Syncing Audio and Video

I may have posted this one here before, but because we recently posted the recording in wind demonstration, I though following up with how to sync your audio recorder sound with your video would be helpful.  The is especially useful in noisy situations, when shooting through car windows (or windows in general) or when filming from a distance.

We used it for distance shots extensively in "X24".

Filmmaking and Your Ego

We've all got an ego.  Its size and health may be different from person to person.  Whether or not it's deserved or not is usually a matter of opinion, sometimes based on fact.  The main thing about it, whether it's strong or fragile, our egos can get in the way of our every day lives.

The first thing you need to do with your ego if you want to get into filmmaking is throw that sucker away.  You should have confidence.  Take pride in your work, like with any job, but don't let your self worth rest on reactions to your films or how financially successful they are.  Failure is part of learning and I have learned a lot in my life.

But seriously, if you're making movies to be famous, or rich, then independent may not be the market for you.  Go to Hollywood where ego stroking of the rich and famous is the way the business is run (although that looks to be changing soon).

Have confidence that you're doing your best.
Do try to entertain.
Do craft a good story.
And do continue to have faith in your own abilities and those of the people you choose to continually work with.

Do not give up on a project for fear it may be "silly".
Don't be afraid to look a bit silly yourself.

This morning I did an "Inside HFP" video in my pajamas and in need of a shave.  Was it the most professional image I could put out there?  No, but it's me.  I often work in my pajamas and do a darn good job of it.  I have lots to do this morning and probably would have skipped on the video if I didn't get it done when and how I did it.  My Ego said, "Forget it.  You'll look stupid."  My 46 year old sense of what others think said, "Eh."  If I had a branding agent, she would have scolded me, but I can't afford one, so there  ya go.

I guess, maybe,  you should go to the trash, scoop out your ego, dust it off and keep it for times  you need it, but realize, it's yours.  A tool to use as you wish and set aside when it gets in the way.

Now, go watch me drink coffee, babble about advertisers on YT and see a sneak clip from Jack vs Lanterns on the screen in the background. 

What the World Needs Now, is More Dinosaurs

OK, maybe not.  The Jurassic Park Franchise is still kicking out movies and there are all those old classic dino movies.  SyFy did a year or two of B CGI-laden dinosaur flicks and indies pump out coat tail riders and mockbusters every time a "Jurassic" movie hits theatres.

So, I guess what I mean is, MY world needs more dinosaurs.  I just finished shooting the season 2 Finale of "The Simplest Things" (Season 1 is Already available on Amazon Prime) and went back and released the Season Premiere, shot six years ago, onto YouTube.  I had never loaded the full movie up there.  It features, as you may have guessed, a dinosaur.  Not one of your fancy CG dinos, but a stop motion, shot with a digital still camera, plastic toy dinosaur.  And you know what?  I love it.  It's cheesy, but so much fun.  It made me feel like a kid again, when the dinosaurs I saw on TV rainy afternoons were a lot like the ones I played with.

So, in Season 3, I'm bringing back the dinosaurs.  When I make my holiday movie, I may find a way to get a dinosaur in there. ( "The Dinosaur that Almost ate Christmas" is my first holiday movie to accomplish that.)

  If I send astronauts into deep space, maybe they'll encounter dinosaurs.  Who  knows?  The possibilities are endless when you embrace the power of a green screen and the time consuming process of stop motion animation.

So, keep an eye on our YouTube channel and look for our name, Hocus Focus Productions, on Amazon if you want to see upcoming dinosaurs and maybe a giant spider or two.