No, I Haven't Disappeared...

Hello, all -

My apologies for not posting for so long. There have been many, many changes going on that forced me to leave the project on the back burner for a while. I will be contacting my editor and trying to set up some work time with him over the next few weeks to get this thing rolling. Once that's done, I will need to get some studio time to record the voice over. Upon the completion of the recording, we'll sync it up with the film and start hoofing it to the local television stations to get it some airtime.

So, fear not - I haven't abandoned the film. I have come to the conclusion that this thing will debut exactly when it is needed most. Everything happens for a reason, right?

Stay tuned, folks.

Capture Complete!

Hey, All -

I purchased a nifty little Dazzle video converter and was able to capture that last tape full of footage. So, the really expensive part is done (for less than $100.00).

Now, I will be contacting Jon Schermerhorn to see if we can get together and work on the editing part.

Will keep everyone updated.

By the by... that last tape was the interview that I conducted with the children of Mike & Cindy Day. I hadn't watched it in a very long time and I was reminded what an amazing family they are. Cindy, Mike, Amanda, Brianne and Stephanie, I thank you once more for opening yourselves up and sharing your story with me. I am honored that you allowed me to come into your home and were completely willing to revisit something that was terrifically painful, just to help with the film. I am grateful for that and for your friendship, as well.

Stay tuned, kids... it's coming along.

The Latest...

Just ordered the converter that I need so I can transfer that last tape. Should have it within a week. Once that's done, will work out a meeting with Jon to get this thing rolling! Then I have to figure out how to get the voiceover recorded. One thing at a time, though.

Stay tuned, kids.

Wow

I am very happy and relieved to announce that I completed the video capture today. All 22 tapes have now been transferred to the hard drive, so I can begin editing. Now it's just a matter of getting my schedule to mesh with Jon's. Might be tough, but we'll get it done.

I have one tape that was shot on an older camera and I'll need to do some figuring out to get it transferred, but we'll get that done, too.

That just cut $10K from post-production costs, which makes me feel a LOT better about our situation.

During editing, I'll tweak the script and get a final draft of that done. Once we have a rough cut, we can get the voice-over recorded, then back to editing to synch them up.

I refuse to say when I think this will be done. I don't want to jinx myself! LOL

Thanks to all for the unwavering support - and especially to all of the firefighters that endured me hanging around with a video camera and filming their every move. I know it wasn't easy and in some cases it was downright scary, but I hope that when you see the finished product, you'll be as proud as I am.

Be well & stay safe, everyone.

Love,

Erin

There was another one...

Hey, All -

I've noticed more and more people looking for the documentary made several years ago by Bob Farrell and Capt. Joe Errico of the PFD. It has been posted to You Tube. It is commonly referred to as the "Code Red Video".

Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EeUqTE1E0A

Enjoy!

Coming Along Nicely, Thank You.

Hi, folks -

I spent most of the day yesterday capturing video. I got about half-way through the eleventh tape of the day and decided to take a break. There are twenty-three tapes total, so I'm more than half done with the capturing.

Amazing.

So, I'll probably work on it from time to time over the next few days and by this time next week, if all goes well, I should have it all captured to the hard drive.

Then...

wait for it...

it's time to call Jon Schermerhorn.

Keep the faith, kids.

Be well & stay safe.

Erin

PROGRESS - It's A Beautiful Thing

On Saturday, I came home from a very long day and Fran (my best friend and roommate) asked me if I noticed anything missing from the room in which we were sitting. I looked around, tired, sore... didn't notice anything, though.

"The hard drive and the Firewire card?" She smiled.

She spent the day installing them on the computer.

I had other things to do, but on Sunday, I gathered up my camera and my tapes and went into the office. I looked around for the new connections, but had trouble finding them. Fran came in and hooked up the camera. I turned it on... "bing!" the computer located it.

That was when I started crying and hugged Fran so tightly that I nearly crushed her ribcage.

Happy? Ecstatic? Thrilled? Not one of those three words even begins to describe what I felt when that computer recognized the camera. The feeling was quadrupled when I fired up my camera's software and began capturing video.

Since then, I have completed two capturing sessions and am about to embark on a third. I have loved sitting down and watching the footage again - reliving stuff that I had forgotten about and being moved by stories from the firefighters.

So, folks... this process is saving upwards of $10,000.00. This is the time consuming part, but for me it is flying by. I also realized that I had six or seven other tapes in a different location. It's going to be so difficult to cut this stuff down to fit into an hour-long compilation. I am finding such beautiful material - perfect verbal descriptions of an indescribable job.

My thanks again to all those who endured me filming them and hanging out. I have been so blessed to be able to live this experience. My experiences with these amazing men and women is just as indescribable as their job is. I am a very, very lucky woman.

Be well & stay safe all. Keep the faith... we're moving along!! :-)