It's been a rough week...

So I have been shooting video like crazy these last couple of weeks and barely doing anything else, I love it bit yet i am exhausted. A bit disappointed too. I guess I know that I am not going to win every contest i enter but it still hurts when i don't even make the finalist list.
three of my videos this week went that way. First it was my wii bowling video featuring death. out of fourteen videos, it was not one of the top four.
check it out and tel me what you think!!



Then my crackberry video flopped big time. i think my basic mistake there was i entered a blackberry contest using a non-blackberry phone. I think the sincerity of the video becomes compromised because of that point.

and lastly my reel insights video about going green tanked miserably. i admit the piece was not my best work. i filmed my coworker Lance and his family about their views of going green. the family was on a really tight schedule so it was a really quick shoot.i did not get much b-roll at all. In fact i have always been really bad at getting b-roll. i never know what random thing i should film. anyways here is the video!


I got an email today from the ceo of reel insights basically saying good try but not this month. there are 5 prizes for this contest and 6 entrants, the winners will be announced tomorrow. I will be the lone loser for this one.

I shouldn't complain too much because i have had a great deal of luck before now. i guess i am just a bit downhearted. this is my PASSION!! I'm 29 years old putting my career life on hold to go to school and study this stuff and yet in a contest of only 6 documentary videos i finish dead last! I guess i just want to feel like i am learning and becoming a good filmmaker. I have sacrificed a great deal to follow this dream and it is hard to justify those sacrifices when I seem to fail at such simple tasks.

I know however these feelings will pass. i am optimistic for the future. in fact i recognize these contests have literally no bearing on my abilities as a filmmaker. the art i create for myself has little value to the commercial world but means so very much to me. my film art is growing and becoming something substantial. these contests are merely exercises and ways for me to learn new tools. It has been a rough week for me with my videos and for other reasons but that's okay i figure in life there will be a couple of rough weeks along the way.

I have done a few more videos since my lower achieving videos listed above. one is a short just following the kids around as care bears. you can check it out on face book and give it a vote


and the other as my bro put it is pretty much a video for "a multilevel marketing scheme" But i had fun with the animation. it's not entirely finished but the contest deadline approached and this is what i ended up with. i hope to go back and fix it up the way i want it later. check it out:

Wow you made it to the bottom of this incredibly long post. congratulations!! you deserve a monkie that will sing to you and cook you all the pasta dishes you would ever want!!

3 things..

First... People skills pay off!
Just won another Video contest it was for the apal people skills contest. I found out by going to their contest siteand seeing that my name was listed as the 1sy prize winner. later i found the winner notifcation in my junk mail.

It's a small win but still exciting. I think there were only 2 entrys to this one so my chances were pretty good. anyways watch the winning video and tell me what you think!!

Secondly Check out the response video i made to winning the reel insights Profile of a mom contest. The people at reel insights have been very helpful and willing to promote me as a film maker so check out their site and if your a filmmaker look at their upcoming contests!!

Third ans lastly i made a new video for the "I love my crackberry contest" In truth i do not own a blackberry, but through this contest i hope to!!
Take a look!!

So the judges will pick 10 finalists and leave the winner to a public vote. I will keep you posted when and where to vote if I become a finalist!

I hope your having an oh so happie day!!

Just announced yesterday...

It is official!!! I am the grand prize winner for the Reel Insights Video contest. September 2009: Profile of A Mom in a Struggling Economy
Most of the credit should go to Julie. She is the amazing mom that I profiled. see for yourself the winning video!
Julie is awesome!!


In all fairness it sounds like the contest did not have as many entrants as the sponsors were hoping. i was a little disappointed to hear that because i wanted my piece to win on it's own merit, not because it was only one of a few to pick from. but I like the way it turned out!!

Let me know what you think. i have a few more projects i am currently working on for contests and then it's going to be time to kick it into full gear and get working on this years volume of The Hawker Yearbook. as usual i am a little behind on getting it ready.
Any of the Hawker clan reading this get ready, i will be soliciting for submissions soon!!
Oh happie day!! With the earnings from this win i plan on getting a real light kit and building my own green screen. then whatever is left over will probably go into our house fund. Exciting stuff!!

I need your Help!!

One of my videos has been chosen as a finalist, but I need votes for it to win!!
It's in the benQ Joybee Enjoyment matters contest.
You can register here, then find my entry.it's about 7 down.
"Fun at the Laundry Mat"


Give me a vote only if you like my entry and give me a rating too! Here the kids are enjoying thier cookies. OH HAPPIE DAY!!


We sure had a lot of fun filming this one. we have two more semesters here then we are going to move back to washington and i am going to miss this place.

Please leave comments and let me know that you voted. it helps me feel like I have a chance. Thanks!! Monkies are cool!!

So Many Contests!!

So this semester I have no production classes. I have a theory class and a how to determine what a good film is class, but no "hands on use a camera and make a film" class. So to keep up my skills I have been entering online contests. It has been fun, exciting, thrilling, and disappointing all at the same time. I have to applaud my wife and children who give me the time to work on these short films and who usually star in them as well.

I have to tell you i am hooked on film making. the challenge of each new film is unique and exciting. i love trying to solve the problem, come up with a solution and be victorious. it helps too that prizes are involved with the contests.
My film making has probably grown most by participating in these contests. the school aspect gives me the theory and the know how but the not enough actual practice. I guess all i am saying is I am having lots of fun.

I hope to post my videos as they come. so check back often.
Here are a few that i have made already:
Meet Death!

This was a contest for the Lien Foundation
trying to look at death in a more positive light! I got a whole lot of funny looks as i filmed this one, but it was fun and i am pleased with the way the interview segment turned out. I wish the contest would have allowed for a longer piece because i had enough good footage to make a 4 or 5 minute piece. The bow tie worn by death is an xoelle original.


Next it is all about People Skills!

This one was for elguide.cc all about people skills!! i sure had a hard time getting the focus right, or at least the way i wanted. but I learned a great deal about how to play with focus on this film. You can see it is the lovely Julielee that makes my life happie.
I am still waiting to hear back on this one, i should know if i won anything in a couple of days!!


and finally The story of an energy saving lamp.:

I made this for an energy efficiency contest. i wish i would have animated with still pictures instead but there was no time. i am pleased with the way it turned out and now i have a wonderful new lamp. Oh happie day!!

I have tons more i am working on and one another finished that i have good news about. so come back and check them out. also please leave feedback. I love hearing from you all about what works and maybe more importantly what did not work for you. Leave comments and i will love you forever!!