Multiple configurations for a single movie

bcbarnes wrote on 10/2/2002, 8:34 PM

Ok - I just finished a little 4 minute music video of my son. It consists of about 30 little 8 second clips of video we've taken over the last 6 months. My wife tells me "That looks great for us, but can we get more clips with the grandparents in it to send to them, and a version with more clips of the cousins to send to them, and another version with a few clips of <so and so> for them...". That got me thinking. Using "takes" would be good for swapping different clips in and out of the same event, but it might be even more useful to save a "configuration" based on the current active takes. That way, when I modify something, I can just select the "grandparent" configuration, and all the apropriate takes will become active, then I render, then select the "cousins" configuration, making all the appropriate takes active for that one, and then I render again, etc..

This would allow me to have multiple "versions" of the same movie, based on different takes, and easily switch between them (you could also use this to have "G" and "PG-13" versions of a move). Maybe this can already be done? Anyway, just and idea I had.

Brian.

Comments

Sr_C wrote on 10/3/2002, 9:07 AM

I have about 15 different versions of a video that I just finished. Basically, it's all about the Veg file. When you complete your first version and save (not render) the file as (ex.music video.veg) just open it up again and add the clips you want and then save again as (music video grandparents.veg). repeat this for as many versions as you want. when ever you want to work with a specific one, just open up that particular veg file. When you are completed, you can render each one as you wish.

bcbarnes wrote on 10/4/2002, 6:21 AM

Thanks for the idea, but this leads to a problem if I want to make a change in the video that is common to ALL the configurations - I would have to go back to the .VEG file for each configuration and change it.

TorS wrote on 10/4/2002, 7:04 AM

>bcbarnes wrote:
>I would have to go back to the .VEG file for each configuration and change it.

Not if you render the common material first and then use the resulting file(s) in the other versions. If you don't change the lenght you're OK.

What is it with your family, can't they stand the sight of each other?

Tor

Tyler.Durden wrote on 10/4/2002, 7:12 AM

If it's my family they can't. That's why we use the phone.

But on the subject of versions...

How bout keeping the versions in the same veg file and just mute the tracks not used? Any change common to all can be easily copied to the alternate tracks.

i.e.

tracks 1,2 for the elders
tracks 3,4 for the inlaws
tracks 5,6 for the incarcerated
tracks 7,8 for the deceased
and so on...

HTH, MPH

bcbarnes wrote on 10/4/2002, 8:44 AM

>>What is it with your family, can't they stand the sight of each other?

hehe. You know, I wonder if either Spielbeg or Lucas have this problem. I made the original video from an "artistic" standpoint. I put shots in because I thought they fit. But my wife (who loves the original, BTW) thinks that if we show it to the grandparents, they'll be disappointed that there were'nt more shots of them, and if we show it to the cousins, THEY'LL be disappointed because there aren't more shots of THEM. So rather than "compromise" on my artistic approach, I am making several different versions.

MPH - I think your idea of using different tracks instead of different takes for each "variant" is probably the easiest way to go. Thanks. I still think that some kind of configuration to easily pick among different groups of takes is a good idea, though...

Tyler.Durden wrote on 10/4/2002, 3:47 PM

RE: "the variants"... I didn't realize you *know* my family.

We just call them vagrants. Actually, they are "replicants" or "skin-jobs" (as the blade-runners call 'em), but it doesn't matter... their clocks are runnin-out anyway.

Truthfully, it was Spielberg's mom who thought the kid's coat should be red in "Schindler's List"... they fought about that for weeks. Steven wanted it to be "hello-kitty-pink", but mom said he wouldn't get invited to the lake anymore if he didn't change it. Same for "Private Ryan", except it was his dad... Steve had Tom Hanks saying: "Screw this" at the end, and his dad gave him a dope-slap at a preview and made him change it to "Earn this", all 'cause he got Steven his first job making popcorn at the local movie-house.

Families...go figure.

I like the takes-config concept... in the meantime, hope the tracks-trick helps,

MPH