"Welcome" Video

We have been participating in the YouTube Creators Academy. One of the lessons taught us all about the importance of the "Welcome" video.  The three of us agreed we would try and actually develop, shoot and upload the video within the week.  (A challenge we have said a couple of times and have yet to execute...)

On Sunday Jason and I thought of a way we could make a video with of our voices played to kinetic Cinetic typography.  Instead of developing the Cinetic typography ourselves we actually purchased a template to try and make the turnaround time a lot less.

Jacob came over tonight, and after discussing the original idea, we realized that producing that video would take longer than we wanted.  To get a video up on our page ASAP we thought on the fly and said, "How can we shoot this in fifteen seconds and be done?".  Because of the time constraint we agreed to go for the run-and-gun video and quickly started writing a script, setting up the lights, balancing the steadicam and changing into non-branded shirts.

Thirty minutes after shooting started we got a one-cut shot that was good and we could totally upload.  We watched the good take and said, "Let's just do one more since we already got it."  Fifteen minutes later we reviewed another take and realized it was 55 seconds long.

Jacob asked Jason, "How long is this supposed to be?" According to Jason it is supposed to be 30 seconds or less.  They both looked at each other and boom a spark just lit a fire under them; Jason and Jacob sped up their lines to cut the video time in half.

An hour of shooting later, we got our 30 second, one-cut shot.  Boom!

-Posted by Jessica

Third Short: Reviewing Our Footage

One of the steps in our workflow is going through the footage of our videos, "the dailies".  Jason, Jacob and I went through the dailies on Sunday, but Jason is now developing another step in our workflow to eliminate the footage that should be buried alive.

Last night Jason went through the footage and assembled "the selects".  Jason is using a technique and template provided by the well-know editor, Vashi Nedomansky.  By assembling "the selects" we will eliminate the mass chaos from our first video where we could not organize the hours worth of footage we shot for a 60 second short.  Finding the right shot was like finding a frame in the middle of a full length, motion picture.

Some of the shots in our third video were also shot in slow motion.  In some of these clips Jason made obnoxious face movements to exaggerate the effect on film.  It was so funny watching him "perform" it live and after see the raw footage, I think the 60p slow motion sequence is gonna be pretty funny too.

-Posted by Jessica

Boy Toys

Between Jason, Jacob and I, we seem to be doing "adequate" YouTube "research".  The three of us decided that we wanted our next video to be simple, nostalgic, and with a twist.  After having an idea pitch hang out session, we decided we would be shooting the following week.

Jason and I had to do some research and development and found ourselves at Toys 'R Us.  After going through the "Boy Toys" aisles, we settled on some Nerf guns.  I would have rather stayed in the "Girl Toys" aisles, but I guess I was out-voted.

We went over to Jacob's place, Nerf guns in hand.  Jacob and Jason really needed to get the fun out of their system and had to have some play time before shooting.  The guys unwrapped the guns and I got to witness mature men flashback to 2001.  After half an hour we were ready to shoot.

Unfortunately everything ran late, shooting took longer than expected, and we ended up shooting half in daylight and half at night; unintentionally, of course.  We have since managed a way to figure out how to make it work, but it was definitely a serious continuity error.

We also had some fun with stunts.  I filmed while Jason was pulled by an extension cord, tied to his belt, on the floor, by Jacob.  I guess you will have to see how it turns out.  From my view, it was something for the memory books.

-Posted by Jessica

Kudos, Joe Penna

We have found another channel that we really like - MysteryGuitarMan. I guess you could say that his channel and his whole brand is one we really look up to.  I think he has made a huge impact in new media, and that's something that has gotten us to where we are today.  Kudos Joe Penna, kudos.

If we can acquire 1/10th the talent some of our mentors have, we might be able to actually have a thriving audience one day.

-Posted by Jessica

The Second Video

Jason, Jacob and I are all a little over watching the first video cut, and re-cut and decided it was time to shoot our second short.

When I came home from work on Sunday, I started walking to the front door when I saw this huge green sheet on the floor.  I remember Jason telling me about his cheep green screen that was sitting in our living room, ready to be used and abused.  When he was shooting his Star Wars videos about ten years ago he found the "perfect green" sheets at Ross.  Apparently they were defective, but they were just perfect for him.

That "perfect green" sheet was sprawled out in the middle of the courtyard and I could see the guys on our third floor with the camera shooting right at it.  I walked right into our second short.

Turns out Jacob convinced Jason that since he had got to be in the first video, it was Jason's turn.  It also meant Jacob was in front of the camera.

After shooting for a couple of hours we wrapped.  Jason looked at the footage and we learned something really important that day.

Lesson Learned: Set up the green screen before the sun is at the right angle.  By the time the guys set up the green screen, there were too many shadows and the shot was ruined.

-Posted by Jessica

The Never Ending First Video

So over the past couple of weeks Jason has been editing the first short.  He's been saying, "This is the last time I am going to render it out." And then wait - he renders it out again.

Lesson learned: There's no such thing as "the final cut".  The only final version will be when it is actually uploaded to YouTube and there's "No Take Backs".

Once we got the video to a certain point, Jason uploaded it to YouTube for Jacob and I to watch.  We both screened it, gave him feedback and then some more renderings happened.

Now, our video was ready for our harshest, meanest, critics- our friends.  Jason, Jacob and I all showed the video our specially selected crowd and we seemed to get positive feedback.  Most of the feedback ended with conversations ofhow it all started and then of course some YouTube binging.

The video is not finished yet, and probably won't be for a while.  We are definitely learning and it seems that every day we are that much more ahead than the last.  Who knows where we'll be next week.  One thing is for certain, this is going to be one very educational ride.

-Posted by Jessica

Our First Video Shoot

This past weekend Jason and Jacob shot our first video.  Jason had been going through the first idea for the video all week and when I came home from work on Saturday, he told me it was happening that night.

I was just getting over a cold and was exhausted after my long day at work.  As the supportive team mate, I went through the motions and blocked out the video with him in our garage that night.  Half an hour later we had the whole video mapped out, we were ready, we just needed our talent.

Jacob got hustled into volunteered to be one of the actors and Jason's friend, John, came over to play the second.

The only problem was - my exhausting work day and cold made me pass out even before our fabulous actors came over.

After a long and uninterrupted sleep, I woke up and Jason told me everything went great.  We ran through the "dailies" and at that point I realized Jason might actually be able to do the whole shooting a video thing...

-Posted by Jessica