Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Forward!
So, despite some setbacks, I am still moving forward with Baba Yaga House!So far, two episodes are in the works, as well as a small introductory piece.
The first two episodes, "Perspective" and "Talent" are in the writing and shooting stages while the introduction is in post-production and rendering. I am not sure how they will be received. I feel that the target audience may be small, but my hopes are that more people will come to realize that this is not just some foreign-designed kid's show, but rather and act of diplomacy and a learning experience. I plan to expand to more countries one day.
-David
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
educationalrap.com
So I was browsing youtube, and came across this site. I'm kind of speechless, but apparently, they are living my dream. They are producing educational "rap" films on a similar platform as mine. Although theirs are technically "songs" rather then poems, which I utilize, it is kind of daunting nonetheless. -And they are good, I have no shame in saying that. So I decided to check out who the brains behind this were.
Rhythm, Rhyme, Results, LLC (RRR, pronounced “Triple R”) is a production house and online media company founded in 2006 in Cambridge, MA. We currently focus on producing the most entertaining and effective educational music on the planet.
RRR’s in-house team leads a collaborative network of over 25 creative professionals, including lyricists, composers, vocalists, and producers. Many are graduates of Harvard University and the Berklee College of Music and reside in New York, Boston, Atlanta, and beyond.
Their lineup is pretty legit. It is laid out in greater detail on their site. They've done their homework and it's not even worth it to look at them as competition, because I am none, by comparison. It's like a mom & pop store trying to hang with Wal-mart. These are college educated professionals with resources, a budget, and powerful staff of contributors looking down on a guy who barely graduated high school, does this with every spare momment he has yet has nothing but a home computer. I feel like King Leonidas of Sparta. They have succesfully executed my vision down to the lesson plans and project ideas for kids. Their production quality is better, their audio is better, their website is better, everything is better. Whereas I write, research, edit, compose music and compile everything, they have someone [maybe more] for each step. -And multiple brains of that calibre working together always conquer one. And they have been everywhere I wanted to be. The New York Times, NPR, and more. The-School.org cannot compete with this.
The bottom line is, I'm glad this method of teaching is blossoming. It appears, however, it is blossoming without me near the front. I wrote the people of this website asking if they needed help or were hiring, and that's about all I can do for now. I don't know what my future is, but I wish them luck. If their films continue to make people smile, I'll be glad that people are smiling. Sadly, I am not sure how long I can continue making mine now. I have $300 to my name and there isn't any time for me to spend on these. I have been toiling over 6 films at the same time for a while now. Alone. I lost my girlfriend who I thought would stand behind me through this, and I've foresaken many friends, swapping "hang out" time for "making films" time. I even see my parents less. I'm sure there are many who have been in my shoes. It's not a great feeling, but I can't complain. I'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.
Rhythm, Rhyme, Results, LLC (RRR, pronounced “Triple R”) is a production house and online media company founded in 2006 in Cambridge, MA. We currently focus on producing the most entertaining and effective educational music on the planet.
RRR’s in-house team leads a collaborative network of over 25 creative professionals, including lyricists, composers, vocalists, and producers. Many are graduates of Harvard University and the Berklee College of Music and reside in New York, Boston, Atlanta, and beyond.
Their lineup is pretty legit. It is laid out in greater detail on their site. They've done their homework and it's not even worth it to look at them as competition, because I am none, by comparison. It's like a mom & pop store trying to hang with Wal-mart. These are college educated professionals with resources, a budget, and powerful staff of contributors looking down on a guy who barely graduated high school, does this with every spare momment he has yet has nothing but a home computer. I feel like King Leonidas of Sparta. They have succesfully executed my vision down to the lesson plans and project ideas for kids. Their production quality is better, their audio is better, their website is better, everything is better. Whereas I write, research, edit, compose music and compile everything, they have someone [maybe more] for each step. -And multiple brains of that calibre working together always conquer one. And they have been everywhere I wanted to be. The New York Times, NPR, and more. The-School.org cannot compete with this.
The bottom line is, I'm glad this method of teaching is blossoming. It appears, however, it is blossoming without me near the front. I wrote the people of this website asking if they needed help or were hiring, and that's about all I can do for now. I don't know what my future is, but I wish them luck. If their films continue to make people smile, I'll be glad that people are smiling. Sadly, I am not sure how long I can continue making mine now. I have $300 to my name and there isn't any time for me to spend on these. I have been toiling over 6 films at the same time for a while now. Alone. I lost my girlfriend who I thought would stand behind me through this, and I've foresaken many friends, swapping "hang out" time for "making films" time. I even see my parents less. I'm sure there are many who have been in my shoes. It's not a great feeling, but I can't complain. I'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
7 Months Later, "Baba Yaga House" Begins Taping!
With 7 months of writing/planning, a 1 person cast, a $0 budget, absolutely no training in film, and a dream I have had for a looong time now, Baba Yaga House is finally ready for its first day of taping.What you see are pics of the stage, and the supporting characters.
It will be a kids show designed to teach, while uniting and bringing together the nations of Russia and America.
The "stage" is basically just a green screen which is later taken out via a chroma keying technique that turns the green transparent, allowing for a background to be added in post production.One of the first things you learn about filming live action is that there is NEVER ENOUGH LIGHT. What you see in the picture is only 3 of the lights pointed at the green screen. The near impossible ideal scenario to achieve is to illuminate the green screen and your face while keeping shadows to a minimum. There's light coming from the front, above and below. Since I don't have a budget, there isn't any professional lighting, just lamps.
The supporting characters are Fred, the Woolly Mouse, and Aleksander, the Duck of Straw. Each has their own quirks and personalities to accompany me on set.
To be honest, the script isn't done, and never will be.I have an outline, and plan to ad-lib the whole thing.
It should be interesting.
The show will include cuts to animated segments which will correspond to the theme of the show.
I hope for it to premiere March 7th.
And here is the opening Credits!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Lesson Plans and a Revamped DVD
I'm proud to say that I have hired a new teacher to pen the lesson plans that will ultimately accompany the films. On top of this, the DVD had been remastered in widescreen and in a higher resolution. I think it will be great!
more to come!
-D
more to come!
-D
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About Me
- TheSchoolOrg
- David Dowling is the founder/creator of the-school.org. The-school.org is not tied to any major corporations or parent company and exists in the entirety of his imagination. There is no building or warehouse or office, only a computer, a piano keyboard and his mind. He is the sole owner, engineer, composer, writer, editer, designer and also encodes and maintains the website.