Complaining but happy

[katiefoolery]

There may be some sort of destiny thing involved when it comes to this vlogging business.  But that's not for now; that's for later.  And possibly for later in video format.

For now, I'm going to complain about the way I have to sacrifice so much footage on the altar of the four minute rule.  We decided the videos should be no longer than four minutes waaaaaay back, a fact I subsequently forgot in my second video, which went for almost six mintues, and which resulted in my being punished.  Four minutes is an abundance of time, really it is.  And yet it's not enough.

It turns out I ramble on quite a lot for someone who believes she doesn't talk very much.  Apparently that not-talking thing goes right out of the window when I sit in front of a camera.  Which is strange, because I was very keen on the not-talking thing when I first sat in front of a camera.  Feeling like an idiot.  Staring at the camera in defiant silence.  And then talking too quietly for human ears to catch a single word of what I said.

No longer, it seems.  Right now, it feels as though I had to discard about twenty minutes of footage in order to come up with a four minute video.  And it's not easy to do.  I want to put it all in.  For a while there, I was tempted to risk another punishment and just make this latest video as long as I wanted it to be.  But no.

It's fun, though.  It's so much fun.  Yes, it took over half an hour to film.  Yes, at one point my stupid HP touchpad didn't quite register when I hit the "end record" button, resulting in two lost takes before I realised what was going on.  And yes, it did take almost two hours to edit.  But damn, it's worth it.  I love the process so much.

And I still want to get better.  To that end, I'm issuing a challenge to my lovely flist: find something you don't like in this latest video and tell me about it.  Deadly serious.  No compliments.  No positives.  Just the thing (or things!) you didn't like.  (There are at least two things I already want to change.)  You can even comment anonymously if you prefer.

As for the challenge in the video itself, that's open to my flist too.  Bonus points if you do it in video format! :D

Comments

[theemdash]

I will need to rewatch, but I remember that I thought your title for writer was on the screen for too short a period of time.

YES I THOUGHT THAT.

But I will absolutely give you other suggestions when I have a mo' to rewatch.

[wiccanslyr.livejournal.com]

You're still too quite. It's still a bit difficult for me to actually hear what you're saying at points. Work on this. =P

Also, your "Writer" title thing was a) up for too short a time and b) you needed to have you saying writer over it. Does that make sense?

You didn't finish telling us who the teachers in your family were.

You need to close the curtains on the other side of the room, the light is distracting! =P

That strange pinkish-peach coloring is strange and makes no sense! --I take it back, it does work at the very beginning when you point to yourself. =P

Added note, I need some examples of odes? I want to write mine but, honestly I'm not sure I know exactly what an ode should look like... =D

[everydayjoy.livejournal.com]

Bahahaha!! That guy at the checkout was totally hilarious, sir!

(by the way, you really remind me of one of my great friends-from-NSW, Carla, in this video)

I am so inspired to write an ode about a weird candle that's sitting on my desk. Are there rules for ode-writing?

[erinmacha.livejournal.com]

O.o Trying to figure out one thing I didn't like about that video? Damn...you are evil.

I guess I have to get nit-picky because I liked all of it!

So - in view of the asked for critique (hopefully I spelled that right) - the random cat moment. (But see, really, I like random so I didn't think it was all that bad to explain what your cat was doing, and the cat entering before you to view the piano kind of helped lead up to it.)

You move and gesture a bit much for me - but then, it is only a four minute video and facial expressions and body language help pull one into it - so it really isn't that much of a minus. :( Sorry I am failing so bad in pointing out faults - because it really is very entertaining when I actually take a moment and watch a vlog. :)

Oh - the very first sentence - about such and such should be worried...I didn't quite catch that.

You play the piano too?! :D Well...I haven't played in years, but I did know how at one point and time....

[faded-pretense.livejournal.com]

LOLZ! I've never watched one of your vlogs. That was really funny. I know I'm not supposed to be positive, but I can't help it, this is my first time watching. :] So good. I don't know what's bad. lol You went on and on about randomness but it was AWESOME! :D Yayyy!

"Sometimes he moves..." haha! That was funny. I <3 your cat. lol :]]]

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Heheh, I'm glad you thought that, because I think I thought it too.

It would be great to have your thoughts because a) I think you'd be completely honest, and, b) I think we're on a similar wavelength as far as the whole vlogging thing goes.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Hey, those are all positives! Surely you can find a negative in there somewhere...

The only rules for ode writing are that you write one and subsequently share it. It would be utterly awesome if you did a video of it but I'd be just as happy to read it. An ode about a weird candle is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for!

I'm intrigued to know what about me reminds you of your friend. Is it the way I look or sound or... something else entirely?

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yay, thanks! That's a great list.

I think my problem is that I tend to talk a bit too quickly, or I sort of soften my voice for impact or something... except it ends up being the wrong sort of impact, since no-one can even heard what I'm actually saying.

The odd-coloured sections are meant to be sepia (according to Movie Maker) and I usually do that to indicate something that's not necessarily relevant to the vlog, or just to make something stand out a bit more. But I may re-consider how I do that now.

Odes don't have to look like anything, really! Probably the most famous one is Keats' Ode to a Grecian Urn (http://www.bartleby.com/101/625.html). And I wish I could link you to a silly ode I wrote ages ago, but I didn't seem to save it anywhere on the internet. But it went something like:

"Oh wondrous bag of m&ms,
You are so near but far,
I cursed the wretched lock that seals,
The boot of our white car."

There's more, but I won't go on. I wrote it when we went shopping, bought a whole bunch of delicious stuff... and then got home to find our boot lock had jammed and we couldn't get anything out of it. *woe*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Heh, thanks. I think my favourite vlog so far is actually last week's, but I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Even if you couldn't find a negative. :D

I love my kitteh! :D When I take my camera outside, she's right into acting mode; when I use my webcam, she just goes straight to sleep.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That is so perfect - thank-you so much for pointing those out. I talk so much with my hands, without even noticing. It's good to have other people point this out for me. :)

So I'm still talking a little too quietly. Or too quickly. I shall be watching that. (The first little scene was just me mentioning a guy at the supermarket checkout called me sir, which made me wonder if I should be more worried for myself or for him. Seriously.)

Yeah, I do play. I should really play more, but I get lazy.

[faded-pretense.livejournal.com]

Have you seen my latest entry? You gave me the motivation to try to make a vlog. It's taking absolutely FOREVER to upload, though. It's killing me. I might stop it soon and just try to upload it sometime after I've gotten some sleep. - yawn! - Night!

♥

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Seriously? That's brilliant! And yeah, the uploading process can be so frustrating. I can't wait to see it, though!

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

In the garage? D=

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I know! It's awful. It's lived in garages for a while, the poor thing. I have a keyboard now, which is much easier to move - really, I'm just holding onto the other one for sentimental reasons.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

I've never met a keyboard that could compare to my piano or my organ.

Except for the keeping in tune, I guess. =s This summer has not been kind to my f...

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

There's nothing like a real piano, that's for sure. My keyboard's not too bad - it has almost the right and quite a good sound - but the main reason I love it is that I don't have to inflict my playing on everyone else, thanks to the miracle of headphones. :D

But if I could have a baby grand in my lounge room, I would. Absolutely.

(And believe me, garages aren't good for tuning either. O.o)

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

The baby upright I have, it hadn't been played for 20+ years before we bought it (which is such a shame, it has a gorgeous sound), and actually needed a new string, which unfortunately still goes out of tune easily, and even though it's on an inside wall, it still has to suffer through the temperature changes. *pets it*

Then again, the pedal volume on the organ is dying more and more often. I don't know what I'll do if it dies forever... Actually get off my lazy arse and find an accordion teacher, maybe?

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

Ode to the Alcowipe

O! Alcowipe!
You sterilise,
You smell quite nice,
You make the veins more visible.

O! Alcowipe!
You soak up blood,
Hide where it floods,
and dry fast so the opsite is stickable.

O! Alcowipe!
Each day I use a billion
Cost the health service pays million.
For the budget is quite risible

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

Also these words are so getting counted!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

An ode of awesomeness! I love it. You should print it out and hang it around your work somewhere.

And damn right it counts for GYWO.

[everydayjoy.livejournal.com]

Okay, I must get ode-ing ;).

It was partly the way you look, but also your facial expressions that remind me of Carla -- she's fun and vibrant and tells really cool stories :D.

[surferartchick.livejournal.com]

I don't know I LOVE my keyboard and I'm very grateful that I don't have the headache of a real one. My parents have one and it's out of tune most of the time. I've played on several piano's and since there is no 'standard' for making piano's each one sounds different. Mine sounds the same no matter what. :D

Although I admit I've asked myself, Do I really need a kitchen table? A baby grand would be perfect in my dinning room. :D

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

True - my nan's piano does have a problem low-g string that just never stays in tune. I think it's the feel of a real piano that I like. Although I do love my keyboard to bits and it sounds pretty realistic through headphones.

I agree - that would be the perfect place for a baby grand!

[surferartchick.livejournal.com]

does have a problem low-g string that just never stays I will not make the obvious joke. :D

Mine feel's realistic but it's because it's a digital keyboard with weighted keys and scaled volume. To me it's feels like a real piano. I mean when I transition for lessons or shows and stuff I can play a real one just the same. I don't know, tomato, tamato?

I guess the only way for us to solve this battle is through narrative battle between Unicorns and Zombies. *I send unicorns to poke holes in your theory*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Awww, go on - there are no rules against obvious jokes here. :D

My keyboard's like that, too - almost feels like a real piano. Maybe it's like trying to choose between books and kindles: each has an appeal of its own.