Exploring Art

I can't seem to keep away from filming. After my last showreel adventure, I'm back looking for new ways to create a quick movie clip.

Somehow I found myself a camera and learnt the basics of editing on the net. All I had to do was obtain the content.
Exploring art around Hamilton is the subject of my latest escapade, but I don't really need a reason!
I'm never content to produce the predictable, what's life without a challenge? My notebook began with a few themes but was narrowed down to: patterns, statues and neons.

Many box drawings later, I had my famous set of lists to get things moving. First I shot stills of statues,posters, signs and billboards.
Then this last weekend I roped in my trusty support crew- my brother to film it. I must say I was nervous before shooting but this being on camera thing is starting to get easier. Once you get over making a fool of yourself, its a piece of cake!

We drove around a lot as he had kindly loaned his car for the experiment. It's even in the background on the opening shot! Maybe it should have a co-starring credit.

It was really fun as we travelled from place to place for the shortest sequence. We started off with a trolley ride and ended with some neon billboard filming. Luckily the rain held off and we finished with a great breakfast.

Next was the editing, cut and pasting clips everywhere. I was concerned it would look homemade but maybe that's what all first projects look like in the beginning.

That previously mentioned computer-made soundtrack appears twice in the very short film and fits well livening up the still shots.
All I have to do now is the file conversion....that could be a mission and a half! Hope to post it here when complete or at least a link if Blogger will oblige.

My brother is keen to film a 'Life on Mars' quick driveway reverse in his car, that might be our next project.

Just say No

After nearly losing my mind to a terrible head cold this week, I decided I need another scarf. So went wool shopping in Spotlight, I have no idea how to knit just cross-stitch so this was a Gran-type project.

After finding the wool and a free pattern, waiting at the counter and then being redirected to another counter, I was ready to go home.
Its easy to become dazed and confused in Spotlight, the lights are bright and there is so much craft on offer, you could easily overdose.

Of course the salesman was having a great chat with the customer in front. As previously mentioned, I'm not that fussed with small talk in a retail environment, its completely pointless. I'm not here to have a warm and fuzzy experience, its a means of completing a transaction.
So he finally serves me and begins with the questions...have you got a VIP card?

I feel like giving him his beans that I don't want a trashy reward card, but just say no.
He follows up quickly with do you want one? No. No to every one of his pointless questions and his explaination of all the benefits.
Who cares, I just want to buy this wool and I don't care if its on sale through the VIP card.
He then asked if I wanted $1,000 dollars. I'm definitely not in a joking mood by now so say no to that too. He said he had been waiting all day for someone to say no, he certainly wasn't respecting me for it!

He finally asks if I want a bag, so I say yes- there are 8 balls of wool! He is clearly shocked and then pulls out the smallest bag in history to stuff them into.
He says I sound like a mother, should I be offended or flattered?

We all have the power to say no, why not exercise that right now and then?

Afternoon in Pictures