Update on Washington DC Film Project 5-11-13

It's been a while since I've last updated on the progress of these wonderful filming trips to Washington DC. The last time I updated was when I had just finished the first day of production. There has been so much done since then! Since that first shooting day on April 9, 2013 we have had one regular shooting day and then an overnight trip where we stayed in a hotel and did some filming at night as well as film two seperate memorials during the day. I have had the great opportunity of working with a great crew and spsnding time with some awesome people who have become some of my best freinds. This Thursday is our last day of shooting for this year and then next year we'll be continuing the project next year and I could not be more excited! Another plus side to that is that I get to have a very small class next year just comprised of the people that we have been filming with. I'm sad that the year is ending because I'm going to miss everryone but there are still some fun times to be had! Excited where all of this is leading!

Until Next Time!
-Michael

First Day Of Production Recap

Wow, it's been almost a week since the first day of production in Washington DC on the Monuments Memorials and Museums project. The shoot went well for the most part however I learned some things just from practical experiacnce. The first thing that I learned this that I need a proper crew to handle equiptment. I needed a dedicated boom operator as well as a reflector holder. This could have saved me in the long run. I had to fix multiple issues of the boom being in the shot as well as the reflector constantly blowing away. Lucky for me I was able to manage these things in post and everything turned out decent. For the next round of shooting this coming Tuesday I will have a full crew as well as I will have the tallent not stop and start as much as possible. I am learning many things and things are coming along nicely!
Until Next Time
-Michael

Off to Washington DC Again Tomorrow!

Tomorrow it begins! Tomorrow we begin principal photography on our series of videos involving the memorials in Washington DC. I'm really excited to be working with a great group of people to get the project done. Tomorrow we will be spening the day at the Jefferson Memorial getting B-Roll as well as getting shots of the tallent. I also hope to get footage of some other memorials that while we won't have tallent I can still get B-Roll. That is still to be determined. Anyway I'm really looking foward to the first day of production. The weather looks beautiful and I don't think I could have asked for a better day to film! I'll give an update tomorrow on how the shoot went.

-Michael

DC Film Project: Day 1

Today was a day of preliminary testing and walking around Washington D.C. Although not everyone in our group was able to come we did get many things accomplished like seeing the monuments and gathering information about them. I also got down some lists of shots that I liked and thought I could use. The weather was very cold but the four of us powered through and got many things done. Dispute those cold temperatures we were able to stick together and have lots of fun and fellowship with some of my best friends. I'm truly blessed to be apart of this project and I couldn't ask for a better crew to be working with. I can't wait for the next trip up there!

Until Next Time
-Michael

Doing The Right Thing Is Hard

Doing the right thing is sometimes one of the hardest things to do. However just because it is the hard thing doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. In this culture of always having to "fit in" and having to do something just because everyone is doing it. I would challenge people to chart their own course and make something for themselves. Don't worry about what your friends will think or how they respond because in actuality most likely they are doing the wrong thing. So I would challenge people to chart their own course and make informed decisions for your life based on common since and the things of honor and integrity and morals. Granted these things won't be popular at the time at which you make the right choice but will ultimately pay off in the long run.

Take Pride In Your Work

Recently in our culture I've noticed a trend in the way people work and how the work ethic has shifted from doing the best that you can do to doing things just to get by. I'm here to give you encouragement to take pride in the work that you do. For students I would encourage all of us to do our very best work not just for the fact that you should set your standards very high for your work but also that would go for life in general. For adults I would do the best in whatever job you have. Demand excellence in every aspect of your life from your relationships with others to your schoolwork to everything else in life. In this culture quality is hard to come by. By standing out and being something of quality and being someone who takes pride in their work you stand out to people in a good way so that people will look at you and say "look at the work and quality that the person has" you will stand out and it will lead to exceptional things down the road for your job and eventually your future wife or husband.

New Camera Slider!

I ordered this a couple of days ago and today it finally came! I shot this video today and I will say this is by far one of my favorite videos to date that I have done! Enjoy!