So I’m currently in the process of putting together our 2009 Conference website this year…without code. I do know some code. I know enough to really screw up formatting and then fix it again, but beyond that, not much. It gives me a headache for the most part.

I’ve done a few websites already; a now defunct website: Fuzzy Dog Studios, a current website: Pear Tree Music and then there’s my old blog: Extant:Reanimation. For the 2009 Conference until I get the site up, I threw up this splash page: Peacemaker Conference. Notice a theme with all of them except the last one? Yup, blog software; specifically: Nucleus. I love Nucleus. It’s fun easy to use, but not really practical for all projects.

Our current CMS/CSM software: Kintera takes care of the Peacemaker website. It’s not the easiest to use. For the conference website though, I’m using Dreamweaver. Somewhat intuitive for a designer like myself, but I can still go in and tweak code. I’m pretty excited because it finally clicked with me on Friday after sitting in front of the tutorials most of the day. That said, I’ve got the template and layout pretty much done. I need to do some formatting and start plugging in the content. I hope to have something really workable up in January.

The other web resource I’m working is our downloads. One area that the organization wants to boost right now is our online media resources. We’re starting with our CE audio material. This is material that’s good for continuning education for Certified Christian Conciliators and candidates; a program operated by the Institute for Christian Conciliation a division of Peacemaker Ministries.

I think we have roughly 100 or so audio workshops and teaching session that need to be uploaded. Some will be a nominal charge to download and many will be free. So that’s the current web projects I’m working on. I’m not really terribly enthusiastic about it so I’m not sure how much I’ll write about it.

Tags: design, dreamweaver, kintera, video, web

Every so often, Peaemaker Ministries produces a new resource. Most recently it was the Peacemaking Church Resource Set. In there are materials for pastors, small groups and peacemaking teams. The overall strategy of the ministry and church/christian equipping is this PCRS (as we’ve come to nickname it).

The Product

They’ve chosen to develop new “modules” to bolster and add to this. The next module is on Leadership. Specifically shepherd leadership in the context of the local church. We have some great teachers lined up including Tim Laniak who’s studied biblical shepherd leadership extensively.

The production is going to distributed via DVD. Possibly web, but we’ve not broached that topic yet. It’s going to consist of 10-12 30 minute teaching sessions with included animations and visual aids. The teaching will be done in front of a group of 6-10 as an “audience.”

Question: would you want the teacher to teach to the camera at all or strictly to those in the room?

The Production

I plan to do a 3-camera shoot. Tapeless with a dump to a portable array at the end of each “class.” My A cam is going to follow the teacher with primarily a medium shot. My B cam is going to be a medium close angle shot. C cam is going be my money cam; utilizing the jib and rails/dolly for some movement to break up the static shots.

I’m still debating a couple things though. Although I don’t like having mics in my shots, I’ll probably be utilizing a wireless lav for the audio to cam A. I wouldn’t be opposed to testing to mics hanging from the ceiling and mixing them together. I’m also undecided if I want to reset timecode for each class and do each as an individual sequence.

Currently, we’re looking at a location and I’ve sent out my budgets and production scheduling for the tech side of things. I desperately want some outlines so I can plan my shots much better but so far, I don’t have anything so it could be a produce on teh fly sort of scenario; not the best, but not a huge problem. The location question is a big one right now. I’m not a set designer, but unfortunately, will probably end up being that too.

Additional Materials

In addition, I’ll be doing all the layout and design work for the project. We’ll probably hire out the main “look” for the logo, etc. But I’ll be putting together all the print, materials as well. So it should be a nice, long, and large project for me. It’s exciting. The schedule for this production is the first week of February. Then I leave for SE Asia.

Tech

I’m going to be producing this with the following:

• Sony HVR-Z7u
• Panasonic HVX-200
• Canon XL-H1/Sony EX-1
• 30′ of track
• jib
• Two HDD arrays (still in process of building: more later)
• 2 Camera ops and a grip
• 2 Sets of Arri and Lowell lights
• Premier, After Effects and Encore
• Photoshop and Indesign

I’ll be taking pictures and all that as well as we start getting things set up. Might even blog from the location as I get a chance.

Tags: audio, design, print, Production, video

There are a few things that jump out at the top of my “to-do” list to prep for this trip in February and the production involved. Here’s my list so far:

• Talk with two production guys who’ve already done overseas work since I’ve never done it.
• Use above conversation to outline gear needs and get what I need but don’t already have and prep myself as best as possible for what I might encounter
• Get the HDD situation at the ministry done: take two of those drives with me in an array: I shouldn’t need more than 1TB right? Okay, take four drives for 2 1TB arrays…
• Work with PM director and get the questions, shots and other material written down
• Work with contact in KL and work out the questions, shots, direction of production
• Buy the tickets
• Try NOT to worry about the terrorist activity in India right now…

I think that’s about it.

And until then…

I’ll be working on some graphics for end of year donations, the 2009 annual conference website and promotional materials in addition to the massive production of a new leadership module for PM’s Peacemaking Church Resource Set. More on that one later. It deserves it’s own write-ups. I’m also going over the Kintera/Web stuff at PM next week. That should be interesting….and a little mind-numbing probably.

Tags: bangladesh, design, documentary, India, KL, manila, travel, video, web