Should we be filming in HD for corporate / presentation video output?

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The time has come to make the decision. HD or not to HD? And for those still getting mixed up, HD is High Definition and HDD is Hard Disc Drive, be sure you know the difference when you are purchasing you video camera! For a few reasons I have still been shooting in SD (Standard Definition) for corporate and by corporate I mean presentation video output (video for PowerPoint etc) File size being one, especially as I have footage backed up from my edit suite to a server daily and then an off site tape backup. Also, shooting to DV tapes provided a simple short term backup solution. Many of the videos produced are also not to be viewed on a television but accompanying information on a PowerPoint slide, so is often shown at in smaller dimension.

The thing is, more and more, stand alone presentation pieces are played on the desktop or from an online portal with the ability to display at full screen, now obviously standard definition is 720 x 576 against most monitor screen dimensions being at least 1024 px wide, in which case a SD is stretched to fit the screen causing massive pixelation.

A point to note that file compression is much better than it used to be so producing HD videos as mpeg4 with a h.264 codec has less file size implications and doesn’t cause your machine to grind to a halt when you try and play it back on desktop software.

My final point in my HD or not to HD argument that is fast leaning toward A HD win is that of Hardware. Even prosumer HDD cameras like the Everio have moved away from mere TV playback through your AV cables but not record in edit suite friendly formats. This means, drag and drop functionality that saves hours on your production work flow and produces better output.

Basic Filming and Video Camera Technique

Training Module – Filming Technique

Purpose
The purpose of this module is to raise the understanding of video production and emphasise the level to which we should strive to output video to clients. During this module we shall look at the production process; that’s pre production, production and post production. You will go away with an understanding of the importance of planning your video. You will learn good filming technique and also good post production practice.

Theory

Pre Production – Preparation
Callsheet (Download to come)
A simple one but often overlooked. A call sheet provides all involveds contact details, responsibilies, location details and anything else you may wish to include in order to keep everyone on the same page and the production running smoothly.
Storyboard (Advanced Storyboard (906))
Often there will not just be you working on a shoot, in order to convey the image you intend to shoot, it is important to scetch is and make any notes to put this across.
Script / Interview technique
Interview technique for camera differs slightly from that which you may be used to.
• Coerce the subject to say what you want them to say but in their own words.
• Ask a question in a way that encourages them to repeat the question back in their sentence.
Example:
- Yes, I enjoyed it, it was really tasty! (makes no sense without the question)
- I enjoyed the cake, it was really tasty! (makes sense on its own)
• Try and get into the habit of nodding or using facial gestures to encourage the interviewee rather than verbally agreeing
Release Forms (Sample Release Form (263))
Permission from the respondent or subject to release their image to you, the production or the company.

Timecodes and striping tapes
Logging, Viewing, Capturing, Batch Capture, Editing, DV to VHS Transfer, Camera to DVD Transfer

Post production paperwork
Logging (Download)

Sound

The onboard microphone is not sufficient in most situations to record good clean sound. The mic picks up the wirring of the tape and also any wind blowing across the tiny holes that cover it. We need to develop an understanding of the options and there usage.

There are two main types of microphone, cardenoid and directional. Examples of each are a lapel mic (cardenoid) often seen on a news reader or interviewee or a shotgun mic (directional) as you would see being carried by a film crew.
No matter how you obtain the sound it is essential you monitor it during recording using headphones. It would be very costly to return to the edit suite with an image and no sound.

Where would we use each?
Lapel / Radio Mic – This microphone is best suited to the planned interview or studio interview. It will pick up sound from within a close vicinity and cut out background noise. It provides a clear sound and resonance of the chest. It’s harder to use the radio mic on location without a power source unless you have a professional sound setup.

Things to look out for
• Microphone can often rub on clothing or a moving subject. Don’t be afraid to hold up proceedings to make sure you have the sound set up correctly.
• Untidy wireing. Sometimes your subject may not have appropriate clothing and it may be hard to conceal the mic and transitter.
• Remember the foam cover is meant for windy conditions, you will not need it indoors, it will, if anything create rubbing issues.

Shotgun / Directional Mic
The shotgun microphone can be used onboard the camera or on a boom pole. Best for on location and spontaneous shoots. As it is a directional mic the onboard camera can pick up sound directly in front of the camera and cuts out most sound left, right, up and down. The boom mic requires a specific sound person or appropriate stand. This microphone is extremely accurate as you can get up close to the subject and the directional properties reduce background noise.

Things to look out for
• Keep a close eye on the camera operator, as a boom mic can often appear in shot.
• An onboard boom mic will still pick up camera noise and remember you are close to the mic, although it is directional it will pick you up to some extent.
• Be aware of surrounding noise. If a dog barks, phone rings or siren goes off, don’t be afraid to stop the recording and inform the interviewer the sound is not useable.

Shotgun microphone – for impromptu Vox Pops and sound recordings, also in situations where there is a considerable amount of surrounding noise.
Lapel and transmittable microphones – Studio recordings, planned location shoots. Benefits from clear sound from the resonance off the chest but also pics up close surrounding noise (not noise at a distance)

Sound Recording Checklist (275)

The microphone plugs we use are 3.5mm (1/8″) “Mini” and XLR; both have a male and female (socket and plug) connections. In short the XLR connection carries the best signal and is considered professional standard, also benefits of the XLR connections are that they lock into place leaving less room for error or tripping in a working environment. Even with the a quality, expensive microphone, poor quality cables and recording Device will produce poor sound.

3.5mm_Mini_Jack

Image

Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds refers to the composition of the image on the screen.
By dividing the screen up into thirds (see figure 1) it provides guides to compose your shot
Filming for interview requires the cameraman to think about the eye line and looking space.

mis en scene
Mis En Scene- literally “placing on stage” refers to arrangement of all the visual elements

Choice of Lighting
“Texture and Colors”
Use of Space
Make-Up
Costumes
“Interiors” Used to Convey Meaning

Equipment

Tripod

The importance of a tripod should not be underestimated. It adds an instant professional look to the video. As a rule you should not start shooting handheld until you have understood and mastered filming with a tripod. Three types of tripod are shown below the key differences between tripods will be stability, levels, fastening and controls. Where you might utilize each depends on the type of filming, I base my decisions based on compact and portable or fixed and precision shoots Also it is important to keep the equipment clean and check the clips regularly.

Lights

3 Point lighting system, key, fill and backlight.
Safety, handling with gloves, flagging and gels, wooden pegs.

Key Light
This is the main light. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the look of the scene. It is placed to one side of the camera/subject so that this side is well lit and the other side has some shadow.

Fill Light
This is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to fill the shadows created by the key. The fill will usually be softer and less bright than the key. To acheive this, you could move the light further away or use some spun. You might also want to set the fill light to more of a flood than the key.

Back Light
The back light is placed behind the subject and lights it from the rear. Rather than providing direct lighting (like the key and fill), its purpose is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject’s outlines. This helps separate the subject from the background and provide a three-dimensional look.

Camera

Show both cameras and explain the benefits for each. Talk about different capture formats and the benefits and intensions for each. DV, HDD, DVD explain the difference between HD and HDD (not to be confused)

I have documented the camera setting I used during most shoots
Sony Camera Settings (Download)
JVC Everio Camera Settings (Coming Soon)

Summary

Questions to ask yourself before you shoot,
Is your subject positioned correctly within the frame?
Framing – Rule of Thirds
Framing – Looking space

Where’s the sun?
Where is the sun or where is the light source? Possibly one of the most important questions, as a silhouetted image is extremely hard to correct in the edit, so it is important to think about this at the point of filming. As a rule, make sure the light source is behind you (the camera person) and not your subject. This will ensure the subject is well lit and all features are visible.
- Top Tip, you should attempt to correct a poor image by adjusting the camera and light source before fiddling with camera settings.

Does the white look white?
Cameras know what all the colors in the spectrum should look like based on its perception of white and white changes in different light. Most cameras have an auto white balance but you should familiarise yourself with adjusting the white balance. Hold a piece of paper in front of the camera with the main light source reflecting of the paper. Adjust the camera setting until the white looks white and all other colors should now look correct.

Is there any background noise?
Sound – Always check for background noise
Sound – Use headphone to check the sound that is actually being recorded

What is in the background?
Often paying a lot of attention to your subject we often forget about the background. Be sure there is no annoyances in the shot. If you are telling a stroy or filming particular respondents, try constructing your backgrounf to reinforce the story or message.

Can I see the subject clearly?
Be sure that your subject is in focus and make sure nothing is likely to obscure them during filming.

Top Tips
• Always Monitor the video through the view finder or LCD especially when lighting is affected by the environment
• Do not adjust the camera mid sentence – try and get used to adjusting (if necessary during a pause)
• Avoid moving around during the shoot, this will reduce the risk of unwanted sound, getting into shot and camera shake as floors often have movement in them.

Exercise (Set up a shoot)

Exercise One You have been allocated a room and have 20 interviews to conduct. Each respondent will be arriving in 15 minute intervals and the interviews will last between 10 and 15 minutes each. Discuss amongst yourselves and choose the best selection of equipment for this scenario and have a go at setting it up.

Exercise Two It’s a bright sunny day, you are out in a busy location and will be filming short vox pops, you cannot expect the respondents to come to you so need to been portable and quick to respond to a agreement to be interviewed.

Video Camera Review: JVC Everio GZ HD40

jvc_everio_hd40

My JVC Everio GZ-HD40 arrived the other day and I have been doing some testing and establishing some best settings for different filming scenarios. I chose the Everio for specific reasons, I wanted to move away from a tape work flow and the massive 120 gig HD provides this with a bit of future proofing thrown in for free. For personal use I wanted a compact camera that I could expand with peripherals rather than have it all on board. My largest needs were for a quality waterproof housing that would not only take a bit of a knock but also provide ease of use to film in the water and for general single person video production. The majority of housing on the Market, although are expensive don’t really do the job. If you are filming action sports it is important to know that your subject is within frame otherwise you often don’t quite get shots that don’t come about very often. The JVC WR-MG200 Everio Marine Case not only allows you to comfortably hold the camera but use the LCD display too so that even in surf you know you got the shot there and then.

So, back to the HD40. Very impressed with the camera so far. My first impression is that for a small stylish consumer camera it comes with many pro features including the 1920 PRO HD resolution and the ability to now shoot in a AVCHD format as well as to an mpeg compression, CD supplied provides quicktime codecs for editing support. Using the AVCHD codec you will expect to get 15 hrs at PRO HD resolution (XP AVC) 55 hrs at standard definition or long play (EP AVC) and 22hrs on standard play. Using an Mpeg codec you will record around 10 hrs of footage. I know what you thinking, on such a portable device what is the point unless the battery can last out. It also allows for plenty of capture time before the need to transfer across to the edit suite. I have not yet decided how I shall be archiving or keeping hold of footage as I transfer it from the camera. I shall look into the share station, but if this just compresses a viewable DVD the I shall sway towards the external hard drive or data DVD.

For those of you who like your manual settings and I know we all do, the everio will take a little getting used to. There is an auto / manual button located under the LCD display. Press and press again to switch between the two, you then control many of the settings that you may need to use immediately with the joystick located on the left hand side of the display. It is here that I discovered the tidily hidden on board lamp hidden away to the lower quarter of the lens. The rest of the settings can be found using the menu button and then choosing the option > Manual Setting. Here you will find, Adjust Brightness, Shutter Speed, Aperture Priority, White Balance, Effect, Tele Macro, Zebra and Sharpness. Enough to tweak your shot just like the pro’s.

Obviously if you intend to shoot using a Pro HD resolution you will not want your footage to be let down by the sound from the on board microphone. Although hard to see on the images, the HD40 comes with a shoe hidden under a plastic clip in plate so I invested in a Rode DVCam Directional Video Condenser Microphone which comes with a 3.5 m plug for the mic socket on the camera.

videomic_replacement I also bought a lens hood from eBay and will soon purchase extra lenses such as wide angle, fish eye and tele macro and put the camera through its paces.

One thing that I am slightly disappointed about is the lack of iLink or firewire port on the actual camera (although this is on the dock) I was looking forward to shooting some time lapse footage using Dragon Stop Motion but will need to find and alternative camera to do this in conjunction with my Apple Macbook Pro.

Around the world in 80 raves – Chapter Three – Miami

More 80 Raves
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter One – The proposal
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Two – Ready for the off!
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Three – Miami
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Four – Daytona Beach
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Five – Myrtle Beach

Everyone was up real early, and already, although tired, everyone was on a high, even though it would be hours before we were on the plane and even longer before we were in Miami. It was all routine at the airport filming what was needed. Like showing our passports getting the tickets and all that stuff. When we got into the waiting lounge Richard gave us the two Sony DV cameras that would be our toys for the rest of the trip. It was just an average plane trip, long but we entertained ourselves as you do, watching every film, eating, sleeping, throwing the shit food at each other, tooth paste on the finger tickle the nose, all the usual stuff. But lets not over dramatise a plane trip. We got to Miami at roughly 3:30 but took hours to get though customs, where we got slightly split up and needed to find each other before we walked out into the arrivals where the cameras were waiting. After showing bits of paper at every door I went through I finally got through to the bag collection and met up with the others. For the first time we would experience what it was like being filmed in public and the reaction we would get from passers by. We were slightly briefed, then we walked out into arrivals where Bill our driver who was holding a bit of cardboard with our names on. We had to act normal, introduce ourselves to Bill, ignore the camera and try not to notice that the entire airport thought we were a pop band or something. It was so weird but sort of cool. When we left the airport we got a shock, it was so hot and it was like breathing thick air, I had not felt that since I lived in Barbados. After that trip we all needed a fag, it was sweaty and we had not got used to the air but we squeezed one in anyway, and after we had packed all our kit in the holds under the bus, Bill introduced us to the bus which would be our home for the next seven weeks. You may feel sorry for me living on a bus but don’t, it was a true rock star tour bus with two TV’s Videos and DVD players, air conditioning, a kitchen, 9 bunks, it was luxury, a bit cramped but luxury. We had to get on the road quickly because we were parked illegally. We had to get to the famous south beach where we would park right close to the action and intended to stay for a few days. Obviously the first priority on arrival was to run straight to the beach and check out the water. It was lovely but not for long, time was getting on and everyone was desperate to go out for the first time, a drink and a good meal was needed after the long trip. After a quick shower on the beach we got back to the bus to meet a lad the girls had met. He would later become known as weirdo No.1. He had stopped to talk to the girls as they were leaving and seemed ok, he decided to show us around as he had been there a few days and said he had found a cool bar at the other end of the strip. It was an Irish bar and we decided to enjoy a tasty burger and a few drinks without the cameras. We had no trouble getting served although we had been told that Miami was strict on drinking laws. Everyone got tired real quick and decided to go for our first night on the bus early.

On day two I woke up about 6.30 and went straight for a swim in the sea, then got the shopping in early so that the rest of the day was free to do what ever. It was decided that we would go jet skiing on Key Biscayne, which we did in style. Sheryl was asleep when we arrived so we decided to leave her and met up with a guy that was listed in the Miami guide book, negotiated a jet ski for an hour, so we could swap, get an even go and watch/film each other. They were pretty cool although as someone who does a lot of water sports there’s only so much you can do on them, it was a good laugh though and towards the end as we were getting bored the owner decided to let me take Joel and Boppa out on his most powerful three seat jet ski. We got it going after we got the weight forward, Joel and Bop stood to wave to the cameras, when they sat back down however, the ski rocked sideways and they were in the water at speed. I turned around, Joel was about crying and had taken a knock to his ribs and bop was a bit winded but laughing about it. The main crew had gone to film Virgin Atlantic for the arrival that day, so we had a couple of hours alone without the cameras so we headed back to south beach. Sheryl had found out that we hadn’t woken her to go jet skiing and boy did we know about it, all of her teddies came flying out of her pram in all our general direction. We all went to chill on the beach for the afternoon and Sheryl decided to stay on the bus, sulk and join us later. For the first time as the girls sunbathed, we swam in the warm sea, we realised the size of the blag we had finally pulled off… it was finally real. As we went back to the bus the cameras caught us at the shower on the beach. We made plans to go back and eat at the Irish bar from last night because we knew we could get served and were in favour with the staff (double shots). We had soon had our fill and after talking to some freak that was into dog fighting we were all in the mood to move on to the club, which was just down the strip. The only problem was there was a coppa on the door and although we had arranged to film in there, they were checking everyones ID’s and when Sheryl decided to get her fake ID out in front of a cop we thought it about time to do a runner. Our first real night of the trip and already the over 21’s thing had got in the way of our valuable drinking time. After checking out a few other places, we realised that everywhere was being strict. Everyone was feeling a little bit pissed off so they went back to the bus and the cameras called it a night, while boppa and I decided to go back to the first place with Sarah, the tour manager and Richard, the assistant director, where we had e few rounds of sex on the beach compliments of the waiter, “nice man” and had quite a good chat about stuff. Got back to the bus quite late where we found weirdo No. 1, by the way Weirdo No. 2 was the guy into the dog fighting, Joel had already hit the sack, and No. 1 was talking to the girls in the lounge, he was talking shit so me and Boppa went straight to bed. Richard got the little camera out to capture his spiritual and yoga talk on tape, but he was having none of it, apparently being filmed captures and steels a persons soul and he didn’t wish to be filmed. So Rich pointed out that we were making a documentary, made him feel stupid and verbally kicked him off the bus. Nice one, now we could all get some sleep, but wondering whether the freak would come back and get us in the night, psycho. We didn’t see him again.

I thought a lie in until 9am was allowed the next day followed by the best thing in the world. Throwing your sleepy self into the warm sea while there’s still the morning mist on the beach and the sun is still low in the sky. Today would prove to be comparatively boring although chilled and relaxed. We planned to hit the road around 2.30pm so we spent the day doing individual interviews on the beach. Which meant we were free to mess around swim and get some photos of Miami to put in the photo album. There was a feeling of excitement again today, although our trip had already begun, it was the first time we were actually travelling and until now we had avoided all being on the bus at the same time. The interviews were quite straight forward, getting our feeling about where we were, what we were doing and being with the other guys on the bus, we hadn’t been there long and we were all enjoying ourselves so there was no conflict and no juicy stories yet. The bus left around 4.30 a little later than planned. The plan was to meet up with and interview a rave promoter in Orlando although while on the way we found out he had a meeting, so it was cancelled. Everyone spread out on the bus, watching TV, listening to music, chatting and looking out the window at the landscape, which was slightly different to what we were used to back home. It was late evening and hunger set in so we pulled into a shopping area. Joel and I decided to make a break and go exploring, we found one of those, nic nac, sell everyone type shops,we bought a picnic basket that had plastic cutlery in so we would have stuff to eat with on the bus, then found a dunkin’ doughnuts and decided to fill up the healthy way with three dohnuts each and a large coffee. We found the crew and the others in a Chinese, which made me slightly jealous so instead of watching them eat we got the keys to the bus and went to mess around with the little sony cameras. I tell you what; using our picnic hamper as props we would make good QVC demonstrators.

Extreme Filming and Action Sports videography, on and in the water

Having sound knowledge and experience as a cameraman, a background in teaching / participating in watersports, places me in a unique position in the UK to shoot water based videography that far exceeds that of the a regular watersports enthusiast jumping in the water with a camera, or the most experienced cameraman placing themselves literally out of their depth.

I have filmed events at a national competitive level and intend to do a lot more in the near future with the boom in the demand for online video / video marketing.

In the past I have survived with home made waterproof housings and rain covers, pining for an improvement in technology that would allow me to achieve the highest standard of footage at ease on or in the water. A large hard drive would be essential, with the backup of a laptop and external hard drive would mean getting plenty of footage without any annoying tape changes. Pro HD footage would be ideal and allow a combination of great quality footage and cropping to pin point the action. A compact camera that didn’t rely on the use of a view finder would allow me to achieve a perfectly framed shot and keep hold of the camera while filming in surf.

jvc_everio_hd40

Based on the above requirements I opted for the JVC GZ-HD40 with a JVC Everio Marine Case, WR-MG200. Visit back and I shall post some real life reviews using the equipment in extreme and marine sports situations, along with examples of footage I shoot.

JVC_Everio_Marine_Case

Contact me here at my blog with any questions regarding filming, watersports and editing.

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter Two – Ready for the off!

Only the next day a pretty big production company called Brighter Pictures phoned Joel’s and Joel later rang me at work. They were almost too enthusiastic about what we had written, they told us they were restructuring the idea and taking it to Channel 4 the next day. We talked at first over the phone, still not quite believing that we were liasing with a big production company in london. Then only two days later, in the company’s conference room we were discussing ideas and the possibilities of a contract allowing them to develop the idea and binding us to it if it were ever to get commissioned. Which we were told could take anything from a month to a couple of years.

It was quite impressive in our eyes that someone had shown an interest but looking at thing realistically, nothing would come of it.

A week later and after a rejection letter from Channel Five (the quality program, station) our contracts came in the post, still not taking things very seriously, our parents, the most worldly people we know looked over them and it was agreed that we would sign. I returned to the Isle of Wight to teach and left sainsbury’s and “our TV show” behind me in Leicester. The day we were about to return our contracts Joel rang me… quite excited. Rapido, the makers of Eurotrash had rung saying they had a similar idea already under research and that they would like to meet and discuss the trip further. So again we made another trip to London, this time with a little more confidence as we had been there, done that. We met with the big cheese at Rapido, and soon realised that the trip was fast becoming a reality. They planned to do America in a bus and were soon going to advertise for victims to do it. Now they had us, a group of friends that were already keen to do it and had plenty of ideas, things to do and places to go. I left all the dealings with Joel and Bex as I was a dedicated watersports instructor. Managing a few days here and there, we shot a promo in London for channel 4 to check to see we had what it takes and also we met the commitioning editor at the channel 4 building for his approval. We merely had lunch in the canteen and pissed around which seemed to somehow impress him. He wanted to check to make sure we were whom we said we were and weren’t plucked from an agency. So we all had to send a wage slip or something as proof.

Knowing it was now all now very real, I began to tell pretty much everyone I knew. I had a mixed response, obviously they were all impressed that I had pulled off the biggest blag to date, but many of my wiser friends helped me to keep my head and not assume that it would be easy and everyone would treat us right, which was good, because lets face it I was dealing with an industry I knew nothing about.

The next few months were quite a wait. We shot a promo for channel 4, which basically involved us making twatts of ourselves around London, then the only things we had to sort out were passports, Rapido to get us visas and making sure we had our six members of the group sorted. It was agreed that Rebecca could choose the girls that were going so she didn’t get lonely or left out, and as the guy I was going to go travelling with had already left, Joel asked a friend we used to go to school with and the six were complete. As a team we were, me, Joel, Bex, Boppa, Chantel and Sheryl. Two girls I’ve met a couple of times that Bex knows, Chantel she used to work with and Sheryl she grew up with.

About a month before we were going to the states though a really weird thing happened, totally irrelevant to the show but it’s a story worth telling.

On the 16^th of June I was fired from the UKSA, well sort of. I was given the reason of “poor performance” much to the disagreement of the other 30 instructors working alongside me. I had had no prior warnings which usually come before a dismissal and my contract states that I should have been given at least a weeks notice, instead I was forced to pack my bags within the hour under surveillance and then told to leave the island. They dropped me off at the ferry with my season’s belongings, which I couldn’t even lift and left me there. But it wasn’t too much of a problem as a mate lived just up the road and I planned to kip there a couple of nights so I could get my head straight. When I rang though I found that for some reason all my mates had been warned that if they were to help me then there jobs could be on the line. I paused for thought then realised my fucking motorbike was stuck at the centre. I couldn’t figure it out I had done nothing wrong, if anything I was chuffing good at what I did, but got fired. Nevermind, I ended up staying round a friends for a week, which at the time was appreciated and that night absolutely everyone came around for a barbeque and we got hammered then went down the pub. My parents came the next week and I took all my stuff in one go including my beloved motorbike. Weird hey?

So I had a couple of weeks to kill, some of which was spent filming us, preparing to go and getting some background on who each of us were, in various glamorous locations. I did decide to sign on for two weeks, I wouldn’t normally but there was no way someone would employ me for two weeks and I still had bills to pay so I had no choice.

Some of the crew that would be working on the show in London and with us in the states came up to Leicester to meet us and find out what to research that we would like to take part in when we get to the states, there was Richard who would be assistant director and who would sneekly stay on our bus but shhh the viewer doesn’t know that bit. Another guy, Matt who would be a researcher working in London at the Rapido studios and Steven D Wright, the producer of the whole lot, he is the man that makes the decisions and the man with the money in his hand so we had a slap up meal and as many bottles of wine as we could before the night was over.

At a later date we would meet our director, Phil Jones who would be directing the show in the states for the two months we are out there, we met at Joel’s house, just me, Joel and Bex. He would offer his ideas on how he wanted the overall show to look and we told him what we had envisaged, so we sort of had an idea of what to expect and how the filming would work over the next few weeks while still in Leicester.

The next couple of weeks were a long wait, two of those days we met Paul and Rory, the sound and camera men, top blokes and we got on well from the beginning. The crew rushed around to different locations to film us doing what we do. I was filmed windsurfing on a day with no wind, but it was a good laugh and got me used to being filmed. Also we would all be interviewed during the two days, which I have to say was very awkward, but would again get me a little more use to having a camera in my face. It was all-good though.

Now the time had come, the holiday of a lifetime.

. Around the World in 80 raves …. {Working title} … Rapido production for Channel 4 …

Around the world in 80 raves is a show conceived by and starring six kids from England’s most under rated city, Leicester. Three girls and three lads spent eight weeks touring America communally living in a bus, going between festivals, beaches and S & M clubs. 80 raves will premier in April in an eleven o’clock, Friday night slot. The three girls, Rebekah, a sexy young singer, Chantal a feisty fashion student and Sheryl, the lap-dancer, spent their time sunbathing, partying and generally putting the lads in their place. The lads, Glenn, the ladies favourite watersports instructor, Joel the tattooed comedian and Boppa the two pence short of a pound musician spent their eight weeks drinking, stinking and trying to charm the women. Glenn, Rebekah and Joel dreamed up the idea for a TV show trip of a life time, and within a week of writing their letter, were setting off to London for production meetings with major TV players. 80 raves is a surreal realisation of every young partyers dream, to tour a continent getting up to things you really shouldn’t be able to get away with, all on someone else’s money. Music, drugs, mud, sex, and Jerry Springer……….what more could any one want.

I did keep a diary while I was out there, call me a geek but I thought there might be a few moments I may want to remember in years to come, anyway enjoy my holiday.

The crew had flown to the states a day before us so they could set up and be ready to film our arrival. Nerves had set in and I had a long wait for the van, as I was the penultimate to be picked up. A van had been sent to go to everyone’s house and pick them up, Richard would be in the van with the small camera to get our goodbyes and us stuffing our kit in the van on tape. Sheryl was the last to be picked up and apart from my windsurf board she had the most kit which later we found out, one of these suitcases was full entirely for her own pillows cos she can’t sleep without them. Pack essentials that’s what I say. So once all in, we travelled to the Posthouse at Heathrow airport to fly early the next day. We met in the bar for a few drinks where we were given our contracts to sign, it seemed a bit dodgy but they read over ok and reminded us that we wouldn’t get any money out of it all, but what the hell, when am I going to get another opportunity like this… yes you’re right, never. Well unless we get a second series. We all hit the sack reasonably early because we would be up at about four in the morning.

Windsurf videos and stuff from Moon Beach, Egypt, West Wittering, IOW etc

This is going to be a quick blog with two windsurf videos I put up on Youtube, one is of me and the guys windsurfing at Moon Beach in Egypt and the other is the one I made of the 2008 UKWA wave event down at West Wittering.

Here is the short 2XS write up for the event
The final round of the UKWA Wave series was hosted by West Wittering Windsurf Club and Glenn Ward was there to cover the action. This 3 day event attracted windsurfers from all over the UK . Due to the light winds things got off to a slow start, on Sunday the wind picked up and provided a platform for a high level of windsurfing. Conditions were tough for filming but we managed to put together a 5 minute presentation of the event. View the coverage below.

Thanks to 2xs, X-train, Ezzy, RRD and Dakine, Boardseeker, Boards and Windsurf…

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter One – The proposal

Before you read on, here is a Youtube promo produced by Mike Christie. Watch this to get a vague idea about what I am writing about.

Like most, I’d always said, “when I’m older I fancy being famous” but I never really believed it would even come close to ever happening. As I grow up, I realised that life has many traps. You gladly leave college with some qualifications behind you truly believe that the world is your oyster but slowly you get drawn into the system. I was determined not to have a conventional job and get stuck in the city I was born, so after saving for a few months after A-levels, I decided to train to become a watersports instructor, a profession I’d often thought about many times after going on school trips as a child. That would be my ticket to see the world and get an experience of life. I must say it was a good decision; I probably had the best time of my life, living away from home, doing what I’m into. And making some of the best mates I’ll ever have. It was like being at school again only no rubbish lessons and not as many girls, but women, which made things more interesting. oh and out on the piss every night. Plus, here’s the biggy! spending six weeks living in Barbados, windsurfing everyday and again, plenty of the other at night.

I was living, seeing the world and loving it. But as they say, all good things come to an end. After six months of living it fairly easy, I found myself back in Leicester and back to the job I had left at the beginning of that year. At this point I think I had a chance to stop and think… I had done what I’d set out to do, the qualifications I now had could get me a job pretty much anywhere in the world. But wait there, I now have a three and a half grand career development loan, two thousand pound credit card bills and I owed my Nanna one thousand eight hundred cos I was going to sell my motorbike to pay for my course fee’s but good old Nan knew how much I loved it and offered me the money as long as I paid her back when I did finally sell it. But I digress, the point is I now can’t go anywhere in the world cos I’ve got too many bills to pay. Realising that my cunning plan to avoid getting tied down had gone tits up, I went back to stacking shelves, the job that when I was doing it part time after college I didn’t mind cos it was paying for me to go out and that was pretty much all I cared about at the time. Only now I am doing it because I have to, because I need to, to pay back what I’d borrowed, a different concept all together. I couldn’t grumble though at this point, I still had my bike, some spendo and had just had the best six months of my life, or had I?

Before I lose everyone’s total interest, that’s the only moaning I’m going to do (the bills) and I’ve got it out of my system now. It’s only relevant cos it made me think about life. I wasn’t going to fall into that trap again. But now things must come for free. I know I have always been the fluky bastard that gets out of most situations, but that was at school or college, you know the type of thing, getting out of detentions, reading GCSE notes the night before the exam but still managing to pass, being threatened to be thrown out of the sixth form but painting a lovely mural on the common room wall so the head of sixth form praises me for a few weeks. This though was on a bigger scale though I was in the big wide world and people are a little harder to manipulate than your peers and teachers.

So this is what I came up with. In between having fun at the supermarket, I was obviously watching a lot of TV, as you do during the winter and outdoor activity doesn’t look inviting. I started to make a few mental notes of all the things I liked on TV. Stuff that other’s my age would be interested in to. Then I incorporated the fact that I want nothing more than to travel, and become worldly wise. It began to take shape on its own, I was coming up with a travel show / documentary with a bit of docu-soap, though this was before Big Brother. I was getting my inspiration from shipwrecked. It was all easier than I thought, inventing a revolutionary TV show that was basically what I wanted to do, using tele as a means of doing it. Who then would honestly listen to a nineteen-year-old watersports instructor that thinks he’s got a good idea. I went down to my life long friend’s house to offer my scam. Usually we come up with idea’s laugh about them then never pay them a second thought, but surprisingly this idea began putting further thoughts into Joel and his girlfriend Rebecca’s head. We spent the next two weeks putting together a proposal, knowing nothing about whether there was a proper way of doing it or if there were certain people we should contact. But our content and writing style kicked ass. But sod it, it was passing the time and giving us something to do. Still not sure whether it was worth our while sending it to anyone, Rebecca went on the net found five addresses and sent it. Last we would hear of it we thought.