Tech Tuesday: Underwater Slo-mo HD Camera + Surfer = Gorgeous

The Roman philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” This clip from the BBC documentary “South Pacific” shows Rudi Diesel capturing a once in a lifetime shot of surfer Dylan Longbottom in a massive 12-foot wave using a Typhoon HD4 high speed camera. It’s the first shot of its kind ever recorded, and one of the most amazing surfing shots you’ll ever see.

Here's the shot you'll want to watch over and over.

Link

Inspiration Monday :: The scary first step

I recently jumped out of a airplane, and let me tell you there is no scarier step in your life than the one that leads to a straight down free fall at 190 kilometres an hour from 13,000 feet (that's 4 km) up.

THAT is a big step with no turning back. Of course it was a blast, and turned out to be one of the best, craziest experiences of my life.

But, it never would have happened without that all important 'step' out of my comfort zone, aka a perfectly good airplane.

Making a short documentary is far less scary that skydiving, as you probably could have guessed. So if you've ever wanted to, here's a little more inspiration to for you, below.

Teens are makings impressive documentaries all over the world.

If you're in high school and want to learn how to make a documentary, take that first step, email us. It could turn out to be one of the best experiences of your life!

Teen's Documentary on 'Derby Girls' to Be Screened at Seattle Film Festival

Some people go to the roller derby and think it's fun, albeit somewhat quirky. Hastings teen Lucy Adams recently went to the roller derby and thought, "This would make a great documentary."

A junior at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, CT—Adams attended the Hastings Public Schools until high school—she is enrolled for the second year in a broadcast journalism course. Around the time her teacher assigned this year's documentary film project, Adams and her friends visited the roller derby—and she was immediately fascinated by the women who compete.

"I never realized how big roller derby was," she said. "There are more than 30,000 female skaters worldwide. There are celebrities who compete, but many of them have normal day jobs. And then at night they participate in the roller derby."

Her final product, Derby Girls, has been selected to be screened at the largest student film festival in the world, The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), held each spring in Seattle, WA.

"I hadn't even heard of the festival," Adams said. "My teacher found me in the hallway the day before the submission deadline and said I should enter."

Adams’ documentary was one of only seven chosen to be shown out of entries from 25 countries and 40 states—most of which were produced by college and film school students.

It took about three weeks to make," said Adams, who does all of her own editing. "I interviewed players, spectators and people who volunteer at bouts." Her sources were members of the Gotham Girls Roller Derby team of New York, including "Margaret Thrasher," "Razzle Deazzle" and "Roletta Lynn."

Derby Girls isn't Adams' first film, though, by any means. Last year she produced a film about homeless people who live in Grand Central Station—"It was tricky finding people who would agree to be interviewed for that," she said—and recently took her camera on a trip to Patagonia with her family, interviewing guides about the effects of receding glaciers on tourism.

Adams, her family and her journalism teacher plan to attend the festival from April 28 to May 1 in Seattle.

"I definitely think I want to pursue film-making and journalism in the future," said Adams, who is just embarking on the college search process. "It's a lot of fun."

(Link to story here.)

Nerd Tuesday: Love and Tips from the Techies

Dwight Schrute, Office nerd

At some point being a nerd became ...cool.

These days people you may not have previously considered 'nerd worthy' wear their Nerd label's with pride. I sometimes wonder if the real geeks and nerds - the Dwight Schrute variety - (I'm told there's a difference, but let's not quibble) ... the truly 'uncool' ones feel infringed upon. Y'know, feel that their nerdy status is tainted by people who are cool and good looking and rich, but use the nerd thing as a status symbol.

Don't laugh, 'Nerd' is a status symbol. It's shorthand for smart, current and clever. And, who could blame the nerd-posers for wanting to be in that clique? In the nerd-house these days we have your billionaire geniuses like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and billionaire-movie makers like James Cameron.

And we have nerd conventions like NAB. James Cameron was one of the celeb's to take centre stage today at the tech-fest in Las Vegas. Once a year for decades now, the National Association of Broadcasters sets up tech nirvana on and off The Strip and has become THE go-to event for the entertainment technology development. In previous years NAB's been the red carpet event for unveiling amazing movie-making toys from High Def cameras to digital movie houses, to the famous Red camera and of course, 3D.

And it was there that Cameron made this announcement: All Movie Theatres will be 3D Within Five Years. Check out the story here. According to the man behind the jaw-dropping Avatar, the 2D viewing experience will be considered 0ld-school in theatres by 2016. Obviously, this will have a huge impact on the industry on just about every level.

You buying it? Or is every movie worth making in 3D? I'm not sure if my eyeballs or brain can handle that much 3D.

Maybe I'm just not cool enough to be considered a nerd.

Thoughts?

Soccer on the Water: Based on a true story :: Inspiration Monday

We all need a little inspiration, and, we might need a little more on Monday's. Welcome to YFI's Inspiration Monday's. Watch this incredible story....

Cate Blanchett Launches Youth Film Initiative

Cate Blanchett, one of the best actresses in the world has picked up on the importance of Youth making documentaries and is getting behind it in a real way. Make a doc. Be the change.
Start thinking about your Youth Films International doc. What important issue would you want to showcase? Leave a comment.

(Hello? Is that you?)

A big hellooo Youth Films Followers!

I know it's been silence on the radio for a while. Thanks for hanging around! I'm not sure what is in the air these days but I have been getting emails from so many former YFI students lately! It's such a treat. Today I got another call from my former student Shilpi. (Thanks for the love, girl!) It has roused me from my work and nudged me blinking into the daylight! Glad to know we've had such a positive impact on your lives, career choices and confidence.

What now?

Rest assured, the popular YFI Documentary Workshops are alive and well. There will be more YFI 2011 news coming your way. This has been a year to recalibrate and bring in some new themes, people, rules and ramp it up for the next session. I'd love your ideas, feedback and suggestions for what to include in future workshops. What is your favourite way to learn? As I have always taught, "doing" is a linear process, but "creating" is a very non-linear process, so go ahead and throw some non-linear ideas at me. Please stay in touch, keep the emails and phone calls coming. It's encouraging to know you still think of us. It'd also be great to get your friends, teachers, students and anyone with an interest in learning how to make a documentary to "Like" our Facebook page (on the left) or follow us www.twitter.com/youthfilms

'Til next time!

Fran