Collaboration – a real life example, a wooden box, some video editing, some amazing music and artwork.
Certainly worth a read during this lockdown.
Where to start?
Well, let me explain the goal here first, that may help?
The plan
The plan was a simple one.
- Try to gain traction for my Linked2U website.
- Engage with and create engaging blog, video and Facebook presence.
But how?
I came up with a simple idea. We are all (well those non-key workers etc) in lockdown, we can’t go out, see friends, have visitors etc.
So let’s do something – said my inner voice.
But what “something” I hear you ask.
Well I, like many others, have various materials laying about. Be it wood offcuts, Amazon cardboard (other cardboard providers are available) and lots of time to kill.
I also have an interest in making things in general and a background in IT. So the idea of meeting like minded people, making new friends and sharing our adventures in the “making with that to hand” seems like a good idea?
I’d never really done much YouTube either, so that was going to be a challenge.
Ok, so the plan is to ask folks (complete strangers) what they think I should learn, make and video / blog about? Yep! That’s about it.
What’s YouTube got to do with it?
Good question.
Those whom have read a bit of my blog will see that I recently (since lockdown started in UK) started watching a guy called Steve Ramsey (Google him, he is the wood working for mere mortals guy).
In one of his videos he calls the viewers to arms and show where they call “workshop” and what they’re up to.
This is where the lightbulb lit for me. I have a website. This blog. Why not answer Steve and post here about his new YouTube follower?
Anyways, moving on a few days and I wanted to make something.
The box
I’m an old school kind of guy and find comfort in tried and tested. To this end, I decided that whatever it was to be made would be as big as my offcuts would allow and would be simple.
Yeah, the box idea WAS simple but it got more complex.
I hadn’t planned a design, just grabbed what was to hand and enough of.
Then I set about working out how to video it.
I have a small camera that I got for my 3d printing and so rig that up. Nice and high – hah! Well it was on the roof of the “workshop” and did give a great view of work being done.
The videoing
It isn’t easy. I decided that if I had to, I’d record a voice over later, so I threw audio out straight away. I’ll get to music later.
I got on with the task while the camera just kept recording.
I had plenty of video to work with but felt I’d need to limit to around 10 minute video for the end result. I think that is wrong for this type of video but time will tell.
The accident
During the cutting of some thin strips of wood, I did manage to get myself a fat bloody lip and very very sore nose.
It still hurts now (2 days since happening).
The story goes, I had cut the wood I needed but saw the offcut heading toward the spinning blade.
Now I know that this was potentially a fast projectile possibly heading at me and with such a small amount of room in the “workshop”, I have to be super careful.
Well, there’s careful and there’s catching your push stick on the blade and it being ripped from your hand to play kiss kiss with your face before heading off for a rest.
I got the accident on film too but it’s not in the final YouTube release.
The editing
Oddly, I had a brief venture into the editing early on as the aforementioned accident, I felt, deserved a health warning type of video of its own (I may post it to YouTube channel).
So an hour after my accident, I was learning about transferring files via USB being slow via the camera etc and that my phone does a great job of text overlays and speed changes etc.
All in, I ended up with 2.5 hours of footage (granted there was a lot of “planning” filmed (I mean sitting about with coffee).
So the editing took a day. Taking 2.5 hours to 10 minutes was a challenge.
If I’m honest, I could be better (and will probably) but I’m happy with the work done.
The music
So sound.
Let’s face it, we all know what a tablesaw sounds like. Many hate it (like me… It forces a healthy respect for its power).
The decision, as I said, was not to voiceover. Instead this is where that collaboration comes in.
A few years back, my eldest son became interested in music making. The editing of, the laying of beats and more recently (now 17) he is producing music, songs, videos and amassing a great following (insert link to his YouTube).
So, I asked him nicely if I could use three of his tracks in the video.
Luckily he said yes and this provides a brilliant background accompany for the “action”.
I love the tunes and considering he was only a tike at the time, super proud daddy here!
The artwork
As for the title and credits artwork, collaboration again here. My youngest is a photo editing super hero and whipped out those artworks in a matter of minutes.
I literally sent him a picture and some ideas and he was off to the races.
I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and not a day goes by without being thankful for them.
The result
Well
is the result and I welcome you to visit the Facebook page and comment on what you think I should make next or learn.
More photos
Not really mentioned here is the fact that this box is a treasure box for a reason.
The box was intended as a secret compartment box for my son’s 15rh birthday.
The story goes that he, being a teenager, would rather ask for nothing for his birthday than hold a long enough conversation to be able to determine what he may want.
So, to this end, the box was intended to house some cash and a few other bits in the main compartment.
The actual finished box had a hidden compartment / draw in the base. To access it, you needed that small strip of wood you see me insert in the video while glueing up the box.
This strip has a nail in the end and when poked through a hole made in the bottom of the box, pushes a lever that then allows the draw to open.
I thought it would make a nice present and was interesting to make.
There are very few images though as the box needed to be shipped off to my son in time for his birthday.
Then problems then started.
The potentially lost treasure box
I needed to ship this box. I filled it with some goodies. I put a short story in the box that alluded to the compartment and wrapped it in cardboard, with loads of brown parcel tape.
Once wrapped and I’d paid for the postage online, I set off to find a drop box.
For those not aware, a drop box is a post box that takes small packages for shipping. Pay online, stick a label on the parcel and drop in a box. Magically it arrives at the destination.
Buuut. The drop box allowed me to put the box in and the mechanism slide shut to trap my handmade beloved box between the drop box holding areas and the opening mechanism. My box had become a doorstop!!!
Some panic calls later and all that could be done was leave a note on the drop box machine begging the next potential user to not smash the parcel / box up. I’m not hopeful.
Needless to say, the box may be lost, may be broken, may be perfectly fine but I have never felt so annoyed at an inanimate object as I was staring at the loss in front of me.
Get over it! I tell myself, have the video online and that’s fine.
What else you got planned? ?
Visit the Facebook page and let me know (there should be a Facebook icon around here somewhere?)
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