How do I get talked into these things (1047 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.26 on 22 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by loki (View user info) at 2007-12-11 20:37:26 EST
It all started out so reasonably. We went on a big family vacation this summer to Yellowstone to both get my niece married off and celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary.
When we got back I had the bright idea of taking every one's videos and putting together this big compilation dvd for everyone. I think I pulled it off pretty well. I had little menus so "the guys" wouldn't have to sit through the entire wedding part, titles, a lovely sound track, yes yes very nice. We're not exactly talking about Academy Award stuff here, but when I put everyone through the entire video at Thanksgiving. Oh yes just like old times popcorn and a home movie. How could it get any more exciting than that? But hey they seemed pleased with it.
So pleased in fact that I've been saddled with a new project. I've been given the fun filled task of organizing my parents entire home movie collection that I rather stupidly had transferred from those big tape things that you have to run through a projector and watch on a screen that my dad fought to keep from rolling up. These tapes all started out when my grandparents bought my parents their first video camera as a wedding present. That particular camera had a rather unfortunate encounter with the Atlantic Ocean some time before I was born but god bless them my grandparents hooked my parents up with another one not long afterward. They used these movie cameras rather extensively, not well mind you but extensively.
When we got the tapes back, my parents were not exactly 100% happy with the dvd's we ended up with. Some of it was because no doubt when you take 50 year old tapes and convert them to dvd's you don't exactly get HD quality pictures. I thought they looked fine considering, but then there was the issue of the clips being out of order in a way that made my parents nuts. I think what happened there is that when my dad dropped off the big metal case of reels of tapes the video place just fed them in no particular order or hell maybe they were in the order my dad had them in but my parents can't stand it. "Look at this just look there's no way this could have been shot before that one Karen wasn't even walking here but in the earlier part she had on roller skates."
I know shocking isn't it. I mean imagine those people in that place not knowing that Caroline is older than Diane and putting her birthday first. To make things even more special, after the initial conversion my dad found even more reels of tapes in the closet so clearly those are completely out of order.
The music the video place put in the background is just awful too. I can't even describe it except that it does kind of look like an actual person was suffering through all of this because every time there is that fun footage of people awkwardly opening Christmas presents the music switches over to Christmas music. It wouldn't be so bad if it were not the sametinty awful piece of Christmas music over and over every single time. Maybe it was the video person's way of seeking a small measure of revenge.
My parents helpfully provided me with some rather detailed notes of what clips go where so I can split them, move them around, and then burn them "right". It might help too if I only knew who in bloody hellLulabell was so I would know when I got to the part where my older sister who was 3 or 4 at the time was playing with Lulabell's baby Terry Lyn.
good times for me
Most of these home movies were shot before I was born. I have to tell you that the initial novelty of seeing my 22 year old parents having a snow ball fight has now worn off.
To entertain myself I've put together a special montage for one of my sisters. She used to beat the shit out of me all the time when we were kids. She was 8 when I came along and I took her status as the baby of the family so she spent the next 10 years trying to kill me off. We get along great now but even so I think she'll enjoy the movie I made of her childhood; falling off the end of the slide, getting up going back down and falling off the end again, crashing on the sidewalk in roller skates (that one even has blood), dropping some toy and then tripping over it, falling off the swing, running into one of my cousins who was on a swing, running her bike into a wall, running across the yard and of course falling. My favorite one is when she keeps trying to get into one of those little red wagons and it keeps moving on her. She's stubborn though. She kept trying. I wonder if that's where she got that scar on her chin.
I can't wait for the follow-up editing notes I get from my mom once I get this whole thing finished.
and I'm sure there will be editing notes
I fear that this is one of those projects that will never be finished.
Just call me Sisyphus.
bear.wmv (1 MB) [video/x-ms-wmv]
User Reviews
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2007-12-13 19:05:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
loki, i have a problem.
i've been thinking about things again.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-12-12 14:54:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2007-12-12 09:17:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I should put sis getting hurt on youtube as a little Christmas gift.
---
NOW yer talking.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2007-12-12 14:24:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
BIG BEAR! He's iron tough!
BIG BEAR! Got a chest like a rug!
BIG BEAR! He don't take no guff, he's BIG BEAR!
Submitted by Lib (user info) at 2007-12-12 14:21:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2007-12-12 14:02:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My family is not really 'big' on the 'video camera' thing.
We are however, 'big' on the 'putting a camera under the toilet stall door and taking a photo' thing.
We have quite the collection.
Submitted by cuberat (user info) at 2007-12-12 11:35:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MickGinny (user info) at 2007-12-12 11:21:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I did not read the reviews so i am unsure if this was mentioned;
sweet poppa jesus help you if you come across a reel of your parents knocking knees.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-12-12 11:00:03 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Considering that no one gets a word in edge-wise when being anywhere in the proximity of you, I can't believe that you get talked into anything.
Submitted by icarus1987 (user info) at 2007-12-12 10:51:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
How much did your dad pay? I know they charge upwards of $100/tape to do it here. I tend to keep at least one device that can read all my media, and have an AV hookup for my computer for the older stuff.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-12-12 10:27:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by beer-turtle (user info) at 2007-12-12 09:57:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
and I thought I was being punished annually editing, cropping, and publishing the family newsletter every Christmas. Ok well maybe not publishing, but I set up everything for my mom, and set her up a text box to communicate the years happenings, then she sends it back to me for proofing.
Much fun
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2007-12-12 09:49:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-12-11 22:20:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I want a copy of the "kids getting hurt" one.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2007-12-12 09:17:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I should put sis getting hurt on youtube as a little Christmas gift.
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2007-12-12 07:12:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I quitted 'open-ending' projects a long time ago. They (the people you trying to do a favor) never have any idea what they want, but when finished they seem to be life-time experienced editors...
Criticism kills creativity,live with it.
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-12-12 06:20:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Attention all Uber-users (459 hits)
Category: None
Rating: -0.59 on 27 reviews (Rate this item) (V) (Label this item)
X
Labels:
Submitted by jimmy schmeltzy <mnwhrt_14.at.yahoo.com> (View user info) at 2004-02-09 11:55:28 EST
This morning I was on my way to work and I shit my pants. I seriously thought that I was goin to make it but no right there in my girlfriends thong I shit my pants. I thought about what Bart would do in this situation and I just laughed and then I stuck my hand down there and pulled up a clump and threw it right on the window. Good idea Bart I am never doin that again. Then I pondered of the idea what Fingerbang would do, so yes being that he is a raging homosexual i stuck my thumb right up my anus. I dont understand how you can like that so much dude. Then came the mexicans i wondered what they would do in this tight little spot I was in. So I took off my pants and reached around and grabbed some shit and started workin my money right there in the front seat. Man you motha fuckin mexicans are dirty. The only thing good about you guys is your great work habits and you music. The music because it makes me think of the food you produce at suck low prices, you guys fuckin rule man. Keep crossin that illegal border dudes and keep makin them tacos and burritos. WETBACKS RULE!
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-12-12 01:39:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-12-11 22:20:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I want a copy of the "kids getting hurt" one.
---
hah!
For sure.
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2007-12-11 22:22:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by sadie73 (user info) at 2007-12-11 21:44:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
C'mon, Loki, PLEASE learn to use commas when needed. OK?
^^^^
now That's, the anal-retentive Bubba we've all learned to.......uh,
never mind
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-12-11 22:20:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I want a copy of the "kids getting hurt" one.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2007-12-11 22:02:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Because you haven't learned how to say no. No need to post this, you could have just emailed me.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-12-11 21:46:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Began reading it.
Submitted by sadie73 (user info) at 2007-12-11 21:44:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
C'mon, Loki, PLEASE learn to use commas when needed. OK?
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2007-12-11 21:02:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
oldies don't like new-fangled stuff
they're usually happy looking at B+W pictures with the crinkle-cut borders