The Perils of the pit lane.

Right, I've seen now the incident that put a camera man in hospital at the German grand prix ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23220189 ). And felt sick. As a marshal who's worked and also filmed in pits, not pleasant. But it does highlight a few things. 

Firstly, always try and keep an eye up the pit lane or have someone else to do it for you (Overdrive nearly always works in teams of 2 for this reason). 

Secondly, wheels are bloody dangerous - and that one was going relatively slowly! imagine what would have happened at race speeds...

As for this article in Autosport (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/108669?source=mostpopular) , Le Mans style helmets and overalls are only part of the answer, The wheel hit the camera man in the back, so some sort of back protection? Where do you stop? You'd end up operating in suits of armour! And even then the wheel would have flattened him with inevitable injuries.

Thinking as a director, I personally think that if shots from the pit lane are nessasary (and they usually are) then you should at least have a spotter with the operator who can double on sound and hoik the guy out of trouble (Someone dressed similar to the operator was seen bouncing away but may have been from the team). But then you've got an extra person in the pits to get hit by something or get in the way so it's not ideal. Do you need an operator at all? Could you rig some sort of remote system - Unlikely really as only a human operator can get right into the thick of the action without impeding the escape for the mechanics (or anyone else for that matter) too much. Come to that, why was the operator there in the first place, he seemed to be standing around the Mercdes (?) mechanics. No doubt he wanted a shot of Webber's car and the Lotus that the team were setting up to recieve leaving at high speeds - could that shot have not been achieved well in towards the working lane, or even from the pit wall? I would think twice about getting so close to the inner lane!

Generally speaking though, do the teams really need that many people in the pits? Sure 2 second pit stops are very exciting part of the action, but if there were a few less people there to change the wheels, visibility up the pit lane would be improved at the expense of fractionaly longer pit stops. In Indycars the cars have air-jacks in them, so by using that system you could lose one of the mechanics at least.

There's so much to think of, but these are my thoughts. Would especially welcome the thoughts from fellow marshals or filming types who may be reading this. 

... As I wrote that - this story appeared : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23222900

By Royal Appointment

Sometimes you get to film ordinary people. Sometimes you have to dodge the security services and film someone a bit more interesting...

The chap with the gold belt is HRH the Duke of Glouster. The others are RAF/ATC officers and cadets... except of course for me and the bald chap in the bad suit... Air cadets are easier to film than dukes... they don't have bodyguards!

The Apprentice

This post has nothing to do with Lords, Sugary or otherwise.

Since January I've been part of the Skillset Apprenticeship in creative and digital media and working with Pencoed based production company It's My Shout Productions - It's going really well. This is the first time that this scheme has been run, and I really feel that it is the best opportunity that I've had of getting into the industry properly.

Below is a press release from Skillset with a photo of all the apprentices. I'm the one with the bright red nose due to a particularly nasty cold that has left me talking like a Dalek!

This does not stop me from working on projects like Overdrive, so keep watching for more stuff from me soon!

Skillset Cymru launches Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media Industries at the Senedd

The apprentices... from left to right, Alyn Luker, Ephraim Lewis,
Amanda Evans, James Morgan, Huw Parry, Roanne Bardsley,
Iwan Thomas, Leyla Pope, Me, Liam Williams and Rebecca Davies

Skillset Cymru held a reception to celebrate the Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media at the Senedd this morning (Thursday, 10 February).

The event was addressed by Lesley Griffiths AM, the Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, and Chair of Skillset Cymru, John Geraint.  A selection of apprentices who are working with some ofWales’ biggest media companies also gave their view on this new scheme, which is forging a new direction for apprenticeships in Wales.

Lesley Griffiths described the Apprenticeship as an important boost for the Creative Media Industries in Wales and a great opportunity for young people interested in forging careers in this field.

“It is particularly pleasing to launch this initiative during Apprenticeship Week Wales when we are promoting the value of apprenticeships for both employers and individuals.

“The Welsh Assembly Government’s Delivering a Digital Wales strategy highlights the role of the creative industries sectors in developing a thriving and competitive digital economy. To achieve this, we have to ensure employers have access to the skill sets they require and initiatives like this from Skillset Cymru support the ongoing success and growth of this dynamic sector.”

The Apprenticeship is a brand new way for young people to find their way into the exciting world of the Creative Media. Roles are available in a range of areas within creative media including Production, Interactive Media, Camerawork, Editing for Sound and Video, Interactive Multi-Media, Web Authoring, Animation and Digital Content.

There are currently 11 young people from South Wales taking part in the 11-month programme at some of Wales’ most exciting media companies, including ITV Wales, Ceidiog Cyf and CC4. The Apprenticeship, which leads to a Level 3 Certificate in Creative and Digital iMedia, is also set to be rolled out in North Wales during forthcoming weeks.

The Minister also announced that one of the apprentices currently on the programme, Huw Parry, was the 1000^th apprentice recruited through the Welsh Assembly Government’s Young Recruits Programme. The Minister visited Huw at his workplace, multimedia production company Telesgop, in Swansea yesterday.

Chair of the Skillset Cymru national board and creative director of Green Bay Media, John Geraint, said: “These Skillset Apprenticeships present an excellent opportunity for the Welsh Creative Media Industries. They will open up a whole new pool of young local talent, allowing businesses to grow in a targeted and affordable way, while creating the next generation of Welsh Creative Media professionals.”

The Apprenticeship is part of a project which is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government's Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) programme that also receives additional support from the European Social Fund.

For more information about the Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media, visit: www.skillset.org/walesapprenticeship.

Overdrive : The Trailer

With apologies if you have already seen the trailer on the Overdrive blog, but here is the latest video to hit YouTube, along with the pilot programme. Overdrive is a personal project of mine that I am hoping to produce through next year with a 6 part monthly series - That is, if I can attract funding for it. I shall write more in depth about it when I'm more awake! In the meantime, comments always welcome!

Snow! where's my skis?

You may have noticed that there has been some snow lately.

With that in mind, here's some photos  of my street and car in the snow today - an enforced day off beckoned. Now the downside is that I've just prepared 2 videos for the air cadets who meet tonight, and I doubt strongly that I'll get there to show them now.



And because it's snow... here's what happens when a dogcam, a racing driver, 2 skis, 1 snowboard, and Tamworth come together with some appropriate music

The Perils of LP mode

With any luck someone else has experienced this problem and can suggest a solution, because I've never come across it and it's weird.

A friend of mine asked me to transfer video of their granddaughter's nativity play on to DVD. Fine, no problems - just run it through Final Cut Express, grab the out put and put it onto a Disc. Easy.

Errm... No.

It was filmed in LP mode, and although I've used the camera that they used to film it to capture it, I've had all sorts of problems sorting it out.

My Final Cut Express set up is usually optimised for working with the Sony Z1/5 or PD150 cameras. So I had to change a lot of settings to suit the little JVC camcorder that was used. Only 12bit sound first, which caused a bit of a surprise when you're used to everything being in 16bit at least. No problem, quick setting change and off we go again.

Now it's out of sync! Nearly a whole second out with the image in front of the soundtrack. No problem there either, just cut the offending difference off the front of the vision clip and shuffle it forward until it matches the sound. Great. Hit Render.

And it comes out Green. Not just green tint, but Green. Solid Green. Green and nothing else. I like Green, but the video shouldn't look like that!!

Fiddle with settings, now I've got random visuals. The same still keeps appearing and rapidly flashing with another one like bad stop motion.

I've got no idea at all what's going on with this. Usually when I capture something there are none of these problems! I'm sure it's something to do with the LP mode but I've no idea what. Any suggestions, Cyberspace?

--

Update : Managed to re-capture it using the DV-Convert setting but it still came out out of sync. I've never known this sort of problem to happen before, so suggestions very welcome.

Refreshed, Re-Launched, Ready to go!

Old readers start here

Hello everyone! I'm back! Firstly, what do you think of the new look? The main site has changed to a simpler, cleaner, more attractive version, and the blog has had a bit of a makeover too. Other changes around here include a new button to a new project that I'm trying out. It's called Overdrive UK, and it's a monthly motorsport video magazine programme which you can watch by visiting this blog's sister site, www.overdrive-uk.com, and I'd very much appreciate your comments on it too.

Filming wise, well there's been Overdrive of course, and I've also spent some time with the Air Cadets filming a training video for their flying trips. This involved an aeroplane, a land rover, and some very obliging chaps who gave chase to the former in the latter with me in the back pointing a Sony Video Camera out of one of the side windows. Land Rovers have many uses, it seems.

Work wise, there's been... um... none. I'm currently working for Cardiff Council as a so called Records Clerk which means I live underground and file things. Not that interesting if I'm honest, but hey, it's something. With any luck it'll be full steam ahead in January into Telly Production... if everything goes right.

Quick reminder that you can follow me on Twitter - and I update that much more than I do this blog - by going onto the respective site and looking for @kevinmcmullintv (or use the gadget thingy on the left hand side), and of course I'm still on Youtube (youtube.com/kevinmcmullintv)

Right. I'm off to do some Christmas Shopping and dodging the snow!

New Showreel...

Grief! Over a month since my last post! Been really busy of late. I promise to do another posting soon... once a 9th day in the week has been discovered!

Meantime, enjoy the latest Showreel!



Showreel 2010 from Kevin McMullin on Vimeo.

The Perils of Geneology

My mother recieved this e-mail this morning after someone found a page on their website with all the family's many blacksmiths on it... What follows is the result of someone not quite reading the information, specifically the date of death... James Allen is my 4xGreat Grandfather, and died in the 1880s.

----- Original Message -----

From: Zhangli

To: blacksmiths@mcmullin.plus.com

Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 4:22 AM

Subject: Blacksmith hammer

Dear James Allen,

This Alina from Anyang Forging Press Machinery Industry Co.,Ltd,know you are blacksmith,and I am glad to introduce our company to you.

My factory is a professional manufacturer of CE approved Pneumatic Forging Hammer in China, the Forging Hammers are very famous in Europe, America and Australian Markets.

Pneumatic Forging  Hammer Ram weight at 9kg,15kg, 25kg, 40kg, 55kg, 75kg are best used for art blacksmithing such as drawing-out, upsetting, punching, chiseling, bending and twisting.

Best Resin Sand Casting Machine Frame with whole machine life quality guarantee aginest craftsmanship and material defects, with one full year guarantee on small parts and electrical parts.

Anyang Pneumatic Hammer exported to UK, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Russia, Belgium Turkey, Czechic, Romaina, Greece, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, etc more than 50 countries.

Please contact me if you are interest in the wrought iron forging hammer.

Looking forward to your reply!

Thanks and regards,

Alina

Anyang Forging Press Machinery Industry Co.,Ltd

Mobile:0086-13783837582

alina@chinesehammers.com

First of Many

There is not much point in this post other than a bit of trumpet blowing. Anyone watching BBC 2 on Saturday may well have seen this. The first credit I've had Broadcast... Hopefully there will be a few more after this. Big thanks to Boomerang, Stephanie and Inge.


You can watch the programme here. It is a great insight into what happens to the children left behind when their parents are sent to prison narrated by Matt Lucas. It's been doubly interesting for me as I've seen lots of the material that was left out of the film, as well as lots of the footage that did make the cut.

All in all, a great way to kick start my TV production career! I am already working on some production ideas, so we shall see where the next one will be coming from.