What should we be doing?

Initiate Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Chicago

I've had this thought, for a CCW video project, for more than a couple of days. I don't know what kind of time I could devote to it... but I have a new video camera capable of good audio, and I have some expertise.

I've wanted to do a web page for a while... interviews of people doing what they do... homeless folks and why they are homeless... working folks and what they like about what they do... whatever. Interviews. Just people talking about their lives... personal history, personal knowledge. Maybe personal gun stories?

For CCW (and popularizing it in Illinois), I wonder if there should be a place where CCW stories could be collected.

My story would be about my thinking long ago that the world would be a better place if guns never existed... being mugged at gunpoint in Old Town in the mid 70's... learning how to unload 5 different handguns after almost being accidentally shot by my Father... realizing that a good working knowledge of firearms is a good thing in this world... to embracing CCW, getting the Florida permit and becoming an NRA firearms instructor and that I would carry whenever possible if it were legal where I live. I'd have to include that I still vote Democrat (or Green or Libertarian) most of the time but have to consider just voting for gun freedom whenever I can, and that I remain basically a pacifist. I see no conflict in being a gun toting pacifist. I probably don't want to do my story.

Stories should be short. Almost like commercials. Well lit. Good production value. And they need to be real. Susanna Haup? John Birch? The guy from Waukegan that shot the burgler?

If there is anyone here who thinks a video web page project might be worth the effort... we should talk. I have more elaborate ideas and a small vision...

I have posted this at IllinoisCarry

Thanks,

Tim

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:07 pm

This is a great idea, Tim! You're not the only one either. PatrickHenry has been thinking of doing this for a few months. He was going to buy some decent video equipment from a friend of his and get to work on the project next year. You and him should talk to each other and share ideas, talk about what equipment/knowledge you have, and all of that. I would be more than happy to help you guys out, although I'm involved in too many other things to head a movie project or anything -- so you'll have to do most of the work yourselves.

I think something like this could be HUGE!! I would certainly help in the creation of it and then in the marketing. We can burn DVDs, pass it out everywhere, and have it available for download on the net here!!!

You could work with PatrickHenry and maybe one or two other people. You guys could put something great out I'm sure Very Happy

Newbie Joined: Dec 11, 2006 Posts: 1 Location: CHICAGO IL

you can also do a show on public access TV, for no cost and use
there cameras and all you need to AIR your shows.
Very Happy

Corporal Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 327

There is U.S. Concealed Carry Organization with website, discussion forums, monthly magazine, etc. here is the website-

http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/index.cfm?affID=uscca

Corporal Joined: Sep 20, 2005 Posts: 788

I do have experience with HTML, that can help. It would be good if your camera could also record a video digitally so that it can be put into *.mpeg or *.wmv format so that it could be easily put into a webpage. You can check out my website at http://rwbazillion.com.

The stories would have to be short because video takes alot of memory on a website.

I would also like to see a story and video on just target shooters. I'm not into Self-Defense with firearms, I bought my guns for target shooting. Yes they are there for Self-Defense but having videos on target shooting and why people target shoot is good as well.

I have many liberal friends, many of which don't know I'm armed. But some do know because I have told them. I do get the question: why do you own a gun? or whats the purpose of having a gun? and in video it would be good to be able to answer those questions with professionals, and we are all professionals, within the sport to show them target shooting and Self-Defense to offset the negative stigma that is many times put on guns and gun owners.

Initiate Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Chicago

rwbazillion wrote:

It would be good if your camera could also record a video digitally... easily put into a webpage

The stories would have to be short...

I would also like to see a story:

-on just target shooters.
-why do you own a gun?
-whats the purpose of having a gun?

SAK wrote:

PatrickHenry has been thinking of doing this for a few months. He was going to buy some decent video equipment...
You could work with PatrickHenry and maybe one or two other people. You guys could put something great out I'm sure Very Happy

JHB21 wrote:

you can also do a show on public access TV...

BlackhawkPaul wrote:

There is U.S. Concealed Carry Organization with website, discussion forums, monthly magazine, etc. here is the website-

http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/index.cfm?affID=uscca

Good Ideas, all.

The new camera is a small Sony HDV, capable of fine audio. Rendering it to DVD or mpeg suitable for the web is not a problem.

I enjoy the Ken Burns documentary look. I'm not locked into it, but the interview based format is simple to do, and do fairly well, with minimal resources. I would prefer to develope a style of our own.

I did the Public Access TV thing in the 80's. I don't have time for it now (progressed a bit beyond it, too) but it wouldn't be unreasonable to let finished material be shown on PATV... as long as all involved were agreeable and there would be no ownership issues. My gear is probably better than what most area PATV facilities have... certainly on the audio side. I need a light or two. The Kino Flo Diva lights are nice. Dimable... fairly soft and shadow free. They help make TV correspondents look great. New sticks and a good head are in my budget... need something sized for this faily small camera, but with a max height of more than 5'. My current (ancient) $35 tripod would suffice as long as there are no camera moves.

We should all talk... find a story we like and see about getting one in the can. I have a couple weeks off.

Tim

Corporal Joined: Sep 20, 2005 Posts: 788

Maybe one about target shooters, who these people are, why they shoot, and the types of weapons they have. For this documentary, it should show the professionalism and safety considerations listed. It also should have diversity in peoples because you don't want it to look like a white only thing.

For Self-Defense I definitely say the guy who shot the burgler in house would be a good thing to have. As well as others who have stories of firearm Self-Defense.

So for now these sections could be expanded upon, kinda like a documentary.

1) Self-Defense
2) Target Shooting
3) Gun Collecting
4) FFL dealers

Maybe taking the camera to the range seeing people who do shoot, showing the safety and professionalism required. Another thing could be talking to different gun dealers about their issues, talking to them about straw purchases, and other issues tat deal directly with FFL dealers.

Remember your target audience, it isn't necessarily the gun owners, but those who have no knowledge about guns and those who have negative opinions on guns. If you have noticed I always place diversity as something important. Know your enemies and know their tactics.

Anti-gunners will try to make your documentary first off look like whites are arming themselves to shoot blacks. Also they will try to disassociate gun culture as a rural issue not applicable to city folks. Understanding the tactics of your enemies will help you in thwarting negative attempts against what you are doing.

Currently anti's use the silence of gun owners against them and the only voice you hear are anti-gunners thus making it seem like a majority in Illinois are anti-gun. Cool

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:50 am

for the target shooting one you could try to find competive shooters (olympic stile, not IPSA). it suprises most people i tell that shooting is the only sport in both the summer and winter games.