A Dream Comes True....

I know this a bit late, but to truly explain my experience at Rockfest 2007, I had to take a few days and absorb it all. Back before I got into live video and started working with Bill and everyone else, I had always been a fan of what you would call Arena Rock, including bands such as STYX, Def Leppard, Chicago, and many more. I had always thought it would be awesome just to see them in concert. Now I can say that I shot live video for them. That was the first major plus of this trip. The second being, I got to work with truly amazing people. I have been working with the same crew for the past three gigs. This time we had two new people and they were absolutely wonderful. Having never been on a gig in their lives, not knowing anything about the equipment, etc. They worked as hard as the rest of us…they came to learn and learn they did. By the end of Rockfest you could not tell the veterans and the new people apart. Stacy and Russ, you ROCK!!! All in all this has been my favorite gig that we have done this summer. We got to shoot awesome bands, some of the biggest in the world, and now the crew is closer than ever, and it shows in all aspects of our jobs. I am really looking forward to heading to Annapolis, MD for Blues by the Bay. Keep reading… it is only going to get better.

Katie Worden

Ps. I wanted to include this picture, one because it is of me running camera for my beloved STYX, and also because my camera is live at the time this picture was taken and my shot can be seen in the upper left hand corner… enjoy!!

Last Notes on Mtn Rock

So, we got home from Mtn Rockfest a couple of hours ago. I have to say it was an absolute blast. I go to engineer, direct, and be a camera op. I learned way more this week than any class could teach. We watched the Def Leppard show since they have their own crew, and we quickly came to the consensus that our crew could of done a much better show. I talked with the engineer and director of the Def Leppard crew, and they were really nice, but their camera work, directing, and engineering was nothing special. This put in perspective how the "trial by fire" teaching technique is very effective. When you are put in situations like running camera with no iris or tally lamp, or when you have to put together a video system for the first time, you become a better crew member and in this case maybe better than the crew for Sunday's headliner.

CMA Fest aired tonight on ABC and it looked awesome. I tried to remember who I ran camera for, and don't think they used any of my shots but I was in the corner running camera a couple of times. I am saw our FOH cameras on the LED walls in most of the shots they used which was pretty cool.


~Ryan

director's notes

So once again I have managed to luck and this time I directed part of the show for Deep Purple. It was probably one of the more difficult/ easiest shows to do only because the band restricted us to using only two handhelds and a FOH. However it was easy because all I had to do was cut the shots that my camera ops were giving me. They really are probably some of the best ops that I have worked with and I appreciate their enthusiasm and hard work in everything they do.

-Zack Clevenger, Purdue University

Street Engineering @ Mtn Rock

So, I have been the engineer for this gig. During load I got to learn all about the beloved Kayak switcher, and the rest of our rig. We were kind of sparse on some cables and equipment, but with the technique of street engineering as taught by Bill, I was able to get the video to happen. I have been engineering the cameras during the show, and it has been a blast watching Bill switch upside-down and seeing some new directors take the chair.

I also have been getting my feet wet in directing. I got to direct the third and second place winners of the battle of the bands contest. With the "A-team" running cameras it was not as stressful as it should of been. I am hoping to run some camera today, and already looking foraward to the next gig.

~Ryan Weaver

upside down and backwords

yeah...so i told everyone that i knew REO Speedwagon's show so well i could do it upside down and backwords.......and they said ,,"Yeah ...Right"
see below.....
B

dude Rock Fest Rocks!!!!! I learned a lot and I am looking forward to learn more! I love this job!!! ^-^ and here's bill directing the show upside down! -kk

Rockfest

Wow...I've learned a lot in the past 3 days. I'm also really enjoying the company of all the people I work with. I'm actually really sad that this is my only gig this summer. I would absolutely love to do more! I'm definitely looking forward to learning more!

-Stacy Lane

Mountain Rockfest

So this is my first Gig, and i must say that in the past couple of days, I've learned an incredible amount. Everyone I'm here with has been great. I have been running cameras, and doing as much as i can to get involved with the show. Before this week, i had no idea what i wanted to do after college. However, this whole experience has been awesome, and i can definately see myself wanting to do this for a living. I also learned that running a camera in a live application can be tiresome and painful the next day...

-Russ Hochstedler

Back on the Mountain

We are back in Farwell Michigan to shoot the Mountain Rock Festival, and it was been a blast so far. We are shoot video for bands such as REO Speedwagon, Grand Funk Railroad and a bunch more, all bands that I didn't even think I would get a chance to see in concert let alone shoot video for. The rest of the hand held guys and I have had to step up and help teach some of the newer handheld camera ops. And judging by how they are shooting now I think we did a good job. Well it's almost time for the first band to start. Bye from the Mountain!

At the Mountain Once Again

So far the Mountain Rock Fest is going pretty well. The new people in the crew are getting better and better and are really catching on. It wasn't too exciting for the headliners since they haven't let us on stage to do our jobs, but we made it look pretty good with what we had. I've been having a good time and the whole crew has been rocking out and really pulling their own on all of their jobs.

-Aaron Hebda

Mt. Rock Fest

This concert is going awesome. Right now it is the third day, an hour before the shows start for the day. The line up is: Edge, Pop Evil, Saliva, Grand Funk Railroad, Third Eye Blind, and Deep Purple. I am so psyched to run camera for a few harder bands so I can round out the music styles that I have filmed. Already we have run camera for names like Chicago, REO Speedwagon, and Collective Soul which was cool enough.

-Cory Mascari
Intern

The greatest time and people everrrrr....!!!

I am here at RockFest 2007, this is my third gig this summer!! I am getting the most incredible experience doing all this! I feel so comfortable with everything this time around!!

I'm the editor for this gig! I'm learning a lot of technical stuff in the process!

I love what i'm doing and the people i'm doing it with!!

We have the best crew and teacher!!

YEAHHHHHHHHH ROCCCKKKK FESSSSSTTTTT!! BALLLAAA!!

All Smiles,
Stephanie aka KIKI or Sneffanie

Chicago

Tonight has been the coolest night of the entire gig (thus far). Tonight I....












...directed for CHICAGO!!!

-Zack Clevenger

TO FVS Students

Jason is teaching his digital filmmaking course in the Spring. Those who took it last spring say that it is arguably the toughest courses offered at PU--IF you have not taken Screenwriting (offered this Fall) and the editing courses (you can take Bobby's Intro course--which focuses on Final Cut Pro-- even if you have already taken the AVID course).

BL

TO: BIll and Crew

Congratulations! The powers-that-be are finally beginning to get a sense of what you are doing. We are all very proud of you.

BL

link to paintball web site!

hi folks....here is a link to the paintball site. Check it out it is really cool. There are really good pictures of Bill, Katie and Cory with 19 ex Purdue University students. 19 of the 22 people were former Purdue students.

http://web.mac.com/nashvillemadcows/iWeb/RABID%20COWS%20PAINTBALL/HOME.html

Rockfest nubie

Here I am. First day. First gig. I don't know what on earth is going on--but I like it anyway.

-Stacy Lane

paintball

oh snap!!! i forgot to tell you about paintball! we took a couple of days and went to Nashville TN. to play an awesome day of paintball. MooTV rented a paintball complex, (30 acres) for the day all for us and it was awesome. everyone wanted to go one on one with me in the speedball compound. i mostly got my self shot to pieces but did manage to take out Randall twice. we will post some pics soon...
B

ready for the mt rock fest?

guess what kiddies! it's allmost time to leave for the mt rock fest!!!!
for you readers out there, we are getting ready to leave for our 3rd gig of the summer, the Mountain Rock festival in Farwell MI. same place as the mt country fest was. i will ask Katie to post a line up of who is playing there but you can check it out yourself at mtrockfest.com
after that we will be doing the Chesapeake Blues festival right on the shores of the bay in Anapolis MD. then i will be off to memphis with Danny only to do the last ever "Elvis" show. if you want to know what that is, e-mail me at billc@purdue.edu
then its back to the old grind of classes in the red brick buildings. the kids have been awesome this summer and have learned so much, i am very proud of them and can't wait to get them back in the classroom to use the tools they have all picked up this summer. we will keep yopu informed on the next two gigs, and let you all know how it works out.

keep reading america...we are only halfway thru it!!!!!

Bill