Showing posts with label ninja academy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ninja academy. Show all posts

23 January 2012

Minutes 16/01/12


Present: MJ, Joe, Amy, Katya, Gary (a newbie!), Shaela, Roseanne, Cara, Ceileidh, Craig, Daniel, Willem, Peter, Martha, Ceidiog, Chloe W
  1. Money was squared for memberships – I, after at least two years or so, am now an official Maddrimer :D
  2. Talk about Tees. Marjolein has offered to get us a catalogue from the company that did her university hoodies, range including sweatshirts and, (this could be exciting)...polo shirts. I’d stick with hoodies, but hey – whatever floats your boat. The cost will depend on the fancy-ness as optional features are: embroidered crest, name, year, customised back, logo. An example being: Hoodie + embroidered logo + name + date + other logo + print (on back?)= £22.Though we’d have to agree on the logo (JUICE GUY! You see where my loyalties lie) and not make it too complex.
  3. Grain Media Workshop – well, it’s been and I have separate notes.
  4. Up Helly Aa is approaching , flaming brands and all. Today at our meeting (23rd), we should have a guest to discuss helping to film with this. Cara and I went to a meeting earlier to get some info about it and we want to get involved – whattabout you? They’ve got top-notch equipment we can have a go with *TRICASTER * *iphones to interlink between the team* , and our involvement depends on what people are willing to help with – whether it be filming, managing video feeds, operating sound, interviewing the public...etc.
  5. Oh god – it’s that time of the minutes where I write about The Last Viking, again, and say once more how I should get something done. There may be some progress on acquisitioning a boat; MJ had a good suggestion involving a cardboard boat and some sneaky trickery. Also – thoughts for Daniel Aquilina as Viking? Hmm..we seem to be using the pk group A LOT these days.
  6.   Bringing me swiftly on to the ninja film. Luke Aquilina has valiantly volunteered to be our main ninja, and our next scene in mind is the morning sequence. We can use MJ’s brother’s kitchen (which is in toon – 1 up on convenience) and the AHS.
  7. YouChoose funding. This can give us £1000-£1500...and we could spend it on a Maddrim Trip Away! We could go sometime between June 20th and July 1st (Edinburgh Festival), and use the Shetland Card

The Shetland Card:
“oh, we’re disadvantaged young people who are unable to attain our full potential due to the fact we live on what can only be better described as a small rock)”
Note – all of the above is true.
AYE!
The deadline for funding is Feb 3rd, and for a trip the adult:child ratio must be 1:8. And we should get the train from the Deen, not the bus. Buses are messy (and we don’t have trains)
       8. Our current structure of BRAINSTORM...WORKSHOP...BRAINSTORM...and continue seems to be working well, so we’ll stick with it. Next workshops could be:
Editing
Sound
Animation (stop motion)
Lighting
Improv

Willem has said he would be able to take one-on-one on Thursdays sometime. Cheers!
And MJ is supposed to send me a link to a film called “The Wizard of Speed and Time”.
[LINK TO APPEAR HERE]
or perhaps here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4yW4_376GM
        9. AOB
a)      The recurring idea of having Alternative Universe teensy shorts (a.k.a 5 secs long) was brought to light: A World Without Osteoporosis – Old ladies rollerblading; A World Where Onion Juice Induces Laugher  - speaks for itself really; A World Where Dodgeball is Unfair – something involving the substitution of dodgeballs for exercise balls...and so on. I’ve just had an idea (don’t look too surprised now).
My Idea is that these would be a brilliant way to do a storyboarding workshop. If anyone was interested. Hardly the stuff of genius, but it might be useful.
b)      Film Club! After Cara’s horror when she learned I hadn’t heard of Scott Pilgrim, I’d like this to happen more than before. Don’t wanna feel like I’m missin’ out, ya know? We need to find out if there’s a way to do this without paying a licence or not.
c)       MJ has been requested to ask us if we’re willing to help with a few minutes long film about the NHS. We might get paid, which is attractive. Although, we are busy peoples, so Willem might take it up in his own time instead.
d)      And now we come to the ideas for future films. But, as we don’t want spoilers (and my minutes are getting real long now) I’ll not put them here. Instead, a FLASH NEWS UPDATE: In case you didn’t know, the inaptly titled “Improv Film” is now, more appropriately,  called “Take 5”
See you all tonight!
Katya
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11 January 2012

Ninja Academy Filming - Take 1

Present: Mareel Halcrow, Chloe Warner, Bronwyn Mathieson, Cairn Turberville, Ben Holland, Caitlin McKearney, Sam Pearson, Connor Preacher, Corey Pearson, Jordan Clark, Calum Lindsay, Andrew Georgeson, Kieran Glaser, Ceileidh Mercer, Liam Anderson, Craig Meheut, Curtis Williamson, Ceidiog Saxelby, Shaela Halcrow, Luke Aquilina, Marjolein Robertson, Daniel Aquilina, Barry Meheut, Chris Halcrow, Cara McDiarmid , Peter Keay, Willem Cluness, Katya Moncrieff. A Grand Total of: 28 people!
This was, in comparison to any other meeting I’ve ever attended, a completely different kettle of fish. What happened, you ask?
As supposed Director of this particular Ninja Academy film, the “WRONG SCHOOL” short, I was meant to be the decision maker. It was scary.
To start off, I let the PK lot show-off their skills and practice possible filmable moves, while we hastily set up – Cara cut black headbands for ninjas, others got the cameras out and ready etc. Then, it was time to attempt filming *tremble*
Luckily Tim wasn’t there really, because the camera got fairly close to various backflips and cartwheels, and other fancy lightning-fast moves that others and I attempted to catch on film – I think this went decently, though I haven’t watched the footage. Actually, I hope I am the one to deal with it, because there is A LOT of my raised (and screechy) voice recorded, when I was trying to get 20-odd people’s attention at once, and I don’t want anyone to hear...
Chris helped with suggestions, and came up with a good clip starring the Sensei/Ninja teacher – Ceidiog – and the useless ninja – Marjolein – with everyone else doing good cartwheels...except her. Bless. She also proved her worth(lessness) at the Ninja Choir, which is conducted in absolute silence until she sings out “DON’T STOP ME, DON’T STOP ME, DON’T STOP ME-” before being hit with a shuriken (made by Ceileidh). For the “WRONG SCHOOL” sketch, with Ceidiog teaching a class on "How to break necks" and using his pupils to "demonstrate", and Liam Anderson as a wonderful Harry Potter (costume courtesy of Shaela), I’d say it went well. :)
When can we do this again, you may be wondering?
I don’t know. We shall see.
A sincere thanks to everyone who helped :D I needed all the assistance I could get!
Katya
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28 November 2011

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 10th; 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 STORYBOARDS12th 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 12th. 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 17th, 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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12 October 2011

Minutes 10/10/11

Present: Cara, Shaela, Mareel, Marjolein, Ceidiog, Joe, Eilidh, Willem, Chloe W, Barnum, Mathew, Peter, Katya. e.g - lots of people!

We had an AGENDA today. I have to say, Maddrim is turning into quite the organised little group!
So...
We got the “bad news” first – First Light funding is impossible for us to get. We’d basically have to write a ridiculously detailed report on EACH 90 sec ninja short – to the extent of including CVs and stuff. So, no. But that’s ok! There are plenty of other pots of money that we’re going to try for instead. Maybe next year...

Numero 2:
My notes say “Email Jacqui!!!!” with a lot of intense underlining to help me remember. I’ll go do that. Right now.
...
Okay, well that’s that done. Now to wait...I’ve asked her politely whether we’ll can get some money for our Tall Ships commission, because then we are much closer to buying a camera of our own, which would be SO COOL.

Next Workshop! - Monday, Islesburgh, yes: reminders will be sent as per usual.
This will be the Advert Workshop that we’ve apparently already had, way back in the dawn of time, and was good fun! Marjolein has an idea for a ridiculously OTT version of the Galaxy advert. (Y)
I think Willem will bring his camera too. 

This week’s weird anomaly in my notes whose origins I don’t understand:
“Plane sponge. do do do”

Ninja Academy!
We added some more ideas, delegated them, and went into threes to develop them. I even saw some STORYBOARDING :D (This makes me happy, if no one else).
We were wondering if we could make us of an actual Chinese restaurant for our Noodle Competition and Canteen scenes. Which reminds me, I’ll speak to Ellen from Baroc...
NOODLE PIE! *over-excitement*
Oh, and we want the school bell to be a massive gong. (Not cymbals.)
The deadline for properly developed ideas is the 24th. Filming soon! :D

And, Liam (one of the PK people) has gotten back to me saying that some of his friends were interested in taking part – this would be brilliant as they can do fancy impressive ninja-like moves that we are, sadly, incapable of...but we can learn! (Totally...)

Think that’s everything!
See ya,
Katya
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