… and I don’t believe them.  I think they really want to kill me instead.  Regardless, we figured out the image problem.  It was the 16:9 mode which actually distorts the image by cutting off the pixels from the top and bottom, then stretches it out, or something.  It’s lossy.  And this causes a problem in the way we want the presentation finished — in anamorphic wide screen.  After all, that’s the way the animatic is formatted.  I took a few minutes to think, and then found the solution.  We’ll shoot in 4:3, and then matte the footage in a 16:9 frame in After Effects by shrinking the image down into the frame size.  Then we can extend the background to the side and it’ll look like we’re part of the whole frame even though it’ll be the magic of compositing in post.  The problem is that we’re now confined to the 4:3 frame — one side of us will not be able to go out of frame, which will constrain us in movement.  Even though this is a good solution, I fear it’ll stress us out a little bit.  I think it’ll work though.

Tension has melted away a bit.  Ryan and Adrian thought the solution was ingenious — very out of the box.  I see it as just something one would figure out if you’ve spent enough time compositing in AE.  I’m surprised Ryan didn’t think of it — he’s much more seasoned in AE than I.  Anyway, it’s nice to have found a solution for something — I think it calmed everyone down and made us feel like a team again.

I’m spending some time smoking outside the building.  Adrian is doing something upstairs in the studio, I think resetting lighting for me.  Ryan’s being my stand in so I can prep emotionally — whatever that means.  An old, homeless guy just walked by and asked me for a cigarette, then he asked me if I was writing a book (referring to my notebook).  I feel bad when I give homeless guys a smoke, and then am forced to shake their hand.  I end up feeling dirty.  I’ll try not to touch my mouth or anything until I can walk upstairs and wash this imaginary filth off.  That makes me kind of an ass to think that way, doesn’t it?

Ryan just came outside, waiting for Sarah.  She’s bringing over some food for all of us.  That’s gonna be awesome.  I’ll probably wait to eat until after we’re done shooting my portion, though - otherwise my nerves might cause me to have to throw up on camera.  Never good.

3:31 pm

tags: presentation