John Oestreich 12/1/24 John Oestreich 12/1/24

Sometimes dreary is nice

I have been thinking about a project for my video productions kids are a while now; it is known as the 250 picture project. It is where they take a series of 10 pictures 25 times totaling 250 pictures. The idea I had was that they would start in one spot and move towards or away from a place, person, or thing and then once imported to FCP they would be able to speed them up perhaps making for a cool effect. I thought that it could be thematic, so I began thinking about what I would do my project on. As it turns out, the Friday after Thanksgiving was totally open for me and since the theme I had chosen was ‘urban’ I went downtown camera in hand to start my project.

First off - it was cold and dreary. Temperature was right around freezing and it was one of those days that Indiana is famous for - total cloud-cover and gray, gray, gray. It was, for whatever reason, the exact right vibe for what I was trying to accomplish. I thought that the tree at the circle would be a cool place to attempt this project., so I parked my car at Circle Center Mall and ambled out on to the street.

I am not a person overly given to allowing circumstances to affect how I feel, but it just felt so melancholy as I was walking around. Started playing some Elliot Smith - Miss Misery gave me some Good Will Hunting feelings and the combination of the music and the weather, etc was just deliciously dreary.

First thing I noticed that without even thinking about it, I was taking pictures of whatever caught my eye. No thoughts. No moving around so that I could get the best angle - nothing like that. Notice - point and shoot. It was actually liberating to do it that way as most of the time I am considering rule of thirds and lighting and blah, blah, blah. So when I I got home and went through the pics, I started frowning when I saw some of them, but convinced myself to stop and try to get back into that mood I was in when I took them. Just let it wash over you,. feel it - do not think about it. It became fun again quickly because then I was enjoying them just as when I took them.

I noticed right off that I kept taking pictures of old buildings. Dunno why, but when I took pics of some of the newer ones, it did not make me feel the same way. Too much glass and steel. There is obvious history in the architecture and colors - just feel like it has character that modern construction just does not have. I would love to see what some of those apartments might have been like in those older buildings.

There were two other things I noticed right away: the picture project was harder than I thought, and I wished I had brought a video camera. (Yes, the DLSR could have filmed, but its not my preferred vid cam. Call me bougie.)

When I was taking the picture, I would take 5-10 steps in between shots Boy do you need to pay attention to how you are walking. Go side to side to any size degree and it throws off the orientation of the pic. I learned that if I shot through the same spot over and over in my viewer it worked better. It can still be done, but attention must be paid.

With regard to the video camera issue - Pictures are worth a thousand words; videos are worth a million.

At some point while I was down there, the sun came out which was ironically a huge bummer. Right around that time, I seemed to lose my steam when it came to searching for new vistas, so I packed up and went home.

I am not going to start chanting or write a haiku here, but that feeling when you are chasing cool shots it a real high. I was going full tilt and looked down and 2 hours had gone by and it seemed like 10 minutes. I know I liked that feeling enough that I am now in search of a new way to get it.

I went through the photos and created a video from them. I used some of the new tools that the latest FCPX update gave us. The magnetic mask is really cool and I used it to remove the color around some of the paintings on different buildings. Increased saturation on the sign with a bleak black and white background was a cool juxtaposition of colors. Plus it gave me some time working with MM. There are a couple of sequences where I used that 10 pics procedure to mediocre effect,

To be honest, I am not really all that pleased with the video - it just didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, which is weird because I did not really have any expectation for it. But I am going to publish my stuff - if I do not I am the biggest hypocrite who has ever lived. (CM and MP - that is for you!) Here’s that video.

John Oestreich 11/18/24 John Oestreich 11/18/24

Sometimes I love angry music

Linkin Park's music often channels anger, frustration, and raw emotion because it reflects the challenges and struggles many people face in their lives. Their songs explore themes like pain, betrayal, loneliness, and personal turmoil, which resonate deeply with listeners who feel overwhelmed or misunderstood.

There is a great deal of emotional catharsis with personal experience in their lyrics. It is deeply felt by many because they feel the same way.

There is a great deal of emotional catharsis with personal experience in their lyrics. It is deeply felt by many because they feel the same way.

Linkin Park's "anger" isn't destructive but transformative, giving voice to complex emotions in a way that helps people feel seen and heard. Their music isn’t just about rage—it’s about healing through that rage.

Chester Bennington, the lead singer of the rock band Linkin Park, died by suicide at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California on July 20, 2017. The band understandably disappeared for quite a long time after that traumatic event. They have been reinvented as of late with a new singer, Emily Armstrong, taking Bennington’s role. And yes, she can totally scream.

Their new song Emptiness Machine has recently dropped and I like it.

I was curious what The Emptiness Machine meant, so I googled it. It actually was. a lot deeper answer than I was expecting. Click HERE for that explanation.

John Oestreich 11/11/24 John Oestreich 11/11/24

Cup of Dirt Productions

If you have the IQ points to spare, please feel free to watch the videos that you can find inside this post.

John Oestreich 11/6/24 John Oestreich 11/6/24

My son, the artist.

This is my son, Jason. He is a renaissance man and fancies himself an artist and cultured. While he is still a very young man I have great hopes for him. I am now going to brag on him something fierce. So leave if that bores you.

He is kind and thinks of others more than himself.
He has a very eclectic taste in music and can be regularly found next to Alexa having her play tune after tune for him.
He is a voracious reader. Challenge him to a Harry Potter trivia competition - you’re going down. He reads everything and I wholeheartedly believe it is one of the biggest reasons for his academic success.
His laugh. It is unabashed and free. I think it demonstrates his vision and opinion of the world - nothing is taken that seriously. Hopefully he never loses this.
He is a helper; I cannot think of a time where he has shied away from being part of work going on.
Deep thinker. His curiosity about the world around him is vast and some of the things that come out of his mouth amaze me.

I could go on and on.

Below you will see tons and tons of Van Gogh paintings. The reason for this is because Van Gogh is his favorite artist - he asked for Starry Night for a present and it is on a wall in his room. I have put those paintings on this site because he needs to look at them for his homework assignment. One of my students, a fabulous young lady named Cammy is going to paint with him. She came up with a great idea to have him show her his favorite Van Gogh paintings and since they are going to be doing a landscape, to show he some that he really likes. I can’t wait for him to be able to do this.

Stay tuned - I will absolutely put his painting on here for all to see.

Lots more information about Van Gogh

John Oestreich 10/29/24 John Oestreich 10/29/24

Short films that stimulate

This is one of my very favorite short films. I show this video on one of the very first days to my video productions class students. I do this for many reasons.

There's something inside Benjamin's briefcase.

Directed by Josh Soskin
Cinematography: Rob Hauer
Producer: Grace Jackson/ Houseblend Media
Editors: Josh Soskin, Bennett Barbakow, Matt Sultan
Music by: Huma-Huma
Starring: Gerrit Wellens
Co-Starring: Fran Phillips, Alicia De Leon, Mat Scollon, Alex Lamar, Anne Alexander
Production Designer: Adri Siriwat
1st AD: Ian J Putnam
2nd AD; Chuck Bennett
1st AC: Alicia Varela
2nd AC: Daniel Worlock
Key Grip: Brian Deutch
Gaffer: Julien Janigo
Sound: Justin Gay
Wardrobe: Sarah Fox, Sarah Horton
SFX: Resolution LA
PAs: Mico Pulice, Kevin Rojas, Sebastian Lee

Special Thanks: Mofilm, Station Film, Culver Casting, Resolution LA, Shane Liem Casting

This is one of my very favorite short films. I show this video on one of the very first days to my video productions class students. I do this for many reasons.

One, there are no special effects. The cinematography is really simple - those are all shots that they could pull off. Students should be motivated in such a way that they are capable of a video just like this.

Two, the acting is really no big deal. This is not to say the performances were not great, but they were very limited. “You got the juice” = Not a tough line to deliver. As the students are also many times the actors in their own films, this is no barrier to entry.

Three, there was no real background for the characters. There was no world building. In fact, the plot line is really limited. And most importantly, the video is not tied up in a nice bow at the end to provide closure for everyone. This allows viewers to create whatever closure they like, which is great. (The fact that almost all feature films are tied together at the end is really annoying to me.)

Four, it is very compelling and engaging. The change is background music, the plainness of the actors, the relatability - I don’t know exactly, but there is no doubt that it is a fun video and very few people bail on it prior to ending.

Anyway, this is how video productions class starts. I would love to be a part of a video like this. I think it is a great example of how a simple idea executed well can be a great short.

Per Wikipedia:

Penny dreadfuls were cheap popular serial literature produced during the 19th century in the United Kingdom. The pejorative term is roughly interchangeable with penny horrible, penny awful, and penny blood. The term typically referred to a story published in weekly parts of 8 to 16 pages, each costing one penny.[3] The subject matter of these stories was typically sensational, focusing on the exploits of detectives, criminals, or supernatural entities. First published in the 1830s, penny dreadfuls featured characters such as Sweeney Todd, Dick Turpin, Varney the Vampire, and Spring-heeled Jack.

Penny Dreadful is a fantastic video. There are some known actors in it as well. David H. Stevens plays Dennis and is the protagonist. (Kind of) With Marnie Schulenburg who played Holly really well, and is unfortunatley deceased. When she discusses her ‘feminie wiles’ was a high point for her. Oona Laurence who is not named in the short and is only credited as ‘Little Girl’ absolutely steals every scene she is in. I cannot believe she has not had more of a career. She has played the same ‘lilttle girl’ in most of the movies and shows she has been in. I have to imagine she is trying to break in as not the ‘little girl’ but according to IMDB she has not managed to do that yet.

Great, great short. I laughed out loud at many parts of this short.

Rules for Takeaway Scenes:

Scenes must be filmed in a single continuous take. No cuts. Film lights are prohibited. Only natural lighting or practicals allowed. There will never be credits for anyone involved. Participants will never publicly reveal or acknowledge their own involvement with a scene, or release any information that would reveal anyone else’s involvement with the Takeaway Scenes project.

These are some of the coolest videos I have ever watched. Jumpers is easily my favorite, but its not as if the others ones are not cool. Teapot is a really, really good video too. But lets look at Jumpers first.

The scene is shot entirely on a rooftop. And it was a really tense scene about 2 people who were discussing a helluva hard series of topics. No spoilers here, but it is amazing.

John Oestreich 10/15/24 John Oestreich 10/15/24

Am I a prepper?

Yep, this is what I am talking about today. How did this come up one might ask — I don’t know the answer to that, but I am going to take a look at this concept and whether or not I am going to go build out a pit in my basement.

Strap in - this one rambles more than that average post.

**"It puts the lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again..."**
I am not talking about this kind of pit in the basement - just FYI

First, lets address the issue of a catastrophic disaster occurring. What kind of disaster? I do not think you have to look too far to see that our country could be coming apart at the seams…perhaps a sequel to 1860-1864? That option is not as fun to talk about as it seems very plausible.

I think when things go pear-shaped it is only a matter of time before people begin to attempt to screw over other people - i.e. take their things and basically act like a pirate. This will happen faster when it is one group of people and their ideologies battling another group of people and their ideologies. If it was humanity versus a zombie apocalypse or the rise of Skynet, we would maybe stay together longer. Blue versus Red? At one another’s throats almost immediately.

Zombie apocalypse - easier. Zombies are not very smart as they are not self-aware. Their instinct is to eat brains or whatever. Moan and shamble off together. While they do pose a significant problem, especially in large groups, I feel as though they are lower on the ‘Oh no, we’re all going to die’ scale. One needs only to look at AMC’s The Walking Dead to get ideas for survival. (I am all about the RV - just saying) (oh - and getting a sword; vital piece of kit.

Skynet or the Rise of the Machines. All you have to do is think about how Siri or Alexa is always listening and some of the creepy stories about how it responds sometimes out of nowhere without being prompted and you realize that we are only steps away from a Terminator showing up at your door and asking if you are Sarah Connor. I find the concept of the robot uprising to be way higher on the ‘Oh no, we’re all going to die’ scale. I mean, they are self-aware which puts them ahead of zombies. Couple that with the analytical ability of an AI and the utter lack of emotions and we have death machines that are capable of out-thinking and out-everythinging us. Humanity better stay together a long time on this one, because Neo is not coming to save us.

Meteorite or comet impact. This one is easier and more difficult simultaneously. I mean the average person has zero ability to alter what might happen. It will be all about governments attempting to blow the thing up, etc. Stop singing I don’t want to miss a thing right now because Ben Affleck is not coming to save you. This one seems more like a clock ticking with no recourse. But once people realize that they only have X amount of time left, society probably begins to break down. Idiocracy anyone?

I did not think they would be this easy to find, but google ‘prepping bag’ and lots of options appear. So if you do not want to do any of your own thinking, check out the picture to the left.

Since I apparently am a DIYer when it comes to ‘bug out bags’ here is my list of items:

Tent - need a place to get out of the rain. Easy choice.
Windup radio - these are critical to finding out where the zombies are. Not as critical if the robots attack based on the fact that they would take over all thechnology. Could not trust a radio broadcast to be factual. Some of these radios also double as chargeable batteries intended to recharge other items such as phone or walkie-talkie.
Flashlight - duh.
Envelope with all important documents - birth certificates, etc.
Firearms - I would be satisfied with some manner of AR and a Glock 19.
Kabar knife - good enough for USMC, good enough for me.
Clothes - several changes.
Hygiene products - gotta brush your teeth at least some.
MREs/H2O - this is troublesome as it is bulky and heavy. Perhaps a water filter would be better.
Bible - going to need to keep your spirits up and whats better?

Yes this is crazy, but is it crazy enough? This concept can come across as completely nuts and then after some thought seem existentially valuable. I do not know if I will ever have one, a prepper bag that is, but the worry is that planning ahead and not needing seems much better than being in need of one and not having one.

What would you put in your bag? What am I missing? What is ridiculous and needs to go?

John Oestreich 10/14/24 John Oestreich 10/14/24

Halloween short film? Maybe.

I have been thinking about doing this short for a long time. Horror movies are a niche — they do not get a lot of love. Not from production companies, (they do not give them big budgets) they do not get A-list actors, (lots of little experience/first timers) and they do not get premium advertising. But man is it weird that so many people love them.

I still think that The Exorcist is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. Nightmare on Elm Street also caused me issues for a long time growing up. When is the hardest time to have an imagination and remember scary movies? Thats right — before you go to sleep. Oh yeah, and thats where Freddy is. Those were some scary times, some don’t turn the lights off times.

So anyway - I think I am going to take a shot at filming this short that has been going through my head over and over — maybe over fall break, we’ll see. Here are 3 pages of my storyboard. Undoubtedly it will be tough to follow, but its just a draft and a place where some ideas and shots are on paper.

Enjoy! And students — I am sure you will give me your opinions; I stand ready.

John Oestreich 10/14/24 John Oestreich 10/14/24

Football, Football…

It is nice seeing Jason find himself athletically. I don’t know if the NFL is in the future or anything like that, but watching him do well is really great.

John Oestreich 10/13/24 John Oestreich 10/13/24

Pumpkins from Halloween’s past.

So I am as susceptible to nostalgia as the next person. I live right across the road from Tuttle’s Orchard and I was coming home from church today and saw all of the pumpkins in the patch looking ready to be picked. Made me think about the fact that the Oestreichs have not went and picked pumpkins yet and that I need to choose a pumpkin seed recipe and get that all squared away. Then this video showed showed up while I was going through an old hard drive, so I thought I would put it up for the world to see what the world looked like prior to Covid.

I miss my kids being this size and it makes me think I had better realize that they are only going to be here for a short time. Thinking that might make it easier for me when I think about burying my 15 year old out in the same field as those pumpkins I saw. I digress.

John Oestreich 10/11/24 John Oestreich 10/11/24

My name is Inigo Montoya.

Today is Friday, another week closer to Fall Break. But this is not to say it was a bad week. In Film as Literature class we have been studying comedy, so naturally it was a perfect moment to bring out one of the greatest films of all time. The Princess Bride (1987) has been and will likely remain one of my favorite movies. It is an hour and 38 minutes of awesome - eminently quotable and simply a fantastic movie. The movie almost did not get made. The movie was based on William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride, which was considered too quirky to be made into a film for over a decade.

While I knew a lot about the movie - I have watched it sooo many times - there were some things that I found out while I was researching it. I was trying to decide whether or not I wanted to do a deep dive, but settled on just some bullet points of cool stuff.

Cary Elwes broke his toe while riding around on Andre the Giant’s ATV - the scene where he confronts Humperdinck he is actually in considerable pain.
Andre the Giant was capable of some amazing feats. He could eat 12 steaks and 15 lobster in one sitting. 6 plates of eggs was a breakfast. And the man could drink! It was said that 7000 calories a day from alcohol was not uncommon. There were 2 reports about beer: One was that he drank 156 beers in one evening. The other was that he drank 102 beers in 45 minutes before a flight.
The epic duel between Westley and Inigo Montoya is one of the most famous sword fights in movie history. It took months of training for Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin to perfect the choreography, and they performed most of it themselves without stunt doubles.
Patinkin says random people say the line, “My name is Inigo Montoya…” to him at least 3 times a day.
Billy Crystal, who played Miracle Max, improvised much of his hilarious dialogue. In fact, he was so funny during his scenes that co-stars couldn’t stop laughing.
Rob Reiner, the film’s director, has a cameo you can’t see but can hear. He voices the “clergyman” at the wedding scene, who delivers the iconic “Mawwage” speech.

Back to school. I thought of some of the people I know that are huge fans of the movie and I want to see how they might do on my short essay test. The questions are below:

Select 3 of the following and answer as completely as possible:

Here are six thematic essay questions based on The Princess Bride:

The Nature of True Love: How does The Princess Bride portray the concept of true love? Discuss how the relationship between Westley and Buttercup reflects or challenges traditional notions of love in fairy tales.
The Role of Storytelling: How does the framing device of a grandfather reading a story to his grandson shape the narrative of The Princess Bride? Discuss how the film comments on the power and importance of storytelling.
Heroism and its Many Forms: What does The Princess Bride suggest about heroism through characters like Westley, Inigo Montoya, and Fezzik? How does the film subvert or uphold classic heroic tropes?
Revenge and Forgiveness: Inigo Montoya’s quest for vengeance is a central subplot. How does the film explore the theme of revenge? Does it suggest that vengeance brings satisfaction, or does it complicate the idea?
Fate vs. Free Will: Throughout The Princess Bride, characters seem to struggle between destiny and their own choices. How does the film navigate the tension between fate and free will, particularly in Westley’s journey?
The Nature of Villainy: How are the villains—Prince Humperdinck, Count Rugen, and Vizzini—depicted in The Princess Bride? What does the film suggest about the nature of evil, and how does humor play a role in its portrayal?