The Grand Finale

Shadows in the Dark

The Tunnel

Wheels

Production Strategy

I plan on starting at the Breakwall because the area will be pretty empty and it will give me a great view of the city as well as the lake. It is down at the McKinley Marina and I will be able to come across some interesting sounds coming off the lake as well as some great reflection footage. I will make sure I plan out shots before I take any pictures and footage and focus only on smooth areas that allow for some imagination. I will do the same with sounds that may be one thing but allow the listener/viewer to picture what exactly they are hearing and seeing. I want to find out exactly the potential of the Downtown area I have been exploring and really get my creative juices flowing in order to get great footage. I am looking for any new and interesting situations in the area.

Ten Questions

1. Will there be any boats in Lake Michigan?
2. What kind of moon will it be when I gather my footage?
3. Will it be cloudy or not and what kind of reflections will that cause?
4. What kind of lighting will there be in the buildings?
5. What kind of Christmas lighting will be in the area?
6. Is there any wooded area or nature-like part of this area?
7. Can I get on the top of a building for a better and different angle with the camera?
8. Am I going to be able to record any sounds that are unique and cannot be recreated?
9. Is there an area where I can film some car "stunts"?
10. Will I be able to come across any interesting people with stories to tell I can record?

Reflection #4

My favorite experience was looking at the skyline of downtown Milwaukee at night. I love being from Milwaukee and I think it's a great city. It has a better skyline than L.A., I think and it's really beautiful at night. It was a full moon and the sights were beautiful. The moon reflected in Lake Michigan and it was very cool. The lights from cranes for construction were flashing very quickly as well and it fit in the skyline and the whole scene was pretty awesome.

Reflection #3

I am tone deaf. I may sing while I drive on occasion, but I suck ass at singing. I am terrible. On that note, I have never ever seen anyone break out into song randomly. And I have never seen anyone break out into "A Whole New World." Not really something I expected to happen in downtown Milwaukee. Another thing I didn't expect was a panhandler to come up to me and my friend and tell us a heart-wrenching story about how he lives in Burlington and he makes a lot of money and his wife is in Texas and he needs money for gas because he doesn't have much left but apparently enough to keep his car running on the corner. I thought it was so great I recorded part of his story and used it on a previous blog, but apparently I am incapable of properly using a microphone according to certain people. Another thing that hit me like a kick in the chest was this: after the guy panhandled us, he got in his car, and my buddy who had given him five bucks was pissed and wanted it back. So we followed this guy for about 20 minutes. And, even though we shouldn't have, we were going to try to tip off the cops because of the principal. Not a single cop in sight. After we lost the guy, we saw two squad cars, a motorcycle cop, a meter maid, and a paddywagon. It was the second time on my treks that I saw an abundance of police without any clear purpose.