouraged them to dance around draped in their days work.

Here’s a link to the final video.

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admin

Muchen Kutchen

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kutchenhausSquareiMedia asked us to shoot a TV commercial for their client, Kutchenhaus.

So Vic and I headed out to the Trafford Centre in Manchester with a car full of kit. We filmed on Nikon and Canon DSLRs, mine was connected to my usual 22 inch location monitor. Every shot was moving in some way either tracking, jibbing or both and all shot with shallow depth of field focus pulls.

 

Some shots were very tricky to pull off, but the end result looks great:

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admin

Never work with Children? Bah!

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We’ve just finished four nights at Magna – the children’s science park in Rotherham. It’s based in an old foundry, 350 metres long, 3 floors, painted black inside with very atmospheric low lighting. Bert Agency in Manchester kindly asked me to shoot the commercial for their client, so together with Vic McCullagh on lighting we took on the challenge.

After a screen test session a few months ago, the final actors were chosen, the lead part taken by Finlay:

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The Science park has four zones, Earth, Air, Fire and Water (as well as a nice Cafe). Bert had a storyboard to work from, and I suggested additional areas to film in each zone to make the most of our time there. Safety was of the utmost concern, we were working in the dark a lot of the time, as well as being surrounded by water, flames, and dozens of child extras and their families.

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The gloves are on… Vic means business

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Finlay hosing the camera in ‘Water Zone’

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I rigged the camera on the Jib, and behind a sheet of perspex, held up by magic arms.
It worked great, but I couldn’t keep my feet dry.

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The turbine in ‘Air Zone’ recreates a hurricane,
and I’m sat in the middle of it…

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Getting additional setups. Funny.

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After the second burger, he was full.

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Duncan and the Chris’s from Bert

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Fully operational mini JCBs in ‘Earth Zone’ = NOISY!

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The commercial ends with Finlay sleeping in the back of the car on the way home… Shhh!

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admin

Newton wouldn’t stand for it!

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I spent the afternoon in Dore, Sheffield working with a regular client – Ideasbynet.com who wanted a short viral video for one of their unique and quirky products that they personalise and sell. So we set out to prove that the What?Gravity mobile phone holder can do much more than just hold phones! If you need one in your life you can order it here!
It’s had 61,000 views on YouTube so far…

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