Peter's email got me thinking about "catchy" gliding footage, but first how I got into gliding. Always wanted too, thought it would be too expensive but never really inquired. Got heavily into model gliding as a Claytons, and just recently, after prompting by an old buddy who was also looking for more of an excuse, took up the real thing. So imagine my chagrin when I discovered that I've been spending more on models (composites, computer radios etc) each year than its cost me for my first 12 months of gliding!!
Flew with the guys at Warner Springs, Calif some time back, and was very impressed with their AEF photography setup. Permanently mounted camera brackets with an infra-red remote operated camera, pilot says "look over there" & presses a button and they have beautifully composed photos that even include themselves in glorious detail. Peter's comments about "difficult production wise" reminded me that my biggest turn-off in the gliding videos I've seen is boring "through the reflection" cockpit images, or excessively long distance shots of another glider. The keener amongst you might look at the small motor-mounts, run a cable back to the cockpit (they call that a turbulator strip don't they) and properly frame a range of shots. Might be well worthwhile. Cheers Brett Kettle -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Peter Creswick Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 10:34 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Flying Flicks and attracting members My introduction to gliding back in the 70's was pure chance. I wanted to fly power, so one day did the rounds of the schools, Bankstown first, out to Hoxton Park, and then to Camden, and "discovered" gliding. Being a uni student with limited $$$$$$4 at the time, when I found out the costs ........ joined up. Never did go power, though only flew for a couple of years anyway for various reasons. I have been following this video thread and I fear the big problem is simply that no one out in the community knows what soaring / gliding is. I decided to conduct an experiment at the bowling club today. I canvassed the members on gliding. The results were not encouraging. None of them had a clue. They see hang gliders in adds, even para gliders, but a real sailplane ? - what is that (with blank or disbelieving expression). So, a thought. To "grab" people, you need something "catchy" and exciting. Making a video explaining gliding would be difficult production wise, and would probably have limited impact. In other words, the return for effort would be questionable. Therefore, what about going the add-men routine, and produce a compilation of a series of "shorts", ie, like adds. Produce a DVD or similar of shorts from clubs all over. Each club gets their local video nut to do a bit of photography one flying day. It doesn't matter what it is, so long as it is either typical of ops, or perhaps something special. So each club sends in a few minutes of video, either or and ground based, of their ops. Someone might show a winch launch - 30sec say. Someone might show a few loops in a Blanik - another 30sec, etc. After you gather all the "shorts" you could weave them together into some sort of order, producing say three or four (or more) different 90 sec "adds" with some voice over commentary as appropriate, GFA logo somewhere, and the GFA web site URL across the bottom at the end say. The common thing you need though is an "auditory signature", ie, either a "jingle", or an "anthem". Every add man knows that is the most important thing. There must be some members (or their children) out there with some musical skills. It would be a good idea to create a competition to produce a bit of "GFA music". Shows like "Australian Idol" suggest there must be at least a few budding music types in the associated ranks, surely. Entries could be judged, and prises given, winning entry becomes the anthem. Then, the finished DVD could be sent back out to all clubs to use / distribute as they saw fit. You could even send copies to video houses, TV stations etc as promotional material. You never know, they might even use them. Disclaimer. This was produced after about a dozen schooners and a couple of southerns. (Spell checking by Mozilla). McLean Richard wrote: > It would be interesting to get a cross-section of us > "committed" glider pilots & find out just what drew > them to gliding .. my own story isn't that different > to Michael's .. always loved flying but knew > absolutely nothing about gliding until I met someone > who already did it. Hooked ever since! Does anyone > have a different story about some other aspect that > drew them into gliding? Do we need to do a formal > survey of the current membership perhaps? Re: DVD - > maybe we could distribute it to members to show > "prospects" when they detect any interest? I agree > with previous comments re: 30 second max attention > span, storyboards etc .. still not convinced we can't > do this ourselves though! I might have to make an > effort to learn more about the editing process & give > it a shot myself. > > --- Michael Texler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > >>I agree. >> >>Fellow glider pilots can watch gliding and flying >>videos all day, although >>admittedly it can be like watching paint dry. >> >>Whenever I have shown non flying people people >>gliding or power flying >>flicks, their eyes glaze over and they wonder when >>it will stop (much like >>taking on AEF up on a hot bumpy day). >> >>Simon's precis is a good start. >> >>My experience is that there are a small percentage >>of people in the general >>populace who wish to fly and will actively seek out >>ways of learning how to >>aviate. I actively sought out to learn how to fly >>and was keen to learn >>powered flight from a young age (until I learned of >>the cost). I was made >>aware of the Adelaide Uni Club via my Dad who knew a >>work colleague who was >>a tow-pilot at Waikerie. I had the impression that >>glider flights would be >>like glorified paper planes (i.e. only airborne for >>a few minutes). >>Nevertheless, glider flight was better than no >>flying at all. I was hooked >>from day one and haven't been able to shut up about >>it since (that was >>1987). >> >>Trying to capture Joe public seems a much different >>and inefficient >>exercise. Most AEFs that I have flown have been >>either Birthday Gifts or >>friends/family of current glider pilots. It is rare >>where you have Joe >>public stopping by the airfield asking to go for a >>flight and even rarer >>that such people become members. >> >>If I describe a typical summer's gliding day (hot, >>dusty and long) or winter >>(wet, muddy, cold and long) most people find this a >>turn off (I don't blame >>them). >> >>For me, gliding is so much fun that I am willing to >>put up with the less >>glamorous aspects of the day. >> >>My daily rave, >> >>Michael T. >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Aus-soaring mailing list >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >> > > > Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! 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