Pages

▼

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Bowls 101 - My Acting Debut

So, in preparation for my Kickstarter project, I am trying to learn how to operate this video camera a friend lent me. Though video cameras and camcorders - is there a difference? I don't even know - have been around for a long time, I've never had one, and never really been interested. My husband has had a couple that he uses professionally, but his tend to have short life expectancies: they get dropped in waterways, or knocked from desktops in his chaotic workspace. Though he expressed willingness to help with this project, accepting his help meant getting in line behind his professional priorities - and I know from the website update that that can be a long wait. 
Or, there's always the option of figuring it out myself. Gazillions of people make videos for YouTube. How hard can it be? 

 Well, not that hard, but the hard parts were not the ones I expected. Using the camera was simple: set up the tripod, press a couple of fairly obvious buttons...that's about it. Editing the video - not that I did much editing - seemed pretty simple, as the software , Movie Maker, had macros (or macro-like functions) for stuff like fading to black and making titles. No, the hard parts were:
  1. Saving the movie: it defaulted to a postage stamp size, the absurdity of which made me laugh and also persevere, because it was so silly that it couldn't be the only available format. 
  2. Talking. Just, you know, talking in front of the camera. I could barely make myself do it. I kept thinking of other things I had to do first, like clean the toilets. When I finally began I had to start over about six times. I can't tell you how silly I felt, talking through my standard first-night beginner demo, for no one.
That's all a lot of build up for a demo which will be old hat for most readers of this blog. Nevertheless, without further ado:
at

5 comments:

  1. Lori BuffJanuary 25, 2013 at 6:42 AM

    Having made a few instructional videos myself I understand the weirdness of talking to the camera when you're in the studio alone. I just try to invision my students watching and make myself believe I'm talking to them. I hope that idea helps you.
    Good instructions in your video, well done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ChrisJanuary 25, 2013 at 8:38 AM

    Another option does exist. A lot of people do a silent video with a separate voice-over because of their own tendency to babble.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tracey BroomeJanuary 25, 2013 at 9:55 AM

    I think you did a great job, I looked at a lot of these when I first started throwing, they are very helpful and I picked up a lot of useful tips. I've never seen anyone take a bowl off the wheel that way, I always screw that part up, had to start using bats! Good technique:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lori WattsJanuary 25, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    Thanks, Tracey! That pot removal method only works if you scrape all the throwing slip off the pot with the rib first. Otherwise it'll just slide right out of your hands.

    ReplyDelete
  5. - Cindy -January 31, 2013 at 12:09 PM

    Seriously, I can't tell from watching that this is your first video. I think you look like an old pro at talking to the camera here.

    I was kind of amazed that you're teaching beginners to take the pot off the wheel that way. The again, I didn't learn when I first started, and It's possible that's why I never grew out of relying on pot lifts and bats.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving a comment! I love to hear from you.