Argh, why can't DVD's be square?

Any thoughts? Don't feel like I'm getting very far, off to a photo-shoot for this band now so I've took a screen grab of where I'm up to...

matt

Hello from Edinburgh. DVDs are sorted.

Greetings from Auld Reekie! Day 1 of my MPhil/PhD and I'm writing this from one of my favourite cafes "The Black Medicine Co." This is what I'm looking at…



I may be 230 miles away and studying but work doesn't stop. The last bit of Photoshopping is being performed with 24 hours to go before hand over to Adam for final editing. I've just sorted out the DVD duplication with MediaHeaven (Matt's recommendation).

Deadline for final video is 13th October (or before if poss)
Deadline to post DVD for duplication and DVD for FACT launch is 14th October
DVD duplication will be quicker than 7 days if artwork is sent prior to the master DVD.

So Matt, your back on. If we get the disk artwork to MediaHeaven early they can turn the DVDs around quicker. Visit their website for the template to work to.

That's all for now. Back to Photoshopping windows.

company's

Hay, Im very excited, when Dave W told me about the invite's we could send out to relative company's, i was curious what company's i would find, didn't really think I would find something so close to home, but Hay Liverpool is the most up and coming place for digital arts if you ask me. 

Going to carry on looking for some more, now that's got the ball rolling

Invite feedback

Hi Matt,

Looking good. I think the format is fresh and stands out as an invite. Your decision on no images is sound and the typography and grunge look adds attitude to the invite. You're right about the extra tagline. I've only one minor amendment and that is to give more space between the itinerary and the Blackie text separating the 2 different bits of information (see image)



Jo, what's your thoughts? Maybe the tagline should read
"your invited to the premier of
Traceur Tag
a student video"

Invitation

The type still needs tweaking a bit (just noticed looking at this thumbnail version that the title's falling off the top) but what do you reckon?

The format is a 75mm x210 (A4 folded in 4) I found a tiny sketchy version of the de la salle logo on google that's big enough for this, I could try and create a vector version from it if I have time for the credits.

I've tried it with images of the lads but it's not working on such a small format, turns out looking like a cheesy brochure for a themepark or something, if you really want image then I can have a play and try some high contrast black & white stuff but I think it's best left typographical - Do you think it could benefit from having some sort of description that it's a short film or something? Or is this implied strongly enough by the 'premiere of...' line in the itinery?

Let me know anyway and I'll get back onto it, best get some college work done now though
























Oh my business cards came, they're really nice. The card and print quality is great, textured but vibrant.
cheers, matt

Revised end scene schematic

Hi Dave,

Here's the schematic for the final street scenes.



The set needs constructing. I've given you sides to the main buildings but no roofs as the shots should be low. Once the basic shots have been set up and shot we will need to add debris and street furniture. Can you set up and render test shots based on this schematic for Thursday?

Final Render Codec

Dave/Matt/Me

Just had a word with Adam and he recommends

H.264

Sorted!

----

Matt, I forget to ask could you email me the Illustrator file inFINity Sign.AI? The link on your blog has expired. I need to rework Stas' neon sign in Photoshop.

Fact info

Yes they do use the projection room and big screen so we are ok with that. However, they do need two copies of the dvd two weeks before the date...does this sound realistic?

DVD information

Please find below the costs for dvd's...
DVD duplication: £1.18 per disc
On-Body print: £0.20 per disc
Cover print: £0.20 per cover
Amary case: £0.14 per case
So in total the cost per disc will be: £1.72 (+VAT)

Do we want to go ahead with this? I would imagine they need time to do them aswell, I'll check how long. Oh and I will enter the blast comp but will need a copy so as long as its before the 17th we will get it in on time...... :)

URLs bought + new email addresses for all

Hi team,

I've purchased 2 URLs for the web site: www.traceurtag.com & www.biennialfreerunner.com. We can use the first to advertise the video and the 2nd to advertise what we have done (and can do).

As a lil' pressie to the team every core team member now has a fresh new email that points at your own original email account. We all now have the following emails you can use (or not):

jomillea@biennialfreerunner.com

adamhamilton@biennialfreerunner.com

davebentick@biennialfreerunner.com

mattfrodsham@biennialfreerunner.com

staskrakiewicz@biennialfreerunner.com

joseflores@biennialfreerunner.com

davewood@biennialfreerunner.com

There are 2 other general email addresses that will be forwarded to both myself and you Jo:

info@biennialfreerunner.com
&
traceurtag@biennialfreerunner.com

Have fun.

BBC Blast

Hi just wanted to check that we will be ok entering the blast comp as the lads have only really starred in it and formed the narrative. Its actually been made by older students, hasnt it? Just thought I should clarify before getting too carried away!!

Fact Details

Howdy,

We have the Box from 6:30pm with a view to start at 7pm and finish at 8pm. I have said we need a projector and dvd player, can you think of anything else?

Regarding the invite, I think it should include:

• The film title and that it is a collaboration between DLS and SHC.
• Fact 29th October, 7pm
• That it is part of the Biennial schools project exhibition entitled Future, Fiction and Fantasy showing at the Blackie, Great George Street, Liverpool, L1 5EW from 30th Oct-20th Nov 12-6pm.
• Maybe the web address? Anything else?

Dave and I also spoke about a possible itinerary on the inside or back of the invite so that people need to know that they need to get there for a certain time and that there will be opportunities for Q&A. Ooh not long now!

Fact confirmed!

Hi all,
Fact is now a definate so we can relax on that one, the woman who was sorting it has now left and that was what was delaying things. Dave I will give you a ring tomorrow sometime to go over dates etc and I will look into enteing into that competition you have posted below. Also how are we working the finances? Do you want to send money to us or our school to you??Just need to let Fact know details but we can talk about that tomorrow.

Byeeee....

Cloud descent storyboard

For Jose's reference…







Last panels cut into the following scene…

Final post-production deadline to launch

Hi all,

I've met with Adam and Dave this week and from discussing what needs to be completed in time for launch I propose this as the final deadline schedule:

18th September - all 3D digital sets to be completed - [art direction & Photoshopping = Dave Wood]
-------------
Then sets handed to Dave Bentick for completion of digital shots and rendering out of final rendered comps.
=============
30th September - completion of all rendered scene comps including all digital effect shots, end credits and 3D animations [Dave Bentick, Jose Flores, Matt Frodsham et al]
------------
Then all final rendered scenes supplied to Adam to edit, colour correct and score.
=============
13th October - Finished video signed off.
=============
Wrap party where we all (well at least me) can get blitzed before sending the DVD file off for duplication (if time is too short to get these back for the launch we can produce a freebie launch version in-house as a taster and sell the proper DVD through the website).
=============
17th October BBC Blast deadline
=============
29th October - Launch event in FACT (unconfirmed) [screening, Q+A, website launch, MySpace launch, FaceBook launch, DVD launch, book preview] [after launch BLITZ party I ]
=============
30th October - Liverpool Biennial launch at the Blackie. Private view. [after PV BLITZ party II]
=============
31st October - hangover/exhaustion/nervous breakdown/gibbering plus satisfaction of a job well done.

Blast Film Festival

Hi Jo,

Matt has emailed me this link to a Film Festival by the BBC that you could enter the film into for the lads.

www.bbc.co.uk/blast/film/

Deadline is 17th October. Watcha think?

3D corridor dynamic run test

Nice to see you our creatively recharged Dave, I myself have been feeling a little bit more relieved, has I have managed to create a test shot, which has given me a little confidence that we can make some interesting shots in after effects.

The scenes dark, we all know that it can be adjusted to the final render.

Look through the windows, notice the clouds and the horizon, I hope the interior has a nice enough blue colour cast, I think so.

Anyway, hope its dynamic enough, I want to get some nice volumetric lighting coming in through the windows soon, and I would really like to see what else I can do, apart from rotoscoping, so sit tight and I may surprise you.

enjoy!

Yo, i"m back from Prague

Yo all, I'm back from Prague, elated, knackered and inspired. I've just quickly caught up with everything but will get some sleep to recharge and pick up the art direction, direction, producing sweeping, ironing etc. tomoz. I am creatively recharged (and now in my 4th decade) so will get on with the last push.

DLS....They say YES!!!!!

Yeeeeah!! There is no probs with the money from our end. What is the best way to do this, shall we send you the money following an invoice from you and it gets sorted your end? Or do you want me to sort all the dvds, paying FACT etc and so I invoice you for the dosh?? I dont mind either way but clearly you have done so much that it should probably be me who does the paperwork!! Worringly, Fact arent returning my emails so I will ring them Monday instead.

Matt, I could pay you £xx for a 2hr workshop after school (3-5pm) to work with the 4 lads from this project. The idea would be to make some of the poster type images that you have created so that they can further their Photoshop skills, we have PCs or Macs. Are you up for it? If you are can you let me know what nights are best for you over the next few weeks please and if not don't worry.

See you all soon....

College, they say yes!

Hi Jo,

My Director has agreed to fund our side of the deal. Hope that helps in your negotiations with your side.

When is your school half-term week. Does it correspond with the launch and would it be a problem getting the lads and their families to attend if it does?

What's the opposite of somnambulist? Well it's 4am and I'm IT right now.

Yo all,

End of my summer leave and it's back to work in 5 hours and you've guessed it… I can't sleep 'cos my body clock is screwed! Never mind here are some screen shots of rendered scenes from the final video. They still need Dave Bentick's skilful post-production colour manipulation but they are looking really good with Jose Flores' emotive skies in place behind Stas Krakiewicz's fantastic 3D set designs.

The last push to complete the post-production is here. It's been a hard slog but we're nearly there guys!