Wide Open Camera » The Board Of Education

The Sony Nex 5N Kicks The Red Scarlet’s Ass! TBOE Opening Sequence Footage.

Jared Abrams — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:13:06 +0000

Like the sensational headline? Just a kick in the pants to wake everyone up to this killer little camera from Sony. It’s not a Scarlet killer but we were able to get it in places that even a larger DSLR might have trouble. Not to mention only wasting away $600 plus the $275 lens, if it gets trashed. A Great little B camera, similar to the “B-Camera” Red Scarlet Right?
I would rather risk $1K than $10K for a Scarlet or even $2.5K for a DSLR. It will shoot 60P in 1080 X 1920 unlike the new Canon C300 at $15K plus! It really has a ton of features. Click here for DP review’s take.

I honestly bought it as part of my blogging gear stuff, etc but have totally fallen in love with it. It is so small and portable that I am inclined to have it in my hands all the time while shooting. It is also super cheap at around $600 for the body and $30 for an adapter. We have been using Contax primes and especially dig the Contax 28-70mm f3.5 here Beware! It’s a floating iris zoom lens. It’s ultra compact and has a great range for the size. It has gotten a beating out there in still photo land but for 2K video, it works just fine. Don’t believe all that crap out there about still lenses. It’s mostly pixel peepers dealing with RAW images not 2K video.
This was shot at 60P and cut in FCPX. Yes, I use that for these type of videos. It’s super fast and reliable so far. Don’t hate on X just yet. It’s the future of indie editing. I used Magic Bullet Mojo to color and slowed it down 50% in FCPX. I exported in H.264 because it really does not matter when you swing it on Vimeo and You Tube. It also takes up less space!
This little teaser footage from our opening sequence shows how easy it is to get dramatic looking footage with one single tungsten light. We used an Arri 300W Tungsten light with no diffusion to get the insane hard light action from the machines. that coupled with the craftsman’s hands makes for some killer opening content. The idea is to captivate the audience and keep them at the edge of their seat until the object is revealed. Then we start the movie. I’ll get a little BTS video up soon. Thanks for checking us out!

The Board Of Education Trailer For Kickstarter.

Jared Abrams — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:39:02 +0000

Dr. George Holden will be on AC360 Tonight.

We have been shooting for the past month and wanted to share some of our work with you. Here is a very quick trailer for the film specifically built for kickstarter. We hope to use this trailer to raise more funds. Please share this link with anyone who may want to help. We only have 6 days left to raise $8500. We can do it $10 at a time. Please share this video and ask for support on our behalf. Thanks so much for your continued support. We could not do this with out you!

Here is the link to our Kickstarter page.

A Big Thanks to Chris Crary for putting this together!

Jared

Killer Content Coming Soon! Please Read.

Jared Abrams — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:02:05 +0000

Congressman Bobby Scott Of Virginia

Here is a screen grab from our shoot in Washington DC.

As some of you may already know my mother has been in the hospital for the past week. She has regained consciences but is still in the ICU. She had a bad reaction to some medication and her salt levels dropped dangerously low. They are slowly coming back up and things are looking better. As you may also know I have been running a Kickstarter campaign to fund our documentary The Board Of Education. We have also been shooting interviews for the past month to put together a little trailer for Rep. Carolyn McCarthy to present to the US Senate to help gain support for her proposed bill against corporal punishment in US public schools.

Having our footage presented to the US Senate would be HUGE. I have been under the gun to get this in the can since we started dialog with Congresswoman McCarthy.

As you can imagine all this combined has been quite overwhelming. Something had to give and unfortunately it has been WOC. I apologize for not adding content daily as usual and we promise to have some killer content about the new Canon cameras and a few other surprises fairly soon.

What I really need from YOU is your help spreading the word about our project. We only have 13 days left to raise close to 20K. Impossible? Never! We can make this film together. Kickstarter is ALL or NOTHING. If we do not fully fund to 33K. We get Zip. All of this effort will go to waste.

Here is what I will ask of You, my loyal viewers. If you feel that this website or I have helped you in any way, shape or form. Please consider making a donation to our Kickstarter campaign. If you are unable to donate, please help spread the word!

Open a lemonade stand, pass the hat around at the next meet up, call your friends and family. Please do Anything to donate at the $10 level if that is all you have. We need numbers to gain momentum in these last two weeks. If we do not make our funding then this film will change dramatically. I have put a lot of my own personal money, sold my personal gear and done almost everything I can to support this project. Now I really need YOUR help. We can do this! The Board Of Education is going to be a ground breaking documentary. This is your chance to be a part of something that may in fact, make a difference.

Thanks,

Jared

Here is a link to our Kickstarter campaign. Please help however you can. Thanks!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/912442812/the-board-of-education-a-documentary-film

Update #2 The Board Of Education Kickstarts To Texas. Roll Call.

Jared Abrams — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:51:05 +0000

Here is our second update for our Kickstarter campaign. We are headed to Texas to interview Dr. George Holden at SMU in Dallas. Then we swing down to Houston to hit up P.O.P.S founder Jimmy Dunne. We will also try and snag interviews with a few local teachers and two state Representatives. We had not planned to start principal photography until mid November when our campaign funds, however the introduction of Rep Carolyn McCarthy (NY) and Robert Scott’s (VA) bill has pushed our schedule up one month. I wanted to share some of the mechanics of how we plan to cover this upcoming shoot in Texas and how it will serve as a template for the other interviews of the film.
We plan to enter the scene guns blazing. We will use the little Sony Nex 5N for this type of shot. I think it is critical to capture the first few moments that we introduce a character to the audience. This will also work towards some B-Roll of the characters personal space. I will then switch gears completely and cut to a black backdrop with hot lights. This will work towards a continuity that we will employ for all sit down interviews. We will use a little 5 x 7 collapsible backdrop. I can then insert portions of that interview any where in the film that pertains to the story. It also isolates the subject and we tend to get a more focused interview. We will shoot two cameras, a Sony FS100 locked off on a tripod and a handheld Sony Nex5n tight floating. Some profile and wides. Contax Zeiss Glass all around. Audio will be a Senn lav on the subject and a Que Audio shotgun mic on the camera. Maybe Zoom H4n, but I doubt it. I might use my iPhone as a separate recorder simply for reference. Not a bad back up plan either. We will be traveliing very light with only three cameras. A Canon 5D MK II as our back up plan. Lighting will be three Switronix TorchLED Bolt lights. They pack enough power and should travel well. I am going for a very overly cinematic dark look to help emphasize the intensity of this topic.

Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart for helping to make this film a reality. Stay tuned as I will start updating this page with exclusive information to KS backers! You are all so awesome for helping.
Thanks!
Jared

Here is a Roll Call Of Our Current Supporters. Thank You All So Very Much!

Cinedigital Elprograma

Paul GjordingSven Callender

TBOE Update #1. Roll Call. Thanks For All The Support!

Jared Abrams — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:15:11 +0000

We are so fortunate to have so many people supporting our film on Kickstarter. It has been a very good week for us. We have raised over ten percent of our goal and are on track to make our funding goal of 33K. We have secured some key interviews with people that are at the forefront of this debate. We will be heading down to Texas to interview Jimmy Dunne, the founder of No Spanking Zone. We will also interview Dr. George Holden, a leader in child psychology and behavior. We are also trying to get interviews with Texas Rep. Alma Allen and Texas Rep. Harold Dutton. Then we head to Ohio to spend some time at The Center For Effective Discipline. The leading organization against corporal punishment in public schools. If all goes well, we will jet to D.C. to hit up Rep. Carolyn McCarthy who has proposed a bill to ban corporal punishment in public schools on the national level. Our schedule has been pushed up a month because of this new proposed bill. We start principal photography October 12, 2011. We will share our experiences on our Kickstarter page. We hope that this will add to our current momentum. Thank you all so very much for your support! We could not make this film with out you.

Here is a Roll Call Of Our Current Supporters. Thank You All So Very Much!

Cinedigital Elprograma

Kickstarter Launch. The Board Of Education

Jared Abrams — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:16:34 +0000

Today we launched our Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to make our documentary about corporal punishment in the U.S. public school system. The pre-launch process is very intense. Luckily, Koo from No Film School had just gone through the process. His insight was invaluable. We are trying to raise 33K. The bare minimum to bring this story to life. We hope to raise more, but are glad to just have the opportunity to tell the story of discipline within the U.S. education system.

If you feel that you have benefitted in any way from this website please spread the word about this project. We need your support to make this film. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here is a link to our Kickstarter campaign. Thanks!

The Board Of Education Teaser Trailer.

Jared Abrams — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:39:42 +0000

“>

Here is a little teaser I put together prior to our kickstarter launch. I tried to sync the narration and words on the screen. I felt that this made it a little more potent. If you watch it more than once you might pick up on this. At least that was my intention. Stay tuned for more info and check www.wideopencamera.com for updates on the film. Thanks for checking it out. In the meantime please Like our FB page. The Board Of Education

Kickstarter Day Three. Oh, What A Feeling!

Jared Abrams — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:58:38 +0000

I have to admit that I am very impressed with how quickly Kickstarter has responded to “The Board Of Education Doc” application. I have received daily updates from them and really “feel” like they care about this project. I might just be naïve but they have done a great job here and I am happy to announce that…. We are in! Now, visualize me jumping up and down. I am very excited to get this project up and running. I am very passionate about this subject and feel grateful to have this opportunity!

Here is the response from Elasibeth.

“Hi Jared,
That all sounds good. Definitely would emphasize the creative, engaging, and experiential rewards over products and gear. Though I know you have a large following of folks who’d be enticed by the gear offers, we’re more about offering rewards that relate directly to the creative product of the project (i.e. the film itself–on-screen credit, DVD/digital downloads, chance to hang on set, work on the film, learn about filmmaking from you, etc.). The mix you have is definitely on the right track. That is to say…
Congratulations — you’re in! In just a moment, you’ll be able to start getting your project ready.
Take as much time as you need to prepare; there’s no deadline to launch.
Check out Recommended projects for inspiration: http://www.kickstarter.com/discover, and explore Kickstarter School for tons of tips on making a great project: http://www.kickstarter.com/help/school.
Some of the things you’ll learn:
1) A video is a must. It makes an emotional connection and shows you care. Plus, projects with video succeed at a much higher rate!
2) Cool rewards make a big difference. Not every reward has to be special, but they’re a great opportunity to share what’s unique to you and your project.
3) Spreading the word pays off. You provide the experience and the idea, your network helps fund and promote it.
And remember, funding is all or nothing — you can always raise more, but never less! You’ll want to choose a funding goal that will cover costs and fulfill rewards, but also one that is reasonably attainable through the support of your networks.
If you have questions, check out our Help Center: http://www.kickstarter.com/help/.
Good luck!
Elisabeth”

The entire process from application to approval only took about three days total. I am still very green in this process. We will be prepping our “Pitch” this week and hope to launch the campaign by the end of next week. I will share our methodology behind all this madness as we progress.

“That all sounds good. Definitely would emphasize the creative, engaging, and experiential rewards over products and gear.”

It looks like we will have to get a little more creative with the “Rewards” any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Please take a minute to comment here.
Thanks!

Kickstarter Day Two. The Reward System.

Jared Abrams — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:43:40 +0000

Kickstarter has been very quick to respond to “The Board Of Education Doc” application. We are now talking about the possible “Rewards”. Here is the response from them.

Kickstarter Staff commented on your Kickstarter submission:
Great, Jared. Thanks for elaborating on the details of the project and your veteran experience in the field. The only thing that’s left to discuss briefly is rewards. A series of creative and engaging backer rewards is essential. Your rewards should reflect the personality of both you and your project — and they should offer something tangible to your supporters. Having a few reasonably priced rewards will help incorporate everybody who is interested in what you are doing, even those only able to contribute $5-$20. Every buck counts! Here’s a blog post on pricing rewards: http://bit.ly/pricingrewards.

With that in mind, It’d be great to get some more fleshed-out thoughts on how you’ll price the items you initially mentioned as possible rewards. Please take a look at Popular & Recommended projects for inspiration (http://www.kickstarter.com/discover), and then we can move forward with the approval process.
Thanks!
Best,  Elisabeth
Here is my response. Please let me know if this is the kind of stuff that people will be excited about getting for their support.

Elisabeth, thanks for getting back to me so quickly! I love talking about the possible rewards for this campaign. We are all about giving back to the community and have a few killer ideas that we would love to present to you. We wanted to give our biggest supporters a chance to be a part of the film. We would like to offer a chance to have your voice heard in the debate of corporal punishment in the public school system. The best way for us to do that would be to pose a question and let you record the answer. We will have a section in the final cut with the V.O.’s of our supporters. This will be a reward at the $500 level. We wanted to give both sides the opportunity to be heard and this is a great way to do it. You will also be invited to the premiere screening of the film in Hollywood and a “The Board Of Education Doc” made by me T-Shirt and logo lens cloth.
The next level of rewards will start at $250, for this you will receive a Wide Open Camera 3-Stop Circular Polarizer filter and a LCW Fader ND filter, a $300 value! The next level will cost $125 and this gives the supporter the choice between the WOC CPL and LCW fader filters. The next level of $25 will get you a “The Board Of Education Doc” made by me t-shirt and lens cloth. The $10 level will get you a logo lens cloth. Everyone that donates will receive a logo lens cloth and the password to view the film. Everyone that donates will receive a special “Kickstarter Contributing Producer credit”. We will limit some of the rewards to make them a little more appealing. Please let me know if this sounds like a good plan as this is my first time trying to raise funds in this manner.
Thanks so much for your time, I really appreciate it.
Jared

Kickstarter Responds. It Begins. The Board Of Education Doc.

Jared Abrams — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:08:29 +0000

I have been working on this little documentary for quite some time. Now, I have to produce some real results and quite frankly, I’m not scared one bit. I have this film mapped out in such a way that almost anyone can visualize it. Talking heads from different parts of the country, explaining both sides of a topical issue. It almost sounds like a sixty minutes piece. Not an entire documentary. Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will turn this little Sunday night special into a thought provoking film. We have lined up a few interviews in the key states that have the most number of “hits”. That is how it is described here in this graph from 2008. This is a real deal issue with two very strong opinions on both sides. It is sure to be a great film for discussion. I am just the man to tow the middle line. Here is the reply that I got from my 3AM application to Kickstarter.

“Hi Jared,

Thanks for writing in and sharing your idea. With Kickstarter, it’s important to be able to communicate past experience, visual examples of your work, and a comprehensive plan to complete your project within a reasonably certain time-frame — projects at the very beginning stages are less successful because they are not able to do this. Can you provide some more detailed information on the project and where you are in the process?

Thanks,
Elisabeth”

Here is my response.

Jared Abrams

Friday Aug 26, 5:46pm PDT

For sure! I am unable to edit my application so I will just try and lay it out here in this message. I am a Cinematographer based in Hollywood, California. I have been working in the biz for quite some time. I got the Documentary bug working for the Maysles brothers in New York. (Grey Gardens, Gimmie Shelter, Etc.) I was Albert’s camera assistant. Fast forward to today and I have been pioneering the DSLR movement. First via Cinema5D as the “News Director” and now with my own little website and production company Wide Open Camera. We have a pretty decent following in the independent cinema community and we are always sharing our experiences with our very loyal viewership. This project is no different. We plan to share every little twist and turn in the process of raising funds for this very topical documentary. We plan to hit the seven key states that have the largest number of reported cases of corporal punishment in the public school system. They are; Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma. The total number of students hit on record for all of the states in the union combined in 2009 were 223,190. These seven states make up well over half of those hits. Kids are being disciplined in schools by their teachers with force. Many aspects of society lead to this type of disciplinary action. We will explore both sides of this issue and hope to bring to light the reality that faces the students, faculty and parents of the states where this type of discipline is allowed. We will present both sides fairly and accurately. This topic is screaming to be told in a old school documentary fashion. We will start shooting by mid September 2011 and will commence principal photography by no later December 1, 2011. This film will be cut and ready for submission to film festivals by no later than January 1st, 2012. We have the production crew and shooting crew in place. We have lined up over six interviews in each state sans Texas. We will use a combination of Social media and local resources to source crew and talent in each state. This community approach to making this film goes along very well with the Kick Starter theme. Please consider our film as part of your kick ass funding system! Here is a link to the first article I have shared about this epic documentary with my viewers on Wide Open Camera.http://wideopencamera.com/cameras/go-ahead-steal-my-idea-i-dare-you/ For some reason I can’t include graphs or photos in this message. Is it too early to go on camera and shoot a short vide explaining the film? Total newbie here. Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks!
Jared