Minutes 28/11/11

Present: Shaela, Chloe W, Katya, Willem, Marjolein, Joe, Craig – and two new faces: Daniel and Ceileidh (Ya got that MJ? Ceileidh.)

So, after the successes of last week’s filming in the Garrison for MJ’s Improv Film, we decided to set the rest of the filming days – get these in your diary! :D

Filming in the Anderson WOW Room will be in next Maddrim’s meeting time on the 5th December (though possibly starting earlier than 7 – advanced warning will be given). Named actors needed are Ceidiog, Mathew, Joe, Craig, me and someone else to be a bouncer (we were thinking BARNUM here).

Filming in the Town Hall will be on Saturday 10^th; named actors being Shaela, Mareel and Liam.

Islesburgh failed dramatically on cable supplies. Our plan to edit this year’s Hallowe’en film was not possible.

But we did decide on this:

PROPER DEADLINE FOR NINJA FILM STORYBOARDS – 12^th December. This is our next project after Improv Film so we need to get these done. Remember to speak get in touch if you want to ask about anything :) If you’ve forgotten what scene you’re doing email back and I’ll tell ya – I’ve managed to avoid massive spoilers thus far so might as weel keep going.

I got another email from Lauren Peterson about getting us to help film that documentary I mentioned a few weeks back. She’s asked if Emma Perring could come to our meeting to tell us more about the project on the 12^th. Why does that date ring a bell, you ask? NINJA DEADLINE. But yeah, we’ve got enough interest within the group so expect a visitor that day!

FirstLight Funding.

Yes, I know, this has been an ongoing fail since the dawn of time, but this year we will be more organised. And Joe’s Granny’s best friend’s daughter works in professional filming – we got connections! – so she could be our mentor.

Sandyburn Singers.

This group is having a flash mob on the 17^th, and Joe will be filming. A couple of others will be needed to help oot – speak to Joe :)

Then, we played a game. No – not “The Name and Fact Game”. This game is much, much better, and it is called “Mafia”. I shall explain later…

See you next week - Ciao!

Katya

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Present: Chloe W, Cara, Craig, Sanna, Liam, Willem, Ceidiog, Joe, Mathew, Barnum, Katya

Cara, once again, had an agenda of things to speak about. GO CARA!

Next year, for the 2012 Olympic Games, Shetland Arts are organising “A Hansel of Film – Shetland to Southampton and Back”. This will involve a relay-race of films going around the whole of the UK – started on the 10^th when the Olympic Torch reaches Shetland. More detailed info can be found here: (read it if you don’t know about it – it’s exciting!) http://www.shetlandarts.org/hanseloffilm

This is relevant to us because we will be making films! Though, instead of our usual August-ish deadline, we’ll need to have films made for April instead. No more than 5 mins each. A Challenge; Bring it.

Jacqui has been contacted. She says sorry for not replying (she apparently needs constant reminders) but there’s hardly any money left – though she will try to get us some. HOORAY! Thus, me and Cara are going to constantly remind her. A Plan (Y).

Willem has bought www.maddrimmedia.com, www.maddrimmedia.co.uk, www.maddrimmedia.info. TAKE THAT BALLERS THROWIN’ DOWN. Also, an in-joke must be made in the sports day Ninja scene. That would make my day.

And, we need to rejuvenate the Maddrim website a little – more pictures and such. Job for Willem and Craig methinks.

Also, what are people’s thoughts on having Film Critique time set up? This would have to be outside of Maddrim hours, and non-members could be invited (recruitment drive GO), and we could watch things like “Star Wars” and “Jurassic Park”...which I have yet to see. *slaps wrists in absolute shame*

Cara, this is for you:

Then had a run through of MJ’s improv. film script, and went into groups to edit bits...

• -          Take out “They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard; the audience will be suuy confused: change to “I love her the MOST!” type lines
• -          Make a scary face out of fruit for the Man Who Is Afraid Of Fruit to be scared of
• -          Too many Mathews! As much as we appreciate Mathew, there are too many for us to cope with just now
• -          Make Chloe’s prisoner character have a homemade tee with her “love”’s face on. Creepeh.
• -          Change turtles to tigers (we have access to THREE tiger suits, but no turtle suits)
• -          Use the WOW room in the Anderson for MJ’s Hour sequence (I shall inquire tomorrow)
• -          Give Ceidiog’s Italian a new line: “Pasta la vista, baby!”

(Cara, if I’ve missed any edits/anything email me and I’ll stick them in :) )

Then we played Who Stole My Pencil, Winkie Murder and Heads Down Thumbs Up to round off the meeting :D

Keep your thinkin’ caps on (after this, Ninja film is happnin’ - we have to be on the ball!) and I will see you on SATURDAY!

Katya

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Minutes 07/11/11

Present: Joe, Marjolein, Chloe W, Mathew, Cara, Katya, Willem, Liam, Sanna, Amy, Craig.

First, we started with the long beloved Name and Fact Game; something I'm not a massive fan of. But, it's tradition...

1. Maddrim.com
Ballers throwin’ down have STOLEN our URL. BOO!
Nothing quite has the same ring to it as maddim.com, but if we can’t buy it back, then we’ll just have to settle for www.maddrimmedia.com or www.maddrim.co.uk.

2. Jacqui

This long-running conflict has been an issue for us since Tall Ships. And we are not happy. She’s been hasn’t even had the courtesy to reply to our emails etc. about payment for our commission in the summer. And she’s never at panto meetings, so I haven’t seen her to ask her directly. DOUBLE BOO!
Cara is going to be seeing her soon and will speak to her then.

Enough bad news.

3. Lauren Peterson

We got an email asking if we want to be involved in making a documentary about Poverty, Social Exclusion and Deprivation in Shetland. Now before you all run away screaming, hear this out: there will be a PROFESSIONAL film company helping - so, it’s more like work experience. And, we only need a few people to be interested, which we’ve got.

4. Film nights/gigs

An idea came up to have a variety concert type thing with Maddrim, Comet Conspiracy, PK kids all together! This is actually feasible too :)

5. MJ’s improv. film

We’re going to rehearse next week in Maddrim time, and on the 19^th from 12-5 in Islesburgh all the equipment will be available for

Filming: 21^st and 22^nd, 5-9, Garrison. I’ve emailed the scripts :D

EDITING...finally.

Do you like Youtube?
YEAH!
Well, go to these channels for super-duper special effects in use AND How-to videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CorridorDigital

http://www.youtube.com/user/samandniko

But first – before editing – Willem tells us of the 3 important rules:

1.       Get a good crew, it makes all the difference between an alright and an aaaawesome film

2.       Sound. Willem says this is the highest priority in filming. Watch short films without looking and you’ll see! It makes some sense really.

3.        Film everything at least 3 times. At college, Willem had to film everything 10 times. TEN. That’s crazy...but it means you have better versions of footage and more to play around with when editing.

Now, this, my friends, is Final Cut Pro.

Drag your clips from the Clip Bin to the Editing Bar to get started!

Razor Tool: (B) cuts your clip into itty bitty pieces!

Arrow: (A) means you can drag the itty bitty pieces wherever you want. Handy, eh?

Effects Tab:

Including greenscreen (good for people and skintones) and bluescreen (good for everything else).

Effects can be found HERE (for free!) à http://www.detonationfilms.com/Stock_Directory.html

Video:  the bar closest to the top takes priority.

Audio: all the bars play so that you can layer sounds.

Motion: Centre/anchor points are useful in getting special effects to move though your film.

Special effects work on an animation basis.

Willem: “So what do you know about animation?”

MJ: “It’s not real.”

...yea...point taken on board...

MJ: “Can we put the ball of fire in italics?”

...sure....

Someone: “Enough nipple talk!”

*sigh* And I thought that, for a while, we’d feigned maturity pretty well.

Also, Willem has kindly offered assistance if anyone needs help – just email or phone him. Thanks for everything Willem!

And to finish, a brilliant little video entitled “Visual Effects: 100 Years of Inspiration”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP_hAszQPgk

Katya

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Maddrim Minutes 17/10/11

Present: Cara, Ceidiog, Chloe W, Katya

Not so many attendees today :( Too many people away on HOLIDAYS...tsk tsk tsk. No matter, we made a fabulous advert...

But first, Cara reminded us about the Volunteering Award ceremony, which is on the 25^th, and that we need to pick 4 representatives to go. I was thinking that since, as far as I know, www.maddrim.com is still not fixed we should make a poll on Craig’s Maddrim website to decide who gets to go.

And, Kathy has offered to give us money in exchange for tutorials for people who use Shetland Arts’ cameras. Ah, Kathy, what would we do without her?

So, the purpose of the meeting – Advertising.

First, we looked at adverts that displayed various persuasive techniques and had a variety of different tones etc. So, after a terribly depressing tangent about car crashes that somehow managed to worm its way into conversation, we decided to lighten the mood and get going!

Out of the bag of random stuff Cara brought, the Racoon Hat was selected as our product. Oh yes, there is indeed such thing as a Racoon Hat.

So, we considered the Vital Questions:

Who is your target audience? Predominantly young people who are not serious or dull.

What is it that you are trying to advertise? A Racoon Hat

Why would someone want it? Why WOULDN’T you want one? They’re pretty damn adorable.

How will you persuade them to buy it? We decided to play on the cute/light-hearted/comedic route...

These questions are useful when making short films, only think of them instead in terms of conveying emotions, storylines and characters etc.

Our film basically consisted of Ceidiog sneaking around Islesburgh – wearing the hat – and acting as if he was an actual racoon (much to the amusement of the general public). He then stole from me, Cara and Chloe, but of course we couldn’t see him because the hat made him SO SNEAKY. He then takes off his hat, we finally notice him and exclaim in surprise, finishing with a final shot of Ceidiog sauntering off and flinging the hat over his shoulder...captioned “Walk on the Wild Side!”

Note- this WILL be edited and uploaded. And that’s a wrap!

Some of the best adverts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzRKEv6cHuk Levi’s (this is a Maddrim favourite - a stop-motion masterpiece!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vkVHijdQk Google Chrome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6njVFEq2A Polo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdkcsDueSMM&feature=player_profilepage Twining’s

Katya

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