And now begins Act II

I think that for a first video, our filming went generally smoothly. There were a few problems here and there and things that we had to figure out, but otherwise it was great. I also think it’s going to be a good video. Gabe showed me some of the footage he captured onto his PC earlier this week and it looks astoundingly better then when I first saw it on the camera’s playback screen.
It was merely a taste though for what’s to come. The Phoenix Film Challenge updated their time requirements for all entrees; all videos must be no longer then 5 minutes (or is it six?). I’m hoping that things work out for us and that we’re able to guide our project through the 48 hours. But there are a number of factors I’m going to be paying close attention to throughout the shoot. First and foremost, I want to make sure that if Alex and Kevin bring Canon XLS1 cameras to our team that Gabe and I are able to adequately use them without spending too much time learning how. Secondly, we won’t have a substantial amount of time to think up and create our video. Moreover, it isn’t just Gabe and I shooting the video, its Gabe, myself, plus Kevin and Alex. We all know one another very well, but I’m hoping that no differences in opinions or creative conflicts arise. With the time and the new members to the team, I don’t want to get forced into bypassing some important first stage of the film’s creation, like minor storyboards, a treatment or script.
Those are just some of the worries that have been filtering through my mind. I’m perfectly sure that nothing will go outlandishly bad, but still, it helps to expect everything to go bad. I think we’ll all have to just trust in one another and learn to interact and work accordingly.

I purchased some new (old) music earlier this week when I got The Pharcyde’s masterwork Bizarre Ride II. I’ve only known the Pharcyde briefly, but their music video and Fatlip’s documentary on the Spike Jonez DVD encouraged me to check them out. I was even more prompted into their music when Gabe related to me that he had seen them years back at Lollapalooza and that they were a good group. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed.
Bizarre Ride II is an amazing record. Despite being more then ten years old it still strikes me as a stunning accomplishment. The beats, grooves and overall atmosphere created by the group marks it as a nice companion piece to another defining record of that time: The Beastie Boys’ “Check Your Head”.
Speaking of the Beasties, their new album comes out next week!