Buying a Go Pro Hero 3 White Edition was one of the best investments I've made this year. I've been thinking about it for a while and once I got it I couldn't wait to start filming with it.
Technically it gives me the freedom to think "outside the box" since I'm able pursue a multitude of angles that I wouldn't with any other camera. Personally, it's really fun!
Here's a collection of clips shot with the Go Pro, on my four main academic projects in progress:
Aston Martin GT4 Challenge
BUCS Gatorade Nationals 2013
Major Incident Simulation
Birmingham International Fashion Week
Join the conversation and follow the twitters @'s and #'s shown in the video!
Project Title: Marcelo’s Portfolio Establishment and Professional Networking (Redirected from Project D4RE!)
Project Update. What has happened in the project to date? Please provide as much detail as possible.
Because of a lack of response by the potential client, and unexpected workload, I didn’t have time to pursue an agreement with Ackers or any other outdoor activity company to work on a video, to the according deadline. Instead I pursued the goals I wanted to achieve, on an array of different projects. These are now the focus of my production lab project.
Project Issues. What issues have arisen since the project started that you didn't expect? I didn’t expect to have so many extra-curricular and academic projects going on, which altered my organization and priority management. Update on Risks. Have the risks changed since you started? If so then what further mitigation have you had to put in place. Are there risks arising out of the issues you identified above? I feel that by changing the focus from one single video to four different ones, by having the same project goals in mind, actually mitigated some of the risks of not having enough content and improved my chances of building up my portfolio and learning creative filmmaking.
It isn't' first place, but it still feels good to have won runners-up for the Gatorade Nationals Video Contest.
The prize money of 250£ and the inclusion of the video on the Gatorade website are happy news. More than the money, having the video displayed on an big corporation's website like Gatorade gives me extra strength to keep developing my projects.
Even though I have to change the soundtrack because of copyright issues I'm still pretty glad about the outcome.
It was a great opportunity to apply fast action\pace editing and shooting skills, and build a sports package, which is one of the main objectives of my production lab project.
Here's the winning version of the video, without copyright clearance:
A re-edited version with a new soundtrack will be coming soon!
I was invited to help with the production of a Documentary on Bulgarian student's here in the UK and show the struggles they face to fight through the bureaucracies of obtaining working status and visa.
Even though I never been so swamped with projects to work on like I am right now, I couldn't say no to this opportunity. This is what it means to be a media student, "scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" kind of thing. Its pretty much like the main industry out there, helping each other grow.
Covering the BUCS Gatorade Nationals in Sheffield was a great opportunity to test run the practicalities of my Production Lab project.
In more basic terms my project is about creating adventure\sports videos and promoting them so that in turn I establish myself as an active videographer and keep building my portfolio.
The BUCS contest was a chance to put plans in action. It involved specific planning, production and post-production work.
It was also a chance to try my new GoPro for the first time:
A fully detailed analysis about this 'sub-project' will be featured on the final Project Plan report.
Just got back from a rather interesting Production Lab session: an Unconference.
Here are the rules for this meeting concept:
The people who come are the best people who could have come.
Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened.
It starts when it starts.
It's over when its over.
The Law of Two Feet (I you are not learning or contributing to a talk or presentation or discussion it is your responsibility to find somewhere where you can contribute or learn").
"The BUCS Gatorade Nationals MMXIII took place between 22-24 February 2013 in Sheffield as nearly 6,000 student athletes from 134 Universities, competed across 12 different sports for national honours."
A week has passed and the submission date to deliver the first piece of my Production Lab puzzle has arrived. In the early stages of this class I thought of practically implementing the entrepreneurial idea I developed last semester. As I look at the magnitude and potential range of this project I get both inspired and daunted. My project is based on the idea of creating exciting, action\adventure sports videos. I can't make my own because I'm not a full time action sports athlete, so that means I need clients. People, or groups of interest that'll want to use my services as a videographer to record their activity (or service in the case of a company) for advertisement, reference or simply as a souvenir. To test this idea I analyzed a few possible outdoor activities groups across Birmingham. After looking at their online profile, I identified one that could potentially be a good place to start: Ackers Adventure, on Golden Hillock Road, in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. The plan will be to develop a collaboration where the outcome will benefit all parties: advertisement and exposure for the group, active participation and learning for the kids involved, and to my professional development and establishment as a videographer and producer.
P.I.D.
Project Summary
"Project D4RE! is the creation of an action\adventure sports video production company. It's focus is to empower outdoor activities program providers with the ability to record their enterprise and to incorporate video production learning as part of their services. For the purpose of this course however, the project will be focused on the creation of one or more video features for Ackers Adventure and their clients. The terms of this collaboration and the nature of its outcome is in development." Project Context "The pertinence of this project benefits all participants involved, at different levels. For Ackers Adventure its an opportunity to have a promotional video made for them at very low or no cost, raising their online profile and possibly attracting more clients and revenue. Being a charitable and community based organization, it'll also bring awareness to youth groups, charity fundraising events, after-school programs\clubs, etc. To the adventure and outdoor sports industry its a chance to promote what is being done in and around Birmingham. To myself, it'll be a chance to gain practical experience at a corporate level and to work with children in an area that I'm passionate about. The possibility of contributing to a charitable organization is also very gratifying." Objectives
"Produce one or more videos suitable for commercialization and\or online distribution. Promote Ackers Adventure. Increase my online portfolio and enhance my professional development. Project will serve as a test run for the its mother entrepreneurial endeavor, 'Project D4RE!'." Project Approach
"Agree and establish a final plan delineating terms of partnership and desired outcome. Cast participants for interviews\activities and recruit video production crew members. Organize production team, filming dates and A\V script. Actively oversee production and post-production. Distribute and promote content online. Feedback report, final debrief." Partnerships
"Ackers Adventure staff will help with logistics and human resources management for the activities on schedule plan. BCU colleagues will help with video production. Potential partnerships with youth groups to be announced." Risks
"Lack of compelling footage -- extend production dates. Lack of interest by client or online market -- innovative and creative production style; strong marketing strategy. Incompatible production dates -- improve management flexibility and effectiveness. Physical risks inherent to action\adventure sports video production -- detailed plans of action and safety plan."
The second semester is on its way and a lot of new projects are on the horizon!
For one of my new courses (MED7022S2 Production Lab) I was invited to start an online diary. Well, I reckon I'll use this blog here.
Here's a brief introduction to what I plan to do:
After the challenging but enlightening Enterprise course, I thought of continuing with the idea of a video production company specialized in action\adventure sports.
However, I came to the realization that I'm no business man. I love video, I love nature and I love sports. That's how my idea for project D4RE! came about. I can visualize this idea's potential (case study: Camp Woodward), which empowers outdoor activity doers with the possibility of having a personal action video made for them, and\or learn how to create their own.
For the first stage of this project, I'll have to build my own portfolio of action sports videos.
It turned out to be an awesome festival and one of the most gratifying experiences I had filming.
With so many projects at hand since then, I haven't had the chance to edit my own cut of the festival, but here's a version by HTF Media's Matt Taylor.
As you can see from the clip, this is a really eclectic and alternative kind of festival. From a band who uses toys to make music (Modified Toy Orchestra) to a man producing the most intense sounds with a piece of glass (Lucas Abela aka Justice Yeldman), which he bites and breaks mid show, the festival will push your perception of sound and music to the max.
Also worth pointing out is Dylan Carson. One of the stories going around was that Dylan was Kurt Cobain's very close friend and actually sold the shotgun that Kurt, allegedly, used to kill himself with. That surely grabbed my interest! Sorry if its not true Dylan, I'm just saying what I was told. Great show by the way!
Anyway, the atmosphere at the festival was so liberating that I found myself enjoying performances and types of music that I wouldn't normally even think of listening to. Definitely an experience to repeat.
First video feature for MED7075 Documentary & Features.
"BMX in Perry Park" is the first report for project D4RE!, an enterprise idea that involves action sports and video production.
This piece portrays the BMX Track and the public skate park at Perry Park, Birmingham.
I would specially like to thank the Birmingham BMX Club for all their support.
Also thanks to Abhiney Khoparzi and Jill for the tech support; and to my music composers Alec Robert, Segun Anikola and Reuben Perry.
