New guy on here.

M

Marcel

Hello. I am Marcel Fayant and I am working on an independent feature film called " I Love That Effing Zippy"

It's been very challenging for me because I am basically doing everything: writing, directing, producing, acting, camera, props, and what ever else needs to be done. It's very mind boggling at most.

Actors have come and gone, but a few have stuck around. Thanks goodness for my main actress for believing in me, and not leaving. Some of use are doing dual and up in acting roles.

I doing this film with basically no money, due to unforseen circumstances in the past.

It's an outdoor shoot, which is quite challenging because of so many elements involved. Weather, places to shoot, etc. I have gained some experience, because I was doing some of shooting of my actors in the shadows and against the sunlight almost. I purchased a Car Front Window Reflector from a store. It's good for bouncing light off on to actors faces. I didn't use it enough though, but it's all learning for me.

***I am having a problem with my editing program, and don't know why. My captured footage is glittery, slow at times. I figure I have a respectable system, not the best though: 384 Ram, 40 gig hard driver, Windows ME, Pinnacle studio 9*** I'm at a lost how to fix this problem.

It will be good to read others indie's postings and hopefully I can learn other things from here.


www.wordsallowmotion.com

best

marcel
 
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Hey, Marcel..Booby, baby. Welcome to my world, Mr. MovieBytes screenwriter now filmmaker!!!

Guys, Marcel's a "hoot". Glad you're here.

WC

aka Randy Roberts
 
'sup, good Marcel
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A friend of Writeum
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Sounds like you're learning quite a bit, even with all those crises you mentioned. Sometimes that's the best way... it just means you'll be ready for it next time around. No shoot goes perfectly. :)

384 Ram, 40 gig hard driver, Windows ME
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You actually may want to consider upgrading.

512mb RAM is pretty much a low minimum, with 1GB recommended. I think winME can only handle up to 512 though (or was that '98)... regardless, it was pretty unstable. That was the only version of Windows that ever gave me trouble.

Maybe consider getting an external harddrive, too, to play with editing on. They are pretty cheap these days.

...oh... and welcome to IndieTalk. :cool:
 
Welcome to indietalk Marcel!

Zensteve is right but I'd also like to know your processor speed. Right mouse click on "My Computer" and choose "Properties" and tell me what is says on the "General" tab under the heading 'Computer'.

You say it's a 40 GB hard drive but how much space is left? I think if you'll look on the box Pinnicle came in you'll see the 'recommended' hardware you'll need. This is a bare minimum they're talking about. You may want to think about upgrading the whole computer.
 
Marcel said:
***I am having a problem with my editing program, and don't know why. My captured footage is glittery, slow at times. I figure I have a respectable system, not the best though: 384 Ram, 40 gig hard driver, Windows ME, Pinnacle studio 9*** I'm at a lost how to fix this problem.
marcel
Click to expand...

Welcome, I'm a newcomer as well and just finished a 55 minute film under similar circumstances. I had a partner producing and a core group of dedicated people but it is just BRUTAL and requires real tenacity. But you know what, it can be done, and when all that sweat pays off and you see it on a theater screen, that's an awesome reward.

For the computer, I'm not sure of your transfer method but I've got to tell you, that's a dog to capture and edit on. 1 gig of ram is the minimum you'll need, 100 gig separate hard drive with a 7200 rmp spin and even 100 gig is skimpy, and Windows ME is the worst piece of crap known to man. If it's all you've got, you do what you've got to do. But I had a dual amd system crash 3 weeks before the premiere and I bought a Gateway out of the box for $850 and it hummed. So for a relatively small investment, you can get a machine that won't give you trouble. It ain't a long-term, hard core editing solution but it did what we needed, might be time for an upgrade if you can swing it. If you can't, I think you'll be suffering.
 
Thanks for all the greeting and tips. Had to stay away from the computer for a bit because of a small chest virus I couldn't ward off, and I had to go the doctors for a couple of pain injections.

As you might know I don't have the funds anymore. It's like I'm starting over in life financially due to my injury from work around 4 years ago. I had to do a career change, and was lucky enough to get a job as a black dealer (now there's an oxymoron, lucky and blackjack dealer). I've bee only working 3 months now. But I am trying to move on slowly. No need to send any responses to my hurts.

I might have to look in a used copy of windows 2000, or 2003. I hope those are better programs. I would sure like to start editing my movie. I was hoping to have it completed for the Sundance Film Festival, so, maybe not or maybe so.

If you think acquiring windows 2000 or 2003 might help out a bit, let me know.

thanks

marcel
 
Marcel said:
If you think acquiring windows 2000 or 2003 might help out a bit, let me know.

thanks

marcel
Click to expand...

One of my actors does some dealing on the side, makes pretty good money.

I wouldn't upgrade to Windows XP unless you got a whole new system. The wouldn't run any faster on your current system.

Money sucks, it's always an issue. Even cheap e-machines at best buy go for $400 without a monitor. I ain't trying to sell you a new PC, I just don't see much that can be done to upgrade the one you have.

But you can still cut stuff and learn the tools until you get something better. There are a millions reasons to quit, you just need to focus on the reason to keep going.
 
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