The Library Meets Hollywood

Slowly Going Insane

2010-01-28T15:16:00.002-06:00

After the basic film editing is complete, the next step is to send the movie on to the composer/audio mixer. This requires a process called rendering. This process changes a video editing file into a final video output (such as DVD). It seems like a fairly straightforward process, but it is riddled with problems: what format file do you need? how large can the file be? what kind of video output? what kind of audio? stero or mono? how many pixels? The requirements go on and on. All these things are slowly driving me insane.

At some point, I'll have a good file that fits on a flashdrive and can be used on Mac software, the kind the composer uses. Hopefully that will happen soon!

Final Tweaks

2010-01-20T17:38:00.003-06:00

Every time I think I'm doing the final tweaks on the video, I find more things that need tweaking. I discover spots where a few more seconds of lag time are needed; there are headings that are coming in too slowly; another screen of black is necessary; and many more.
Even so, it looks like the editing portion of the project is truly nearing its completion. The last step will be to export it in an appropriate format for the composer.

Editing, editing, editing

2009-09-24T13:30:00.004-05:00

Editing is in full swing now. The soundtrack is on its way and waiting for me to send a completed cut. The composer, Chuck Duncan, will "sweeten" the audio along with adding the soundtrack, which is a great thing since the audio is less than perfect. Next time I will pay better attention to stereo vs. mono when filming. What an annoying glitch to have some in stereo and some in mono. It feels weird when listening on headphones!

Sony Vegas Movie Studio is working out fine once again. There are some limitations that FinalCut did not have such as limited tracks for pics, audio, etc. But for the most part it's doing what I need it to do.

Raw Material

2009-09-08T12:47:00.002-05:00

We've got all the raw footage, stills, and audio we need to make this film. Special thanks to Pam Newsome, voiceover extraordinaire, who volunteered her time to do voice for us. Now that we've got everything we need, I'll be focusing on the editing in Sony Vegas. As soon as I have a final cut, the whole thing goes to Chuck Duncan who will create the soundtrack.

Getting closer!

Editing

2009-07-30T14:13:00.002-05:00

Sony Vegas Movie Studio is pretty great for most editing. It's more powerful than iMovie and less expensive than FinalCut (and you can use your PC), although there are still some issues with it (like I would prefer more video tracks). Next step is to learn how to export the audio.

I'm also happy to report that outtakes and bloopers will be making their appearance while the credits roll. It's always good to have a reason to stick around for the credits.

Editing in Full Swing

2009-07-21T12:39:00.002-05:00

The video editing of this second film is going much faster than the first one. Vegas Movie Studio is very user-friendly and not having to navigate a Mac (as I did with Final Cut Express from Apple) is helping.

I have an entire rough cut that's about seven minutes, including credits. My fearless composer now has the footage and will work on an appropriate theme for this admittedly nerdy video.

Fine tuning and some voiceover are the big tasks now.

Capturing Footage

2009-07-02T15:25:00.002-05:00

Despite the fact that one of the lessons I learned from the first video was to look at "dailies," today is the first time I'm seeing the footage I shot last week and last summer. Luckily, the footage looks great; it looks like we have enough takes of everyone that we'll find something workable. I wish I could post some outtakes right now, but they'll be coming soon.

Now, time to edit! I'll be using Sony Vegas Movie Studio on an HP Compaq laptop. Looking forward to seeing the project take shape.

Filming, Part 2, Day 1

2009-06-23T11:22:00.002-05:00

First day of filming (not counting some footage from last year) went smoothly. A special thank you to our fearless actor Jo Ann Holonbek, associate professor in the St. Kate's theater department, for her outstanding work. Thanks also to Jenny Peters, cinematographer extraordinaire. We got about 9 minutes of footage and it only took a little over two hours. One more day of shooting left if all goes well.

Count down...

2009-06-10T18:22:00.002-05:00

The BIG day is coming! Next week we'll be filming most of the footage for "Everything You Ever..." A St. Kate's prof is going to be heavily featured as well as a well-known librarian (not me). I'm collecting equipment, volunteers, and sending out scripts. Looking forward to getting it down...

Believe it or not...

2009-05-26T12:21:00.002-05:00

Filming is scheduled to begin in June! After a struggle I've finally coerced enough people to "volunteer" to be actors in this new film. I don't know if everyone got scared away by the overwhelming stardom that "The Library: Uncatalogued" brought the previous actors, but it's been very difficult getting volunteers this time around. Is it fear of YouTube? I don't know.

In any case, I've got some victims--err, actors lined up. Most of them will have very small parts. I've done away with much dialogue because of the problems we've had with audio. It's easier to have action and voiceover, so I've gone with that for much of the film.

Can't wait to post photos of the action! Stay tuned...

You heard it here first...

2009-03-28T12:20:00.003-05:00

Remember that new video project? It's really going to happen. Several minutes were filmed last August and filming (and casting) will resume this summer. Know anyone who wants to be a library film star? Contact: alfajardo@stkate.edu

We still need a professor, groups of students, and extras. This could be YOUR line:
Professor: I heard that St. Kate's has a really great library that everyone can use -- even adjunct faculty like me!

The Never Ending Instruction Film

2009-02-25T17:17:00.002-06:00

Work never ends for The Library: Uncatalogued. Although the original film was made in Apple's FinalCut Express, we are now doing post-edits in the PC-friendly Vegas Movie Studio from Sony. Since the video was created with short chapters that focus on one concept, they are easily pulled out for use elsewhere. The latest "chunks" that were pulled are:

They are featured on the Library's website and hosted on YouTube.

2009-02-17T15:12:00.003-06:00

Preparation for the March ACRL Conference is under way. Presenting a Poster Session on the original film didn't sound like something that would be that much work. But in a poster session, you must grab your audience's attention without words or actions; your images and text alone must entice visitors.

Check out the ACRL blurb on the session.

Poster Session

2009-01-15T14:02:00.002-06:00

Going to Seattle in March! ACRL is having its National Conference in March and The Library: Uncatalogued will be presented in a poster session.

This is truly the video that will never die! Now, if only the next one could get going...Filming should resume in June.

Audio

2008-09-18T10:16:00.002-05:00

For the amateur film maker, audio is one of the more difficult hurdles to overcome. In our last project, all the audio had to be "sweetened" by some gearheads and their fancy software. We'd like to avoid that need this time, but the wireless mics are a constant source of frustration. They pick up noise, they have interference....John thinks he may have solved the problem by using mics from different brands. We'll see....

Filming stalled (temporarily)

2008-09-09T12:06:00.000-05:00

The start of the school year has slowed the process. We'll let everyone get into the groove of classes and schedules before we pick it up again.

The good news: the main part has now been cast and the "actor" tells me she has the perfect outfit, too. We may also be experimenting with cameras and lighting next. Oh, and fixing mic problems.

Filming has begun!

2008-08-20T21:47:00.005-05:00

Yesterday and today were the first two days of filming. Thought we'd never get here.

We had a volunteer actor yesterday who turned out to be quite a professional (thanks, Valerie!). Today we had less experienced volunteers who were great sports as we figured out audio and lighting. Kudos to the whole crew!

Whew!

2008-07-22T15:54:00.002-05:00

Finally getting that script done. Now we just need to cast and organize. Figuring out how to schedule everyone and negotiate all the logistics becomes the difficult part. There is a maze of organizing that needs to get done.

Bloopers online

2008-07-09T18:23:00.001-05:00

The Blooper Reel from the first video is now posted online on YouTube. Check it out and pay special attention to the great soundtrack. Makes me think of Ferris Bueller.

YouTube - Blooper Reel

2008-07-09T18:21:00.002-05:00

Slowly, slowly. Currently working on a draft of the script. It looks like filming will be in August, depending on actors' schedules. We have a lead actor lined up and several library staff are being coerced into participating. It's a slow process, but it'll happen.

The Bridge to College Readiness

2008-06-18T18:23:00.002-05:00

Friday, June 20 is the 2nd Annual Metronet Information Literacy Conference, The Bridge to College Readiness. Speakers include Larry Hardesty, Kent Pekel, and Joan Lippincott. As part of the "laptop poster sessions," I will be presenting The Library: Uncatalogued as a sample of what colleges are doing to promote information literacy. This should be the last of the presentations for a while.

We want you!

2008-06-18T18:15:00.005-05:00

The script is about half written, but already the call for actors has gone out. Response has been incredible, especially considering it's summer break. Thanks in advance to all volunteer actors!

Software has arrived!

2008-06-17T12:05:00.003-05:00

Now that our new copy of Vegas Movie Studio has arrived, we can install it on the PC laptop. The idea is that I'll be able to work on the editing from the laptop either in my office or at the reference desk. First, I need to learn how the software works!

We're in demand!

2008-06-10T10:06:00.002-05:00

A library in Utah is interested in our first video, The Library: Uncatalogued. We're actually making a copy and sending it to them at cost. We're honored and excited to have created a video with such broad appeal.

Full Video on Facebook

2008-06-04T19:27:00.005-05:00

Are you on Facebook? If so, you can now view The Library: Uncatalogued in its entirety online for the first time ever! It's tiny, but with good eyes or magnifying glass, it's great. Have headphones or good speakers ready for the great audio.

Software

2008-06-03T14:34:00.003-05:00

Now that we've entered the next fiscal year, we are ordering Vegas Movie Studio from Sony for editing this upcoming video. I really liked editing with FinalCut Express from Apple, but have decided to migrate to the PC for this project. Logistically this just makes more sense since access to the MacBook was less than ideal. Hopefully Vegas will come through for us!

2008-05-29T16:20:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow I will be presenting "The Library: Uncatalogued" at the Midwest Library Technology Conference at Macalester College in St. Paul. My session is Creating Multimedia Content for Libraries and will run from 12:30-2:00 on Friday. I will be discussing the "Ten Things I Learned" as well as screening the film in its entirety. Fun stuff!

2008-05-28T17:37:00.003-05:00

What do Woody Allen, Gene Wilder, and Lynn Redgrave have to do with libraries? Nothing except the title of their 1972 film, which is the inspiration for the tentative title of our newest video: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Library* But Were Afraid to Ask

Here we go again!

2008-05-27T14:45:00.003-05:00

Having completed The Library: Uncatalogued, we are about to embark on a new project: an informational video for adjunct faculty. This video will serve as a way to orient instructors to the resources and services available at the St. Kate's Library.