Always Something...
So by all counts, the movie was done, the surround sound was done and all I had to do was deliver the terrabyte raid tower (computer speak for massive storage drive) to Ken in H'burg and it was outa my hands. Lent was coming to an end and I could just smell the hops in the air...
But do not forget, this is a GRIPPED production and therefor, all aspects will fight to the bitter end to keep from going smooth...
Strap in, this is a sick ride. FIRST I burned a test DVD before heading to see Ken. THEN I noticed the sound was way off (didn't sync with picture). I went back and checked settings, rechecked outputs, tried it again and again to no avail. My baby was looking more like a bad chinese monster movie than anything. Stress levels started their familiar march skyward. Sleep was again held at bay. Tech support said I had to pay $800 to get a straight answer and PRIDE said no way man, we can do-eeet!
Hours and hours go by. Every time I tried to export it would take more hours, then the frustration of seeing what I thought might solve the problem was not the silver bullet. It was time to drive the files to Ken even with a ghost in the machine. WHAT COULD IT BE???
In the chaotic arena of Ken's hyper-busy office with his dedicated crew pulling insane hours getting their largest "Banner Stand" order out the door (great timing right?) we labored over test after test. In the quiet corner of the office Ken's kids were filling poster tubes for delivery around the country. Luckily they have the same entrepenurial instinct as Dad and are keen to work for the latest PS2 or for Connor - a new Trek Mt. Bike.
Thru the night and into the morning we worked on the problem. Ken doing tests on BluRay discs which support the 720p30 frame-rate we shot the film in (meaning if you get a BluRay player, we'll be happy to make a disc for you, price not yet known but somewhere around $50 is going rate). Seeing this puppy in full high-def WITH surround is our goal and we've been killing ourselves to reach it. 1 week after Sea Otter, Apple is expected to announce a full launch of upgrades that support this new technology but we're a couple weeks early and have to find other ways to make it work. Fun. We ran into Sue Haywood and Erin Bishop (Jeremiah's wife) at the local coffeee & bagel shop. They were headed out for a ride and Sue says, "Jason, I hear you're racing at the Otter!" Great. Now people will actually see how little I've been riding. No fear - there's still one week left to train!
So I had to leave Ken w/o a clue as to why it wasn't working still. But not before adding one more challenge to my plate! On a quick ride around the block on Ken's single speed in an effort to wake up (forcing cold air into the turbos), I came flying down the sidewalk in front of his shop thinking he might see me out the window. Feeling a bit daring I tried to ride an endo up to the front door. Ken's brakes are much more effecient than mine and the second I touched that left hand lever I jackhammered into the concrete. Smooth. A couple of JMU coeds were walking on the other side of the street and a slight snicker could be heard amidst my gutteral moaning. So now my pride is all gone and in place I've got a really messed up wrist. I hate to hear people jump to the "Oh I broke it!" conclusion but I would have bet a solid chunk of change that I did. X-rays proved otherwise but the Dr. noticed a bunch of calcium deposits on my bones and asked if this sort of thing happens often.... "Uhhhhh, well usually I land on dirt...."
Anyway, wouldn't you know that I get home and my new Top Fuel is here waiting. Too bad I can't even ride the thing. But hopefully I can tape up for one ride before I'm racing it at the Otter...
Oh, and last night I figured out a way to make the audio sync by using the Apple Intermediate Codec - VICTORY. It was after midnight so I went out and had a beer with the boys. All is well once again.
Now it's back to H'burg for me....
But do not forget, this is a GRIPPED production and therefor, all aspects will fight to the bitter end to keep from going smooth...
Strap in, this is a sick ride. FIRST I burned a test DVD before heading to see Ken. THEN I noticed the sound was way off (didn't sync with picture). I went back and checked settings, rechecked outputs, tried it again and again to no avail. My baby was looking more like a bad chinese monster movie than anything. Stress levels started their familiar march skyward. Sleep was again held at bay. Tech support said I had to pay $800 to get a straight answer and PRIDE said no way man, we can do-eeet!
Hours and hours go by. Every time I tried to export it would take more hours, then the frustration of seeing what I thought might solve the problem was not the silver bullet. It was time to drive the files to Ken even with a ghost in the machine. WHAT COULD IT BE???
In the chaotic arena of Ken's hyper-busy office with his dedicated crew pulling insane hours getting their largest "Banner Stand" order out the door (great timing right?) we labored over test after test. In the quiet corner of the office Ken's kids were filling poster tubes for delivery around the country. Luckily they have the same entrepenurial instinct as Dad and are keen to work for the latest PS2 or for Connor - a new Trek Mt. Bike.
Thru the night and into the morning we worked on the problem. Ken doing tests on BluRay discs which support the 720p30 frame-rate we shot the film in (meaning if you get a BluRay player, we'll be happy to make a disc for you, price not yet known but somewhere around $50 is going rate). Seeing this puppy in full high-def WITH surround is our goal and we've been killing ourselves to reach it. 1 week after Sea Otter, Apple is expected to announce a full launch of upgrades that support this new technology but we're a couple weeks early and have to find other ways to make it work. Fun. We ran into Sue Haywood and Erin Bishop (Jeremiah's wife) at the local coffeee & bagel shop. They were headed out for a ride and Sue says, "Jason, I hear you're racing at the Otter!" Great. Now people will actually see how little I've been riding. No fear - there's still one week left to train!
So I had to leave Ken w/o a clue as to why it wasn't working still. But not before adding one more challenge to my plate! On a quick ride around the block on Ken's single speed in an effort to wake up (forcing cold air into the turbos), I came flying down the sidewalk in front of his shop thinking he might see me out the window. Feeling a bit daring I tried to ride an endo up to the front door. Ken's brakes are much more effecient than mine and the second I touched that left hand lever I jackhammered into the concrete. Smooth. A couple of JMU coeds were walking on the other side of the street and a slight snicker could be heard amidst my gutteral moaning. So now my pride is all gone and in place I've got a really messed up wrist. I hate to hear people jump to the "Oh I broke it!" conclusion but I would have bet a solid chunk of change that I did. X-rays proved otherwise but the Dr. noticed a bunch of calcium deposits on my bones and asked if this sort of thing happens often.... "Uhhhhh, well usually I land on dirt...."
Anyway, wouldn't you know that I get home and my new Top Fuel is here waiting. Too bad I can't even ride the thing. But hopefully I can tape up for one ride before I'm racing it at the Otter...
Oh, and last night I figured out a way to make the audio sync by using the Apple Intermediate Codec - VICTORY. It was after midnight so I went out and had a beer with the boys. All is well once again.
Now it's back to H'burg for me....
3 Comments:
Happy Easter.
Glad to hear your tech problem is solved and the beer is flowing. One year I gave up coffee for Lent. I was one jittery dude on Easter Sunday...
Seeya soon in Monterey
Karl
When will the DVD pre-orders ship? Sorry to hear about the wrist, but maybe that's a sign to relax at Sea Otter in the beer tent instead......
DVD's ship as close to May 1 as possible. Man, getting injured sux. See you at the beer tent!
Post a Comment
<< Home