Video's nd schtuff

When I was about 12, a couple of my friends and I made a video called “The British News From Down Under.” A video which, to the outrage of millions of viewers, sadly no longer exists. However that video was the beginning of what has become one of the most time-consuming, stressful but most enjoyable hobbies I take part in.

Pictures from the hit series “The British News From Down Under”

Making this video when I was 12 years old was nothing more than innocent fun, creating a news show whilst adding a geographical related pun in the name and including guns was a great deal of fun for us. It’s now 5 years on and we’re still making videos! More on that later. 

From here on out, I began to get a grasp on more advanced editing software. I spent a stupid amount of money on a camcorder and BOOM the quest to create higher quality videos had begun! I made videos about pretty much everything I could. Every ridiculous and random thought had the potential to be turned into a video (shown below in “I can Talk”) Another prime example of this is Graeme Lye: Behind the laughter, (Made with the help of award winning director Josh Agnew, a key member of the Oscar winning series, The British News From Down Under)

Taken from “I can talk”.    I loathe this video…

This was the point, only one year ago, I though I had cracked the key to creating a good video. EHH ERRRR! Incorrect you silly child, incorrect. I discovered the wonderful world of Adobe After Effects very soon afterwards. This brought to the field a whole new depth of adding aspect ratio changes, colour correction and SFX. The closest thing to Special Effects I had come close to was dividing a video in to two, creating, essentially, a “clone”. Now I was able to work in 3D space, create explosions and muzzle flares! 

A lil frame from “Rad Jump”. My first real uploaded attempt at SFX

Currently I am working on a project called “LyeHard”, spawned through some of the same minds that revolutionized the world of media through the release of the internationally successful, The British News From Down Under. It is the first time I’ve ever worked on a video that has taken more than a day to film. So far production time has been several months but release will hopefully be near summer. It’s by far the most complex video I’ve ever had to produce but also the most fun. It’s made me realize how little I really know about the video related world. 

The Dream Team. Myself (Left) Josh Agnew (Right) 

So, why does video and post-production appeal to me? It’s the feeling of managing to create content from piles of raw footage that can make a viewer react in a certain way. Taking days to make a video is worth it for the seconds or minutes of enjoyment that come from watching the final product. 

Whether or not I pursue media as a career is still unknown to me. However, I intend to keep it as a hobby for as long as I can. 

Teaser Trailer For LyeHard

The 'Nuclear Ninja' Mission

Japan, a country that is presently proving itself to be one of the bravest I have witnessed in my lifetime.

After suffering an enormous tsunami as a consequence of the devastatingly large earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, the population now have to deal with a potential meltdown of Japan’s crippled nuclear plant. This is the point in which I stumbled upon a heart wrenching article titled 

‘Nuclear Ninja’ Suicide Mission To Save Japan

The article describes how 180 technicians are voluntarily exposing themselves to potentially fatal levels of radiation in a desperate attempt to cool the reactors that put the country at risk. These people, who’s identities are unknown, stayed at the plant after 700 of their colleagues fled due to the lethal radiation levels. Scientists have warned these men that they will almost certainly die trying to carry out their mission and those, if any, who are lucky enough to survive will face a lifetime of severe health problems. The men have already told their families not to expect them to return. As it stands, five of the men have already died.

I could go on and on about how inspiring the article is, showing the true nature of human spirit but I won’t. All I can say is that my heart goes out to these men and the whole country who face unimaginably hard times.

The Article 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Fukushima-Nuclear-Plant-Workers-Are-Heroes-After-Risking-Own-Lives-To-Avert-Meltdown-In-Japan/Article/201103315954904?lpos=World_News_Second_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15954904_Fukushima_Nuclear_Plant_Workers_Are_Heroes_After_Risking_Own_Lives_To_Avert_Meltdown_In_Japan_