So the tides are definitely turning, there’s no doubt about that. However, not in the way I was expecting.
Back in February when I started this I was both sore from redundancy (nobody likes the carpet being pulled from under them) and confident. I’d done a great job over the last few years and been involved in some fantastic projects. Who wouldn’t want to hire me? right? Guys?
So as I embarked on a new selection of posts and most importantly a new chapter in my life, I had a lot of ideas about the things that I wanted to talk about. The past seemed very important, both the work that I’ve done and the training I’ve completed. Also the present, how was I going to find work? Will social networking help me? How about my own personal network. I thought I could look at way that the industry favours recommendations rather than CV’s or did it? Would I do better handing out CV’s?
Turns out it doesn’t quite work like that. The conversations i’ve had have been positive, but the underlying message is that there is no work available for a couple of reasons. Its the wrong time of year, in the wrong year entirely. Thanks to the unfathomable greed of the banks we’re all knackerd. Whilst I’m sure I’ll find work through either recommendation or application its unlikely to be a story worth telling. Even less will it be a resource for others.
Pleased to announce that the projections in the Senate House Yard went down a storm for Cambridges 800th closing celebrations.
As always there’s a new flickr set with some of the best looks, go on take a look!
Alternatively you could have a look at some of the great press we’ve had here, here, here, or here.
Flat art and photoshop work was done by Paul Chatfield (website still in construction) I jumped in to program the show in our Onlyview system and do the required animation using After Effects and Cinema 4D software, all on behalf of E/T/C UK Ltd. The show took us roughly a week’s worth of long days in the studio plus another 4 days of consruction and tweaking on site. Having done these buildings this time last year we had a good idea about what worked and what didn’t. We experimented with a few techniques we’d not used before on this project including 3D modeling and green screen keying which worked to lesser and greater effect. It was great to take testing away from the studio all the way to building size in an environment where he could afford to make changes. There was also a lot of flat art manipulation which is more inline with our usual model.
We have found that with Son Illumiere projects like this the key aspect very much has to be the story told. That said, we wouldn’t be commissioned to produce these show’s if we didn’t make them aesthetically pleasing. It is always our intention to balance fun effects and a bit of “wow” factor with the content that takes from the history of the buildings.
Video from the banks of the Rhine or our current video creation. Design and Photoshop by Ross Ashon I contributed the After Effects, Cinema 4D and Onlyview work.
After a difficult gig with a foreign crew (language barriers and all) let’s just remind you all about the basics. But i’m just joking….right?
The shortest distance between two points – a video cable. Let that not be forgotten, a clear route should always be left by all departments.
Video cables should ideally be routed on top of all others, over NOT through truss and without the use of tape. This will allow speedy removal when we start loading out mid-gig, immediately after our last cue.
Fibreoptics are orange for a reason. So that you, yes YOU lampys don’t mistake them for a raggy bit of 5-pin. In no circumstances should you stand on, pull, twist, touch, or even mention in conversation said cables. I can’t be held accountable for anyone who can’t heed these warnings.
Client notes: If you want to make changes to the content last minute then you’re going have to wait while we make the changes, render the file, upload to the servers and depending on the system, perform a final render again. This process is NEVER a matter of minutes. Therefore, get it right in the office or get over it.
Load times are as stated on the tin. When i say it will take 3 days to install and configure then thats what i mean. Its not acceptable to shave a day off and let us know by waiting for us to read it on the schedule. Incidentally, 9 crew days over 48 hours means 12 crew days over 76hrs. Don’t think that 3 days can still be manned by 9 crew days. THAT is what the extra thousand is on the bill.
Finally, video engineers are like customers. We all know that they’re not always right. But its easier for everyone if we pretend that’s the case.
