Wednesday, February 27, 2002
I am set.
Today. I got the LIGHTS.
Last week, I got the CAMERA.
(Just waiting on the ACTION, now!)
And a DAT recorder... but they didn't have those when the phrase Lights! Camera! ACTION! was coined.
Today. I got the LIGHTS.
Last week, I got the CAMERA.
(Just waiting on the ACTION, now!)
And a DAT recorder... but they didn't have those when the phrase Lights! Camera! ACTION! was coined.
Friday, February 22, 2002
Damnit. There's something else I **NEED** and I mean need. This would let me take the reigns of "King Of The Moving Shot" from Ed Blair.
The GLIDECAM - How cool is this thing?
** I WANT IT **
The GLIDECAM - How cool is this thing?
** I WANT IT **
Ok. I keep seeing the audio deck I want sell on ebay for under $900. I almost bought one new last year for $1500. Should I get it used? Damnit I shouldn't spend any more money right now. But if I want good audio I need a portable deck... oh damnit its so hard to make decisions..
TASCAM is the way to go tho. and that DA-P1 is OH SO STYLISH with it's XLR inputs. I want it. I will own it. I wish it had firewire, but who am I fooling. I don't even have a firewire enabled computer yet until I make yet ANOTHER major purchase and get a new Macintosh.
--- dan
TASCAM is the way to go tho. and that DA-P1 is OH SO STYLISH with it's XLR inputs. I want it. I will own it. I wish it had firewire, but who am I fooling. I don't even have a firewire enabled computer yet until I make yet ANOTHER major purchase and get a new Macintosh.
--- dan
Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Allright, thanks to ebay, I spent more money. I just bought a light kit. Now all I need is a portable audio deck and I'm gonna wait around on that one to find a decent used one or something.
Tuesday, February 19, 2002
To illustrate the degree of my laziness, please observe:
** I sat in front of my sisters computer watching Windows Me install instead of cleaning my room.
** There was really only one observation to back up this claim and this isn't it.
** I sat in front of my sisters computer watching Windows Me install instead of cleaning my room.
** There was really only one observation to back up this claim and this isn't it.
Monday, February 18, 2002
I am such a sucker for a sales pitch. The place in NY i bought the camera from called me up. Well, I was ALREADY shopping around for accessories, so they must have known something about that because they just sold me on a bunch of stuff I already wanted to buy. I stood my ground tho, when they offered me something I played it off as if I could do without and that I could find it cheaper since I work in the industry.
Needless to say, I got them to bring down the prices and I don't have to scour the internet for the best prices. I did that last week so I knew the range in what I wanted to pay. So here's what is coming along with my camera in 2 days.
1 extra battery (4 hours!)
battery quick charge
4 MiniDV tapes
1 telephoto lens adapter
1 wide angle lens adapter
1 carrying case
1 speedlite 550ex flash (this video camera also works as an SLR)
3 filters of various types.
2 days. I can't wait that long. Good thing they upgraded the shipping from ground to 2nd day air for free.
Needless to say, I got them to bring down the prices and I don't have to scour the internet for the best prices. I did that last week so I knew the range in what I wanted to pay. So here's what is coming along with my camera in 2 days.
1 extra battery (4 hours!)
battery quick charge
4 MiniDV tapes
1 telephoto lens adapter
1 wide angle lens adapter
1 carrying case
1 speedlite 550ex flash (this video camera also works as an SLR)
3 filters of various types.
2 days. I can't wait that long. Good thing they upgraded the shipping from ground to 2nd day air for free.
Friday, February 15, 2002
I bought it.
INT. CAMERA SHOPPE SALES FLOOR
DAN
How do I look?
SALESMAN
About $1600 lighter.
Ok. I didn't write that, it's pilfered dialogue from Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life.
The internet is an amazing thing. Not only can you find something that retails for $2499 at your local CircuitVille for $800 less, but you don't have to pay sales tax.
After reading reviews researching stores to purchase from for a day, I made up my mind about the Canon. There are a few setbacks to it's functionality that I acknowledge and address:
1) It does not perform well in low light situations. The blacks get grainy.
2) It does not produce color bars to lay to tape.
3) It's top handle buttons are to easy to push when holding it from above.
4) It produces softer lines than the Sony camera in the same price range.
5) It's digital still photo taking ability is restricted to 640 x 480 pixel resolution.
_____________________________-
1) Low light is bad for any situation. I can overcome the problem of low light with the technology of Lowel.
2) Color bars are nice and all, but any color correction I need to do can be done in post. (I DO work in a post house.)
3) I'll keep my fat fingers away from the controls on top when using that handle. (Can you think of a better rebuttal?)
4) Softer lines. Ok. so what. People buy filters to give images a soft look and I'm supposed to think this is really a design flaw?
5) Ok, so I can't take photos for poster artwork. The images will look great as stills on webpages and stuff!!
Let the multimedia creation begin.
-- D to the A to the N.
INT. CAMERA SHOPPE SALES FLOOR
DAN
How do I look?
SALESMAN
About $1600 lighter.
Ok. I didn't write that, it's pilfered dialogue from Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life.
The internet is an amazing thing. Not only can you find something that retails for $2499 at your local CircuitVille for $800 less, but you don't have to pay sales tax.
After reading reviews researching stores to purchase from for a day, I made up my mind about the Canon. There are a few setbacks to it's functionality that I acknowledge and address:
1) It does not perform well in low light situations. The blacks get grainy.
2) It does not produce color bars to lay to tape.
3) It's top handle buttons are to easy to push when holding it from above.
4) It produces softer lines than the Sony camera in the same price range.
5) It's digital still photo taking ability is restricted to 640 x 480 pixel resolution.
_____________________________-
1) Low light is bad for any situation. I can overcome the problem of low light with the technology of Lowel.
2) Color bars are nice and all, but any color correction I need to do can be done in post. (I DO work in a post house.)
3) I'll keep my fat fingers away from the controls on top when using that handle. (Can you think of a better rebuttal?)
4) Softer lines. Ok. so what. People buy filters to give images a soft look and I'm supposed to think this is really a design flaw?
5) Ok, so I can't take photos for poster artwork. The images will look great as stills on webpages and stuff!!
Let the multimedia creation begin.
-- D to the A to the N.
Thursday, February 14, 2002
I'm about to spend some cash. I'm going to purchase something I've been wanting to buy for about 10 years. Even when I was still in high school, I started saving to buy it. Well things didn't turn out like I planned and I never ended up buying it. (Why buy something you have free access to through school?
I, of course, am referring to a camera.
For a while I thought I would get Canon's XL-1. It's the premiere digital video camera for the independent filmmaker. However, looking at the accessories for It, I would end up spending $7000 before I was really satisfied. I'm not ready to blow that kind of money. I will eventually get an XL1 or whatever new version of it Canon is making when I decide to upgrade, but for now I'm starting small.
The Canon GL-1 is my choice camera. It's got picture quality that is as good as the XL-1. The only things it falters on is audio quality, lack of color bars and its inability to swap out lenses. Currently, the XL1 is the only MiniDV Digital Camera you can swap lenses on. That would be a big perk, but I can deal without that for a while, I'll get a better one later and use the GL1 as my "throwaway" camera. The one I take on vacations and in seedy situations I wouldn't want the expensive XL-1 exposed to.
I just called a $2000 camera a "throwaway." Can you beleive that?
The GL1 has so many cool features. For instance, you can get a flash and it works as an SLR camera. How cool is that? I've always wanted a digital still photo camera, and I've found a video camera that works as a still cam as well. What a bonus!!!!
I've been scouring the internet all week long deciding where to buy and what extra things to get right away. I think I'm gonna go simple, just the camera, a wide angle lens adapter and maybe a better battery than it comes with. I'll get the SLR flash later, since I will probably get the better of the two available which is another $400.
My mine is already moving with ideas of what to shoot first. The Next Breath might see the light of day!!! But that won't be first, first will be the sketches I am writing that will become a part of DANthology 2002.
How will my purchase unfold? Check back here to find out.
This will directly affect itwillfail.com because I'll start doing some NEW multimedia instead of finding old things to put online. One thing I will try to do will be to convince Mike Swelstad that he needs to do a weekly rant online. We'll maybe do a 2 minute thing once a week.. he better be up for it.
Well. I think I'll get back to work now, since that is what's paying for the camera. LOL
I, of course, am referring to a camera.
For a while I thought I would get Canon's XL-1. It's the premiere digital video camera for the independent filmmaker. However, looking at the accessories for It, I would end up spending $7000 before I was really satisfied. I'm not ready to blow that kind of money. I will eventually get an XL1 or whatever new version of it Canon is making when I decide to upgrade, but for now I'm starting small.
The Canon GL-1 is my choice camera. It's got picture quality that is as good as the XL-1. The only things it falters on is audio quality, lack of color bars and its inability to swap out lenses. Currently, the XL1 is the only MiniDV Digital Camera you can swap lenses on. That would be a big perk, but I can deal without that for a while, I'll get a better one later and use the GL1 as my "throwaway" camera. The one I take on vacations and in seedy situations I wouldn't want the expensive XL-1 exposed to.
I just called a $2000 camera a "throwaway." Can you beleive that?
The GL1 has so many cool features. For instance, you can get a flash and it works as an SLR camera. How cool is that? I've always wanted a digital still photo camera, and I've found a video camera that works as a still cam as well. What a bonus!!!!
I've been scouring the internet all week long deciding where to buy and what extra things to get right away. I think I'm gonna go simple, just the camera, a wide angle lens adapter and maybe a better battery than it comes with. I'll get the SLR flash later, since I will probably get the better of the two available which is another $400.
My mine is already moving with ideas of what to shoot first. The Next Breath might see the light of day!!! But that won't be first, first will be the sketches I am writing that will become a part of DANthology 2002.
How will my purchase unfold? Check back here to find out.
This will directly affect itwillfail.com because I'll start doing some NEW multimedia instead of finding old things to put online. One thing I will try to do will be to convince Mike Swelstad that he needs to do a weekly rant online. We'll maybe do a 2 minute thing once a week.. he better be up for it.
Well. I think I'll get back to work now, since that is what's paying for the camera. LOL
Monday, February 11, 2002
This weekend had it all.
Rockstar style partying.
Personal injury.
Lost time.
Social flakiness.
(a) rockstar partying.
It all started when I went to Lansing. I get back and I party with Mike and Eric. Long story short, after they left I went upstairs and...
(b) personal injury
I fool around upstairs on the computer. I feel a little strange so I stand up.
The next thing I know I'm on the ground bleeding.
(c) lost time
Not sure what happened or how I decide the best thing to do is to just go to sleep and deal with it in the morning.
I don't know how long I was out or what I collided with on the way down, but my ear is all fucked up now.
(d) social flakiness.
The past two weekends now I have had plans with a friend and just not left the house. No call, no nothing. I have become so flaky that my friends can no longer rely on me to come over when I say I do.
Personally, I blame my flakiness on the rockstar style partying.
Robert Downey and I will stop hanging out, I promise. But damnit he's so much fun. ,
When was the last time you woke up in someone elses house?
Try it. It adds a world of excitement to your life.. (and others!)
-rockstar dan
Rockstar style partying.
Personal injury.
Lost time.
Social flakiness.
(a) rockstar partying.
It all started when I went to Lansing. I get back and I party with Mike and Eric. Long story short, after they left I went upstairs and...
(b) personal injury
I fool around upstairs on the computer. I feel a little strange so I stand up.
The next thing I know I'm on the ground bleeding.
(c) lost time
Not sure what happened or how I decide the best thing to do is to just go to sleep and deal with it in the morning.
I don't know how long I was out or what I collided with on the way down, but my ear is all fucked up now.
(d) social flakiness.
The past two weekends now I have had plans with a friend and just not left the house. No call, no nothing. I have become so flaky that my friends can no longer rely on me to come over when I say I do.
Personally, I blame my flakiness on the rockstar style partying.
Robert Downey and I will stop hanging out, I promise. But damnit he's so much fun. ,
When was the last time you woke up in someone elses house?
Try it. It adds a world of excitement to your life.. (and others!)
-rockstar dan
Sunday, February 10, 2002
I am so thrilled. At first I was mad that I spent $70 at the comic book store.
Looking back, that $70 put a lot towards a small little goal I had when I was about 12. The goal? "Get as many of the Fantastic Four comics as possible"
They were barely past issue 300 when I first started read the series on that fateful day in 1987. I bought all the new ones and started rifling through the 4 for a quarter boxes at comic conventions.
The next barrier I have to get through is the triple digits. I'm almost done with them.
100, 112, 117 and 132 stand in my way. Those date to about 1970.
The older the books get the more I realize how much a story can tell something about the time it was written in. Watching the team go through adventures before I was born gives me a visualization of reality before me I could never have grasped without the aide of those books.
I am now reaching the period where all the books I'll be buying will have been drawn by Jack Kirby, the original artist of the book, as well as the co-creator of most of Marvel's heroes.
The way this man put pen to paper will never cease to amaze me. The printing processes hadn't developed very well and the four color nature of the books made it difficult to express creativity. Kirby shined right thru it all and his artwork comes out to grab the core of your imagination.
Modern artists need enhanced computer graphics to give personality and pathos to characters, Jack Kirby grabbed you and you never strayed away.
Yeah, so I spent $70. I can't wait to spend another $70.
Looking back, that $70 put a lot towards a small little goal I had when I was about 12. The goal? "Get as many of the Fantastic Four comics as possible"
They were barely past issue 300 when I first started read the series on that fateful day in 1987. I bought all the new ones and started rifling through the 4 for a quarter boxes at comic conventions.
The next barrier I have to get through is the triple digits. I'm almost done with them.
100, 112, 117 and 132 stand in my way. Those date to about 1970.
The older the books get the more I realize how much a story can tell something about the time it was written in. Watching the team go through adventures before I was born gives me a visualization of reality before me I could never have grasped without the aide of those books.
I am now reaching the period where all the books I'll be buying will have been drawn by Jack Kirby, the original artist of the book, as well as the co-creator of most of Marvel's heroes.
The way this man put pen to paper will never cease to amaze me. The printing processes hadn't developed very well and the four color nature of the books made it difficult to express creativity. Kirby shined right thru it all and his artwork comes out to grab the core of your imagination.
Modern artists need enhanced computer graphics to give personality and pathos to characters, Jack Kirby grabbed you and you never strayed away.
Yeah, so I spent $70. I can't wait to spend another $70.
Wednesday, February 06, 2002
I swear I am a magnet for the extremities of the internet.
Not only do I get IMs from the most fucked up individuals with serious problems that drop thier problems on me, but I am also a magnet for people that can't speak English.
At first it was cute... since I was always up late there would be girls in Hong Kong that would talk to me.. and I would get "hello funny talk man!" "you so funny speaking!"
here's today's experience:
queemtran: ban la trai hay gai
Dan Four20: excuse me?
Dan Four20: habla ingles?
queemtran: no speak viet nam
Dan Four20: well thats going to make a bit difficult.
queemtran: thoi anh lam bo
queemtran: hong noi
queemtran: neu anh o noi tieng viet
What is it all about? What can I do?
Not only do I get IMs from the most fucked up individuals with serious problems that drop thier problems on me, but I am also a magnet for people that can't speak English.
At first it was cute... since I was always up late there would be girls in Hong Kong that would talk to me.. and I would get "hello funny talk man!" "you so funny speaking!"
here's today's experience:
queemtran: ban la trai hay gai
Dan Four20: excuse me?
Dan Four20: habla ingles?
queemtran: no speak viet nam
Dan Four20: well thats going to make a bit difficult.
queemtran: thoi anh lam bo
queemtran: hong noi
queemtran: neu anh o noi tieng viet
What is it all about? What can I do?
I am gearing up to prepare myself for the reality that I am about to finally be content.
For so long have I wondered why I am distraught in my day to day activities. For so long I have had a tazer on my ass about living. Thinking I've wasted my degree and wondering why I didn't leave home in search of fame and fortune.
Finally I can see what I want on the horizon. Finally I will be able to do the things I want to do (AND MORE) all in the comfort of the home I grew up in. If I could go back in time and find that little 12 year old figuring out how to edit a video with a camcorder and a VCR and tell him "One day it's all going to be so easy to accomplish your storytelling."
It doesn't matter.
I think that kid knew.
If only the technology was available to me then, I could have created incredible things. Chris Wirth I work with has told me the computers we use to create should not be complicated.
It needs to be as simple as our own thought process and work seamlessly with our consciousness. The creative process can move more smoothly than ever before. I have seen the boxes that make up my future and I know what I have to do. The months and years to come will harvest the fruits of my creativity. I can see the worlds I will create and I look forward to every waking moment of it all.
For so long have I wondered why I am distraught in my day to day activities. For so long I have had a tazer on my ass about living. Thinking I've wasted my degree and wondering why I didn't leave home in search of fame and fortune.
Finally I can see what I want on the horizon. Finally I will be able to do the things I want to do (AND MORE) all in the comfort of the home I grew up in. If I could go back in time and find that little 12 year old figuring out how to edit a video with a camcorder and a VCR and tell him "One day it's all going to be so easy to accomplish your storytelling."
It doesn't matter.
I think that kid knew.
If only the technology was available to me then, I could have created incredible things. Chris Wirth I work with has told me the computers we use to create should not be complicated.
It needs to be as simple as our own thought process and work seamlessly with our consciousness. The creative process can move more smoothly than ever before. I have seen the boxes that make up my future and I know what I have to do. The months and years to come will harvest the fruits of my creativity. I can see the worlds I will create and I look forward to every waking moment of it all.
Tuesday, February 05, 2002
Boy, I hope this works right. I will be so impressed!
This blog is gonna make Murph happy that I update the site more!
