Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Documentary about Thermodynamics and Life

Ed Watkins

Ed Watkins

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 20, 2007
Messages
668
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Website
www.naturalscinema.com
Hi all,

I have just finished a short (20min) doc about thermodynamics and life, featuring Dorian Sagan, and Eric Schneider.

I completed it as part of my MFA, and intend to use it to pitch a series about the "Purpose of Life" based on a book by the same authors.

I'd like to get some general comments on it and thought you guys would be a good starting point, Take a look if you'd like, and let me know your thoughts.

Please don't share the link too widely.

http://vimeo.com/2532733
Pass: montana

all the best,

Ed.

Here are some stills:

coffee.jpg

eric.jpg

tornado.jpg

engine.jpg
 
That's really really good Ed. Not going to have a chance to watch it all tonight have to get to bed but will come back tomorrow and catch the second half.

Well done - looks stunning.

Andi.
 
Hi Ed

Just watched the film in full. Its really well done and engaging. A great explanation of the second law of thermodynamics and puts a broad science fact basis for looking at climate change. I thought using the two authors as presenters worked really well. My favourite bit was the stirling heat engine on top of the cup of coffee.

Music was excellent and cuts well edited.

Excellent job.
 
Hi Ed,

I just watched your doc. Love the look of the Red camera in those shots and as I've seen before your animation was spectacular. The film was great, I enjoyed it and learned from it. Congrads on getting final approval from the committee. I will be submitting my first rough cut to my committee next week. Can't wait to get finished up and get out there in this wonderful job market we have now.

Mike
 
Hey that was good, Can't say I agree with the concerns but you did get me thinking, and it looks great! Keep it up, I'd like to see more of the argument shown so well. Nice work Ed!

....P.S. My answer to the concern shown here, is that we need to get off this planet! But most people think thats crazy.
 
Thanks for the comments guys, keep them coming. The more input I get the better I can make the final product.

I've had a fair few questions about budget and glass:
It was all shot on nikons (17-35/ 2.8, 50 /1.4, 105 /2.8, 80-200mm /2.8), and the budget was self funded (around $1,500. Mostly airplane fares and lodging) just 2 crew (camera, sound/grip). I shot, edited, animated and directed.
 
Very cool, I really enjoyed it. Nice work Ed!

Now, to be very critical: I wasn't 100% behind the audio.
I though the V.O. could have been a bit better, with an even more pleasing voice. Also quite a bit of the audio on location wasn't up to the standard of the rest of the project. A little more sound design would have helped a lot. The score was nice.

Sorry if it seems a bit to much emphasis on the audio but I think it held back a bit all of the effort you put behind the images.

I really liked it. Thanks for sharing.
 
Really nice work Ed.

I have a question about the "flash frames" at the beginning. Was this done by doing ramps without shutter compensation - or was it created in post?

Consistently thoughtful work.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Hi Dylan,

The flash frames were done in post, I added them to give a stylistic feel to the piece (and, I admit, to cover some less graceful cuts).

@USlatin

I agree with you, I have a fairly wide skill set, but Audio is unfortunately not one of my stronger ones.... unfortunately, there was only myself and one other crew person on this shoot (and just me in the Panamanian jungle) so audio was mainly wireless lav or boom mike. You work with what you have! :)
 
Well it doesn't take you off so I wouldn't be worried. I was just wondering what could be added to make it a bit better with little work and I think that if you felt like it a few sound effects here and there might fill it in nicely.

How much time did you spend in that jungle to get all those critters? Or was it crawling with life to the point where you had frogs on your head half the time, :)
 
USlatin said:
How much time did you spend in that jungle to get all those critters? Or was it crawling with life to the point where you had frogs on your head half the time, :)
Click to expand...

:)

Jungles seem surprisingly devoid of life when you first go in them (like most wildlife areas). It takes a while to start noticing the critters. :blink:

I only had three weeks down there and I got lucky that a few of the beautiful animals were hanging around near the buildings. Most of the stuff from inside the jungle were the frogs and insects.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top