Author Topic: About to do something drastic... (Read 5724 times)

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #50 on:** July 22, 2008, 11:11:45 AM »

Klark,

We'll be hugging the coast. If you're close maybe we can do beers.

Jerry

burmashave · « **Reply #51 on:** July 22, 2008, 11:24:14 PM »

Klark, I just caught your post about your Verizon fun. I hope I'm not putting my oar in before the horse is out of the barn, but I have Verizon EVDO on my phone with Bluetooth (Razr 9x). I've used wireless internet from both Verizon and Cingular. Verizon is by far faster. I'll spare you all the details, but it has to do with how data packets are prioritized versus voice packets on their networks.

That said, I used to have an aircard/modem, but I've gone to a phone that has EVDO and Bluetooth. The advantage is that I can wirelessly tether my phone with my laptop, handheld, etc. My monthly plan is just a bit less than it would be to have a phone plus an aircard. The key for EVDO is to get a phone with BT 2.0 so that the Bluetooth connection does not become a bottleneck.

Operation is quite cool once it is all setup. When I open a browser on my laptop, the laptop connects to the phone in my pocket which then dials out and connects.

Bottom line, I really liked my Verizon aircard. I like my EVDO/BT phone even better.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #52 on:** July 23, 2008, 09:08:38 AM »

Hey there Klark, if you could make it to our little Island, I know 3 pubs that would LOVE to have a live band!!!!!!!!

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #53 on:** July 23, 2008, 11:36:17 AM »

Derek, it looks like you, me and Howard will have to do some drinkin' and singin'

Klark Kent · « **Reply #54 on:** July 26, 2008, 09:10:57 PM »

May be possible- but there is always after the tour- you are not so far from Portland. A lot closer than I am right now.

We walked out of our house in Baltimore for the last time on Thursday and after a brief stop in NJ an NY we are officially on the road. Blog posts have been sporadic but we plan to maintain a daily posting schedule from here on out.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #55 on:** August 02, 2008, 11:51:35 AM »

We made it to Portland.

cleveland · « **Reply #56 on:** August 02, 2008, 11:56:48 AM »

That is so great to hear! Keep us in the loop.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #57 on:** August 11, 2008, 12:19:06 AM »

Portland is crazy. I can;t believe how many old hondas I am seeing- more in the last week than in my entire life previously. I am also overloaded and out of my depth with this project, so i havent had time to post here, blog or seek a riding fix. but what a trip its been already. Lois and I take turns being the one to realize how impossible what weare doing is- and each time the other maintains the positive outlook for us both.

I will be happy to hit road again and leave the hipsters and the crowds behind, but right now i am focused on getting as much of it in my lens as possible. sorry to have been neglecting the forum- it is the only thing i miss from the days where i had the extra time and brain power to participate here.

tomorrow I have nothing planned until about 6pm, and we intend to get the blog up to date and I hope to get a short video piece edited for posting-

stay tuned

burmashave · « **Reply #58 on:** August 11, 2008, 07:43:22 AM »

Kuhl. Don't worry about not having time to update. There's a time to do and a time to share. I wouldn't want the sharing to interfere with the doing. There'll be time for stories later, especially when the video is done.

333 · « **Reply #59 on:** August 11, 2008, 08:04:47 AM »

+1

That's what the video is for. Don't worry about us. Some of us are grown ups and look after the others.

mlinder · « **Reply #60 on:** August 11, 2008, 10:23:00 AM »

You all taken care of for sleeping arrangements in Portland?

Klark Kent · « **Reply #61 on:** August 12, 2008, 10:02:00 PM »

yeah- but lots of thanks for the offer. So far we havent worn out our welcome with our friend and it has been really helpful to be staying with a member of the band to stay on top of their schedule- or lack thereof.

I am just ticked that I havent gotten to meet you or the other P-town sohc4heads.

posted video to the website for the first time today- still trying to improve the compression for better quality and fast streaming- any tips? (i used h.264, keyframing every 24 frames and resizing to 640 x 360 and getting a 70Mb file for the five minute video. I wasnt thrilled but posted the video anyway for timeliness- still messing around with the frame rate and resolution although i should let it go, but would like future videos to look better and be smaller if possible.)

thanks for all the support here

burmashave · « **Reply #62 on:** August 13, 2008, 08:19:32 PM »

Hoo Haa! It's an excellent first taste, KK. Anyone who hasn't watched it **should**. Blind Pilot is very funky.

By the way, are you familiar with SCTV? "No crane shots, LaRue!" I'm guessing yours wasn't a crane shot. Ladder shot? Standing on amp shot? ;-)

Keep up the good work.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #63 on:** August 14, 2008, 12:28:29 AM »

arms over my head shot- I am enjoying the freedom of the non-shouldermounted form factor of the hvx, but am wary of the loss of stability and balance- it is not light. I kept the shakes at bay long enough for it to be usable and no one understood how it looked like I was standing on a ladder- love that wide angle . Thanks for noticing and thanks for watching. I hope the shots keep coming like that.

333 · « **Reply #64 on:** August 14, 2008, 07:49:38 AM »

Some great stuff. I wish they'd amplify the bass, couldn't hear it. Although it could be my little laptop speakers!

burmashave · « **Reply #65 on:** August 23, 2008, 09:57:21 AM »

Klark's has a couple of new posts up on the Instruments Alone blog.

The production team has been zipping ahead and about, eventually doubling back to catch the bike riders as they pass by. They secretly wired one of the bike riders, but that didn't turn out so hot.

A few days back, they played a drug/alcohol/jerk youth oriented free coffee house. The folks there were kind enough to put them up overnight, allowing the team to skip a night camping in the rain.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #66 on:** August 23, 2008, 04:24:02 PM »

one thing i should put in a future blog post is that the band now asks for the wire in the morning, so i guess it turned out better than i let on in that post.

We really appreciate you keeping up with the blog and updating the post here- time is in short supply here on "vacation".

333 · « **Reply #67 on:** August 23, 2008, 09:15:34 PM »

I've even turned a few people on to your blog that are not in our forum.

burmashave · « **Reply #68 on:** August 28, 2008, 07:21:19 AM »

OK gang, if you haven't caught any of the video, you've got, and I do mean got, to watch this:

http://www.instrumentsalone.com/2008/08/blind-pilot-conquers-washington-state.html

KK, this is some excellent shooting, excellent production, and the film meshes so very well with their music, especially with regard to mood. No smoke blowing here. I smiled and the my hair stood on end early in the video. Several parts were superb, but two that stood out to me was the cool mesh of their music and the shot of the birds taking to wing. That was inspired. You also got some great angles. I especially liked the shot from behind the grass.

I think you are hitting a couple of things that I'm sure are intentional on your part. The shooting gives a kind of feeling of ennui or mebbe what might be called nostalgia. It goes with their music well in terms of a bit of blues, a bit of sadness.

Another thing you've done, if I can explain it, is that the camera doesn't seem to be part of the filming. That is, I know that you are kind of ambushing them or getting ahead to take distance shots; however, the film seems very natural as opposed to more of a documentary feel.

Production is great. The music meshes well with the film, but not in an MTV way. It's more like the band is living out the music. This is the art of a photographer's/filmer's eye, and it was I say differentiates a picture from a photograph or a video from a film.

It seems you might be using a tripod for lots the shots, but I'm guessing you aren't. The film seems exceptionally smooth. Panning, zooms, etc. work at a natural pace. My only tiny criticism is that when you show the sign over the Boiler Room door, the viewer doesn't get a chance to read it. From reading the blog, the sign has a cool message.

It's all in the eye, baby, and you are doing an exceptional job.

I'll watch it later on, and if I have any more thoughts, I'll post them.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #69 on:** August 31, 2008, 09:17:13 PM »

wow burma, thank you.

I still can;t believe it's my old sparring partner updating this post and complimenting our work. A lot of folks who see the videos tell me they like them, but they are the same folks who watch reality tv and dont get nauseous. so far you are the only person to point out things i am doing right in a way that makes me focus on keeping doing those things.
it is hard for me to see my own work like you do- so hearing you say the nice things you say helps me remember why i get out of bed and out of my depth every morning. i could use more criticism from someone like you too.

thanks

333 · « **Reply #70 on:** September 01, 2008, 06:46:49 AM »

Hey, I don't watch reality TV, cause it makes me nauseous, and I've seen the videos, and I think they're pretty good. Does that help? On the other hand, I am just an old fart.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #71 on:** September 01, 2008, 08:07:07 AM »

it all helps, and i didnt mean to belittle anyone else's support, but the well-thought-out-ness and specificity of burma's comments kinda blew me away. "nice video" is a much needed ataboy, and I am not above needing plenty of those- but it is all the more helpful to see how things are coming across visually and moodwise, which most people don't comment on.

everyone here has been so supportive it makes me wish I did something drastic sooner.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #72 on:** September 12, 2008, 03:09:40 PM »

a couple days ago we drove through the oregon wilderness area. there's a road called wolf creek road that turns into smith river road between eugene and reedsport that made me die a little inside for not being on my cb. if you are anywhere near these towns you MUST check it out.

also, i am now sure i should be looking for a cb and lois is coming around to the idea, so if anyone in northern california is trying to sell one, please let me know.

happy trails
-KK

seaweb11 · « **Reply #73 on:** September 12, 2008, 04:21:22 PM »

Is that the road that heads from Eugene to the Coast............? If so I did it on the way home from a Grateful Dead concert.
Goes along a river for a while.

Nice roads all over the place in that area.

super pasty white guy · « **Reply #74 on:** September 12, 2008, 05:26:54 PM »

Klark,

That was great. I just spent the last couple of hours reading the blogs and listening to the cd. I spent 5+ years in the northwest/alaska and you did a great job capturing the spirit of the place and the passion of the band for the music.

I'm looking forward to the future installments, and I'm totally bummed I didn't get to meet you before you took off. Maybe when you come back...?

spwg

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Author Topic: About to do something drastic... (Read 5724 times)