Fortress Of Freedom Board

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 5:25 am Post subject:

AVID is now successfully installed on our off-line computer.....Now that is a Christmas present!

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 10:26 am Post subject:

Well, barring any unforseen problems (a very real possibility), we have decided to concentrate all production using Avid software. This software is the number one choice for non-linier DV editing on PCs.

Our choice of PC over Mac was based on present hardware and the acknowledgement that the PC is in use around the world and our projects have to be repeatable anywhere in the world.

Avid is the industry standard PC DV editing software in use today. Only Final Cut Pro is the viable alternative at the recent time - but it is Mac only.....

Therefore: We are committing ourselves to editing The Fortress TV Show on Mr. Avid's software. All trials and tribulations as we start our journey will be dutifully recorded in this thread.

Christmas Itinerary:

December 24, 2004: Download and install Avid software.

December 25, 2004: Download all tutorials and configure program and also reformat the Maxtor 160 gigabyte external hard drive from Fat32 to NTFS format. Start achiving the selected major clips to the bins.

December 262004 : Archiving clips and looking for filler segments for the show.

December 27 2004: Start the search for the broadcast station and prices for infomercial. Continue with the segment selection.

That is about it for now.....

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 5:02 pm Post subject:

Update:

The Avid program works fine so far. This sofware is finicky so I will list my computer specifications for those who are interested:

Used Hewlett and Packard Pavillian.

Processor: 2ghz Pentium 4

OS: Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2

Ram: 2X512 DDR 400mhz

Discs: 60gig OEM internal disc and 160gig Maxtor 7200rpm external harddrive (Program is on the internal and bins are in the external)

Sound: Creative 32bit SoundBlaster

Video Card: A decent one (more information to follow)

Camera: Sony DSRPD170

Format: DVCAM

Connection: Firewire for all devices

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 9:51 pm Post subject:

Long day getting all important segments into the computer, but they are there and ready to be played with. We also have our intro and exit background. Time for bed.....more tomorrow.

Maurice Ali · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:

Notes to myself.....

Use the embossed logo from the intro sequence as static backdrop for the credits.

Play around with the theme music to a more subdued tone.

Creek sequence with Mark is underexposed for his face because we shot with the sky as background, not terminal but we shall see what we can do here.

Dave's interview can go several ways - however I think the one connected to his song is best but his voice is very quiet. I will have to bring up the audio on the questions and back down for the song which is at a perfect level as recorded.

Splice in some pictures and clips as Dan signs off as he looks well above the camera because we held the cards to high. As he lowers his eyes to make contact with the camera is when we cut to him and he then signs off.

Maurice's speech; this has to be kept interesting or people will bolt. I have Michael's footage of the side shots which we may use. I am also partial to some clips of babies talking and running around with mom chasing after them as visual imagery supporting my theory on rights and freedoms.

Maurice Ali · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 9:13 am Post subject:

Things go well.....so far!

I have just uploaded the introduction to the show here (and this will be a temporary upload, not archive stuff here as it may be altered):

http://fortressoffreedom.com/fof_logo_intro.avi

The introduction is also successfully imported into our editing program; still impressed with Avid. I am getting so confident I am investigating broadcasters for slot requirements and becoming concerned about my settings with regard for lossless export and manipulation. I guess this is a good thing but may mean reimportation of all files if I make the decision to go with the first edit we are doing now.

Here is a picture of my work station:

http://fortressoffreedom.com/Editing1

The camera is connected by firewire to the computer and saved in a "super bin" in the external hardrive. Currently the Bin is at 20gig already!!!!!

Maurice Ali · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 12:03 pm Post subject:

I checked the hard drives and unless my reality is in question; all drives seem set up for fastest performance. Anyway, my next concern is time, I tried however I can not find specific run time for "30 minute" infomercials. I will therefore set the actual time at 29 minutes and 30 seconds and have a short lead in with the embossed logo and a longer lead out with the same screen which aired the credits (I will probably let it run a little past thirty and let the tech staff do the trim at the broadcast station).

I will spend the rest of the day reviewing footage for informal material to inserted as filler to "lighten up" the show and trim these to make up the specific time.

More later.....

Maurice Ali · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 3:09 pm Post subject:

I have finished the task of importing all the segments needed for the show, into the super bin located on our external hard drive. We were very fortunate to have configured the AVID program and storage for maximum performance and safety; we do not have to import again.....it is as good as it could be performed. There was a philosophical/technical argument in my head about disabling write cache in the external hard drive but that has been resolved. Write caching is kept on the C drive but disabled on the external so there is no possibility of hard work being lost do to power disruption or the more likely disconnect. The cache is only good for small blocks of file anyways (I think) and the huge extended segments of data make no difference in performance. Apple used to disable write caching and so they had a reputation for robustness and failsafe reputation for the media community who used them. I have attempted to duplicate the MAC by being off line (no viruses and client privacy) and not taking chances of lost work via write cache. So ends this first chapter of the The Fortress TV Show edit.

Maurice Ali · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 5:22 pm Post subject:

Thoughts to myself:

1. the problem with the underexposed Mark at the creek can be solved by freeze framing Mark at the beginning with the "Sunglass Zoom Shot" with interview and title (name and designation) and splice the audio about gorilla journalism and then play the zoom with cuts in the middle of the park.

2. I have to find a way to introduce Mark after weshow all our accomplishments. Perhaps some shots around the park and bridge area and then cut to her again for the intro.

Also: All our master clips have been relabeled for ease of identification.

Maurice Ali · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:40 am Post subject:

Our Day Of Reckoning With AVID.....

With the success of the demo Avid program we applied for; I am jumping ahead and will export an unmessed with sample to see if we really do get back a "clone" of what we put in. That exercise is vital because if we do not maintain broadcast quality, then what is the point of it all.....

I have a technique given to us PD150/PD170 owners as to how to export and record back to the camera. I will try the usual method and if this is not available, we will "hack" it and see what happens. Digital video is cloneable video.....that is the point, and I have to see if this works.....

Stay tuned.....

Maurice Ali · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 7:44 am Post subject:

That was quick!

Yes it worked! All I did way enable DV-OUT and recorded as it played. I still don't know if the digital cut works but this is good enough for me, just plenty of black before and after and that should be it. I could not tell one tape from another.....

Ok, that was all I needed to know; everything is full-steam-ahead!

Maurice Ali · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:20 pm Post subject:

We Have A TV Show!

I spent the morning cutting and splicing a sequence of the show and it works - The content that is!

The base material is nineteen minutes long so I have ten minutes for the bull sessions and much more of Mark. Under exposed interview or not, I want Mark's thoughts to help explode the myth that young black men who are "with it", are functionality illiterate. I want there to be no doubt that the audience sees an intelligent Black Man taking part in a philosophically based organization. The media always trys to stereotype men like Mark; now it is "payback time!"

I really should just take the rest of the day off.....

Maurice Ali · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:59 am Post subject:

I have freeze framed thirty seconds of Mark's sunglasses closeup and I will lay some of his interview as audio and then the zoom out! I will add name and title over transparent background. I still want to add the "gorilla journalism" statements into this segment somewhere. There is much material here and I want Mark's segment to be the shows "masterpiece". Some of his statements are really soft in audio (but I know how to do that now. This segment will take time but I can accomplish the most here and debunk some myths.

If I can get Mark's space done right then we are home free with regard to mistakes. The one track mistake was no problem as all the stereo recording was intact and now all mono is replaced on both tracks. I can increase the audio in the first half of Dave's segment. All the others stand on their own. I will splice some of the park footage in addition to some of Shaliza's introductions to soften some of the "shock" of segment transitions. Information of the web addresses and such will be in text at the bottom of the screen but I want that to be a soft sell.

Maurice Ali · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:05 am Post subject:

Still shopping prices but the final will have to include the content.
With regard to the Mark segment; the idea was to have him say something profound and then zoom out to show a young Black Man with shaved head long goate and army pants; should be dramatic (for those with preconcieved stereotypes.....).

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:21 am Post subject:

This picture describes my life now as one long edit. The show now times at twenty nine minutes and fourty seven seconds. Almost done! Then sweating the details and who know how long that will take.....