Freedom's Light Films
Thank you for bearing with me in this journey!
Sparks of Reformation Productions has had a change in name since the last time I posted. As I did not think that the name accurately reflected my some-what altered vision for my film work, I decided to re-named my production company something that did. Therefore, it is with pleasure that I would like to introduce you to: Freedom's Light Films Thank you for bearing with me in this journey! Racheal
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Day 7: Finally back at it after nearly two weeks off. I had a few Lyme-days; but mostly I feel like I'm waiting for other people. Not that I don't have stuff to do, but I just never turned my editing computer on. I did everything else, from reading books on the War Between the States to singing Confederate war-songs at the top of my lungs, but sitting down and facing the screen was not something I undertook. But the real update. I am beginning to put the music in the timeline--as well as doing more audio editing as I go along. I spent a couple hours on that this afternoon until my ears decided I couldn't be objective enough. Lord willing, I will buckle back into it tomorrow and get a little further. RachealI admit I was somewhat distracted and unorganized today, but I did get through the remainder of the audio. I am completely positive that I need to do at minimum a second go through. I am going to take tomorrow off and take care of another job (non-film-related) that needs doing. Look for the next update on Monday! RachealDay 17: Found me with my headphones clamped over my ears jumping between Soundbooth and Premiere Pro (a hoped for feature that would remove the entire audio track to Soundbooth was non-extant). As I reached my lunch break, I was relieved to discover that it wasn't as horrid as I suspected it was going to be. I still do not think it will sound as professional as a professional would succeed at, but I do think that it will be passable and not glaringly "off". I switched up voice over recordings in two places...and left myself wondering why I originally chose the clips I did. Believe me, editors are indeed fallible--sometimes more glaringly so than others. In the video department, I identified a few areas that need tweaking. Just as importantly (I think), I adjusted the positioning of an interview (a neat feature, I tell you!) It's rather neat that one can, essentially, change the camera angle and/or zoom a bit in post. The tightness of that particular shot has bugged me for a while and while I knew there was a way to fix it in post, I never took the time to learn until today. Now we can see the speaker's eyebrows. ;) Having reached the half-way point (roughly), I decided to knock off for the day and return to the job tomorrow. Until then... RachealI'm going to attempt a daily count-down here to let y'all in on my progress. Shall we begin? Day 19: I finished up the majority of my AfterEffects. I still have a smallish number to complete due in part to not having audio locked in. I imagine that I may have to do a little tweaking on some of the 'locked' AEs post-audio work. Speaking of audio work...last night, my own dear daddy recorded his three-liner V/O for me! Day 18: Due to some interesting events in the morning, I was left feeling somewhat "blah" and in a mood that I felt would not be conducive to productive audio work. Instead of attempting that then, I finished up the remainder of the AE comps that are not lacking the corresponding audio. I also started in on the credits. It looks like I have started working on them previously, but I think I probably like this second take on it better. There you have it. We'll see where Day 17 brings me... R achealAfter a three-week hiatus during which I sewed up a couple of dresses and went to an out of state wedding and then was just busy and then sick (twice), I returned to the editing station. I scribbled up on my white board in big, bold letters: 20 weekdays til March 1. I want to have the edit LOCKED by March 1st, so I might (hopefully) have it ready to distribute by March 28th. I got along alright until my computer decided to lock up so bad it had to be hard booted. I decided to let it rest for the day; after all, I did get six comps either made or reworked. But, more exciting then that (in one fashion), was the tact I took before lunch. I hauled my camera down into the basement and opened up our wood burning furnace to get some footage of the fire. Well, I ended up smoking up the basement and the house. The smoke alarm start blaring and I think I had my Daddy worried there for a minute. BUT...I got my footage. The things we put our families through for our craft... ;) Nineteen Days to go...do you think I'll make it? Racheal Once again I went on an ineffectual hunt for a photograph of Cow Cavalry Sgt. Thomas B. Ellis. However, this time, with my new premium membership to Fold3, I found something interesting! Below is a page out of his records: It reads: "Absent. Detailed to collect cattle in Fla. by order Genl. Bragg" The date is June 30, 1863. This is interesting for a couple of reasons, first is that he was detailed to collect cattle in June of '63--a little over six months before the Cow Cavalry, as such, was even purposed. The thing to bring out here is that even before the formation of the Cow Cavalry, there were men who faithfully supplied beef to the Confederacy, even if they were not strictly military. (Capt. Hendry was one of those men.) The second interesting thing is that while detailed for cattle collection, Ellis was still on the 3rd Florida Inf, Co. C payroll as a Private. It got me wondering if once the Cow Cavalry was formed he was taken off that payroll...and if that is when he got promoted to Sergeant! Well, that was where that rabbit trail took me. However, I did manage to get 10 AE comps in the queue (rendering as I type). A couple of them were "tweaks" or re-do's, if that is clearer. It's coming along...slow and steady. RachealI fear that small progress has been made since my last posting, but the passing of one of my grandfathers (for whom we had been caring) and three weeks out of state put a complete halt to my work. Upon returning, it was then Christmas and New Year...and a massive attack of chronic Lyme than rendered me very uncomfortable for a few days. Now that it is 2015, I have returned to my work. The realization of a two month (plus a couple weeks) time span between now and my desired release date hit me with rather a shock and lit a fire under me. With that being said, I concocted something like six AE compositions yesterday and 7 today. Two of those need tweaking. I have begun serious planning work on the music side of this project. So long as the chronic Lyme in the family does not get too much in the way (in the form stiff joints, lack of concentration, and non-musical feeling-ness), I propose to do the music myself (with the accompaniment of one or both of my sisters). Work will recommence tomorrow! RachealI have finally resigned myself to the fact that The Cow Cavalry is not going to be completed in 2014. I cannot blame it all on other's procrastination or busy-ness either. My own procrastination is more to blame than anything. However, I rejoice to report that I have, once again, re-begun work on The Cow Cavalry. After a few minutes of struggling, trying to remember what my vision was, I settled into the task with a determination to work on it every day (minus Lord's Days and Holidays...and other days when I simply cannot get to it). If I get 2-4 AfterEffects completed per day, I should make fairly decent progress. I have also projected a release date (for myself as much as anything): March 28, 2015. I still do not promise it shall be out by then, but that is what I am shooting for. (The significance of that apparently random date is that March 28, 1864 was the day that the Cow Cavalry was officially authorized to begin operations.) I look forward to that day! RachealIt's been a while, hasn't it? Anyway, to cut this short... I received the completed narration last night!!! I am so very excited to be able to get back to work on The Cow Cavalry! Racheal |