I thought I was done. I really did. I burned off a copy and then sat down to watch it with my mother and sisters. It soon became obvious that there was an issue...the narration did not sound so very good. I still cannot comprehend all of it, but what I can tell you is that the main problem was a wide variance in room tone from where my dear narrator had had to re-record for me at least twice and each time the room tone was different. There was also an element of the recording itself that did not sound too good, but I cannot exactly explain what about it was off. I had attempted to fix a large portion of the diversity of the room tone in post and thought I had succeeded fairly well. I did not take the toll that compression would take on it into consideration. Lesson learned: When you initially hear something that widely off, do not attempt to just squeak by. The product is inferior. We are, however, overcoming this unexpected hurtle. Mr. Kurtright has graciously agreed to re-do the entire thing, using a little bit of different set-up this time. I was prepared to do it myself, but was really very pleased that he wanted to re-do it. He has such a unique voice and his diction is so "Florida"--which is one of the reasons I asked him to do it in the first place. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong this time around. As I do not know how soon it well get completed, this may be the last post on The Cow Cavalry for a little while. However...I hope soon to announce my next project. So stay tuned! The DirectorI apologise for my absence here. I have been dealing largely with farm life and Lyme--between the two leaving little time for fine-tuning work. This was actually supposed to be a more extensive update, but life of the Lyme-y sort, plus Farmer's Markets, put an effective halt to those endeavors. Still, since last I posted, I have essentially completed the project! Since nearly the beginning of the project, I have planned on doing a little "Director's Interview" and I simply did not get the opportunity to do it this week. I figured that I might as well do that before officially declaring myself done--so the actual body of the work is, Lord willing, as done as it is going to get (unless my test viewers [i.e. sisters and parents] observe something drastic that needs adjusting). However, in the vein of getting ready to market The Cow Cavalry, I did spend the morning of this past Monday building the graphics for the disk itself and the DVD case cover. The DirectorLast week I simply did no editing. Other aspects of life conflicted with any attempt at it and won out. Half way through this week, as it was rainy and one cannot do the normal on the farm spring outdoor things in the rain, I clamped my headphones on and tuned out the usual noises that my family makes. And work got done. The next day, though bright and sunny (a perfect day to work out of doors), I once again went to work. And more work got done.
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As far as completion goes, I am just that much closer to the end. However, having run into a mysterious audio problem, I am waiting for one of my voice actors (who, praise the Lord, was still available) to re-record a rather short segment for me. Once I receive that, I shall be able to wrap things up rather quickly I believe!
I missed an entire day of editing this week due to some necessary work around the house, but I did do a little more audio adjusting as well as re-working particular visuals half a dozen times or so (at least, that is what it seemed like!) I spent the entirety of one morning reading about and attempting various fixes for my mysterious audio problem, but decided that I was not going to conquer so I instead got in contact with Jordan. I finally got the mono-tracked interview converted to stereo; that pleased me immensely! As of yesterday, I completed the AfterEffects compositions for the credits...and I must confess that when "Racheal Parker" appears amongst a mix of male names in the "Voice Actors" segment, I burst out laughing. Also, this week, I went through and "tightened up" some of my interview clips. My interveiwees are each knowledgeable men with interesting things to share, but I felt it necessary to trim down and compress, so to speak, some of their varied discussions. I am grateful for these men who made this possible... In parting, I would like to present you with the updated trailer! The DirectorWhile I regret to say that The Cow Cavalry did not reach completion this week, I must say that I am pleased with the progress made. The current visuals were thoroughly inspected and needed alterations began to take shape. I will actually begin working these into the timeline next week. It took an entire day to render them all. However, I rather expected that, so do not consider it an extra hindrance. I did note two or three places which will require more audio editing, but the overall sound is fairly cohesive despite that fact that barely any of the audio was recorded in a professionally rigged studio. Trusting in an ever kind Providence, I hope to be able to announce full completion next weekend! The DirectorIt was my goal to have a fully completed Cow Cavalry by this date. Due however to certain providential hindrances, The Cow Cavalry is not yet fully completed. But, I may assure you that progress is being made. With my grandfather in the hospital last week, nothing at all was done by way of editing, but since he is fully recovered and safely home, I returned this week to a dedicated scouring over the project, adjusting audio levels and tweaking video. The music is finding it's place in the timeline and transitions are also in the works! Amongst the individual items accomplished were the following:
All in all though, I am pleased with the progress made this past week. Next week shall be filled primarily with video work, rather than audio...and it is possible that I may be completely finished by next Saturday. Until then, The DirectorFrom a young age, I was instilled with a love of History--from the days that I sat at my mother's feet, listening to her read to my sisters and myself, to the current day when I attempt to keep up with the stack of books that form an unruly pile on my desk--I have loved History. I especially have a keen interest in American History--and within that broad spectrum, there are certain decades which evoke a passion that drives me to tell the stories of the men and women who walked before me. This then, is the vision of Freedom's Light Films: to tell the stories of our Forebearers in this, the Land of Freedom. A land that was founded upon the principles of Biblical Law...for without the Law of Christ our King, there is no true freedom to be found. John 8:32 declares: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." This is not freedom of an autonomous nature, which leads to anarchy and therefore tyranny, but true freedom. One of the best definitions of real freedom I have ever seen is encapsulated by Montesquieu: "liberty can consist only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought not to will." There are many examples of Christian character and courage amongst our forefathers. Freedom's Light Films accepts the challenge of bringing stories of Heroes of Faith and Country to you. Please join us in pursuing a study of American History! The Director |
The DirectorRacheal Parker; Filmmaker: Archives
January 2017
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