2006.02.02
And now for a commercial break
20.20.09 - Mark
Last week one of my brothers was assigned to do some form of commercial for a book (The Kite Runner) for a class. Somehow he got it in his head to do an animated commercial and drop it to tape. Well with his laptops screwed, and a lack of A/V abilities on it anyways, he borrowed me and my iBook to help him do his video. I helped him figure out how to use photoshop, iMovie and Garageband, and did some of the editing, but it's mostly his work. However he did trick me into pulling a technically unnecessary all-nighters to finish it, and cause me a bit of pain when dropping it to VHS, so I'm taking out revenge by posting it onto the interweb.
The Kite Runner Commercial (9.3MB, 320x240 Quicktime, 2 minutes 11 seconds)
This is the same project that the photoshop doodles came from.
Don't mistake this for an endorsement. I haven't read it and his tastes are usually significantly different from mine. I'm only posting it because 1) revenge, and 2) I think I remember laughing the first time he pitched it. That was many many hours of work ago so who knows I still laugh at bits and pieces of it, but those could be memories from recording parts at 3 AM on a Sunday Morning...
Link | 0 Comments | books family The Kite Runner vidcast video
Twisted Video
00.19.09 - Mark
A few months ago I was in an Art Appreciation class with a not so great teacher (too much lecture and exceptionally bad powerpoint presentations, not enough discussion), and a worse than usual class (single camera /room teleconferencing on low bandwidth connections run by technophobes does not make for a good classroom discussion) Towards the end of the semester we were each assigned an Artist to do a presentation on. With a last name starting with W I got last pick of artists, and ended up with Nam Juke Paik.
Turns out it was a really good pick for me because I love electronics and I've been dinking around in computers forever, and I've got a long standing side interest in video. The main part of the project was research and write a report, but we had at one point been told to prepare a presentation, and after researching Paik some I though it would be neat to make a video rather than to put slides (did I mention we sat though a lot of bad powerpoint presentations in that class?)
Nothing came of it at the time, because his slow repeating lectures and technical inability to control the teleconference gear (did I mention technophobe?) and teach he had to commandeer the time he had set aside for presentations so he could finish the curriculum.
Anyways, Paik died a few days ago, and considering he predicted a freely distributed video market in the 60's I'm reinvestigating the idea of making a Paik mini-documentry. I've already got a report, and I saved most of my presentation materials, so the big thing becomes making a movie that looks good. I'll see about serious editing later, but I've been looking at iMovie plug-ins.
Wow. There are some amazing looking plugins out there that are either free or cheap (most are under $5 a piece, some more complex ones like video stabilization are more)
Part of me wants to go out and binge, the rest of me knows I've got that money earmarked for other purposes, but one thing I'm noticing is that the plug-in developers are very cool about providing product demos, both preprocessed videos as well as installable and usable plugins.
Maybe I won't go on a shopping spree, but I might have a lot of watermarked video on my hard drive...
Link | 0 Comments | developers iMovie Nam June Paik school software video
2006.01.30
Get a Real Server.
15.33.20 - Mark
Am I the only person who gets annoyed when I'm directed to YouTube.com and Google Video? Its not that they're well poorly constructed services, they've useable, but I have a strong dislike of streaming of all varieties. While it doesn't help I'm on the lowend of what the FCC allows ISPs to hoc as broadband, I like to flip between half a dozen tabs and a couple applications. When I'm ready to sit down and watch video, that's all I want to do so I usually watch in full screen mode. I want it to be there on my hard drive for local access when I have complete and total control over the video playback. No lag, no dropped frames, no weird browser quirks that crash my system or worse - "forbid" me from watching a video with my browser/OS combination in the first place. Hell I want to be able to watch it without needing to hook up to the interwebs (face it, Wifi might be popular but it still doesn't exactly have the strongest showing in NWNC).
Sure I could screen cap it a couple times and edit over the dropped parts, but that takes time I shouldn't have to waste.
Of course there's also Google's New video store deal, which looks like one huge rip off. 1 Day, windows only streaming video that. While I might (emphasis on might) be convinced to pay a couple dollars for a favorite star trek episode for that $2 I want to download it and play it offline when ever I want. Demanding that I pay $2 for a 24 hour viewing window for a single TV show is proof enough for me that someone at Google/CBS is drinking the Kool-aid.
Anyways, if you're doing video online, get a real server and let me download the stuff.
Link | 0 Comments | google store streaming video youtube
Mark's Technology Hit List
01.31.17 - Mark
Technologies that have caused me undue pain in the Last 72 hours
Microsoft Windows (I don't like dealing with CompUSA Tech Goons - unrelated to other items)
VHS Tapes (And those who still accept them as a useful media)
VCDs and MiniDVDs (The whole stinking standard - or lack of compliance)
iDVD 4 (For not letting me write to a disc image)
I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Link | 0 Comments | technology video
2006.01.17
Fun with Loose Change Pt. 1
16.59.33 - Mark
I was taking a quick look at Boing Boing this morning during class and noticed building bridges with pennies (and the Boing Boing Link). I was a) bored b) looking for something to do a time lapse video of and c) holding on to a few dollars worth of pennies for no reason other than to have a cup full of loose change. So mix in a little time and a steady hand and about 160 some pennies latter you get Pennies. (150kb 320x240 Quicktime)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.
I would have done some more with it but my camera battery died and while it was recharging someone bumped into the table something fierce and knocked it over. I like the idea of small time lapse type videos so I'll probably do another on at some point.
Just as a side note for anyone getting my videos though RSS, the markw.us/rss feed does not currently support enclosures, it's main purpose is to provide the source for the feedburner feed (which does provide enclosures). Unlike some 'casters I don't have preference for which feed you use, but just be aware that RSS enclosures in the on-site feed will be added on a when-it-happens basis.
Link | 0 Comments | money pennies stuff time-lapse vidcast video
2006.01.14
Unsymthathtic Jerks
15.46.04 - Mark
I wish I knew how podcasters/vloggers deal with jerks who make noise when they want to record something. Because I sure don't. I was playing with some video ideas this afternoon and the effort was quickly lost when people decided to rush in and then not leave me alone despite my asking. They left, eventually, but they sure as hell weren't happy about it.
In public spaces it's one thing. In a smaller area where they really don't need to be, it's another.
Link | 0 Comments | people podcasting video
2006.01.13
Podcastercon Video
16.39.29 - Mark
I've been working on this on and off during my free time all week (with a surprising amount of time taken to make room on my laptop's hard drive) I've finished my Podcastercon 2006 Video (48.3MB 320x240 Quicktime). There are other (higher quality) videos out there, thanks for taking the time to watch this one.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.
Other Thanks to
Steve Eley - Escape Pod
Barbara Sawhill - Language Lab Unleashed
David Ranii from the News and Observer (his article on the event)
Brian Russell - Audio Activisum
Chris MacDonald - IndieFeed
Ed Cone
Corey Pudhorodsky - 501c3cast
Kevin Lewis and Beau Wright - Attack of the Nerds
Joseph Nilo and Daniel Judson - Macpropodcast
David Warlick - Connect Learning
Lynn Eades
Link | 0 Comments | computers podcastercon2006 podcasts vidcast video
2006.01.08
The Day After
23.16.46 - Mark
I had a great time at Podcastercon yesterday. I think Brian Russell and all of the other people behind it did a great job putting it together and the 200+ people in attendance made it a great environment to learn, talk, share, and create.
I think a lot of people would have benefited from workshops, specifically for the Introduction to Podcasting session. There's just no way you can do that well in a large group sessions, even though Rob W and Steve Eley make a great attempt.
The Podcasting in Education session was wonderful. With so many teachers and administrators (at least the ones I've dealt with) who just don't get it's good to know there are a lot of people out there that either get it, or are willing to go out of their way to try and understand new trends.
The Video Blogging Session / Integration with Traditional Media Session was good, but it didn't live up to its potential. There were a lot of geeks and technology-aware people at the conference, but I don't think that means we should have a 45 minute discussion on formats, bit-rates and delivery. I would have liked more focus on content which is where it eventually moved, and creation which is what some people seemed to be interested in.
What really made the conference worth going to was the people. I spent most of the in-between session time and Lunch time shooting video, quick little one to two minute interviews and just about everyone was happy to answer some questions, of corse many of the podcasters I talked with asked their own questions back.
The after conference had a couple odd moments. On the way to the book giveaway one of the people in the walking group overheard me say Mount Airy and instantly started asking me if I was serious, which is usually the opening to "Oh Cool, Mayberry" discussions, except as it turned out it was the couple behind PodcastRant.com, which is based in/near Mount Airy and does Local's Only which highlights some music groups in the area.
Just a note on the video I was shooting, I've looked over what I shot and most of it looks (and more importantly, sounds) usable, so once I find a few GB's of space on my hard drive I'll start editing (tomorrow). Not sure when I'll have something, but if you're desperate for a Podcastercon video check out The Mac Pro Podcast. They were shooting with some high end gear and they say they'll have a video out tomorrow. There's going to be some overlap but I'm looking forward to seeing what they put out.
Link | 1 Comments | Podcastercon2006 podcasts video
2006.01.07
At Podcastercon Now
09.17.20 - Mark
I'm posting this from Podcastercon. I made great time coming in from Mount Airy, real easy trip with next to no traffic. The in town directions provided by the conference page were great, and it didn't take anything to get a parking spot.
Like at the past conferences the people managing it seem to be doing a great job, my wifi account hadn't been setup but we got that taken care of quickly.
Also, and no promises here, I'm shooting some video. If there's enought, and if its any good I'll scrape together the drive space to do some editing. Of course, pre-announcing intentions is well known as a way to turn good intentions into public failure. I'll try not to screw up ;)
Link | 1 Comments | life Podcastercon2006 travel video
2006.01.06
That's Decided
14.35.59 - Mark
I just registered for Podcastercon '06. I'm a little curious about what I'll get out of it since I'm mainly a consumer of podcasts, aside from a video or two. I really should to put up some more, but then again its hard to edit video when you've got a chronic lack of drive space.
That aside, it should be fun to meet some of the podcaster's I've been listening to for up to (and over) a year. The last two blogger conferences have been fun, I doubt this one will be any different.
Link | 0 Comments | podcastercon2006 podcasting video
2006.01.03
Small Screen, Big Display, No Show
13.12.40 - Mark
A number of sites I watch are buzzing about an article on "EyeBuds", a head mounted display and how HMDS are going to become common place thanks to portable video devices and other shrinking screens. While some of it seems to be hype, I think this is going to be the future, but not as they're presenting it. I could write a paper on why that's the case, but the short version is that to become as common and accepted as Bluetooth headsets, video headsets need to become multifunctional, easy to use, and unimposing.
I can leave a bluetooth headset on all day, share it between several devices fairly easily, and not have to worry about it getting in the way while I'm not using it. The current generations of HMDs just aren't there, and its going to take a few generations with significant progress in several fields before they come close.
Link | 0 Comments | eMagin iPod portable video wearable technology
2005.11.21
Irony
15.44.00 - Mark
Driving from NC to Chicago then coming back all in three days is almost suicidal. It can be done, but its by no stretch of the imagination fun or easy. However, it was important to make this trip this weekend since it was for my Great Grandmother's Memorial service (She lived to be 104 - so don't feel the need to express false sympathies).
While we didn't have a lot of free time in Chicago, one thing I was really itching for was a real deep dish pizza (I take pizza seriously) but for a variety of reasons we didn't get one while we were in Chicago. However I did get a Chicago Style Pizza out of the trip, just not from an expected place....
Irony (2.8MB 320x240 Quicktime Movie)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.
Link | 0 Comments | life oldblog pizza vidcast video
2005.11.03
Leaves, or Wandering Minds
01.51.00 - Mark
Its November, and since we're having unusually temperate weather it means the leaves are really starting to show their colors (ironically about two weeks after the areas "Autumn Leaves Festival") so since I've had a hacked up CVS one time use disposable camcorder, a marvelous little goodie that only cost me $30 I decided to start shooting some of the trees. Some of the 15 minutes I took was really good, most of it was rancid to a level far beyond just shaky cam. The 1 and a half minutes that were useable have been edited into a 2 and a three forth minute movie clip with some music.
The music is Thoughts, by Phil Cooper which is released under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.5 license. Since I'm a good copyfighter the movie is also released under that license
Leaves (17.1MB 320x240 Quicktime Movie)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.
Forgive the cruddy editing in the second half, after the first 90 seconds got edited I wanted to finish the sucker and publish it. I think it still floats around like my mind when I'm thinking, so I doubt I'll go in to recut it if/when I get some more footage.
However, right now its 2 AM and I have every intention of falling asleep once this is up. If feedburner doesn't catch it and make it an enclosure, that can come later much later, like not 2 in the morning later..
Edit (at not 2 am in the morning): Feed burner made enclosures, of the CC logo. I've shuffled them around and when feedburner updates it should (i hope) make the movie, and not the logo the enclosure.