Here is the video the students created this past spring semester using 38 iPad Airs to record the action of the scene, including the frozen action spin move that was made famous by the Matrix movies.

There were some complications and some things we could have done better, but it was a simple experiment that could be adapted in the future for better results.

With another semester in the books, I realized I had a lot of old footage from students over the years.  I had created a reel about three years ago with about a year and a half of footage from that point.  Now, I am unveiling the new one created for the last two and a half years.

In addition to this video, I have added a few more student videos to the video page of this blog so check them out when you get a chance.

Also, the iPad camera shoot video that spoofs the Matrix will be posted soon but there is an accompanying behind-the-scenes video that we are trying to finish first.

Enjoy…

Film student Aaron Kimmel took this overhead photo of some of the action of our iPad shoot on Monday.  Notice the action in the middle surrounded by the students and lights in the background.

We will post more about this event in the coming days.  Everyone should be getting online and enrolling for film classes for this coming fall semester.

Now is the time to start thinking about your summer and fall classes.  Please consider Video I (PHT 130) or Video II (PHT 131) in the fall or Film Appreciation (CST 151 or 152).

I will give more details in the coming days.

Students from PHT 130 (Video I) will be using 90 iPads to recreate the famous freeze frame special effect when movement is “frozen” and the eye of the camera revolves completely around it.

Students from many different classes will be aiding the film students in completing this tricky maneuver.

We will have more visuals at the completion of the video but if anyone is interested in participating, please come to the Black Box Theater in the WAS building this coming Monday, April 20th, at 10:30am and stay and help out for thirty minutes until 11:00.

It is always rewarding when our film/video students are able to find work in the industry, either on a volunteer/intern basis or in a paying “gig,” whether it is freelance production work or more steady employment.

One of our students (Paige Fischer) worked as an intern at 522 Productions in Alexandria, Virginia last fall (2014) semester and did such a wonderful job she was hired onto their team.

In fact, I happened upon a video on their Website where she appears in their “Approach” video for the company’s site.  See her in the background of the screen capture below.

Paige Fischer in content video for 522 Productions

This semester we have a student (Evan Roseberry) from our Video I class last semester who is interning there this semester.  I am confident he will enjoy the same level of success as Paige.

Thank you very much to 522 Productions and the other local companies with whom we have partnered to give experience to our students and let them explore their own creativity while also exploring job opportunities.

First of all, I would like to congratulate both Meghan Oney and Paige Fischer on a great short film they created in the fall 2014 semester as part of a supervised study class.  Please take a look:

Also, as an update from the music videos that were created by our PHT 130 (Video I) class students, you can see them soon in the video page of this site.

We apologize it took so long but please take a look at what the students completed last semester.

And on a final note, there is a second eight weeks class here on the Woodbridge campus (CST 250 – “Art of Film) that will be starting soon and should be a lot of fun for anyone interested in film.

As the fall 2014 semester wound to a close and the new spring 2015 semester has begun, I have found things to be very busy around campus.  Therefore, the music videos filmed partially by our Video I students last semester have not been completed but keep checking back for an update – hopefully soon.

Also, we are trying to get some confirmation for some other exciting new collaborations and projects for this year.  I am not going to leak anything yet but it could be some really thrilling experiences for our students.

As always, if you have any questions about film on the Woodbridge campus of NOVA, come in and see us or simply post something on this site.

The Filmmaking Club here at NOVA Woodbridge completed a community project for Burke & Herbert Bank at the end of the spring 2014 semester.  With the post-production assistance of our own Jonathan Balsamo, a series of eight videos were created for the bank, each with a money saving tip.  The videos have circulated on the scoreboard at the home games of the Potomac Nationals games this summer and have been exciting for fans to watch the hard work of our Filmmaking Club students.   Here is a post from the Burke & Herbert Facebook page:

Also, the Filmmaking Club worked on an inspirational video to promote the great work of the VFW in Manassas, VA.  Here is a link to this video as well:

For those that tried to enroll in the Video I course (PHT 130) here at Woodbridge only to find it is full, please let me know if you would still be interested in taking the course next semester so I can get an idea of which courses to offer.

I hope everyone has a wonderful semester!