As the title implies, I got a little bit of time to do some filming with a good friend of mine. I hope to do more later, and perhaps, if other obligations and responsbilities (or distractions like broswing the ‘net,) I will edit the footage and hack together a short music vid of some sort… who knows?
Anyhow, a quick, little update.
Bleh bleh blehhh…
Best wishes!
-b
Hey guys! We now have a new film! It is an Interview with Dr. Narendra Singh, an Indian evangelist. Great thanks to him for giving up his time so I could interview him! It is highly appreciated, and I hope this video will bless those who view it.
Dr. Narendra Singh – 2008 Interview from Minosa Films on Vimeo.
I edited the film using CyberLink BD Solution PowerDirector Express. The text images were made in Inkscape.
The opening title is too long, I could add music to the intro/end text, and the file size is larger than optimal, but unless it causes problems or I feel highly necessary, I may leave this video as the final version.
I would re-encode it with a greater compression, but may have to do that later (hardware complication.)
Thanks!
-b
P.S. If the video loads too slowly, try turning off HD (hover over the Vimeo video) or let me know via a comment or e-mail! If it is too difficult for people to view I will endeavor to re-encode it (with some tweaks on the video as well, while I’m at it,) for you.
P.P.S. Sorry, WordPress can’t embed Vimeo videos. 😦 Oh well… 😀
EDIT: fixed it! Check out what dalas verdugo has to say here: http://www.vimeo.com/forums/topic:1221
Not sure what to write, so here’s some news:
I’m now part of the Morevna Project team. I don’t know all that I’ll be contributing at this point, but I definitely want to get better at my manga (anime) drawing!
The Morevna Project wiki on Synfig.org
Still haven’t resolved all my software (editing) issues. I have been sidetracked on that. Also have a hardware need.
I hope to edit a film some friends and I worked on together. It’s not a Minosa Films production per se, but it will really help me to learn my editing and test out whether or not I really can or cannot edit (at least with this workflow…) And besides that, I will get part one of a film done, gain skills, and make my friends really happy! ;D
Production Plan:
| Title | Status | Scheduled Shoot | About |
| Is This Love? | WIP | N/A | A (very) short film depicting the true sacrifice of love |
| Family First | >Some work has been done | N/A | A lovely drama short film about a father/daughter turmoil and resolution |
| Promo |
WIP | Optional moon shot done |
Minosa Films’ very own promotion video! |
Hope to get this all worked out… glad for possibilities, wishing for resolutions…
Also, we now have a production forum of sorts. Check it out here.
Create an account and start posting! Some sections in this category (of the forum) may eventually be locked for Minosa Films users only – that is, those who I give the password to.
Aaanyhow, thanks for all, and your prayers especially,
We’re gonna make it together!
-b
Praise God! The new blog header design is done, and, viola! I chose a different them – much darker colors and better fitting for that “media look”.
See a screenshot the Minosa Films “ninja moon” themed header (below.)
"Ninja Moon" new header theme for the Minosa Films blog - screenshot of Blender
I did the project in the free, open source Blender (www.blender.org,) with post work (adding copyright I forgot) in the GIMP (www.gimp.org.)
For those of you who are not familiar with Minosa Films and what it used to look like, please see the below image of what the Minosa Films blog looked like a few hours ago.
The old look of the Minosa Films blog
For video editing, etc., I’ve been looking into Apple FinalCut Pro. Looks pretty sweet.
Feeling techy, looking forward to the future. Praise God.
Hope all is well, fellow film makers!
-b
Heard about BlenderAVC from Rob Scott. I hope to be able to use this as a .tod HD editing option.
A new film idea came to me recently. It’s called “Amelia”. That’s all I’ll give you about it for now. 🙂
God is good.
May you be guided along the path,
May you find the early blossom,
And may you, in the hard times of life
Find comfort in all that is around you.
May the soft kiss of the silver dawn
Grace your wearied face.
And, as you tread the morning dew,
May God seek and find you.
Let’s travel this journey together.
-b
As the days pass by and progress is made in various areas, one may wonder what happened to Minosa Films – like, where are the films?!
Well, I suppose everything has a journey. And each journey has it’s pilgrims, and once in a while, you run across a hero. Well, I am a pilgrim. And I need to do my part, and my part is not only the technical side of making sure we have a camcorder that will work, but scripts to make movies from. So, I need to write scripts. We have one script for a film titled “Is This Love?”, and I plan to make revisions upon it (basically add to/and or rewrite it.) I think it would be wise to have more than one script on hand, so, I need to write! 😉
Recently I found out about a neat project called Morevna Project. Check it out here: morevnaproject.org. I am considering contributing to it. From the website:
The main goal of Morevna Project is creation of full-lengthened anime movie, utilizing Open Source software only.
Other goals:
- Promotion of Open Source software and its ideology.
- Testing and improving existing Open Source products by giving appropriated feedback to developers and community.
- Validate Open Source tools as suitable for creation of professional good-looking animation.
- Provide content for other artists to learn from or to re-use, including documentation and tutorials
Main production tools:
- 2D animation: Synfig Studio.
- 3D modeling and animation: Blender.
- Static images: GIMP, Krita.
Also, check out this neat song by Staffan Svahn, called Red Hills.
And now back to what I need to do. God bless!
-b
New design WIP - Minosa Films blog header (Blender's node editor.)
Recently I have been working on a new header design for the Minosa Films blog. It is not done yet, but it is turning out well. I am using render layers and compositing them together, which is a first for me. Praise God! The theme is darker and has a moon, branches, the words “Minosa Films” and a nifty little design behind it.
Originally I was designing this in a hope to make an animated Minosa Films title intro for a promo video about Minosa Films. I could make it theatrical like a silver screen trailer, or I could make it more instructional, like an interview or special feature.
I need to get back to solving the mystery of a successful video workflow. My current progress on that is:
Import HD SP video file (.tod) into PowerDirector Express.
Drag video file onto the timeline. Hit produce.
Go through a number of options and choose to export as an MPEG2 (for DVDs.)
Wait for it to render.
Import .mpg file into Adobe Premiere Pro 1.0.
Place on timeline. There are no apparent “hiccups”.
Export video to .mov (Apple QuickTime.)
Play video in Media Player Classic – it works.
Goals:
I would prefer to someday edit in full HD; use a faster (better) conversion method; buy and use a newer, different, HD compatible non-linear editing (NLE) app; edit .avi (or .mpg if I choose to); export to .avi, .mpg. with no errors when opening in MPC (Media Player Classic,); be able to use After Effects (AE) in conjunction with Premiere (currently when I export from After Effects I get a jittered effect to the video and some artifacts. Most unpleasing and… terrible.)
Goals in list form:
But for now, no HD! No fooling around with the unnecessary. 😉
Thanks for listening,
God bless, prayers,
-b
Still testing. Now the video is the aspect ratio I want now (16.9.) Just a simple setting to change in Premiere Pro 1.0. Tried to convert to Microsoft AVI (not DV AVI this time) and it still will not play in Media Player Classic. Perhaps I need another codec? Oh well, we will see what happens.
Rendering (exporting) from Premiere Pro 1.0 - testing export to Microsoft AVI
Working on some film thoughts. Listening to Kate Rusby music.
I may try out Converio (http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gilles.bihan/converio_095.htm,) try some more with Squared 5 MPEG Streamclip, and perhaps other video converters. What NLE will I use? For now, Premiere Pro 1.0. No HD for now. Use what you have to the best of your ability. Will most likely test CBR1140 recording with the Everio to see if another method to get my files to a usable format (in this case, mpeg) will work.
Thanks for listening,
We will see what the wind brings,
God bless,
-b
P.S. Praise God! I have been planting this blog address around in various comment boxes – YouTube, BlenderNation, Vimeo, e-mails… it may be paying off. Here is an image of some view stats for the blog:
Minosa Films blog stats reach 80 views on 08-04-08
Praise God for everything.
P.P.S. I need to tell you what MIG (Miracle In Gansu play to DVD) is, and some more info about this blog. We’ll leave that till later. Till our next meeting, may God keep you.
May I grow still
As of the past three weeks I have been working towards getting a DV camcorder. I am looking at the Everio GZ-HD7 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/479003-REG/JVC_GZHD7US_GZ_HD7_Everio_60GB_Hard.html) which is much more expensive than anything I had imagined I would look for at this time.
So, with working, events, and living, I find myself in moments of solitude, set apart for God and thinking. Thinking “do I even want to get that camera? I’m no sure I care…”, wondering, and praying some.
I will probably get this camera, (praise the Lord!,) I will likely endeavor doing interviews, making films with the members of Minosa Films, my friends and family, and even some commercial work.
But in every new step up in the tower of life, I must recall my duties and check my burdens – have I accomplished all that people have required of me to this moment? Am I free to move on? And I must decide and make action upon that conclusion.
I do not want to abandon the talents that have dogged my life so divenely my whole life, but I am eager and curious to move forward in this direction of film making.
Thank you for listening and God bless!
Can’t wait till the future, wondering about it all,
-b
Minosa Films 