• From: Florida
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Topic: Fast and Furious Commentary

I'd really like to do a commentary for, at least, the first movie of this franchise, but also talking about the franchise as a whole.  That is of course, unless there's enough interest in tackling all five films, but we'll see.  What I'd really like is to get a few other members of the forum to Skype in or something and make it a group effort.

So what I'm wondering is, would anyone be interested?

In terms of format, I'd basically be aping off of the DIF format, since, well, that's what I know.  I'm not quite sure how to do it technically; I figure everyone can record their own track locally, on Audacity or whatever, and I'll just edit them all together.  What I'm really not sure about is how to get, say, four people from all over the place on one voice chat, but there's got to be a way.

As for my personal take on the films, and my motivation for wanting to do this series in particular: I like these films, and I think they get an undue amount of abuse.  Yes they're gratuitous, unrealistic car porn, but if you give them a chance and actually follow them, there is a narrative that connects them, and they deal with some interesting themes. 

Oh, there will be car talk as well, naturally, so if you have any say as to whether a Supra can really take on a Ferrari or a Charger, your voice is more than welcome.

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  • Dave
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

I love these films, good to see someone taking them on. When are you planning on recording?

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Use Skype and record using Call Graph (for Windows machines anyway). Each participant should record in separated stereo at the same rate. That way, your voice is on one track and everyone else's voice is on the other track.

http://www.zarban.com/call-graph-settings.jpg

You can then combine all the single-voice tracks in Audacity or whatever and balance volume and reduce noise on each track separately. That's particularly useful for silencing false starts and shifting comments slightly forward or backward to reduce overlapping comments.

I'd be happy to be involved. I'm a big car guy, altho at the moment I've never even seen the first film. However, my schedule is tight for the next couple of weeks.

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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  • From: Florida
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Thanks Zarban, that's pretty much the way I was thinking of going.

As far as timing, I'm in no rush, but let's say by the end of the month, or else it'll just keep getting pushed back.  Also that way folks who might want to join in have a chance to rent at least the first film prior to recording.  Again, ideally I'd like to be able to talk about the whole series, but I understand that that might take folks a while to get around to.  I know I'd like to brush up beforehand, so I'd need a couple weeks myself.

Fixed (and anyone else from a non-NTSC area for that matter): We'll have to figure out a work-around, otherwise your copy of the film will get ahead of mine.

Last edited by Matt Vayda (2012-02-03 22:26:49)

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  • From: State of Idaho
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

I would be interested in hearing a commentary on the film, but am not familiar enough with the first one to add anything more than sarcastic comments. However, I think Zarban's technical suggestions, as well as the use of Audacity, should provide the means to get a good synced up track for it.

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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

I think that'd be fun actually, I'd maybe be interested in doing it if we can get a couple people together. Perhaps this upcoming weekend? Don't know if there's enough to talk about to fill an entire commentary though. I suppose you can talk about how the 1st movie is basically an almost exact remake of Point Break but with cars, Vin Diesel rising to stardom from this one etc. The second movie is almost funnier because it's one of the most unintentionally homo-erotic movies ever made. 3rd one is a shot for shot remake of The Karate Kid.....I guess maybe there is stuff to talk about.

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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

I'd be interested in participating. I have a unique perspective here, in that I like cars from a pornographic, aesthetic sense, but I don't/can't drive. So yeah, count me in.

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  • From: Florida
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

I'm not sure how many people one can get on the same Skype call, but I'm thinking I'd like to keep it to four voices.
It looks like we have a pretty good amount of interest, so I guess now we're down to who's available when, and, to a lesser degree, who has a copy of the film to watch while we chat.  At the moment my schedule is pretty open, but I'm thinking weekends are probably best in terms of getting folks when they're the least busy.  Yes?

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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Yep, next Sat/Sun would be good

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  • Dave
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Saturday's would be best; caters for most time zones.

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  • From: Florida
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

K, why don't we shoot for a trial run this Saturday (2/11/12) with Skype and everyone recording their own track on their program of choice.  Since we have interest from various time zones, I suggest posting your availability in GMT/UTC.  Try to give a good twelve hour window to start an we'll take it from there.  I'll say from:

12:00 PM - 12:00 AM, EST (-5 UTC)
5:00 PM - 5:00 AM (1700 - 0500) UTC

Pro tip for iPhone users, search for UTC under World Time.

I'll try to have Skype open when I'm at my computer for anyone who wants to check their connection or chat or whatever.  My Skype screen name is emfayder, or search for my email: matt.vayda@gmail.com.

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

That should work for me. I'll make a point of having an opinion.

Here is the Internet Movie Car Database page for F&F 1.

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Ya, that window should work for me as well.

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

By the way, what sort of microphones do potential participants have? I have a high-quality Samson USB mike. The Snowball USB mikes are also very good. Headset mikes vary broadly.

Sound quality on these depends to a great extent on everyone having a decent mike and knowing how to avoid puffing and whatnot.

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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  • From: Florida
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

All I've got is the built in one on my MBP, though if this goes well and I decide to do a few more I'd like to invest in one  of those Snowballs.

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  • Dave
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Headset mic, let's test and see? I'm on Skype - FixedR6

Last edited by Dave (2012-02-06 17:11:59)

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Matt Vayda wrote:

All I've got is the built in one on my MBP, though if this goes well and I decide to do a few more I'd like to invest in one  of those Snowballs.

The Macbook has a surprisingly good built-in mike. It's not ideal because it tends to be echoey just because the speaker tends to be quite a distance from it.

The Doctor from Speakeasy Commentaries uses his built-in Macbook mike for commentaries and his Comic Book Outsiders podcast (which is actually as much about movies, TV, and books as it is about outsider comics and highly recommended).

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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  • Dave
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

May I suggest the folks doing commentary hang out a little on Skype a bit before going to record? That way you can work out any technical issues and see how everyone's personalities mesh?

Last edited by Dave (2012-02-06 21:09:08)

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  • Registered: 2010-08-30
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Ah, fuck. There's a sci-fi convention on Saturday the 11th, and I'm still undecided as to if I'm going to attend. sad

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  • From: Melbourne, Australia
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Might be there for this one, got to see if I'm still off work or not.  Not a fan of Skype though, bit too close to being on camera for me...

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  • From: Florida
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

John: Don't worry about it; I may not have been clear enough about it, but I was simply suggesting Saturday as a test, not the actual recording.  A dry run if you were, to make sure everyone's setup will work, get to know each other, etc.

Maggot: You're welcome to call in as well; we'll basically only be using Skype for voice anyway.

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  • Dave
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

I'm testing how effective handbraking the PAL DVD using NTSC framerates will be.

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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

You can probably rent it from one of the online places like iTunes or Amazon too

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  • Registered: 2010-08-30
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

Matt Vayda wrote:

John: Don't worry about it; I may not have been clear enough about it, but I was simply suggesting Saturday as a test, not the actual recording.  A dry run if you were, to make sure everyone's setup will work, get to know each other, etc.

Oh, well that's certainly good news. Glad to know I haven't actually missed out on this.

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  • From: Florida
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Re: Fast and Furious Commentary

No worries man, there's no particular rush on this; we'll figure out a schedule that works for everyone.

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