I don't believe it!....

... and this time it's all good news!

The first is that we have no sound problems at all, mainly due to using a traditional, wired, £20-from-Maplins microphone, having given up on wireless in the workshop. Productivity has soared, we filmed on Tuesday this week and so far I've got about 16 minutes of finished footage, even after speeding up a few of the dull bits, and that's absolutely unprecedented. And I've not downloaded it all yet, either. Fantastic.

The other unbelievable thing is that my mate Nigel rang me a couple of weeks ago inviting me for lunch. Nigel and I catch up with each other a couple of times a year. He is Chief Exec of a charity called Mission Direct, which does various projects around the world.

I told him about my film-making capers, and he replied "That's great, Steve, we could do with your skills. Come out to Sierra Leone with us over Easter and film our project. We are building an orphanage and we need some new footage for our DVD".

I pointed out that I'm in front of the camera, not operating it, and I also pointed out that I need a job where I work for someone and they pay me for doing so, not I work for someone and pay more money than I've earned this year for the privilege of doing so!

So I said No.

I fly out on Tuesday. I can hardly claim that I don't have the time, and as so many people have offered to help fund it, I can't say I can't afford it either. People's generosity has been tremendous, contributions coming from everywhere between next-door-neighbours and Oregon, and a friend has promised to underwrite any shortfall, so I don't have any excuse not to do it really. I'm not sure if it will be fun exactly (working in 35deg C and 90% RH isn't very appealing), but it should be rewarding, and it will certainly be different; I am fairly well-travelled, but never been that far south in Africa.

I contacted JSP, who have provided me with safety-wear for my film, and told them what I was doing, asking for some safety specs. "Sure", came the reply, "Anything else?". So today two enormous boxes arrived, full of hard hats, goggles, ear defenders, work gloves and safety specs, including tinted ones for working outside. We could not have hoped for more. Thank you Jacqui at JSP!

My local phamacist sold me the anti-marials at cost and even the guy I bought camera batteries from gave me free postage (it was eBay, so that was a significant saving, over £20).

So no filming no for 3 weeks, I'm going shopping tomorrow for stuff for the trip, then hunt for some tools I can take. They want me to build a wardrobe, and I pointed out that I can't take my Xcalibur and collection of Festools.... Goodness only knows what I'll be faced with. Anyway I drive down to Nigel's on Monday and I'll be in Freetown before I go to bed on Tuesday. I feel a whole new adventure coming on.

And if you feel the urge to contribute, I have a paypal account, or you can give by Gift Aid or Charities Aid Foundation. Email me steveATstevemaskeryDOTcoDOTuk and I'll give you details.

I'll keep you posted.

New toy

About 2 minutes before Bob arrived on Friday I received two new batteries and a charger for the new Camera. Fortunately they were already charged, at least a bit, so, whilst we couldn't actually film with the camera, we could at least switch it on and see what it looked like.

The quality is superb, and will probably be even better when we've worked out how to use it properly - it's got more buttons than a Pearly King in Pantoland. It's also got a big shotgun mic on the top, which gives good sound without any of the wireless distortion. Unfortunately it's not at all directional, and picks up the sound of Bob's hands on the camera, or his yawns, or him scratching his nose. Everything. But if I understand it correctly, I can record with both the radio mic and the on-board mic and mix the two. Although it's extra work, I may be able to mix in the input from the shotgun mic at the points where there is some distortion. If I can, it will save having to reshoot or trying to dub in.

The camera is just kicking around in a granny's shopping bag, so I think I'll make a nice flight case for it - I could do with doing some real woodwork, instead of just talking about it.

We completed two good scenes on Friday. They were both repeats, sadly, but they are now just how I want them. I've got another couple of shorts I can upload to YouTube, too.

No filming this week, I'm helping a friend to set up an exhibition.

Cheers

Steve

That's better

I've got a new microphone. Everything in the garden of life is rosy. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and all is well with the world. Well, mostly. There is some interference, but nothing I can't live with.

It turns out my previous mic was faulty. I'm really glad I bought it locally, it would have been a real hassle to sort that out over the internet, I'm sure. I took it in, they tested it, gave me another there and then.

It's not perfect though, and I've come to the conclusion it's because there is just so much metal in such a small space. Wherever I stand I'm next to a dirty great big lump of iron. It's a small space, and there are 4 RSJs, tablesaw, bandsaw, lathe, vice, etc, etc, etc. And if I'm not standing next to one, Bob and the receiver are. The only way to eliminate it completely, I think, would be to use a wired mic, and I just don't want a trailing cable, I think it's asking for trouble.

So we got loads done on Friday, although I've yet to download it. All in all I'm feeling upbeat again. I hope to get it all processed before next week, akthough I do have some writing and Sketchup work I need to get done soon, too.

Cheers.