Progress Report - VHS + TFW
Added 2021-02-01 18:41:19 +0000 UTCIt's been a few weeks since I've posted, so I figured I'd give y'all a little update on the two videos I'm working on, which I'll currently call VHS and TFW. There aren't any spoilers in this post or anything, beyond a few screenshots of scripts and screencaps of the VHS filming.
To set this up, here are the two things I really wanted to do in VHS:
1. I wanted it to be shot on a VHS (surprise), and then I would film the VHS being played on a CRT TV as the final video.
2. I wanted it to revolve around one long take that gets repeated multiple times
Here are the problems with these two things:
1. I normally don't think too much about how I'm going to shoot a video until the day of the shoot. But in this case, the VHS Camcorder doesn't have a functioning viewfinder, so I actually had to plan out each of the shots and try them multiple times before shooting the real take.
2. I normally shoot my videos in small bursts because it's easier to memorize a few lines of dialogue at a time. This video would require me to memorize not just the words, but the way I'm moving and how I'm saying those words.
Basically, these problems all boil down to the same thing:
I want to be lazy, but this video says "no."
To add to the complexity, I couldn't shoot this video in order because I wanted my appearance to change in certain scenes. So I wrote the script and color coded each of the "scenes" by the appearance I needed. And then I compiled the outline of the script (kind of backwards, but sometimes that's how my writing works) and color coded it as well. And then I color coded the shot list.
I love to color code things.
I spent a good chunk of last week just rehearsing the central scene because it needed to be exactly the same every time (this will make more sense when the video comes out), and also because I was waiting on an extremely important, 100% necessary prop that I was buying for this video. This is the prop:
It is an oversized sweatshirt that says "BITMUS PARK 1994 5K FUN RUN." This has no deeper meaning and isn't referenced in the video in any way.
I had it express shipped to me because I thought it was extremely crucial to wear in the video.
I have only some regrets about doing that. But mostly I think it was the right choice. Here's how it looks in context:
Almost unreadable. A real fine purchase.
Anyway, Karen and I filmed the video on Saturday, and I'm EXTREMELY PUMPED with how it's turning out. I still have to do the final filming of the VHS playing on the CRT TV, but that will hopefully happen soon. I've also been recording the process of making this video because it's a bit weirder than what I normally do, so I'll upload a full BTS VHS process video when it gets published.
BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T BE IN FEBRUARY. Because I want to try and make TFW and get it up as my February video. This is mostly because I want to give VHS a lot of extra time in the edit to make it as good as possible, and also because I'd rather make another goofy/ridiculous video before I end up posting another video in the genre of surrealarthouseyhorrorthatisntveryapproachable.
So this week I'm gonna work very hard on TFW, and then I'll probably have more updates about that one in the coming weeks!
Happy February,
BDG
Comments
Amazing how much went into this process! Gonna check out the bts video for this!👀👀
Jasmine Neal
2021-05-02 02:49:23 +0000 UTCsurrealarthouseyhorrorthatisntveryapproachable is exactly the sort of content I'm here to support by way of Patreon!! happy to wait for the finished product!
Roze
2021-02-06 05:09:37 +0000 UTCI'm excited to see another one of your takes on the horror genre! $20,000 a month was so good and I can't wait to see what you do next.
2021-02-02 17:45:14 +0000 UTCIt’s a cool creative choice to capture the output of the VHS tape on the TV screen - but this way you’ll have the flexibility of a direct digital transfer as well. :)
Paul Han
2021-02-02 09:54:14 +0000 UTCHey Brian, I’ll gladly offer you free services. I have a VHS business for content creators that specializes in dubbing and enhancing VHS tapes. If you try capturing the output of the tape directly you’ll run into time base correction issues. I’m an electrical engineer at Facebook full time and this is a passion project. I’d cover the full costs of shipping, no money exchanged. Just want to help out one of my favorite YouTubers
Paul Han
2021-02-02 09:51:57 +0000 UTCCan't wait to see how this turns out! And I agree, the sweater is definitely crucial.
2021-02-02 09:35:16 +0000 UTCFor whatever reason, the sweater bit made me laugh thank you good luck with editing! and can't wait to see your new video :0
Nova Wolfebroek
2021-02-02 04:29:42 +0000 UTCthis seems so exciting!! also color coding scripts is the Most satisfying thing to do for filming, 100% agree.
2021-02-02 03:49:24 +0000 UTCI’m pumped for this.
Joe
2021-02-02 02:45:09 +0000 UTCI loved the surreal horror bit you did before. Can't wait to see another! ❤️
2021-02-02 02:44:56 +0000 UTCSo cool! I've been wanting to use a VHS camcorder to film, but there's a lot of constraints (as mentioned). Can't wait to see the videos + the BTS!
2021-02-02 00:09:00 +0000 UTCI used to think being a YouTuber was easier than a "real job" but I follow so many people who work really hard to make amazing content. The thing about "being your own boss" is that you have to be a dick to yourself instead of outsourcing that to a company.
DwindleBunny
2021-02-01 22:46:30 +0000 UTCreading this scared me
smol
2021-02-01 22:34:24 +0000 UTCOooh the nostalgia
2021-02-01 21:14:54 +0000 UTCHopefully your VHS recorder isn't the kind that rewinds a few seconds each time you start recording! 10 year old me had to learn that the hard way after filming something w a lot of short dialogue cuts...
2021-02-01 21:10:02 +0000 UTCInteresting read! Definitely excited for VHS!
Amalie Lind Hansen
2021-02-01 21:03:43 +0000 UTCThe sweater was absolutely crucial, no regrets.
roach
2021-02-01 21:02:57 +0000 UTCWow cool
Brian Lambert
2021-02-01 20:56:41 +0000 UTCThis insight into your thought process makes for a pleasant read. I'm really looking forward to the result. Thanks for sharing!
Veletala
2021-02-01 20:51:17 +0000 UTCI'm so glad you're doing more with VHS! Your previous VHS video was brilliant and I'm excited to see you do more with "Old Timey" video!
Bahumot
2021-02-01 20:08:15 +0000 UTCThis is incredible dedication. Excited to see how it turns out!
Janatee
2021-02-01 19:54:44 +0000 UTC#shotonmagnetictape
Charlie Markley
2021-02-01 19:50:46 +0000 UTCThis sounds absolutely amazing Brian! Dying to see the final product. I can’t wait to see some spooky grainy video files. I love the jumper, mainly because that’s my birth year. Oh what a time to be alive.
2021-02-01 19:47:53 +0000 UTCI'm so excited! Sometimes the journey to make something can make the final product that much better (and sometimes being stubborn is more fun, at least in my experience)
Holly Snep
2021-02-01 19:45:39 +0000 UTCOh hell yes, this seems like a really valuable process you're working/have worked through. It may be a pain in the ass but it will pay in DIVIDENDS. Also that shirt is a great detail that will be appreciated by all who see it. Never regret the little details you put in. Thanks for sharing this update!
Kirsten Elise
2021-02-01 19:21:28 +0000 UTCOh man, I remember trying to do things without viewfinders. Wow. It's like theater and TV at the same time. Rehearsing whole scenes, learning lines, what a return!
rionsanura
2021-02-01 19:12:51 +0000 UTCI am very exited for all VHS and am pumped to see this months live stream, I’m actually gonna try and make it and not just watch the replay like I did the previous one
2021-02-01 19:06:22 +0000 UTCI'd love to see some glitchsynth bits into the vhs/crt. If you want to explore further, there's a small but prolific analog community out there. https://jonasbers.com/chav/
Doug Borntrager
2021-02-01 19:02:51 +0000 UTCYou can't rush perfection as they say. I'm sure it'll turn out great, and I'm excited to see the end result.
2021-02-01 18:57:29 +0000 UTCAt first I thought, "why that particular sweatshirt?". But then I saw that glorious VHS screencap, and it brought me right back to our 90s home videos, and the indelible aesthetic of mid-90s attire captured on mid-90s videotape. A+, very excellent praxis, can't wait to see it in action
David Kanter
2021-02-01 18:57:04 +0000 UTCOooh, I love reading about the process behind the videos. Have you considered making some BTS content about the videos you made pre-patreon?
Viniter
2021-02-01 18:52:37 +0000 UTCI have no idea what is happening. I can’t wait
Krys Ren
2021-02-01 18:48:55 +0000 UTCShould I know what TFW is? Did I miss a post? D:
2021-02-01 18:48:47 +0000 UTCI'm VERY excited for VHS! I love your surrealarthouseyhorrorthatisntveryapproachable videos (Bri & Jo is one of my favorite pieces of media ever!), can't wait to see what you and Karen cook up
Giu Alonso
2021-02-01 18:48:45 +0000 UTCAnd then what will happen is you'll have put in all the effort to get it 90's authentic, and you'll get some comment saying "um acktually those light switches weren't popularised until october 2006 so your video is anachronistic-", because the internet is a beautiful and pedantic place.
Well-Spoken Rambler
2021-02-01 18:47:15 +0000 UTCThis has me very excited for VHS and I will wait as long as it takes. Also, I really like these BTS snippets of your process. They're really interesting and enjoyable to read!
Michelle
2021-02-01 18:45:57 +0000 UTCI'm very excited for VHS, that sounds like it will be a really cool video!
Ritt!
2021-02-01 18:44:25 +0000 UTCThe commitment your sweater purchase conveys absolutely delights me!
Jenny He
2021-02-01 18:44:04 +0000 UTC
