Thursday, March 26, 2009
More Than Words
Spent the first two hours of work just staring at my laptop, trying to figure out what I wanted to write about. Consider that a warning: this will be unfocused.
I spend so much of my time listening to podcasts and watching little videos on the Internet that I keep coming back to the idea that I should be making some multimedia content for the site. Yes, I did some video blogs during my senior year of college, but that's not what I'm talking about now. Those were nothing but me sitting in my apartment in Albany, New York and talking to the camera about my day (or goofing off). Now I live in Japan. I could be showing you the sights or taking walks through the elementary schools where I work. Alternately, I could go with audio-only and record one of my lessons to give you an idea of what I'm actually teaching these kids.
Does anything of this sound interesting? Typing these ideas down makes me feel good but I just don't know how the results would look or sound. There's also the matter of equipment, more precisely the total lack thereof. Yes, I have a webcam that handles video chat well enough and a digital camera that can capture short videos, but nothing heavy-duty enough to actually record extended footage of my surroundings. With a forthcoming baby we've talked about investing in a dedicated video camera to record the little rascal's early years, but I wouldn't know where to begin with audio technology. Do they just make portable recorders that can then connect to a PC via USB? Or would I have to buy something that is storage-driven, like a Mini-Disc? They still use those over here so I imagine they're not too expensive.
There is another crucial factor holding me back here: I would have to do everything myself, both in front of and behind the lens/microphone. The podcasts I listen to are mostly team operations, typically relying on the interaction of friends/coworkers to actually, you know, be entertaining. A Life Well Wasted is a wonderful exception to that rule, but that program is produced by a journalist who has contacts, loads of potential interview subjects, and he can make his own music to bring it all together. I have none of that. I just want to try something new and offer you folks more than words on a screen.
Maybe a better idea is to hold off on the solo performances and save the fancy stuff for occasions when I have someone to work with. Not necessarily as an editor, because that would cost money, but someone to interact with on tape so that it's not just me sputtering sentence fragments and licking my lips. Certainly, Skype offers a few options for recording conversations between two (or more) remote parties, as heard on Alex's podcast or the new show Out of the Game.
So I put it to you, should I aspire to more than writing about myself and try talking about myself again? Any equipment/software suggestions are likewise welcome. Mike, I know you had a really slick looking HD camera last we met, how's that holding up?
I spend so much of my time listening to podcasts and watching little videos on the Internet that I keep coming back to the idea that I should be making some multimedia content for the site. Yes, I did some video blogs during my senior year of college, but that's not what I'm talking about now. Those were nothing but me sitting in my apartment in Albany, New York and talking to the camera about my day (or goofing off). Now I live in Japan. I could be showing you the sights or taking walks through the elementary schools where I work. Alternately, I could go with audio-only and record one of my lessons to give you an idea of what I'm actually teaching these kids.
Does anything of this sound interesting? Typing these ideas down makes me feel good but I just don't know how the results would look or sound. There's also the matter of equipment, more precisely the total lack thereof. Yes, I have a webcam that handles video chat well enough and a digital camera that can capture short videos, but nothing heavy-duty enough to actually record extended footage of my surroundings. With a forthcoming baby we've talked about investing in a dedicated video camera to record the little rascal's early years, but I wouldn't know where to begin with audio technology. Do they just make portable recorders that can then connect to a PC via USB? Or would I have to buy something that is storage-driven, like a Mini-Disc? They still use those over here so I imagine they're not too expensive.
There is another crucial factor holding me back here: I would have to do everything myself, both in front of and behind the lens/microphone. The podcasts I listen to are mostly team operations, typically relying on the interaction of friends/coworkers to actually, you know, be entertaining. A Life Well Wasted is a wonderful exception to that rule, but that program is produced by a journalist who has contacts, loads of potential interview subjects, and he can make his own music to bring it all together. I have none of that. I just want to try something new and offer you folks more than words on a screen.
Maybe a better idea is to hold off on the solo performances and save the fancy stuff for occasions when I have someone to work with. Not necessarily as an editor, because that would cost money, but someone to interact with on tape so that it's not just me sputtering sentence fragments and licking my lips. Certainly, Skype offers a few options for recording conversations between two (or more) remote parties, as heard on Alex's podcast or the new show Out of the Game.
So I put it to you, should I aspire to more than writing about myself and try talking about myself again? Any equipment/software suggestions are likewise welcome. Mike, I know you had a really slick looking HD camera last we met, how's that holding up?
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the idea of hearing "a day in the work life of feit" is DAMN appealing. Though, I must say, being able to read your thoughts is really convenient for me because I can read it at my own speed, while a podcast requires me to dedicate 30-50 minutes of time.
Speaking of podcasts, have you heard "radio lab"? It freaks trout out for some reason, but I really enjoy it. I can't say its on the level of cosmos, but I find it a worthy 2nd.
Speaking of podcasts, have you heard "radio lab"? It freaks trout out for some reason, but I really enjoy it. I can't say its on the level of cosmos, but I find it a worthy 2nd.
Obviously my writing will remain the centerpiece of the blog - because that's THE POINT of blogging - but I do feel like trying new things is a step in the right direction. I will investigate the podcasts you mentioned, as I have never heard of them.
I know nothing about making a video blog, or taking a video. But I can say that you should get the video camera to video your youngsyer. My parents did, and now 16 years later when I watch it, I enjoy watching them. Although its really embarrasing.
Ha, I never considered whether my son would enjoy seeing video of himself as a baby. I enjoy seeing myself as a child sometimes (mostly school plays) but there are no movies of me as a baby to the best of my knowledge. Camcorders simply weren't common at that time because I PREDATE VHS, kids.
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