Saturday, November 6, 2010

People of Perth


People of Perth from Benny Goodtimes on Vimeo.

Inspired by Philip Bloom's 'People Series' I shot this film during an evening spent in Perth City.
Special thanks to Richard, Charles and Kai for helping me out on the night.

Music:
Band of Horses 'The Great Salt Lake'
Buy on iTunes: http://bit.ly/a1ycqC

Equipment used:
Canon 550D
50mm 1.8
Zacuto Z-Finder Jr.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Experience Trumps Theory

I found this article by Scott Belsky, the author of Making Ideas Happen, very helpful. I felt it reinforced my ideas of experience based learning as opposed to theory based learning. I found the section on leadership development to be very interesting:
"[...] The model suggests that, when it comes to training leaders, only 10% happens in a classroom through formal instruction, 20% is all about feedback exchange and coaching, and a whopping 70% is experiential. [...]"
Obviously, that element of theory based learning will scale depending on the particular field of work in question.

Until next time!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Ira Glass on Storytelling

Now, Ira Glass, if you haven't heard of him, is the presenter of the popular Chicago-based radio show This American Life. I've been downloading the weekly podcasts from T.A.L. (This American Life) since I first heard about the show in 2009.

Recently, I stumbled across a website that contained a four-part interview with Ira Glass talking about the art of storytelling. I wanted to share these videos as they also comment on the creative process and the journey every creative must endure so they themselves can produce work of the same quality, if not better than, the work that has inspired them for years.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Tea in a Tree

There was tea to be had, and it was to be had in a tree...


Sunday, July 11, 2010

The Perth Storm


The Perth Storm from Benny Goodtimes on Vimeo.
It was March 22nd, 2010 when this storm hit little ol' Perth. These were the images I captured during the events of the storm. Everyone in Perth had a different experience that day, and this film tells of mine.

Music: Piano/Soprano Saxophone by Bass Communion

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Timelapses, Panoramas and Me

Over the past few weeks I've been busy editing the footage I've shot with my 550D. It's taken longer than I'd planned, but that's largely due to my underestimates regarding the time involved required to create a short film that's actually worth watching. The internet and my (not so) good friend procrastination have not helped me stay on schedule. So now I've dedicated a secondary computer just for checking emails and surfing the internet which has helped me stay focused on my editing that takes place on my primary machine.

Over the last few weeks I've taken some more timelapses. The thing I love about timelapses is that they allow you to capture a long period of time that can be played back in a short amount of time. You get to see all the things that aren't able to be perceived while they take place at their natural speed. But when these things are sped up you can see all of the changes that take place over hours and hours, during only a few minutes - it's great!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

A Birthday Evening


A Birthday Evening from Benny Goodtimes on Vimeo.
The events which took place on the 7th of March, 2010 as seen by my camera. This was the first outing which my camera and I attended. We both learned a lot that evening, but mostly about what to do and what not to do while shooting handheld.

How great are friends!

Camera: Canon 550D
Lens: 50mm f/1.8
Music: Come On! Feel The Illinoise! by Sufjan Stevens
Purchase via iTunes: http://bit.ly/cS3oYF

Friday, June 11, 2010

The First Semester

So, it was today that I handed in my final assignment for semester one. Taking into consideration that this semester was my first ever semester of uni, I think went pretty damn well. The ride was certainly not as smooth as I had expected, and I hit a few fairly large brick walls along the way; all of which I managed to climb and continue on, ready to hit another. Some of my biggest challenges took on the form of group assignments. In total I had two group assignments, one of which was incredibly intense and provided me with a range of issues which I had to quickly overcome to complete the assignment. In retrospect, this particular assignment provided me with the most stressful, and the most surprising time of the entire semester.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Thursday, April 15, 2010

The Last 3 Minutes

I was recently made aware of this short film on Vimeo (thanks Deceptikong). I won't say anything more except, watch_this_now!

Update: Click on the title of the video to watch it in HD on Vimeo.

"The Last 3 Minutes" Directed by Po Chan from Shane Hurlbut, ASC on Vimeo.

The main character in this short is William Turner, a janitor whose life seems mundane on the surface but as it develops, many interesting layers are revealed. We shot his boring existence in the present day at 24fps utilizing the new Canon 5D firmware.

As William's life unfolds from present day to the past, we shot with the Canon 5D at 30fps and pulled it in at 24fps to give it a slightly dreamy feel. The creamy Canon 'L' series glass delivered the period look that we were hoping to achieve.

Director: Po Chan
Cinematographer and Executive Producer: Shane Hurlbut, ASC
Producer: Greg Haggart
Editor: Vashi Nedomansky

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Night Freeway

My first Vimeo upload! I know that doesn't sound amazing (partly because it isn't) but I'm just proud to be a part of the Vimeo community. It's one of those sites that maintains a high level of creativity and continues to encourage and inspire people on a daily basis. Go Vimeo!

If you would like to see the film in its rightful HD quality just click on the Vimeo logo inside the player. It will take you straight to the site and open my film :)


Night Freeway from Benny Goodtimes on Vimeo.
I crept out to the edge of the freeway at night and set up my camera. Still learning what to do and what not to do when executing a timelapse - tricky business they are.

Music: '76 (The Slow Train) by Lemon Jelly.
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/76-aka-the-slow-train/id41438034?i=41438027

Leeuwin Sunset Sail

It was quite marvelous. Basically, you get on a traditional sea ship (you know, made of wood and things of olden times) and sail out into the Indian Ocean, then you wait for the sun to set. Surprisingly, it did just that. I recently purchased Tamrac's Velocity 8x camera bag and it was extremely handy on the voyage. The way the bag is designed you don't need to take it off in order to access its inner compartments, you just swing it around your body like a tightly clinging chimpanzee and unzip the flap.

Anyway, the point being that having a camera bag with me, also meant I had my camera! Did I shoot some footage? Why yes, yes I did. Will I compile the clips into a short film? Why of course my good friend! Once I have created the film I will be sure to upload it straight to Vimeo and share it with you here, on this blog.

Monday, March 22, 2010

An Amazing Storm

So we are still without power after a massive thunderstorm had its way with little old Perth. I manged to capture a short timelapse showing the start of the storm, where a bunch of ominous looking clouds rolled over. I became impatient and thought I was just shooting scary grey clouds, so I decided to stop the timelapse. In retrospect this wasn't the best idea as the storm was just getting started. However, if I hadn't of stopped the timelapse I wouldn't have been able to shoot some HD footage of the storm in full swing - delicious!

When I have a break from my uni work I'll put some of the footage up.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

My Canon 550D

So, last Friday I purchased a delicious camera. At the moment we are getting to know one another. I can't help but feel a little dull in comparison to this camera. It offers full HD recording; I offer dark hair on the soap. It offers 6400ISO for intense low light performance; I offer a tasty cup of tea... You can see by my effective comparisons the 550D really has a lot more to offer, as a camera, than myself. But hey, if you like tasty tea I'm your man...

Anyway, here are some shots:






More to come later. Like videos and stuff, mmkay.

Monday, March 1, 2010

letsmakegames.org Sundowner

Location: Matilda Bay, Perth
Captured By: Deceptikong


Let'sMakeGames.org Sundowner from Deceptikong on Vimeo.
"As the sun sets on a significant period for the Perth game development community, Let’s Make Games has decided to run a sundowner so that everyone can catch up over a drink and a BBQ." - www.letsmakegames.org

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Dean Spanley

I watched this film last night, and it was quite the unexpected treat. It was released on the 5th of March, 2009 (for Australia) and is not a well know film. IMDb's User Rating for the film shows a mere 826 people voted for it - and that's internationally!

The Narrative:
Original and refreshing. Based on the book My Talks with Dean Spanley, the film focuses on the themes of human grief and the important bond between father and son. Primarily a dramatic film although it is seasoned with some mildly comedic moments.

The Cast:
Sam Neil as Dean Spanley
Sam Neil's performance was excellent and very entertaining. I was unsure prior to watching the film that Sam Neil was the right choice for a Dean but he was - as I said - great!

Jeremy Northam as Fisk Junior
I haven't seen many, if any, of Jeremy Northam's body of work, but his performance in this film was very natural and had me admiring the subtleties of his craft.

Bryan Brown as Wrather
Playing an Australian conveyancer, Wrather helps Fisk Junior on his quest to find out more about the mysterious Dean Spanley.

Peter O'Toole as Fisk Senior
It was hard to empathise with bitter old Fisk Senior but even harder with Peter O'Toole's unnerving gaze - it disturbed me greatly. I can't ignore Peter's excellent performance and the anger and frustration his character provoked.

It's a well made film, great actors, great dialogue and a great story - I recommend you see it.

My Rating:
7.5/10

FYI - I am the best film reviewer in the world~!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Back To School

In August of 2009, I applied for a place at Curtin University. The course I applied for is called Screen Arts, which focuses on the areas of film and television. There are three main streams of study within the Screen Arts major; Screen Studies, Screen Production and Screenwriting. I'm still undecided as to which I will be choosing, but at this point it's between Production and Screenwriting.

Semester 1 starts on March 1st and I have some awesome units to attend. I've never been to university before so it's starting to get exciting. I'm most looking forward to Screenwriting, as I enjoy stories just as much as I do writing.

Having previously studied at TAFE it will be interesting to compare the differences between the two learning environments. The thing I enjoyed about TAFE was the constant hands-on approach to education. I've heard from many post-uni students that theory is the majority of a university education and it's up to you, the student, to back it up with the necessary practical skills. So, we'll see.

One thing I learned from my TAFE studies was that I work well in a structured learning environment. I become very focused when I know a task needs to be completed by a certain time, and it's immensely satisfying when you can juggle multiple assessments and meet the assessment criteria with a high standard of work.

Being a film course I will most definitely be smashing my prospective 550D for most of my assessments! (I use the term 'smashing' in a 'I-will-be-using' sense of the word. There are actually many ways to incorporate 'smashing' into your daily routine. For example, 'I'm just going to smash the dishes!', means, you will be washing the dishes efficiently and with great vigor. It does not mean you will be breaking them into small pieces rendering them unusable.)

Uni!!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

HD-DSLRs: Is There One For Me?

I mentioned before that I was interested in a High-Definition camera. I still haven't acquired one. I'm known to do a lot of research before buying something expensive. After having looked at the Panasonic GH1 for a while I was then made aware of the 5D MKII. It looks like a fantastic camera albeit the price is enough for me to think twice about committing. Keep in mind I have never owned a DSLR - ever!

So I hesitated, it's what I do.

Then the 7D came out and started smashing stuff, mostly fine china plates. But seriously, It looked like the winner. It was a DSLR with strong video performance.

Good low-light capabilities are on the top of my list when it comes to cameras, and this was why I found myself still glancing upward at the 5D. You see, the 7D doesn't have a full-frame sensor. This means the low-light performance can't match that of the 5D. It just can't OK. "You think you can do these things, but you just can't, Nemo!"

So I was thinking about that for a while and then the 1D MKIV came out - what a beast! It's low-light is unrivaled in the realm of video capable DSLRs and the price way too high for a noob like me. So, I went back to looking at the 7D.

Over the past few weeks me and my friend Richard have been travelling to a camera shop to check out what a 7D can do. Turns out it can't build card-houses!... My initial reaction to the 7D was my amazement at how big it was. I thought all DSLRs were roughly the same size. Turns out that the bigger the camera the better it is. Surprisingly, it was extremely comfortable to hold. However, it didn't matter how long I held that 7D in my hand the price was not going down. So I left the shop still heavily in thought about what I should do.

A few days later and Canon releases the 550D, boasting the same video capabilities as the 7D! The main difference being the 550D has only one Digic 4 processor, whereas the 7D includes two.

The body of the 550D is around the same size as the previously released 500D and is classified as an entry level DSLR, you know for people like me!

I'm still hanging out for some in-depth reviews of this camera. If the reviews come back clean I will most definitely purchase it without to much thinking.

It's available for purchase on the 24th of February. That's only a couple of weeks away!

Image courtesy of dpreview.com