ingenium - video [generation one]

GENERATION 1

[1996 - February 2000]

"The beginning of the future...?"

THE NORA MAULDOON SHOW: AMAZING [Feb 2000 - AO Praise]

Talk show host Nora Mauldoon strives to keep her struggling show afloat by bringing special guest Dr. Fuechwanger on to discuss his studies on what people find amazing.

In keeping with the highly effective style of people's responses to thought-provoking questions, this video was shot to see how others felt about their own amazing things in their lives.

Jennifer (who plays the on-the-street reporter) and I were asked to stop filming in a local mall by security. As well, there is an answer by a nice gentleman where the camera is tilted at a great angle. The reason was although he asked us not to film, he had such a good answer I couldn't help hitting that little record button. Our apologies.

GORNT PNACK (CH. 6): A GIFT LESS GIVEN [AO Praise - 1999]

A look in the average daily struggles of a little man named Gornt (who just happens to be a Ken-doll). In this episode Gornt learns that gift giving shouldn't be for selfish reasons.

Yes. Ken-dolls are people too. The series is actually titled "The (Not So) Exciting Adventures of Gornt Pnack". The premise was to use a Ken-doll (Gornt) and breathe life into him by taking still photos of regular daily activities as well as a typical 'human struggle'. The sequence of pictures was accompanied by a live story-telling. Of course, since you're dealing with a 9 inch doll, things aren't exactly all that average, so you're able to go nuts and end up having things like flying transformer friends shoot laser guided missiles at large video screen in downtown Vancouver. The nice thing about still photos is that I was able to take a photo and easily manipulate it in Photoshop to suit the needs of the story.

This potential series of stories ended as quickly as it started. While downtown taking the photos of the closing sequence we went onto the Georgia St. viaduct. Along the edge of the bridge we took some photos which showed the large video screen in the background. Unfortunately, while getting things organized, a bus drove by and the wind knocked poor Gornt over the edge (as seen in the third thumbnail above). Just as unfortunate was the fact that it took Connor (who was assisting me) and I ten minutes to walk down to the road where we could retrieve a much-injured Gornt. When we got there, however, he was missing. To this day I still think he was taken (or should I say kidnapped) by the family that were walking by when we arrived at the spot he landed in. We asked them if they had seen our hero, Gornt, but they said no. I suppose I'll never find out (unless they read this and email me to confess). I am still on the lookout for a replacement and when I find one I'll have to continue the story.

NO! THANK YOU! [Sept 1999 - AO Praise Kickoff]

This was a video asking random people the question: "what are you most thankful for?". The answers that some people gave were quite insightful.

This was another video created without the luxury of a NLE system. For the intro, I created a video clip of the 'NO! THANK YOU!' title in 3D Studio, then actually filmed my monitor with the camera, keeping in mind to decrease the refresh rate in order to eliminate the sync lines. At the same time, I also placed my earphones over the microphone of the camera and simultaneously recorded the music. The final result? At the time it was fairly impressive, but with the ability we have now - junk (but fun to laugh at).

SEVEN LITTLE INDIANS [Dec 1998]

Seven guys. One soon to be married. All of them dropping like flies.

This was filmed as part of Ingenium co-founder Jason's bachelor party. The video was re-edited only a few months later when Ingenium Productions acquired NLE software.

A stunt belly was NOT used for the belly-missile scene, as most people think. It was pure Shawn.

WHAT DAY IS IT, MAN? WHAT DAY IS IT? [Camp 5, 1998]

A man is distraught because he simply cannot remember what day it is.

This very short video clip was used as a "movie preview" of a movie directors' upcoming film 'What Day is it?'. The film director was a special guest on 'Chuck McGraw's Christmas Telethon'.

When Michael stood on his chair during lunch in the dinning hall, no one knew exactly why he had done what he did. And even after people had seen the completed video clip, they still asked "what did he say?"

IN SEARCH OF CHUCK [Camp 5, 1998]

The video adventures of Chuck and Dan continue as Dan searches for his best-buddy Chuck McGraw to help him host a Christmas Telethon.

During 1998's Camp 5 'Chuck McGraw's Christmas Telethon' Dan rushes off stage to look for Chuck somewhere around camp. This video shows his adventurous search. We were given the opportunity to use a NLE machine to put these clips together. To take full advantage of this, we used multiple camera angles to show Dan's cruise down the hill on a bike. Even though we didn't know the basic principles of cinematography and camera placement, the effect was still entertaining.

The rolling plate out of the dinning hall was probably one of the luckiest thing we've shot. It worked perfectly. And a final note: even though he's a small-ish guy, Jason's still heavy to carry.

THE PHIL MAGOO SHOW [AO Drive-In - approx. 1997]

Talk Show host Phil Magoo talks about a deep philosophical question.

This video was used as an intermission in the middle of the Drive-in youth group event. This was our first public-question-and-answer format video. With proper editing tools (which we didn't have at that time) this style can be very effective (it also depends on your responses).

We were on a tight time schedule to get the introduction completed. Also, there was no fore-thought put into it (the intro) so it ended up being a very odd, fun to film, experience. And the Phil Magoo theme song was also made up within a few minutes (not that it's impressive; once you hear it, you'll know what we're talking about).

SHORT FILM: CRAZY MAN 1 [AO Retreat - Sept, 1997]

A man struggling with his fear of people attempts to walk through a large crowd.

Don't ask. We had an hour to kill before the boat arrived to take us home. This video was the first time we used multiple camera angles for dialog. In most of our work, we used static profile shots for all dialogue sequences, but this time we each took turns holding the camera for the other's line. Although crude, we were surprised with the results.

RUN, DAN! RUN! [Camp 5, 1997]

Dan, once again, attempts to help Chuck McGraw. In the end, however, Dan ends up infuriating him and running away from a vengeful Chuck.

We used this video as the closing for our 1997 'Chuck McGraw Show: Special Edition' when we hosted the talent show at Camp 5 that year. It was the first POV (point-of-view) video we made, and it seemed to work out quite well.

The beginning scene where Dan is filming Chuck was (and may still be) our longest, uncut scene to date. We did it in one take which was nice because to get Jason dried off would have taken a lot of time. Chuck's reaction when he yells at Dan after he surfaces from the water was almost genuine because the water was so cold.

THE CHUCK McGRAW SHOW: ANVIL ISLAND [Summer, 1997]

Journalist Chuck McGraw sets off to do a news story on the facilities of Anvil Island. It is off-season, and the island is uninhabited - except for the caretaker; Dan. As the orientation continues, Dan continues to inadvertantly ruin Chuck's show.

This was our fist "big production", and was the first time we drafted up a script beforehand. Filming took two days on location at Anvil Island (plus one day in Vancouver) and required the crew of three to stay over night. The reason for making this was to provide camps with a fun orientation video to show at the beginning of each week. An added note: this video was originally edited at SFU (thanks to Steve) on professional editing equipment - Michael's first hands-on experience with editing.

1) We never actually used the script once we were at Anvil. 2) The video was only shown to 3 of the 9 camps. 3) The upper field scene actually had Dan using a riding lawnmower, but because it was slow and had such a huge turning radius, we had to scrap that scene and re-film it with a push mower. 4) The gym scene has Dan getting hit with a ball in the head. The take that is used was actually our last attempt at getting it right. Good arm, Jason. 5) If you go to the gym now and look at the fence where Dan ran into it, you'll notice a dent. Sorry.

SHORT FILM: BEAN-ESQUE [Way Past Curfew, 1997]

A Mr. Bean wannabe goes to a public pool and then somehow, in the next scene, is on the stage of a church where people are mingling around.

Still on a roll with our new found desire to create videos (no matter how silly) Jason and I decided to create another short film while we were at the Way Past Curfew (a youth event). Since there was so many other things to do that night, and also because we didn't have a clue what we were doing with our little video, we just ended it.

SHORT FILM: CANTINA CHASE [Fall Retreat, 1996]

Imagine this: Michael running from Jason around the camp. Jason catches Michael. Jason tackles Michael. Pure originality.

While waiting for our ride home from our Youth Group retreat, we decided to create a silly little video clip. However, this time we wanted to use a still, locked-down camera for some neat effects. Since we weren't stingy about blocking (we didn't even know what blocking was), the shots are inconsistent because of some background motion (doors opened then closed, people walking by, etc). It doesn't matter - we had fun making it and that's all that matters.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2b [Camp 5, 1996 / Re-edited March 2001]

Once again, Jason and Michael are late for hosting another evening event, this time at Anvil Island.

After the huge success of 'Mission Impossible 1' we decided it would be neat to do the same thing for Camp 5. The year before we had just performed The Two Kings and decided to take it one step further and enter the realm of video. Again, we were fortunate enough to have this video met with great reviews, too. The audience (both young and not-so-young) enjoyed the slap-stick style humor, and it changed the way we looked at Camp 5 entertainment, as it spurred on the now-famous "work crew video" that people anticipate from year to year.

This time around, we got the introduction part filmed first, and done right (although given the opportunity to re-shoot, we'd definitely have to change it; how does one define bad acting? MI2.). Half way through the video, just prior to the scene where Michael jumps off the dock and misses the boat, there is a James Bond-esque scene. This was actually filmed a second time, after all the scenes were shot. Again, since we did not have the luxury of a VCR for editing, we had to rely on a stopwatch and multiple trial runs to ensure the James Bond scene did not cut into the boat scene after it. Needless to say, we didn't get it perfectly, but it wasn't bad work for using an old camcorder. In the raw footage you can actually hear a bit of the stopwatch beep, indicating that the scene had filled in the area we wanted it to go.

MONTY PYTHON WANNABE [1996 - Exact Date Unknown]

A series of connected 'mini-skits' about the story of Tim, a man who goes from playing soccer to meeting with distant relatives, to going on a cruise and the inevitability of being stranded on a deserted island.

As part of a Youth Group event, each group was given a chance to make their own video. Being huge fans of Monty Python, Jason and I decided to move from one scene to another in as fluid a motion as possible (regardless of how random). With the use of inside jokes as well as hilarious scenes from various Monty Python videos, we were able to produce a run (albeit weird) little video.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 1 [Family Camp - May 1996 / Re-edited March 2001]

Jason and Michael find themselves late for the entertainment night, which they are hosting. Neither of them really know how to get to the event, so they split off in separate directions. The race is on. (set to the music of the Mission Impossible theme, written for the motion picture 'Mission Impossible 1')

This was the first ever video planned and executed by Ingenium Productions. It was shown to the people attending the entertainment night, and when the video ended, we would enter the room giving the "impression" that the video they just watched was "live". Being one of the first times our audiences had seen a video presentation created just for them, it was a huge success and encouraged us to continue making videos.

The concept for this video wasn't actually thought up until on our way to Family Camp, and not actually planned until the day of filming. Since we were away from our homes and didn't have a VCR to dub over the music or to edit, we shot the sequences in order as they appeared in the video. Then we timed the length of the song, then the length of the video and were pleased when they ended up being very close. As well, when all the chase scene sequences were completed, we realized that the introduction we had didn't quite work out and had to re-shoot it. That's why the intro we ended up with Jason doesn't say a word - it's because he's counting to make sure we didn't cut into the footage we had already shot. High tech.

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