Sleepman - The Unexpected Virtue of Restlessness: by Griffin Baumberger
(watch in full screen because you've got to see how great Parker looks in this)
Monday, April 27, 2015
Hot Pockets and You - Third Film
Hot Pockets and You: by Griffin Baumberger
(watch in full screen to see how gorgeous Hot Pockets are)
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Days 27 & 28: Wrapping
This weekend has been intense, and it is not over yet.
Right now, as we speak, I am exporting the week four video to be uploaded. I still have to export the week three video too. So it takes time to export it and then it also takes time to upload it, so I potentially could be here for a few more hours than the time I logged. That's been a common thread. There are a lot of things that I have to do that take time like driving and planning and uploading that take time that I can't really account for. Oh well. I've gotten well above the hours I needed for this project logged, so I'm all good.
This weekend I filmed the final film with Parker Wierling - Actor. Great guy. Great actor. Knows his stuff. I was happy to work with him because he could improve which really helped for this film. It went a lot smoother because of him. He is technically SAG (Screen Actors Guild) so I should have payed him like oodles of money, but because he's my homie he let it slide.
Today I've been an editing mad man. It takes so much more time than I expected to edit these darned videos. I have become more proficient in the art, however, so that is a plus. I also had to write the final reflection, which didn't take quite as long as I thought it would to write. It's been a good project. I'm glad I did it.
This may be my last blog post ever. That's super exciting and also so relieving. There is so much work put into it and for so little reward as it feels like no one is reading it. Oh well. What is a boy to do.
-Griffin
Right now, as we speak, I am exporting the week four video to be uploaded. I still have to export the week three video too. So it takes time to export it and then it also takes time to upload it, so I potentially could be here for a few more hours than the time I logged. That's been a common thread. There are a lot of things that I have to do that take time like driving and planning and uploading that take time that I can't really account for. Oh well. I've gotten well above the hours I needed for this project logged, so I'm all good.
This weekend I filmed the final film with Parker Wierling - Actor. Great guy. Great actor. Knows his stuff. I was happy to work with him because he could improve which really helped for this film. It went a lot smoother because of him. He is technically SAG (Screen Actors Guild) so I should have payed him like oodles of money, but because he's my homie he let it slide.
Today I've been an editing mad man. It takes so much more time than I expected to edit these darned videos. I have become more proficient in the art, however, so that is a plus. I also had to write the final reflection, which didn't take quite as long as I thought it would to write. It's been a good project. I'm glad I did it.
This may be my last blog post ever. That's super exciting and also so relieving. There is so much work put into it and for so little reward as it feels like no one is reading it. Oh well. What is a boy to do.
-Griffin
Friday, April 24, 2015
Day 26: Friday April 24, 2015
Today was the first real day I worked with talent. Which is surprising because I figured I would have worked with some sort of actor or musician or something earlier on in the process, but only in week four am I getting to it. Of course this talent is my best friend of eight years, Parker Wierling - Actor, but it still adds a new element to it.
Today, I worked with him to develop the script a little bit. I had written the script and revised it and it sounded right to me when I said it out loud, but it's incredible how different it sounded when he said it out loud. So, together during his free period, we worked on changing the lines to make it sound better coming out of his mouth, from his perspective. Maybe if I did not know the actor, the lines would have sounded better, but because I know Parker so well, some lines just seemed awkward.
We also worked on some more ideas for the film. He had the idea of him listening to some music in order to calm himself down and relax in order to go to bed, but then the music changes and gets intense and it just rattles him up more. I liked that idea a lot, so we wrote it in.
We are going to film tomorrow, I will edit Sunday, and probably get the voiceover once the edit is done so it can all fit together well. I have a lot of stuff I have to do this weekend. It's going to be a bit chaotic that is for sure, but I'm sure I'll get it done.
-Griffin
Today, I worked with him to develop the script a little bit. I had written the script and revised it and it sounded right to me when I said it out loud, but it's incredible how different it sounded when he said it out loud. So, together during his free period, we worked on changing the lines to make it sound better coming out of his mouth, from his perspective. Maybe if I did not know the actor, the lines would have sounded better, but because I know Parker so well, some lines just seemed awkward.
We also worked on some more ideas for the film. He had the idea of him listening to some music in order to calm himself down and relax in order to go to bed, but then the music changes and gets intense and it just rattles him up more. I liked that idea a lot, so we wrote it in.
We are going to film tomorrow, I will edit Sunday, and probably get the voiceover once the edit is done so it can all fit together well. I have a lot of stuff I have to do this weekend. It's going to be a bit chaotic that is for sure, but I'm sure I'll get it done.
-Griffin
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Day 25: Thursday April 23, 2015
Today I visited Belmont University from 7:30 until now, 10:00 at night. I mean I wasn't there that whole time, because of driving, but I wasn't home to do work on my project during that time. I have scheduled time tomorrow and Saturday for shooting and have all of Sunday to edit the videos, so I have plenty of time. I just needed to use my flexible schedule so that I could try and make a more informed decision about colleges. Stress level midnight to say the least.
-Griffin
-Griffin
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Day 24: Wednesday April 22, 2015
Today was exciting because I began shooting principal photography on the final short film. This one will feature Parker Wierling - Actor as our main character, and it will follow his mindset as he struggles to sleep. If it sounds familiar, that's because it's the same idea I had for the original first short film, the one that I ended up scrapping. This time I will use what I have learned through experience to make this film the best one yet, and also the one I will like the best.
Part of this process of learning from my mistakes that I made earlier on in the project is being productive with preproduction. It's important to set up a lot of groundwork so that the project will have a sturdy and stable framework for building on later. That's essentially what I've been working on a lot this week, so that when filming and editing come I can be more productive.
Tonight I used the busy city of Atlanta to gather some shots of the restlessness and constant motion. They're pretty cool shots to be honest, so I hope to use them for the film in the way that I imagine. I want to overlay the footage of Atlanta on top of Parker's head to show the constant motion of our minds at night. Hopefully it will all play out correctly.
-Griffin
Part of this process of learning from my mistakes that I made earlier on in the project is being productive with preproduction. It's important to set up a lot of groundwork so that the project will have a sturdy and stable framework for building on later. That's essentially what I've been working on a lot this week, so that when filming and editing come I can be more productive.
Tonight I used the busy city of Atlanta to gather some shots of the restlessness and constant motion. They're pretty cool shots to be honest, so I hope to use them for the film in the way that I imagine. I want to overlay the footage of Atlanta on top of Parker's head to show the constant motion of our minds at night. Hopefully it will all play out correctly.
-Griffin
Day 23: Tuesday April 21, 2015
Today was a little hectic because I had to be at school right at the beginning of the day and nothing really turned out the way I wanted, but it's okay.
Basically I worked on my script again today for an hour or so before lunch, which was fine, but I wasn't as inspired as I am at night. I think I get more creative at night, although I'm not sure why. I have also been having some funky dreams these senior project weeks. Maybe that has something to do with it.
I bet the reason why the west coast, mainly Los Angeles, is filled with so many creative entertainment people is because that time zone works for them. On the east coast, they'd be productive from 10-1 pm. But on the west coast thats 7-10 pm. Primetime television.
Today I also worked on week three video in editing. Editing takes a looooooong time. It's a lot harder than you think to get the right timing and cuts and everything like that. I'm not done, so this video will probably be out over the weekend a day or two before the final video comes out on Monday. TIME CRUNCH.
That's all folks.
-Griffin
Basically I worked on my script again today for an hour or so before lunch, which was fine, but I wasn't as inspired as I am at night. I think I get more creative at night, although I'm not sure why. I have also been having some funky dreams these senior project weeks. Maybe that has something to do with it.
I bet the reason why the west coast, mainly Los Angeles, is filled with so many creative entertainment people is because that time zone works for them. On the east coast, they'd be productive from 10-1 pm. But on the west coast thats 7-10 pm. Primetime television.
Today I also worked on week three video in editing. Editing takes a looooooong time. It's a lot harder than you think to get the right timing and cuts and everything like that. I'm not done, so this video will probably be out over the weekend a day or two before the final video comes out on Monday. TIME CRUNCH.
That's all folks.
-Griffin
Monday, April 20, 2015
Day 22: Monday April 20, 2015
Today I decided to devote all of my time on the new video.
Last night I couldn't sleep because I kept getting more ideas for the video. It will be a reincarnation of the Insomnia video, the first video I made and then scrapped, and it will be done right this time. I will use the lessons I have learned throughout this process to make this film the best one yet.
Today I worked on the script and also scouted locations to shoot. I hadn't done that yet through this process, so that was a fun way to figure out how the business works. Basically, you have to go around and find the perfect place for the video to take place. It has to both look nice and serve as a viable place to work. I scouted several different locations to capture "loudness at night." These areas are full of traffic at night and represent the commotion we feel when trying to fall asleep.
Of course I also worked on the script for a while today. I need to make it seem natural and also not be incredibly boring. I also want to make this one a decent length film, not just two minutes.
That's all I did today. I am quite excited for this one.
-Griffin
Last night I couldn't sleep because I kept getting more ideas for the video. It will be a reincarnation of the Insomnia video, the first video I made and then scrapped, and it will be done right this time. I will use the lessons I have learned throughout this process to make this film the best one yet.
Today I worked on the script and also scouted locations to shoot. I hadn't done that yet through this process, so that was a fun way to figure out how the business works. Basically, you have to go around and find the perfect place for the video to take place. It has to both look nice and serve as a viable place to work. I scouted several different locations to capture "loudness at night." These areas are full of traffic at night and represent the commotion we feel when trying to fall asleep.
Of course I also worked on the script for a while today. I need to make it seem natural and also not be incredibly boring. I also want to make this one a decent length film, not just two minutes.
That's all I did today. I am quite excited for this one.
-Griffin
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Days 20 & 21 - Figuring it all out
This weekend was interesting, because I lost interest in video three and gained so much more interest in video four.
I was planning on spending an exorbitant amount of time working on week three to get it out in time for Monday or even Tuesday, but I realized that if I want to make week four be at the standards I want it to be, it deserves a little more time than the other videos did. It deserves forward planning, something that I didn't really put much thought into for the others.
Regardless, this weekend I did finish shooting the third video. It was a little tough, but I got it done. I will more than likely edit when I can early next week, but if I actually do spend the first few days of next week planning and shooting, like I intend, then week three video and week four video might come out towards the end of the project together. Instead of thinking of it as just a late video, think of it as a grand finale to this project.
I also realized this weekend that I hadn't blogged as much as I was supposed to, so I spent several hours Saturday night writing my blogs. I write them in another document and copy and paste them into the blog, but sometimes I forget to upload them.
Regardless, the ideas this weekend ran through my head, and it made me super excited for this last week. Hopefully it will all come together well!
-Griffin
I was planning on spending an exorbitant amount of time working on week three to get it out in time for Monday or even Tuesday, but I realized that if I want to make week four be at the standards I want it to be, it deserves a little more time than the other videos did. It deserves forward planning, something that I didn't really put much thought into for the others.
Regardless, this weekend I did finish shooting the third video. It was a little tough, but I got it done. I will more than likely edit when I can early next week, but if I actually do spend the first few days of next week planning and shooting, like I intend, then week three video and week four video might come out towards the end of the project together. Instead of thinking of it as just a late video, think of it as a grand finale to this project.
I also realized this weekend that I hadn't blogged as much as I was supposed to, so I spent several hours Saturday night writing my blogs. I write them in another document and copy and paste them into the blog, but sometimes I forget to upload them.
Regardless, the ideas this weekend ran through my head, and it made me super excited for this last week. Hopefully it will all come together well!
-Griffin
Friday, April 17, 2015
Day 19: Friday April 17, 2015
Today not a lot got done, but thats cool. It's a Friday. I put in the clips from yesterday and edited them together, just to see how they would turn out. They look pretty good together, so I might end up keeping them if I can. I may need to enlist some help from some amigos for filming this weekend, but I'll see when I get there.
So the plan is for me to shoot tomorrow for a couple hours and edit Sunday and Monday, so hopefully it will be up by Tuesday again. I like working on the weekends because it's a lot of time that is uninterrupted, which means that I can procrastinate and still do work.
This one should come together nicely, I like the idea more than the others at least, which is a plus. Short blog today because I am incredibly tired and ready to pass out. Also because I didn't do too much exciting today.
-Griffin
So the plan is for me to shoot tomorrow for a couple hours and edit Sunday and Monday, so hopefully it will be up by Tuesday again. I like working on the weekends because it's a lot of time that is uninterrupted, which means that I can procrastinate and still do work.
This one should come together nicely, I like the idea more than the others at least, which is a plus. Short blog today because I am incredibly tired and ready to pass out. Also because I didn't do too much exciting today.
-Griffin
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Day 18: Thursday April 16, 2015
Today I did a little bit of everything.
I finished up the script, or at least one version of it. I might have to end up changing it because I'm not entirely sure if I can do everything I thought. I'm not quite sure if I can edit as well as my script calls for, so I might have to change it later. It's not the biggest of deals though. I'm happy with my ideas and my script coming into fruition. That's always a great feeling.
Today I also bought my hot pocket. It was a difficult decision because I didn't know which flavor to get. I ended up getting 4 Cheese because more cheese, more fun. But I assembled the important parts of this project, including cleaning my microwave which my mother adored. It's always a good thing to make your mom happy while also staying at home all day and making a mess of things.
I also started filming today. I wanted to have quick shots that add a dramatic effect of suspense and cleanliness. So I also cleaned up my entire kitchen. Well, I guess the part of the kitchen that I will film. So not the whole thing. A lot of stuff is shoved in the corner. Anyway.
I only got a few shots in tonight, and I might have to reshoot them tomorrow. But at least I started, which is something. I'm certainly proud.
-Griffin
I finished up the script, or at least one version of it. I might have to end up changing it because I'm not entirely sure if I can do everything I thought. I'm not quite sure if I can edit as well as my script calls for, so I might have to change it later. It's not the biggest of deals though. I'm happy with my ideas and my script coming into fruition. That's always a great feeling.
Today I also bought my hot pocket. It was a difficult decision because I didn't know which flavor to get. I ended up getting 4 Cheese because more cheese, more fun. But I assembled the important parts of this project, including cleaning my microwave which my mother adored. It's always a good thing to make your mom happy while also staying at home all day and making a mess of things.
I also started filming today. I wanted to have quick shots that add a dramatic effect of suspense and cleanliness. So I also cleaned up my entire kitchen. Well, I guess the part of the kitchen that I will film. So not the whole thing. A lot of stuff is shoved in the corner. Anyway.
I only got a few shots in tonight, and I might have to reshoot them tomorrow. But at least I started, which is something. I'm certainly proud.
-Griffin
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Day 17: Wednesday April 15, 2015
Today I decided to switch it up, because I definitely had to.
I decided to go with an idea I had for my English class. Basically, I compare human beings to hot pockets. It's a little odd, but it makes sense. It's all a big metaphor. It's hard to explain, but basically Hot Pockets are just like human beings because on the outside it looks like a really gross hot pocket, but on the inside its cold and hot at the same time and gross and confusing and it's hard to understand.
Hot pockets are about as confusing as people are. Which makes them interesting.
I have written the script, which is pretty much another voiceover thing. I don't really know how to do a dialogue, but maybe I'll do one for my last film. I actually just had an idea about that I should write that down. Good job, Griffin.
So I wrote part of the script today and will finish it tomorrow and get some pre production stuff ready. For example, buy a hot pocket. It's going to be an exciting day!
-Griffin
I decided to go with an idea I had for my English class. Basically, I compare human beings to hot pockets. It's a little odd, but it makes sense. It's all a big metaphor. It's hard to explain, but basically Hot Pockets are just like human beings because on the outside it looks like a really gross hot pocket, but on the inside its cold and hot at the same time and gross and confusing and it's hard to understand.
Hot pockets are about as confusing as people are. Which makes them interesting.
I have written the script, which is pretty much another voiceover thing. I don't really know how to do a dialogue, but maybe I'll do one for my last film. I actually just had an idea about that I should write that down. Good job, Griffin.
So I wrote part of the script today and will finish it tomorrow and get some pre production stuff ready. For example, buy a hot pocket. It's going to be an exciting day!
-Griffin
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Numbers and Success - Second Film
Numbers and Success: by Griffin Baumberger
(again feel free to go full screen, this size is just too small for normal people to use)
Day 16: Tuesday April 14, 2015
Today I uploaded the second video of the project. Today is also the day that the club goseth up, according the rap music game. I worked on a new script for a very long time, about the changing music genres in America, and I researched the works of George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, and the search for an American sound, which is something I am very interested in and even had an independent study I created with the help of Mr. Randolph. However, at the end of the day I decided the topic had too much information for me to cover in one video, which is a shame because it's so interesting.
Unfortunately I had already done a lot of work when I decided it would be way too much time and effort and especially history to fit into one video. I was actually really angry, because I worked for hours on this script and I just couldn't fit what I wanted to say into it. Honestly you could write hundreds of pages of material on this and it would still be meaningful and interesting to me. But, that is just too much for this little boy to handle. So I will probably try a new idea tomorrow.
-Griffin
Unfortunately I had already done a lot of work when I decided it would be way too much time and effort and especially history to fit into one video. I was actually really angry, because I worked for hours on this script and I just couldn't fit what I wanted to say into it. Honestly you could write hundreds of pages of material on this and it would still be meaningful and interesting to me. But, that is just too much for this little boy to handle. So I will probably try a new idea tomorrow.
-Griffin
Monday, April 13, 2015
Day 15: Monday April 13, 2015
Today was tricky because I began a new project while still not having finished the old one.
I wanted to get a head start on the script for this week, so I began brainstorming ideas this morning. It was hard to think of something because my mind was still on the work from last week. I am kind of considering creating a narrative behind the idea from last weeks video, but I'm unsure at this point. I'll decide for sure tomorrow.
I also had to edit even more today. Editing is hard because I'm never truly happy with myself and I can always find some flaw after the fact. It's tough, but I definitely don't want to do what I did the first week and reshoot the entire thing. Thankfully, this week the shots looked good and I didn't mess up as much.
The video is almost done. I am gonna have my dad watch it tomorrow morning to see if he still thinks it needs work, and I'll try to upload it soon after. I have been working on trying to make the cuts seem natural, but it may need a little work. I also had an idea today to actually show social media use, and I might insert that tomorrow in place of some of the interviews. I interviewed a lot of people, and the amount seems to be a bit excessive. I dunno. I guess you're never truly happy with your work until you are.
I'll see tomorrow what I should add or subtract to the video. It should be up that night (if we get the WiFi back), or it will be up Wednesday morning at the latest. Fingers crossed.
-Griffin
I wanted to get a head start on the script for this week, so I began brainstorming ideas this morning. It was hard to think of something because my mind was still on the work from last week. I am kind of considering creating a narrative behind the idea from last weeks video, but I'm unsure at this point. I'll decide for sure tomorrow.
I also had to edit even more today. Editing is hard because I'm never truly happy with myself and I can always find some flaw after the fact. It's tough, but I definitely don't want to do what I did the first week and reshoot the entire thing. Thankfully, this week the shots looked good and I didn't mess up as much.
The video is almost done. I am gonna have my dad watch it tomorrow morning to see if he still thinks it needs work, and I'll try to upload it soon after. I have been working on trying to make the cuts seem natural, but it may need a little work. I also had an idea today to actually show social media use, and I might insert that tomorrow in place of some of the interviews. I interviewed a lot of people, and the amount seems to be a bit excessive. I dunno. I guess you're never truly happy with your work until you are.
I'll see tomorrow what I should add or subtract to the video. It should be up that night (if we get the WiFi back), or it will be up Wednesday morning at the latest. Fingers crossed.
-Griffin
Days 13 & 14 - I HATE WIFI
Over the past week, my WiFi at my house has been completely broken.
Nothing I have done has fixed this problem, nor anything my father has done. It has been very traumatic for me, as I haven't been able to update my blogs without leaving the house. It's been rough.
But, this weekend, I came close to finishing the second movie. I only have to edit a bit more and it should be done. Hopefully I will get it up within the next couple of days, depending on the WiFi predicament.
This one was a bit different to film because I had to memorize my script line by line and then just repeat it. It was a bit easier than I thought, actually, because I could do as many takes on just one line as possible. It also made it feel a little more natural because I could do any and every sort of inflection in my voice that I wanted to, which was helpful.
Monday I will probably finish editing the video and start work on the new script for the next video. I'm only a day or two behind schedule, and I think I can make it up. Hopefully this week will be a bit smoother than last week.
-Griffin
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Day 12: Friday April 10, 2015
This weeks video is different from every other video, because the whole idea is that I take interviews with people and use that data to form an opinion on society. It's like a science experiment where I gather information, then I use that information to extrapolate and understand more about the world than just that small experiment. So, unnaturally, I have to write the script to this video after a huge portion of the work is finished.
Today I worked on the script for several hours, trying to project my message clearly. Mr. Silverman has always said that without a great script, a film can get nowhere. No matter how well everything else is done, the script is the foundation, and if it isn't good, the film won't be either. This script feels more natural, as it is basically just a speech, which is something I have written before. The hard part will be filming it and being able to say long sections of the speech naturally without a teleprompter, which is what news anchors, comedians, and other entertainers often use. However, I believe I can do it. It will take a while, but I will get it done.
Tomorrow is prom, so I probably won't do a ton of work on this. I plan on spending Sunday and maybe Monday to finish it up. The goal was to make a film each week, but as long as four get done, I think it will be okay. I am on good pace to finish this film soon, but I just want it to be right.
-Griffin
Today I worked on the script for several hours, trying to project my message clearly. Mr. Silverman has always said that without a great script, a film can get nowhere. No matter how well everything else is done, the script is the foundation, and if it isn't good, the film won't be either. This script feels more natural, as it is basically just a speech, which is something I have written before. The hard part will be filming it and being able to say long sections of the speech naturally without a teleprompter, which is what news anchors, comedians, and other entertainers often use. However, I believe I can do it. It will take a while, but I will get it done.
Tomorrow is prom, so I probably won't do a ton of work on this. I plan on spending Sunday and maybe Monday to finish it up. The goal was to make a film each week, but as long as four get done, I think it will be okay. I am on good pace to finish this film soon, but I just want it to be right.
-Griffin
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Day 11: Thursday April 9, 2015
Today was nice, because I got to sleep in.
But I was also up until 3:00 am last night working on James's film.
It's hard being in this entertainment business.
Today was much like the past few days, where I interviewed people around school. It's challenging to find people who will actually answer the questions I ask seriously or truthfully. For example, when I asked Parker Wierling who the most successful person he could think of was, he simply replied, "Griffin Baumberger." As flattering as that is, it's not exactly what I was looking for.
I also had the privilege to interview my advisor, Billy Maldonado, today. He gave the best answers I have had so far, and it was pretty refreshing to have someone actually take this seriously. It's hard being in this entertainment business.
Tonight was the last night of shooting for James's film, and I must say I have certainly learned a lot, even just from being an actor. For example, I learned how to make dialogue sound somewhat natural, which is one of the things I struggled with last week. Cros Saint, my counterpart for this film, had taken theater classes at Lovett for three years, so he certainly knew what he was doing. He certainly helped me out with the acting part.
I also had the privilege to be a boom mic operator and sound technician for one of Cros's individual shots. It's interesting because you have to set the gain correctly so the sound doesn't "peak" - meaning there is too much signal and it becomes distorted. It felt a little bit intense because the shot was perfect and the acting was excellent and I just hoped my sound recording was on point as well. I think it will turn out well.
I've also been learning different tricks of camera work that James and Cole have taught me, including the use of still cams versus shaky, and the use of a dolly to create a more suspenseful feel. There are other tricks, like the use of wide angle, medium, or close lenses. It's certainly a skill that takes a while to understand, but being on a set makes it a lot more real, which is nice.
I also learned how to apply fake blood to my pants (which I have done five times now, I think). It's hard being in this entertainment business.
But I was also up until 3:00 am last night working on James's film.
It's hard being in this entertainment business.
Today was much like the past few days, where I interviewed people around school. It's challenging to find people who will actually answer the questions I ask seriously or truthfully. For example, when I asked Parker Wierling who the most successful person he could think of was, he simply replied, "Griffin Baumberger." As flattering as that is, it's not exactly what I was looking for.
I also had the privilege to interview my advisor, Billy Maldonado, today. He gave the best answers I have had so far, and it was pretty refreshing to have someone actually take this seriously. It's hard being in this entertainment business.
Tonight was the last night of shooting for James's film, and I must say I have certainly learned a lot, even just from being an actor. For example, I learned how to make dialogue sound somewhat natural, which is one of the things I struggled with last week. Cros Saint, my counterpart for this film, had taken theater classes at Lovett for three years, so he certainly knew what he was doing. He certainly helped me out with the acting part.
I also had the privilege to be a boom mic operator and sound technician for one of Cros's individual shots. It's interesting because you have to set the gain correctly so the sound doesn't "peak" - meaning there is too much signal and it becomes distorted. It felt a little bit intense because the shot was perfect and the acting was excellent and I just hoped my sound recording was on point as well. I think it will turn out well.
I've also been learning different tricks of camera work that James and Cole have taught me, including the use of still cams versus shaky, and the use of a dolly to create a more suspenseful feel. There are other tricks, like the use of wide angle, medium, or close lenses. It's certainly a skill that takes a while to understand, but being on a set makes it a lot more real, which is nice.
I also learned how to apply fake blood to my pants (which I have done five times now, I think). It's hard being in this entertainment business.
That's all for now. I'm gonna go to sleep.
-Griffin
Day 10: Wednesday April 8, 2015
Today I learned what it's like to work on several projects at once.
I woke up this morning in a panic, because I had completely forgot about my APES field trip that I had to go on. I rushed through the shower and hopped in my car and made it to Lovett just in time for the trip, but I certainly started my day off running. Then, after the long day on the river, I interviewed more of my classmates for the new video for this week. I soon returned home and began editing the clips, but by 5 pm I was exhausted and fell asleep.
When I woke up, I showered and got ready to go to James Kolsby's film, a side project that he is passionately working on. Cros Saint and I are the main characters of the film, so every day this week we have worked well into the night on the movie. James is the director of the short, and Cole Johnson is the producer and technician man, and they are a very good team together. I soon realized, however, that even though this film we were making was going really smoothly, it was also a huge time and energy sink for me. Every night this week, from 8:30 or 9:00 until midnight (or tonight 1:30), we have filmed this movie. Granted, it looks fantastic. But it is still a huge time commitment.
I have noticed that this week I have been especially tired and forgetful, probably because of the late nights working on James's film and my own. It's been quite the struggle staying awake during the morning, but I'm getting through it. Hopefully tomorrow will be the last day of shooting, so now I can focus more on this project.
-Griffin
I woke up this morning in a panic, because I had completely forgot about my APES field trip that I had to go on. I rushed through the shower and hopped in my car and made it to Lovett just in time for the trip, but I certainly started my day off running. Then, after the long day on the river, I interviewed more of my classmates for the new video for this week. I soon returned home and began editing the clips, but by 5 pm I was exhausted and fell asleep.
When I woke up, I showered and got ready to go to James Kolsby's film, a side project that he is passionately working on. Cros Saint and I are the main characters of the film, so every day this week we have worked well into the night on the movie. James is the director of the short, and Cole Johnson is the producer and technician man, and they are a very good team together. I soon realized, however, that even though this film we were making was going really smoothly, it was also a huge time and energy sink for me. Every night this week, from 8:30 or 9:00 until midnight (or tonight 1:30), we have filmed this movie. Granted, it looks fantastic. But it is still a huge time commitment.
I have noticed that this week I have been especially tired and forgetful, probably because of the late nights working on James's film and my own. It's been quite the struggle staying awake during the morning, but I'm getting through it. Hopefully tomorrow will be the last day of shooting, so now I can focus more on this project.
-Griffin
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Day 9: Tuesday April 7, 2015
Today was actually a strange day, because it felt like I didn't get much work done, but I actually did. I learned a lot about the editing software that I successfully downloaded and installed, Premier Pro. Premier is the industry standard, so learning this software will certainly help me later on if I work on bigger projects. It was a huge change from iMovie, but it works so much better and is honestly much easier when I get into the swing of things.
I also watched several videos on YouTube on learning how to import footage, use the program, and figure out how to export it properly. It seems daunting, but I quickly caught on to how the program worked. I was quite happy to learn this new program, but there will certainly be a learning curve down the line.
This weeks video is a different one, because I am going out into the Lovett community and asking students and teachers questions about what their definition of success is. Then I'm going to take their answers, their data, and write an essay or piece about it later and convey my message by talking to the camera. Much like newscasters do when they go out on the street to ask people what they think, I will be doing something similar. The model I am basing this video off of is something called Deep Dive, a show that is featured on the SourceFed channel on YouTube. Here is the video I am inspired by.
Hopefully this week will go better than last week. That would make my day.
Well, here goes nothing.
-Griffin
I also watched several videos on YouTube on learning how to import footage, use the program, and figure out how to export it properly. It seems daunting, but I quickly caught on to how the program worked. I was quite happy to learn this new program, but there will certainly be a learning curve down the line.
This weeks video is a different one, because I am going out into the Lovett community and asking students and teachers questions about what their definition of success is. Then I'm going to take their answers, their data, and write an essay or piece about it later and convey my message by talking to the camera. Much like newscasters do when they go out on the street to ask people what they think, I will be doing something similar. The model I am basing this video off of is something called Deep Dive, a show that is featured on the SourceFed channel on YouTube. Here is the video I am inspired by.
Well, here goes nothing.
-Griffin
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Insomnia - First Film
Insomnia: by Griffin Baumberger
(feel free to watch in full screen, as the size on this website is deplorable)
inspired by this poem, by Dana Gioia
Insomnia
Now you hear what the house has to say.
Pipes clanking, water running through the dark,
the mortgaged walls shifting in discomfort,
and voices mounting in an endless drone
of small complaints like the sounds of a family
that year by year you’ve learned how to ignore.
But now you must listen to the things you own,
all that you’ve worked for these past years,
the murmur of property, of things in disrepair,
the moving parts about to come undone,
and twisting in the sheets remember all
the faces you could not bring yourself to love.
How many voices have escaped you until now,
the venting furnace, the floorboards underfoot,
the steady accusations of the clock
numbering the minutes no one will mark.
The terrible clarity this moment brings,
the useless insight, the unbroken dark.
Days 5, 6, & 7 - Chaos or (the Unexpected Virtue of Not Being Happy With Your Work)
I believe I now know what it is like to be an actual film producer. Let me tell you my thought process and what happened this weekend that changed everything.
All of last week, I was kind of unhappy with how the film was turning out.
I wasn't happy with the script, it felt unnatural and not necessarily true to who I am.
I wasn't happy with the camera shots, stylistically, and also because it didn't match the theme that I wanted to go with.
I wasn't happy with the editing, mainly because the shots weren't actually good, and also because the cuts weren't falling correctly.
I just really wasn't happy with what I had produced, because it did not reflect who I was.
What did I do to fix this? I scrapped the whole thing.
I just counted from my daily log, and I basically threw out 17 hours of work. But I certainly learned a lot from those 17 hours.
Script Writing: This is honestly the most important part of a film. No matter how good the shots are, or how perfect the editing is, if the script is cheesy, lacks depth, or isn't true to the author, there is no point. At the beginning of the week, I thought I would be able to change the script throughout the week, and I did, but it didn't end up helping. In the end, I rewrote the script a total of seven times. Three of those seven times were completely new concepts and ideas. This is super time consuming, but it will also save oodles of time down the line, which is important.
Shooting: Being the actor, director of photography, sound man, director, and lights manager is impossible. The shots you get will not turn out well, the sound will not be recorded, the theme will be lost in the confusion. You will get frustrated beyond belief, and you will end up with an extremely negative view towards the project. Nothing will go well if you try and do everything. It's impossible. Enlist help, hire actors, get a parter. Do not venture alone.
Editing: Make sure you have the correct tools to edit. I thought I downloaded Premier Pro correctly, but evidently I did not. So instead of the market standard that everyone in Hollywood uses, I used iMovie. The same thing that seven year olds use. The same program I have been using since I was seven. This platform works, obviously, but it is not ideal in the slightest. It is also much easier to edit something if you aren't editing yourself, which leads to self criticism and judgement, which can get pretty degrading. I wasn't a big fan of the editing portion of this project.
FINALLY, on Friday, I decided to try something new. I completely scrapped the entire script, and took the poem Insomnia by Dana Gioia and reflected on it. I rewrote. I rewrote. I said it out loud. I said it to the mirror. I rewrote. And then, I was moderately happy.
I then spent the night and the next night recording some night shots. These were not the shots that I had originally intended for this piece, but it was too late to hire an actor to get those shots, and I wasn't about to try acting and filming again. So I decided to use different methods of shots to get the things I wanted. It turned out okay, but if I had more time, I definitely would have made this much better.
Finally tonight I recorded the soundtrack and voiceover work. I played the piano and performed my piece, then edited and mastered it. It ended up being easier than I expected, and I am moderately happy with it. Then I went home and edited the clips I took and the soundtrack together. I was moderately happy with it. It wasn't the ideal final product, but it was what I had.
Then I clicked upload.
All of last week, I was kind of unhappy with how the film was turning out.
I wasn't happy with the script, it felt unnatural and not necessarily true to who I am.
I wasn't happy with the camera shots, stylistically, and also because it didn't match the theme that I wanted to go with.
I wasn't happy with the editing, mainly because the shots weren't actually good, and also because the cuts weren't falling correctly.
I just really wasn't happy with what I had produced, because it did not reflect who I was.
What did I do to fix this? I scrapped the whole thing.
I just counted from my daily log, and I basically threw out 17 hours of work. But I certainly learned a lot from those 17 hours.
Script Writing: This is honestly the most important part of a film. No matter how good the shots are, or how perfect the editing is, if the script is cheesy, lacks depth, or isn't true to the author, there is no point. At the beginning of the week, I thought I would be able to change the script throughout the week, and I did, but it didn't end up helping. In the end, I rewrote the script a total of seven times. Three of those seven times were completely new concepts and ideas. This is super time consuming, but it will also save oodles of time down the line, which is important.
Shooting: Being the actor, director of photography, sound man, director, and lights manager is impossible. The shots you get will not turn out well, the sound will not be recorded, the theme will be lost in the confusion. You will get frustrated beyond belief, and you will end up with an extremely negative view towards the project. Nothing will go well if you try and do everything. It's impossible. Enlist help, hire actors, get a parter. Do not venture alone.
Editing: Make sure you have the correct tools to edit. I thought I downloaded Premier Pro correctly, but evidently I did not. So instead of the market standard that everyone in Hollywood uses, I used iMovie. The same thing that seven year olds use. The same program I have been using since I was seven. This platform works, obviously, but it is not ideal in the slightest. It is also much easier to edit something if you aren't editing yourself, which leads to self criticism and judgement, which can get pretty degrading. I wasn't a big fan of the editing portion of this project.
FINALLY, on Friday, I decided to try something new. I completely scrapped the entire script, and took the poem Insomnia by Dana Gioia and reflected on it. I rewrote. I rewrote. I said it out loud. I said it to the mirror. I rewrote. And then, I was moderately happy.
I then spent the night and the next night recording some night shots. These were not the shots that I had originally intended for this piece, but it was too late to hire an actor to get those shots, and I wasn't about to try acting and filming again. So I decided to use different methods of shots to get the things I wanted. It turned out okay, but if I had more time, I definitely would have made this much better.
Finally tonight I recorded the soundtrack and voiceover work. I played the piano and performed my piece, then edited and mastered it. It ended up being easier than I expected, and I am moderately happy with it. Then I went home and edited the clips I took and the soundtrack together. I was moderately happy with it. It wasn't the ideal final product, but it was what I had.
Then I clicked upload.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Day 4: Thursday April 2, 2015
Today was so much more relaxing than the previous few days.
I started off the day with my two classes, which was a little tough because it meant I had to wake up early, which I am not a big fan of. But then, the day got great.
During period 6 and period 3, I accompanied Ms. Crouse and the AP Art History classes to the Lower School where we painted and played on the playground. It was so exhausting and terrible, but I had so much fun. By the end of the day, I was sweating an incredible amount and I was so tired. I have so much respect for Lower School teachers now. That job is tough.
But that work put me in a great mood to edit. I realized today during English class, that my script could be a bit better than what it currently was. So I rewrote it to try and make it more my own and more meaningful. However, I have low expectations for this first film.
This film is tough, because going into it, I knew nothing. I really wanted to start off running right off the bat and make stuff that I would actually like and be proud of, but I am slowly realizing that my project is much more of a learning process than I originally thought. However, as time restraints do apply to my project, I will be releasing the film sometime this weekend, likely Saturday. It will be bad. I will be ashamed. But it will be done.
I like the idea of the film though. I think the mind of an insomniac is so interesting. I recently rewatched Fight Club (one of my favorite films), and the way David Fincher portrays Edward Norton is so brilliant. Of course, Ed is a great actor. But the work from Fincher and his crew really payed off, in my opinion.
Maybe I will try to redo the film later, perhaps during the last week of this project. Instead of creating four completely different movies, I could try and retry this movie for the last week. I would definitely use a different actor though.
Alright I'm about to pass out. Remembering to blog/daily log on time is tough. Hopefully I'll get better.
-Griffin
I started off the day with my two classes, which was a little tough because it meant I had to wake up early, which I am not a big fan of. But then, the day got great.
During period 6 and period 3, I accompanied Ms. Crouse and the AP Art History classes to the Lower School where we painted and played on the playground. It was so exhausting and terrible, but I had so much fun. By the end of the day, I was sweating an incredible amount and I was so tired. I have so much respect for Lower School teachers now. That job is tough.
But that work put me in a great mood to edit. I realized today during English class, that my script could be a bit better than what it currently was. So I rewrote it to try and make it more my own and more meaningful. However, I have low expectations for this first film.
This film is tough, because going into it, I knew nothing. I really wanted to start off running right off the bat and make stuff that I would actually like and be proud of, but I am slowly realizing that my project is much more of a learning process than I originally thought. However, as time restraints do apply to my project, I will be releasing the film sometime this weekend, likely Saturday. It will be bad. I will be ashamed. But it will be done.
I like the idea of the film though. I think the mind of an insomniac is so interesting. I recently rewatched Fight Club (one of my favorite films), and the way David Fincher portrays Edward Norton is so brilliant. Of course, Ed is a great actor. But the work from Fincher and his crew really payed off, in my opinion.
Maybe I will try to redo the film later, perhaps during the last week of this project. Instead of creating four completely different movies, I could try and retry this movie for the last week. I would definitely use a different actor though.
Alright I'm about to pass out. Remembering to blog/daily log on time is tough. Hopefully I'll get better.
-Griffin
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Day 3: Wednesday April 1, 2015
Today, I put in a painful amount of work on this film.
Last night, I decided to take a late night nap so that I could wake up in the wee hours of the morn and film my video. That was a very bad idea. But, I did get all of my filming done, so that's a good thing. Let me take you through what happened.
At midnight, my alarm sounded. For the next hour, I struggled to wake myself up enough to start filming, and I finally did it. At 12:57, I began filming my short film, with a very tricky and precariously placed camera on an old, broken tripod. It was tough to focus the camera correctly, keep my face in frame, and do the actions required by the script, but it turned out alright (I think).
Then I did medium and wide shots of my bed, which is where the film takes place. These were more difficult, because I had to focus the camera on something that wasn't me or a person. So I balled up a blanket, and used that as a replacement for my face. This worked somewhat, which is okay with me. It's tricky being the director, the director of photography, writer, consistency supervisor, actor, and lighting expert. It's a big challenge.
This is when I realize something terrible. This whole time, I wasn't recording sound. The microphone that James let me borrow needed to be turned on separately, and I completely forgot to do it. Later, I told James and Cole, and they said that they had both done that numerous times. That made me feel a tad bit better.
But alas, I had to reshoot the shots I worked so hard on. Now, I knew how my system worked, and so it was a lot faster the second go around.
Once I was done with that, then I had to get shots of me in the bathroom, which was a little awkward. I will probably cut out most of the shots in post, but it's better to have the shots anyway.
I finished up with two more shots, then I went to bed for a couple hours. I actually woke up feeling pretty refreshed, but that quickly fell down the drain as the day went on.
Fast forward to the editing process.
My God I hate the editing process.
Something that I realized rather quickly while editing, is that I hate looking at myself for long amounts of time. I hated every second of it. It's so hard not to hate every second of it. But alas, I edited for a long time, and I had to give up and go do something else. I can tell editing will be the hardest part of this process. That does not make me excited about it.
So now, I'm physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. I'm going to fall asleep and stay asleep for as long as possible. Thanks for reading.
-Griffin
Last night, I decided to take a late night nap so that I could wake up in the wee hours of the morn and film my video. That was a very bad idea. But, I did get all of my filming done, so that's a good thing. Let me take you through what happened.
At midnight, my alarm sounded. For the next hour, I struggled to wake myself up enough to start filming, and I finally did it. At 12:57, I began filming my short film, with a very tricky and precariously placed camera on an old, broken tripod. It was tough to focus the camera correctly, keep my face in frame, and do the actions required by the script, but it turned out alright (I think).
Then I did medium and wide shots of my bed, which is where the film takes place. These were more difficult, because I had to focus the camera on something that wasn't me or a person. So I balled up a blanket, and used that as a replacement for my face. This worked somewhat, which is okay with me. It's tricky being the director, the director of photography, writer, consistency supervisor, actor, and lighting expert. It's a big challenge.
This is when I realize something terrible. This whole time, I wasn't recording sound. The microphone that James let me borrow needed to be turned on separately, and I completely forgot to do it. Later, I told James and Cole, and they said that they had both done that numerous times. That made me feel a tad bit better.
But alas, I had to reshoot the shots I worked so hard on. Now, I knew how my system worked, and so it was a lot faster the second go around.
Once I was done with that, then I had to get shots of me in the bathroom, which was a little awkward. I will probably cut out most of the shots in post, but it's better to have the shots anyway.
I finished up with two more shots, then I went to bed for a couple hours. I actually woke up feeling pretty refreshed, but that quickly fell down the drain as the day went on.
Fast forward to the editing process.
My God I hate the editing process.
Something that I realized rather quickly while editing, is that I hate looking at myself for long amounts of time. I hated every second of it. It's so hard not to hate every second of it. But alas, I edited for a long time, and I had to give up and go do something else. I can tell editing will be the hardest part of this process. That does not make me excited about it.
So now, I'm physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. I'm going to fall asleep and stay asleep for as long as possible. Thanks for reading.
-Griffin
Day 2: Tuesday March 31, 2015
Oh what a day.
Today was kind of chaotic because last night, the script changed so much due to my thoughts from last night. I think the thing about creative writing is that it never will truly be done, and that's sort of stressful. But I'm happy with the script I have now, and where it is going.
After school I called upon my lifelong friend, creative partner, and teacher, James Kolsby, so that I could borrow his camera, lights, and microphone equipment. But, I ended up getting more than I expected. James taught me not only how to use the camera, change the lenses, and set up the lights, but he also took me into the actual technical process of a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. I have a notes sheet that really helped me understand the difference between aperture, shutter speed, and I.S.O.
The picture is a tad grainy (maybe because my shutter speed wasn't set correctly), but this cheat sheet represents the hour we talked about this confusing and technical art form.
Later that evening I took all of the supplies James let me borrow and set up a studio in my room. I set up a light, which I pointed at the ceiling to create a softer glow, which created a nice feel for the night scene. I also assembled the camera, including putting on the lens, attaching the microphone, and setting up the tripod. Then, I tested out several different angles for shots, and decided on several good ones.
Then I slept for a few hours, because I literally could not keep my eyes open. Thankfully, I fell asleep rather quickly. But now, at 3:10am, I am wide awake. But at least I'm working!
Tomorrow, I will describe the actual filming process, which so far has been rather interesting. Check back in then to find out more.
-Griffin
Today was kind of chaotic because last night, the script changed so much due to my thoughts from last night. I think the thing about creative writing is that it never will truly be done, and that's sort of stressful. But I'm happy with the script I have now, and where it is going.
After school I called upon my lifelong friend, creative partner, and teacher, James Kolsby, so that I could borrow his camera, lights, and microphone equipment. But, I ended up getting more than I expected. James taught me not only how to use the camera, change the lenses, and set up the lights, but he also took me into the actual technical process of a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. I have a notes sheet that really helped me understand the difference between aperture, shutter speed, and I.S.O.
Later that evening I took all of the supplies James let me borrow and set up a studio in my room. I set up a light, which I pointed at the ceiling to create a softer glow, which created a nice feel for the night scene. I also assembled the camera, including putting on the lens, attaching the microphone, and setting up the tripod. Then, I tested out several different angles for shots, and decided on several good ones.
Then I slept for a few hours, because I literally could not keep my eyes open. Thankfully, I fell asleep rather quickly. But now, at 3:10am, I am wide awake. But at least I'm working!
Tomorrow, I will describe the actual filming process, which so far has been rather interesting. Check back in then to find out more.
-Griffin
Monday, March 30, 2015
Day 1: Monday March 30, 2015
Wow. The senior project has officially begun. And I must say, I am quite overwhelmed.
As with most things, you are truly ignorant as to how difficult something is before you try it. And I was so ignorant about writing the script to my first film. All of the past week, ideas for Into the Mind of an Insomniac rushed through my mind. But as soon as I picked up my computer to write it down, my mind went blank. I guess that is the problem with a creative process- sometimes you just aren't that creative.
However today I did put a fair amount of work into my website. I wrote a detailed description of my project, changed the layout, added an "about me" tab, and learned how Blogger works. That took about an hour of my time today, but it was well worth it, because it means I did some tangible work. And, I didn't have to be too creative and come up with a story and dialogue, which (much like Switzerland's flag) was a huge plus.
Ah, back to the script. So the idea of this film is to explore the inner thoughts of someone who just can't sleep. I've had experience with that for several years now, and I have to tell you, it sucks. I have been using my own experiences, the narrator from Fight Club's experiences, and the poem Insomnia by Dana Gioia as inspiration for this piece. I'm sure tonight, as I try to fall asleep, I will have even more things to put into the story. But that's a good thing, because more material is better than less material.
This is an example of the inner monologue my character will have.
I'm using a sort of dark humor that's very much who I am for this piece. It helps that I can relate so well to this situation, even though it certainly sucks. But the script is done, although I am sure I will edit it along the way throughout the remainder of the week.
All in all, it was a tough and long day, but I am so happy to get started. It is quite the adventure.
-Griffin
As with most things, you are truly ignorant as to how difficult something is before you try it. And I was so ignorant about writing the script to my first film. All of the past week, ideas for Into the Mind of an Insomniac rushed through my mind. But as soon as I picked up my computer to write it down, my mind went blank. I guess that is the problem with a creative process- sometimes you just aren't that creative.
However today I did put a fair amount of work into my website. I wrote a detailed description of my project, changed the layout, added an "about me" tab, and learned how Blogger works. That took about an hour of my time today, but it was well worth it, because it means I did some tangible work. And, I didn't have to be too creative and come up with a story and dialogue, which (much like Switzerland's flag) was a huge plus.
Ah, back to the script. So the idea of this film is to explore the inner thoughts of someone who just can't sleep. I've had experience with that for several years now, and I have to tell you, it sucks. I have been using my own experiences, the narrator from Fight Club's experiences, and the poem Insomnia by Dana Gioia as inspiration for this piece. I'm sure tonight, as I try to fall asleep, I will have even more things to put into the story. But that's a good thing, because more material is better than less material.
This is an example of the inner monologue my character will have.
"It’s crazy how loud the night is. It’s supposed to be quiet. But it’s not. Everything makes noise.These LED lights of blue, green, and orange are lighting up my room in an eerie glow. It’s like I'm in a hospital and I’m hooked up to machines that always need to be running in order to survive.Have you ever laid in your bed for hours on end, hoping for the sweet kiss of sleep to tug you away into some sort of unconsciousness? I have.Every night."
I'm using a sort of dark humor that's very much who I am for this piece. It helps that I can relate so well to this situation, even though it certainly sucks. But the script is done, although I am sure I will edit it along the way throughout the remainder of the week.
All in all, it was a tough and long day, but I am so happy to get started. It is quite the adventure.
-Griffin
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