Foggy-Headed, Wooly-Brained

I’m having one of those days where I feel like I have tapped my well of inspiration and it’s run dry by lunch hour. My brain feels foggy and slow, as it does most Mondays but due to my busyness this morning everything feels so much slower now. I keep forgetting my iphone cable at home so I’m stuck without even my behind-the-scenes footage to work with. I could always upload it from my phone to YouTube and edit it using YouTube’s editor. The bit of experimenting I’ve done with it leads me to believe that the editor would be suited for this kind of project. I would much rather do my editing with Final Cut. I’ve also tried exporting our videos using something other than the “Upload to YouTube” option built in to Final Cut. It seems to have worked very well, but I’m not sure if there are any tangible differences.

Story Boards with No Script!?

I’m thinking about starting a storyboard for the new video, even without a script. I think it might help me work out some of the things in my head and communicate them to the marketing team. I still can’t imagine having an actual script for this project until we are ready to record the voice overs but I need to have an actual plan. I’m still waiting to hear about casting our star. It’s been narrowed down and I have been led to believe that I will be taking some responsibility for choosing who will be on set with us.

Behind-the-Scenes

Got the go-ahead to shoot behind the scenes for the new project. I’m going to start practicing with some behind the scenes for our regular videos. I’m not sure how I’ll manage two cameras at once but I’m sure it’s possible. I’ll probably just use my iPhone for now. If it works I may bring in my personal camera. The marketing folks don’t know if we will have any use for the behind the scenes footage for regular videos, but at the very least it will be practice for the new project.

Script Writing for an Unscripted Video

Working on the “Script” (such as it is) today. The Social Media team have sent me a list of questions to ask Steve to help them get an outline together. I’m starting to wonder how much work they are going to put into a script only to see NONE of it actually used. I’ll try wrangling a response from Steve, but I think this will end up being an interview tomorrow before or after we shoot our diagnostic video. I don’t expect any sort of usable script-based dialogue to come from our shoot. I plan on having a topic, a few shots to get and a series of questions to either ask our kid or get the kid to ask Steve. Most of the instruction and advice will be done after as a voice over.

New Project

I wrote the following while debating where this should live. For now it will be here, as a way to collect my thoughts about my most complicated video project to date.

June 1st, 2012
We’re starting a new project and it feels like I should be documenting this one. Natalie and the Social Media team contacted me about doing a video of Steve doing a repair with a child. They haven’t let me know many details yet so I am not clear about the specifics but the idea is that we have a video with Steve introducing a kid to the world of household repairs as a way to show parents what is or is not appropriate for a child to help with around the house. I have mostly been concerned with researching child labor laws and compiling a thorough release form that is understandable to anyone, not just those who speak film/legalese. There is no way I will be going in to this with a proper script. I think our best bet is going to be casting a kid with natural curiosity who will ask questions and who gets along with Steve. I used this as a template for my release form. Since this project is most similar to a documentary I felt a documentary release form to be the most appropriate, and this one contained a provision for an underage participant.

Life

Ha, well it's been a while and my writing fingers might be a little rusty. Life goes on, much as it always has, here in the Shire...

Baby J is growing, Monkey is all potty-trained (except for her first major accident in MONTHS today) and I'm still making porn in the basement of a former warehouse (at least, that's what my co-workers think I do).

I recently started wrestling with the desire to do more. I'm still not sure what "more" may be, but dammit, I want to do it. I am still crafting, working on an awesome blanket for our best friend's future offspring and toys for my girls and nephews. I'm also participating in a Joss Whedon craft swap.

Work is fun if a little unsatisfying at times. I would like to do a lot more creatively, but I am aware that the limitations of "relating to appliance parts" hinder most creative endeavors.

I have been reading up a lot on the independent film biz and YouTubing in general. I look at part of my job as being the "Keeper of the YouTube" and part of that is keeping up to date on trends, who's who in YouTube and any new things the Google folks are running out that may affect our videos.

So Far, So Good

So I've been back at work for two days and things are going great. The girls are adjusting to the sitter's as well as I expected and Husband seems to be coping well with only having one vehicle.

In a meeting today the bosses confirmed what I already knew, that I will be "running" our video project. We are keeping my mat leave replacement on, hopefully full time so this means that I am his boss. This is exciting but I've kind of got my fingers crossed that it will eventually mean a raise. I don't expect anything right away since I have to prove that they made the right decision to keep both of us on full time.

One of the women I originally started with is now running the whole marketing team, another is second in command at the call center. It's weird seeing the people I started with at entry level moving up. It makes me really happy and I am excited for all of us but it makes me feel old.

Canada Post, Unions, Mail

I am a good, pro-union socialist. I believe in collective bargaining and the strength unions get from the people they represent. That said I am torn right now. If it weren't for some parts of the back to work bill I would probably support the legislation.
I am opposed to the proposed binding arbitration. I do not think that picking one side's proposal over another will accomplish anything good. I feel that there are unreasonable demands on both sides. Canada Post is an aging institution that needs drastic changes soon but the CUPW needs to protect as many jobs as possible.

Back to Work Blues

I'm getting sad and nervous about going back to work. I'm going to miss my girls. I can't imagine spending the whole day away from them. J is in for quite a shock. She's not used to being away from me for that much time.

I'm also nervous about housework and that stuff suffering. I'm not sure what the new schedule is going to look like but I'm fairly certain that I will be waking up at 6am and going to bed just before midnight.

Back to Work

I am getting ready to go back to work. I will be returning to my job as videographer in less than one week. When I go back I will technically be getting a promotion. My project is expanding and they hope to keep the dude who covered my mat leave on at least part-time. I'll be in charge and he will be working for me.

They have grand plans involving YouTube. Since that was the direction I originally wanted everything to take I am really looking forward to returning and seeing everything through.

I'm nervous about how the girls will do at the sitter's. Jessica still doesn't like it that much but she gets better every time she's there.