idvp at Hennepin Tech

Students from the IDVP Digital Post Production Course went to 514 Studios in downtown Minneapolis to take beauty shots of a 2010 Dodge Challenger.  Student and professional photographer Joel Schnell gathered eleven students, a jib arm, a GlideTrack and several light kits to the studio for the day-long shoot.  The students will then take this footage back and edit the piece into a promotional piece for their portfolios.

Students from the Video Field Production course shoot several law enforcement training videos.  The videos will be used at the Law Enforcement Center at the Brooklyn Park campus.  Student will use multiclip editing with as many as eight sources of video.  The students work in teams for the production and each student will edit their own version of the training video.

Students in the Interactive Design course Media Authoring are working on projects using more than just the mouse or keyboard for input. The students are developing projects that use the input from the microphone to control and play their games. Now they have a good reason to scream at their computer. If you look closely, you can see student, Sam Henderson is really letting his computer know how he feels. Later in the semester they will work on using input from the webcam and touchscreens in their projects.

The need for digital communication has not gone away with the sluggish economy.  Many Interactive Design Video Production students are working in post production houses, interactive design firms and some are starting their own businesses.  Now is your chance to enter the Interactive Design Video Production program here at Hennepin Technical College.  Get your degree and get to work! For more information Click Here

Final Rich Oxley Wasioja TravelBlog entry

Sunshine!  Day three started early with an incredible sense of urgency.  We needed to capture dramatization footage at the only standing Civil War recruiting station west of the Mississippi.  We needed to get solid interviews from the organizers and we had a great opportunity to capture the rehearsal of the surrender of the Appomattox courthouse.  So, we got our teams together -Team Delta which was myself, Ben Lee and Andy Peterson headed out to get encampment footage.  Team Alpha which was Clay Ebeling, Dan Past and Phil Ensminger went to the seminary to get ruins footage and interviews.  Team Bravo, Todd Randall, Josh Bieker and Tyler Hanus and Team Charlie, Patrick Willson, Ashley Janssen, Caleb Nyabuto and Sam Henderson went to get much needed interviews and encampment cover footage.  Sam and I wrangled some civilian period-dress recruits for the shoot at the recruitment station.  He was able to use some of his family members and soldiers for the shoot.  The footage will help tell a bit more about the boys of Wasioja.  We had to be aggressive in order to get to the battlefield for the rehearsal and and the re-enactment of the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.  So the challenge was to get the gear, enough media and enough power to do both.  The video shooters performed with such grace and style during this trying time that I’m happy to say, it went off without a hitch.  The battle re-enactment was incredible.  Of course the artillery smoke and “dirty pot” explosions were amazing.  The treaty signing with Lee and Grant was a grand spectacle.  The photo ops were awesome as I filled several 4GB compact flash cards with stills.  A big huge “Thank You” to Andi Johnson who coordinated production and kept us on track and focused at many hectic moments in our off-load tent.  We could not have done this project without her dedication.  A big “Thank You” to our HTC video students who, had their own battles with weather, sun and a demanding leader (me).  A big “Thank You” to the Hennepin Technical College administration (Lisa Larson, Therese Salber and Diane Paulson) for supporting us and giving us the encouragement to do this thing.  Their support kept us going though many hours of planning and shooting.  A big “Thank You” to Todd Randall and Student Director, Sam Henderson.  These guys kept the cameras rolling and the crews moving in what seemed to be constant chaos.  And finally,  A big “Thank You” to the “Friends of Wasioja” for allowing us to be a part of this amazing event.  The student learning that happened during our months of planning and the three-day event is simply-put, “priceless”.  Now the task at hand is to log and digitize more footage and begin the arduous task of editing this thing so it makes sense.

Check out cool production picture click here

We Shoot Stuff!

l to r Andy, Tyler and Ashley get the shots on the final day.

The confederates try to blast their way out of trouble before the surrender

Student director Sam Henderson shoots the surrender on the last day

Ashley gets the shot of General Lee going to the surrender

l to r Phil and Caleb on the scaffold during the battle

Rain!  Even though it rained today, We staged and shot footage of the 2nd Minnesota with the jib arm and four other cameras.  We captured great footage of the unit as they marched, picked up dead soldiers and a bayonet charge.  The footage will be used for our documentary of “The Boys of Wasioja”.  We shot an event of the Emancipation Proclamation with President Lincoln – By the way, he doesn’t like it when we say the word “shot”.  We captured event footage of the music of the 1860s which was very well received.  The battle today was the first battle at Bull Run.  We had 9 cameras rolling in the pouring rain as the confederated broke the lines and chased the spectators back to Washington D.C.  Because it was raining the whole time, the smoke from the cannons stayed low on the ground the footage was amazing.  The students of HTC performed well under tough circumstances.  They made the best of a tough situation.  We were ready with rain gear and a tough attitude.  There was an estimated 4000 people who braved the rain to check out the event.  Tonight we’re going to meet, re-group, dry off equipment and offload some amazing footage.  Tomorrow the eleven students and I we will capture interviews from the organizers and the surrender at Appomattox courthouse will be the battle in the afternoon.  As I write this, the Wasioja workers are transforming the battlefield house from the McClean house at Bull Run to the Appomattox courthouse.  The attention to detail and accuracy has been amazing.

What a day!  The students arrived in Wasioja at about 9:30 am and immediately started shooting.  We shot footage of confederate soldiers drilling and getting ready for the battle later in the day.  I attended a generals meeting at 8 am to go over the battle plan for Chickamauga.  Grant and Longstreet re-enactors set the stage for quite a show.  We shot tons of encampment footage as well as living history events in the main tent.  Then, at 4pm the battle of Chickamauga started.  The artillery was amazing!  the booms of those cannons can be felt in your chest – very impressive.  There was an announcer that described the action.  It was a standing room only crowd of about 3000 to view the battle.  Remember, this is a Friday.  Saturday and Sunday is when the big crowds come in I’m told.  The weather today was perfect for this thing and the organizers are all smiles so far.  Tomorrow we have a chance to get close ups of artillery as they make their big booms.  We have an appointment with the 2nd Minnesota to gather some dramatization footage.  We will be capturing more living history events and then, the re-enactment of the first battle of Bull Run followed by the 1812 overture synced to cannon fire.  The video students rocked today!   The preliminary footage is outstanding.  The battle footage is amazing.

Boom!

So student director Sam Henderson and I went to this VIP Officers dinner at the Hubble House in Mantorville.  We met up with some amazing re-enactors.  Lee, Grant, Longstreet and Custer to name a few.  I’ve had the unique opportunity to meet President Lincoln (Max Daniels).  The guy can stay in Lincoln persona all day.  Lee and Grant also look just like Lee and Grant.  As I write this, Sam has the pictures on his camera but here are some shots that I have.

Mr. President, can I shake your hand?

The Vikes will beat the Bears this year!

Sam and I met and interviewed the nicest people from sutlers to civilians, from organizers to cavalry.  It seems everyone is psyched for a great weekend.  Sam Henderson by the way is a re-enactor himself.

Sam Henderson in front of a brass cannon.

Phil Cudd designed this version of the McClean house.

Tomorrow morning (Friday) the rest of the crew arrives.  They will be met by several hundred union and confederate soldiers, live events and a great history lesson.  HTC Sign Language Interpreter and pro photog Ezra Moore will be here to take some pictures for the DVD package and hopefully we’ll get a nice group photo of our entire production team.

I met up with student director Sam Henderson last night.  We shot footage of “An Evening with the Lincoln’s”.  An hour-long two-person show about the Lincoln’s in their time.  They really looked the part.  Thanks to Max and Donna Daniels for a great show.

Max Daniels as Abe Lincoln

Donna Daniels as Mary Todd Lincoln

Sam and I spent the day scouting and planning.  We’ve talked to many organizers from the “Friends Of Wasioja” as well as some of the unit commanders as they arrive.  It’s a bit early to shoot drills and dramatizations for the main documentary but we hope to do that later this evening.

Tonight Sam and I are going to get some footage of the Civil War VIP dinner at the Hubble House in Mantorville.  This is a  $50 a plate affair with period dress required.

Later, we’re going to try to get encampment footage.  This place is starting to take shape.  It’s a carnival atmosphere and all of the organizers have been amazing.  Every person we’ve met has been very friendly.  I’ve not heard one complaint -All have smiles.  I’m humbled by their dedication.

The main staging area is starting to get very muddy with rain on and off all day Wednesday and today.  If your a history freak – you better get down here.  The educational experience is something to behold.  Imagine the smell of camp fires and vendors cooking up food.  Thanks for checking my blog.  I’ll try to make updates twice a day.  I have no WiFi Access in Wasioja.  Oh well, living the dream has its benefits.