University of Wisconsin Editing Gig Completed!

Back in 2019, Robert was hired to edit a series of videos dealing with depression in young adults. The project was co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin, the University of New Mexico, and the Health Experiences Research Network.

The goal was to use interview footage provided by the universities to create a 15-20 minute film, plus 6 additional short stand-alone segments. We had meetings and discussions on how the project would look, but nothing could move forward until the raw footage was ready.

Nearly a year had passed before the post-production finally began, and it would take many more months of editing, submitting to committee for review, fine-tuning, and submitting again before the films would be completed. And we're now happy to say, the project is completed! It was a long time coming.

Commercial Project for Moving Company Finished

Robert was hired by videographer Jeff Modjeska to edit two promotional videos for the Madison-based Reynolds Moving & Storage Inc. The company has two divisions: residential moving and heavy machinery moving. We covered both. 

We began shooting interviews with the owners and employees back in January of 2020. We continued into March; then the pandemic arrived. Nonetheless, additional testimonials as well as many more hours of b-roll footage would be shot by Jeff (following social-distancing protocols) over the next several months. The clips were logged and captured, the best sound bites chosen, and the story lines developed for both videos. Robert then wrote the narration scripts and brought on board voice talent Ron Miles to record the voice-over.

Many months later, the client has finally signed off on the latest edits and the project has come to a long-overdue conclusion. Yay!

"Social Media Breakfast" Documentary Completed!

For nearly two months, Robert has been working on a gig with Jeff Modjeska, a short film celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the non-profit group, Social Media Breakfast Madison. The project required two big event shoots, 12 individual interviews, numerous b-roll pickup shots, and lots of digging through historical photos and videos.

After many hours at the computer, Robert finally finished the edit today! Jeff will deliver the final video file to the client and--knock on wood--we'll be done with this one.

UPDATE: The video is now up on the SMBmad facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/smbmad/videos/473909926534766/ 

And you can view it here below.

Governor's Mansion Remodel Series Finished!

Over the last 11 months, Robert has been working (on and off) filming and editing the restoration and remodel of the old Governor's Mansion in Madison. The last of the three This-Old-House-style episodes was shot in July. And Robert finally finished the edit this past week.

Today, owners Bob Klebba and David Waugh are holding an open house to show off their newly-completed hotel.  Because of the historic nature of this property, they will be furnishing the videos to the Wisconsin Historical Society to be added to their archives.

Episodes 1-3...

Social Media Breakfast Shoot

Videographer Jeff Modjeska invited Robert to take part in his shoot this morning of the Social Media Breakfast in Madison. The SMB non-profit group has hired us to put together a 10th anniversary video celebrating the growth and success of their organization.

Both of Jeff's Sony cameras were smokin' today (in a good way)!

Filming the Remodel of the Governor's Mansion

In late 2018, B&B owners Bob Klebba and David Waugh brought Tarazod onboard to document the remodel of their new property purchase--the former Wisconsin Governor's Mansion in Madison. The plan for the 1854 sandstone building was to turn it into a hotel, but this feat would require many months of work and major renovations throughout the house.

DAVID AND BOB IN NOVEMBER 2018

The initial video production took place in November of 2018. We then returned in January 2019 for more updates. Finally today on July 10th, eight months after that first shoot, we finished filming the remodel.

DAVID AND BOB IN JULY 2019

FINISHED INTERIOR

Robert did the first two shoots by himself, but this time he brought along skilled videographer, Jeff Modjeska, to help capture the final footage with his Sony camera and Ronin gimbal.

JEFF ON CAMERA (FILMING BOB)

ROBERT ON SOUND (WITH DAVID)

JEFF ON SOUND

ROBERT AND BOB HEADING TO THE FRONT PORCH FOR THE FINAL SHOT

When the edit is completed, the video project will consist of three distinct episodes showing the various stages of the remodel. David and Bob plan to donate the series to the Wisconsin Historical Society for archival purposes.

UPDATE: See the series here: https://www.tarazod.com/2019/09/governors-mansion-remodel-series.html

Additional Recording for Shiatsu Video

In November 2017, we shot footage for a Shiatsu instructional video for practitioner Donna Boucher. Over the last month, we have been working closely with her on the project edit. Today, we filmed an introduction which featured Donna, and we also recorded her voice-over narration. The edit is nearing completion.

Shiatsu Instructional Video Shoot

Today we shot footage for an instructional video that Tarazod is producing on the Japanese bodywork system of shiatsu. Donna Boucher has been a practitioner of the art for well over 20 years. She also teachers courses to other bodyworkers and will be using this video to aid her students.

Tashai was the body model for Donna to demonstrate on. Cynthia Nolen directed and ran camera. She is a veteran of television work and happens to also be a practitioner of bodywork herself. Robert ran behind the scenes keeping things moving smoothly.

Robert will now bring the footage into the editing program to begin post-production work, which will also include a couple sessions of voice-over with Donna.

More Audio Work on NGSS Bat Project

Today we recorded narration with Susan Cohen, the junior high classroom teacher on the Next Generation Science Standards project we are working on. The final edit will include four separate videos that follow the four scripts written by curriculum author, Emily Miller.

NGSS Bat Project Continues

In September of 2016, Tarazod was hired to shoot video of a Next Generation Science Standards curriculum in an eighth grade classroom. The unit focus was bats, and the project was sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association.

Earlier today, we continued our work by shooting an interview with long-time classroom teacher Susan Cohen. Four final videos are planned. Once the scripts are written by curriculum author Emily Miller, we'll edit them together from the footage and wrap up this project .

2017 Mad City Vegan Fest Completed

Tarazod was hired to shoot and edit the 2017 Mad City Vegan Fest which occurred Saturday June 17th at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. A four-camera set-up, the all-day event included six different presentations including a panel discussion and cooking demo. We recently finished the edit  and uploaded the finished videos to the Mad City Vegan Fest channel.

Here's a clip of a last minute sound check before presenter Neal Barnard M.D. spoke to the audience.

George Lucas Foundation Project Completed

Back in December, Tarazod flew to Oregon to shoot interviews with Nature Conservancy fire-control burn bosses from around the US. The footage has now been edited and the project completed.

A total of 88 short videos were produced which will be used with new technology in a fourth grade test program sponsored by the George Lucas Foundation.

NGSS Red-Winged Blackbird Project Near Completion

The Next Generation Science Standards video project that we started last year on the red-winged blackbird is nearly finished. We have been working with the National Science Teachers Association to create five educational videos meant to inform other teachers on the use of NGSS in the classroom. A number of individuals were involved in the planning, shooting, scripting, narration, and final edits. It's been a good collaborative undertaking.

The videos are now completed and awaiting final review. A few tweaks may still be necessary, yet the work for the most part has come to a conclusion. Next up is the NGSS bat project we shot in the fall of 2016.

MARCH 28, 2017 UPDATE: It's done! The last of the red-winged blackbird videos has been delivered.

More NGSS Narration Recording Sessions

Earlier today, we continued our recording of narration for the Next Generation Science Standards video series that we are working. Nicholas Wootton has come into his own as the voice for these short films, originally filling in for our dear friend, the late Colin Cameron who was the narrator of the first series back in 2015.

Nature Conservancy Burn Boss Interviews

In natural areas that contain plant and animal species dependent upon fire for their survival, controlled burns are utilized to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Prairies are one example of the many diverse ecological landscapes which benefit from fire. A burn boss is the person in charge of the fire management team performing the controlled burn.

For the last two days, Robert has been in Oregon--along with science curriculum author Emily Miller--conducting interviews with Nature Conservancy burn bosses from around the US. The footage will be edited for use in a fourth grade test program sponsored by the George Lucas Foundation and headed up through a joint collaboration between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.

STEM Video Shoot outside of Redmond, OR

Robert is heading to Redmond, OR today for a multi-day video shoot. He'll be filming interviews with burn bosses from the Nature Conservancy who are all attending a fire management conference this week. It is being held at the Eagle Crest Lodge, situated in the high desert region of central Oregon.

The project is being run through the CREATE for STEM Institute as a joint collaboration between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. STEM is a curriculum based on educating students in four disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Funding for the project is being provided by the George Lucas Foundation. Tarazod was hired to film and edit multiple videos that will be used with new technology teaching methods.

NGSS Narration Continues

Tarazod is currently working on two separate projects featuring a total of 10 different videos for the National Science Teachers Association in Arlington VA. The subject matter involves the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards in the classroom. We had Nicholas Wootton of Windmiller Media in today to read narration on two of the scripts.

New Shotgun Mic for Field Work

We added a new Audio-Technica AT875R short shotgun mic to our equipment selection. The recent classroom shoots that we've been filming for the National Science Teachers Association have taken us out-of-doors to capture the students doing field studies. The new mic adds another backup source for recording audio on the fly.

Bat Project for National Science Teachers Association

Today we completed the first of two weeks of video shoots at a middle school in Madison. It's a project for the National Science Teachers Association, sponsored by the Disney Company. We're documenting the use of Next Generation Science Standards in an eighth grade classroom. The curriculum focus for this unit is on bats, their ecology, and the environmental issues that certain species are now facing.

New CFL Kit for Upcoming Shoot

Over the next two weeks, Tarazod will be involved with a new video gig which will take place inside a junior high science classroom. In the past, we would have rented a couple of lightweight compact florescent light (CFL) soft boxes to bounce off the ceiling. However, we seem to be picking up a few more of these types of projects. So we decided it'd be more cost-effective to simply purchase our own two-piece kit. We're not huge fans of CFLs--and this kit is nothing fancy--but for these specific gigs, it'll accomplish what we'll need it to.

Special thanks to Colin Cameron for his suggestion.