Personal Experiences

To others it looks like a simple look around the area - in reality it is an attentive search for the next setting.

Photo: Lothar Feicke

As with any leisure activity, the basis is the human instinct to play. In this case it means dealing with pictures in a playful way. Since, like many other contemporaries, I am a visually inclined person - a picture says more than 1,000 words to me - I draw more information for me than from books regardless of whether it is a painting by a great master or a current photo to cherish. Moreover, the technical possibilities for processing or alienating the image of reality create images in the head that can represent something new and beautiful in themselves. For my purposes, the optimal state is reached when the images that I have in my head become reality and other viewers can understand these thoughts or can relate to different perspectives. The stormy development of technology has meanwhile made it possible to model images that a few years ago were only possible for television broadcasters or production companies with unreachably expensive hardware. Long rummaging in books or forums on the Internet will provide you with the necessary equipment. Whether documentation or feature pages - working in style requires not only knowledge of the handling of suitable tools, but also a lot of dry theory and personal experience. This is (unfortunately) not only limited to technology, but also affects downright nerve-wracking areas that at first glance do not have much to do with filmmaking, such as usage fees, copyright oder music history.

Occasionally some technical help is necessary - even if it is on a scale of 1:10 L60 pulled me easily across the exhibition space.

Photo: Karsten Lorenz

Before a film can be watched relaxed in an armchair, a lot of preparatory work is necessary. It starts with research in advance, which in the best case scenario should be carried out on site together with the actors. This also includes filming the preparations, because many video consumers, in the rarest cases, think about the work that must be done by volunteers beforehand so that what the actual film is about succeeds. In addition, it becomes clear in terms of time and organization how the shooting of the raw material can / must proceed. The fact is that filmed events or locations represent unique opportunities and in contrast to a Storyboard constructed movie settings in general cannot be repeated. In the age of inexpensive recording media, it is better to film a little more than not enough, editing takes place at home! On the other hand, functioning technology and awareness of one's own abilities, the blind mastery of the hand tools or physical limits determine the weal or woe of future production - it is not really tingling when the the camera battery fails or the lighting conditions or the viewing angle were unsuitable for your own equipment or you first have to look in the operating instructions of the camera, which may be buried somewhere deep in the closet at home, to find out how a certain function is triggered.

Occasionally the weather goes crazy and then it's time to improvise so that the technology can still survive the next day.

Photo: Lothar Feicke

The actual recordings themselves then embody only solid craftsmanship - the pictures are on the street. Good preparation leads to very precise ideas about the images that are to be filmed - in the best case, I already have the red thread. Coupled with an instinct for everyday situations or precise detailed knowledge, film recordings can then be made, which I ideally call a golden shot. Often I am simply envied because, at first glance, I often just sit there and look at things that others may also like. However, it is not that simple after all, because the just take a look often means a careful analysis of situations that can lead to unique snapshots. If you have safely circumnavigated the cliff, that the wheelchair does not allow particularly attractive viewing angles at times, you have to then it will definitely be made clear to a contemporaries who are crazy about video that he is standing in front of his own lens. the fact that the best place of his naturally newest and ultimately best camera in front of the lens of another, in that case your own...
It can be compared to a hunt. Starting with the search for a suitable recording situation, the Stand By Equipment immediately in a few simple steps armed will be able to use the old photographer's trick at the crucial moment, before the shot exhale (this calms the pulse), during the not to breathe (camera remains calm) and only after completion breathing normally again after the scene. This has the positive side effect that the scenes never get too long, because at some point nature demands its right (for oxygen). So if someday a wheelchair user with blue lips lay motionless in the corner and the camera was running, then the last scene was obviously a bit too long. If so, please be so kind as to turn off the camera so that it does not dig further unnecessarily. (-; .

Exchange of views with a participant in the 100 km run in Leipzig 2004. After her 100 km, the lady was certainly more exhausted than I was with my ludicrous 25 during the recordings.

Photo: Lothar Feicke

It will be interesting to have a conversation with the actors during the recording. On the one hand, it is always better if the actor, who usually also has the best specialist knowledge, can be heard in his own words and, on the other hand, there is no danger that the end of the film is pushed into the role of a voyeur, but is actively involved in the action. That can seem strange because the person concerned is surprised or reacts differently than expected depending on the situation. This is preferable to the posed scenes that are well-known from family videos, with their violent waves and the Hello - here I am at best for the so-called Outtakesseasoned with a strong pinch of humor. The camera becomes part of the situation; the actors in front of and behind the viewfinder do not see it as annoying or even as minder felt and thus grants an honest insight into the actions and feelings of other people. The danger of letting the insight become too intimate and actors exposed see is so lower. One should always be aware that in spite of all publicity, people with their right of own individuality are photographed what is in other culturesis already forbidden. However, if you are immune to it or are only interested in such recordings, on the one hand these will be the last recordings that you took in this group of people, and on the other hand, in the age of unemployed lawyers, you can be called upon in the event of a violation of personal rights Smell financial morning air for their third Porsche, expect a nice fee-based warning or, in the worst case, an invitation to the judge.

Snapshot at the snapshot

Photo: Kathrin Schaefer

At some point, however, the strongest ecstasy for images is lived out, that I can't see a camera any longer. The tireless hunt for scenes is physically exhausting not only because I have to do everything in a wheelchair. If the occasional filmmaker has 20-25 minutes of raw material in the can in the best case, I always come up with hours that, in hard work on the computer, have melted down to a tolerable length will have to be. Nothing torments the nerves of the later video recipients more than hours of recording in different settings of one and the same motif, which in the worst case does not even interest the famous pig. Now the work of editing, invisible to the viewer, but no less strenuous, begins, which primarily consists of leaving out scenes, true to the motto Mastery is in the limitation. The decision to leave out scenes that you hang onto or that you have had a lot of work with can often be very difficult. Here, the involvement of an uninvolved viewer often proves its worth, whose impartial view and criticism in part only allow a decision to be made.

The same procedure as last year Miss Sophie? The same procedure as every year, James...!
The fire brigade from Schkeuditz asks this question with the consequence that lunch stubbornly struggled to stay in the stomach, especially since in 2004 the man from the fire brigade was authorized to operate the basket from above. and handled it with a lot of energy ... (-;

If there is no "red thread" up to now, a concept should now be created on the basis of the recordings received, after which a cut and a possible commentary is created. In my experience, a lot of videographers shy away from discussing their own film, on the one hand because they think they do not have a telegenic voice and on the other hand because they have mostly restricted their content work to the visual part. But humans do not only have eyes, but also ears! As for the voice, 2-3 glasses of wine often work wonders for loosening the tongue, and when it comes to the content, knowledge of a plots or suspense arc advantageous, even if the event primarily determines the dramaturgy in the case of documentaries. Because with all good pictures it should never be forgotten that at the latest after 1 hour running time the most patient viewer has to go to the toilet. So longer is not always better, it depends on the technology (-;

It is then the art of the producer to select the best and most suitable recordings from the available recordings and to combine them in a skilful manner. With effects, tricks, music and, last but not least, brief and at best funny comments, he can package a film in such a way that not only those directly involved, but also those who sit in front of the television the whole time, at best they are & # x0022; just & # x0022; are interested. However, one should be careful not to be too wasteful with the effects, especially when choosing the scenes. Ultimately, it should be a film of its own, in which tricks are used sparingly but appropriately, and not a promotional video for the manufacturer of any editing software. Admittedly not an easy task, where the newcomer can quickly get the feeling of being overwhelmed by the variety of technical possibilities. It was no different for me. Before editing the first self-made film, I had to familiarize myself with the technical possibilities of the editing card / software for several weeks. As good and important as praise for one's own ego is, ultimately only criticism helps - you should be able to take it easy, especially at the beginning. Further projects then create the opportunity to implement the reviews constructively and to perfect one's own skills or, better still, to look for another hobby, true to good old Karl Valentin: