We get several requests from folks who want to see more of our Airstream, which we sometimes call “Liv.” (What? You don’t name your inanimate objects?) So here’s a brief video of the gal…
Airstream RV Blog #4 – Grand Tour (in 2 minutes!) from Sean Michael on Vimeo.
Our Airstream is a 25-foot model — squarely in the middle of the species size range. I like to think that this trailer includes “everything we need, and nothing we don’t.”
Does size matter? In the world of Airstreams (and most RVs, I suppose) length matters. In the old days you could purchase “wide body” editions, but these days, all Airstreams are the same width. So the way to add living room and features is to go longer.
There are trade offs associated with changes in size. The smaller units are easier to tow. The longer units are more spacious and accommodating. So there’s really no right or wrong with regard to RV size. It all depends on your intended usage. For us, the 25-footer was a perfect compromise between size and maneuverability.
In the wide world of RVs, we’re a relatively small fish. That said, I’m convinced that the Airstream is more comfortable than our old brownstone apartment in Greenwich Village — and we don’t have any mice.
On that note, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon aboard the RV. It seems that once one mentally adjusts to the amount of living space available — whatever it may be — that amount of space quickly becomes “normal.” It makes one reconsider the trend of ever-expanding American homes. How much space do you really need?
Well…. little rough around the edges as we would say…
Nice trailer.. glad that you are telling us about it.. however, I think I would have set your best camera up on a tripod.. and use the better looking half.. Kristie.. to do like vana white does… with the wheel of fort… you know…
putting the camera on a tripod that rolls.. shooting towards the rear … would allow you to start at the back…(Kristie moving from right to left and so forth… and as you moved forward show off what is at each side of the AS trailer…as you move towards the front… then cut to … where you are re-covering by camera the center section… and move now forward with the camera and allow Kristie to again show what is left /right up or down.. but, be careful that you don’t get too much camera movement (left, right, up, down…) in or people will start feeling kinda sick…
Here a wide angle lense is perfered due to the close quarters. but if not use the fullest depth of field lense you have… so you dont have to move the camera around left or right, up down… kinda thing
Lighting is another area that we seem to find darkness in… what was that in the bathroom… a sink, a tub.. ?? too dark to tell… So some form of backlighting is also nice to use over the top of the camera.. but again not so strong that it spots out on one thing… or reflects in the mirror… here we found that mirrors are best controlled by using a piece of wax paper from the kitchen… gives the mirror still a definition but won’t show you in the background or reflect so much that it disturbs the lighing…
Going back through it.. do you have a AC, heater… what s under the sink/stove pantry, refrig… a lot left out… Not to mention the OUTSIDE?? Sean… Now I am not saying that Kristie should be demo’n the bed… in a tiger PJ set… with cuite little bunny slippers…on satin sheets… ahhhhh…well… hmmm .. never mind… Not that I am picking on you but, helping to get your trailers (not the AS) up to better professional quality now that you have a better camera to play with… Hope you don’t mind… our 2 cents worth…
Best of all its .. fun your having … we can tell…
Hi GMAs, your criticism is certainly fair and you make a good point: this video is due for a refreshing! It was one of the very first we shot for our blog. As you can see, it was just me and the camera. 😀 I did have a tripod, but no one to move it. And this was before we had much in terms of wide-angle lenses.
Bear in mind that on most of these videos, it’s just me… There’s no crew. I am the writer, host, director of photography, director, and editor – so I guess there’s no one else to blame if it sucks, ha ha.
Sometimes Kristy is with me, sometimes she is off doing her own thing.
Anyway, I like the idea of doing a fresh edit of this video since the subject matter is popular (everyone wants a tour, you know?). Thanks!
Sean.. Sean.. Sean… what you need is one of them fancy director hats… and a big Sweat shirt that says I MAKE MOVIES… on it… (DIRECTOR is nice too) grin… ahhh then you will be the artist you aspire (notice I almost said perspire) to be…
Now what I do…. when it is only I at the film…port
You can get one of them little remote controls that will turn the camera on and off… so you can be the main event… while using a remote mic also … that works for a single shot sequence… then what one can do is use the T-W remote button to make the camera lense go from close up to wide… yes you can’t see what is happening unless your get an additional remote monitor… or if your cheap like me… plug the computers one into the vid out from the camera.. and have it face you so while your looking at the camera… the monitor is what you can look at to get a idea of what frame your in…
Now some of the more neat features also that you can get as accessories besides the gryo stablizer is… a gimbal that allows the remote.. (which you conseal in your hand) so that you can not only make the camera go on and off.. … control the lense but also the camera direction… yep you can make it go up and down or side to side or both at the same time.. however, I don’t recommend that as you will max out… watching your own videos…
Now as you set the camera up on the gimbal tri pod… you can have it pan in on your or you walk on camera… turning it on … and have it zoom in on you while your addressing… and watching the monitor… (in the big stuff we also have teleprompters for the scripts.. each one to the actor… with instructions as to where they are to move also) … then without moving.. you can use the remote again and have the camera pan off and widen out to give ou some footage to blend in back at the mixing board…
Ah yes this is fun… but not to ignor Kristie.. you need to get her a shirt that says GET A GRIP… and one of them french camerapersons hats also…
remember also that you need to check your lighting with the hand meter.. or have someone check it while you stand in.. its always fun to get others involved with movie making too.. you can’t imagine how many really ham it up… and play along… when you ask them to help you make a movie clip…
I take along a couple of folding reflectors.. look like silver umbrellas… and a couple of tripods to hold ’em… so that you can concentrate the light into the subject area… Now to soften it… I use just plane old white plastic or clear.. to get rid of the 5 pm shadow… over or from the direction the sun is lighting from… try it and see if it works for you too…
Now armed with all this knowledge that took me years to learn behind the camera… you should be able to revisit the trailer (AS) .. and we should be seeing a improved Sean… of course the shot with Kristie… pink bunny slippers.. ahhh never mind… the mind is running away again… I keep forgetting this is a family show… hee hee…
And at the end.. don’t forget to keep the blems /outtakes… that you goofed around on.. lots of people like those better than the trailer (film) your making… grin… makes it more human too… Purpose got yassss are allowed.. such as you say.. and here is the bathroom…open the door suddenly… but wait someone is in the shower… ahhhh.. ops… flash.. so they can’t seen who it was…kinda thing.. off camera comments …. adds spice and a hook to the ho hum some consider it to be… grin….
(what is even better is when the subject that your filming doesn’t know what s comming next.. i.e .. the props guy put a mechanical fish in the pan.. that the subject was supposed to be cooking… it flipped out of the pan..in the background… while the narator is talking… he sees it making a escape.. .. the subject that was cooking it then chases it.. beating it back with the pan… This was a simalar outtake that they did with robin in RV.. where his wife opens the oven and suddenly their are racoons in their…(prop guys joke) the reaction was so spontanious and funny that it made it into the film… and the script writers had to scurry and re-write how to get rid of them in the movie… check it out… If you have the DVD… )
from their your on your own… after all YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCer too… so make it ZINGGGGG…. KEEP ‘EM GUESSING WHAT IS NEXT… OR all you will have is a home movie type of trailer (film) Try to keep it going both visually and un-expectedly… Then when you have the serious romance… it wants to be a quieting velvet glove warm feeling.. you leave ’em with… as most then rode off into the sunset… and fade to black…
That is what makes a good shot even better… on and you can’t determine if it sucks or not… only the audance can do that.. if you do.. they call it something else… grin…
By the way .. no you know why I have more than just one camera… sometimes when we shoot… I would assume by now you have wished such also as you get more into it…
Again just some minor suggestions for your toolbox… Heck you should put on a seminar so that you can inspire others to get busy also… and start filming… mabye a side blog now and again showing behind the camera stuff on how too… Hmmm
HI Kristie… not to forget you… ahhhh a scriptwriting class… who knows you could start one of them soaps … days of our trailer lives… kinda thing .. ahhh I hear the wheels turning now…. picture Kristie on the red carpet in her white dress…cameras flashing… pepole screaming her name… to the golden globe awards…presents … for best writer…director… hmmm… (still wearing the pink bunny slippers) …. film at 11… smile
GMAs, if I had a separate hat for every one I wear… well, we don’t have a closet large enough to store ’em. 🙂
I thought about getting a director’s chair, but the Zip Dee will have to suffice!
We actually do use multiple cameras on our videos. The primary camera is a Sony EX1, but we also have three other HDV cameras (a couple of Canons, and a Sony). And I guess we should also count our Nikon SLR for stills.
At first it seemed a little too ambitious to be doing a “show” in this “one man band” style. But now we have TV shows like Survivorman on Discovery Channel that I believe are using similar filmmaking techniques. The alternative would be to carry around a cameraman with us…and that would make our Airstream a little crowded, heh heh.
Really, I think doing a TV show would be much easier (on me, at least) than what we do. It would be a cinch for me to just write and host a TV show. But for ONE GUY to write, host, shoot, direct, and edit a show? Now that’s a creative challenge. Of course, that’s also why we don’t produce 22-minutes of material per week.
Who knows, maybe someday we will “progress” to TV, so I can take a break. 🙂
BTW, I like your thoughts about surprising people! I agree that this is an important mission in any creative endeavor. It’s important to keep it fresh.
Cheers,
Sean
Here’s what you should do:
Quit goofing off and get a FLIR camera.
Buy a helicopter to attach it to.
Get your helicopter license while you are at it and learn how to fly.
Figure out how to keep that FLIR camera still and aim it.
Fly circles around your rig while filming.
It is that simple. Why aren’t you doing that? Ok, Kristie can figure out the flying part if you must…
Just kidding. Keep up the great work and have a great day! 🙂
lol Tom… Actually the thought has crossed my mind to buy one of those miniature radio controlled helicopters and rig it up with an HD camera. I’d love to see some overhead fly-bys of our campsites. It would be a fun filmmaking gadget. Maybe someday! 😀
You are so right: “How much space do you really need?”
I think we gather to many ‘things’ and forget how little we really need to live a quality life.
There’s a line in the movie Fight Club where the protagonist says, “The stuff you own ends up owning you.”
I think this rings true for many of us (and I’m as guilty as anyone). Over time, we accumulate more and more STUFF… Before you know it, we’re working every day just to maintain our quota of stuff.
I’m neither immune nor free of material desires… but it’s nice sometimes to break away from all the stuff and live a simpler life (assuming RV travel qualifies! ;-)).