Let's Make a Movie! Just
for Kids - 2008 Summer Program
June 11, 2008 - GET READY to join us for another exciting production season! Sign up early, as classes fill up fast.
Course Details...
Please contact Cindy with program questions, and Acoustic Planet Music for registration information.
Dear Santa Claus and Friends,
December 19, 2007 -
This year has been very special. I am so grateful for having had another opportunity to teach "Let's Make a Movie! Just for Kids" workshops this summer and work with such energetic, creative children.
Our student film festival at the end of summer was well-attended and hopefully enjoyed by all, especially by those whose hard work resulted in such entertaining movies!
We had only one video camera incident all summer. The camera fell on its face when the tripod tipped over (yikes!). Thankfully, it continued to work, but I finally got it serviced in October and learned that it would need an expensive replacement part. As a result, there will be no more taped shooting with that camera (sadly!).
So last month I splurged on the purchase of a new Cannon HV20-- a consumer-grade high definition video camera capable of close-to-filmmaking quality with its 24-fps "cinematic" setting. The camera has been getting fantastic comparison ratings, although everyone recommends also purchasing a wide-angle lens. Hopefully next summer it will get used to its capabilities by our young filmmakers.
Well, Santa, here's the thing. My husband informs me, "No more equipment!" until I pay off my recent purchases (for instance, the new laptop this summer that replaced one damaged during my Fall 2006 course). But I still have lofty dreams of offering other interesting courses this coming year, which would benefit from a few additional items. So, in case you are in a position to help, I thought I'd make a list, because I've been very, VERY GOOD this year:
-
43 mm wide-angle conversion lens (RAYNOX HD-6600 or Canon WD-H43) for shooting in those tight spaces with our new Cannon HV20
-
Professional lighting kit (I would love to be able to hold a lighting workshop so students can experiment with three-point lighting, using gels, bouncers, etc.)
-
Adobe Flash upgrade to current version (it turns out I'm missing components helpful for creating customised website objects to display Flash-formatted movies.)
-
A central daytime location to teach courses, offer tutoring, and run workshops for adults as well as kids (Acoustic Planet Music Studio continues to be a great location for smaller classes, but access to a large room, where computers and/or film sets could remain set up for the duration of a course would also be great).
-
Used video equipment of any kind (cameras could be lent out for individual projects, etc.)
And Santa, please double-check to make sure all of these deserving people are on your "Nice" list:
Michele MacKenzie and Greg Esposito
Acoustic Planet Music Studio
They provided the class location, advertising and registration services for my past courses and have been so wonderful to work with. And Greg's guitar sound-effects for our sci-fi film last summer were super awesome!
Judy Francis
Salt Spring Island Society for Community Education
She took a chance offering my course last Fall, and hopefully doesn't regret it!
Harry Burton
Apple Luscious Organic Orchards
His incredible dedication to organic apple farming, promotion of local food production, organization of the annual Apple Festival, and encouragement of me as a filmmaker have left me forever indebted to him. Our apple documentary collaboration should keep me well-occupied this coming year.
Valla Eiriksson
Avanti Glass Studio
She generously shared precious space in her glass studio with me this month, having heard my crazy idea for offering "You on Video!" Christmas video messaging and fully encouraging my hasty enterprise, even adding me to her planned advertising for the month. What a wonderful friend!
Well, Santa, that's about all. Don't get frost-bitten as you make your rounds this year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Cindy Jacobsen
FrogTalk Media
P.S. - did I forget to mention I was Very Good this year?!
|
