Hey my BABlogge minions–
Want to be a part of The Skeptologists? We shot a lot of footage last week when we filmed* the pilot, and we are in need of someone (or really many someones) to help us transcribe it. Basically, we need someone who can listen to the raw video footage and transcribe all the dialog verbatim.
We can provide samples and format in timecoded DVDs or VHS tapes. Because of the nature of the show, you’ll need to sign a confidentiality statement, too, so if you leak info on the show we can force feed you wheatgrass juice. Trust me, it’s better to keep quiet.
If you want to help please contact Milena at New Rule Productions: milena "at" newrule "dot" com or call her at 805-938-1106.
Thanks folks!
* Actually, it was all digital, so no film was involved. Someday our language will catch up with technology.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Yes! I emailed her! Thanks Phil!
April 8th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I’m still iffy about the title. “Skeptologists” sound like people who study skeptics, not people who study skeptically.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:24 am
The title’s fine. What I want, though, is to be reassured that this is not some watered-down version of Penn & Teller’s “Bull****” Of course, even if it is, we need more shows like it on television.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Don’t worry about the title, Irishman. It can always be changed, e.g., Crossroads to Expelled:-D
April 8th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Ummo – I think you can make Penn & Teller’s show broadcastable (without the nipple police getting hot and bothered by it, in other words) without watering it down. That show also seems to be more politics oriented rather than science oriented anyway, so I’m sure the shows are filling separate, if similar, niches.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
The BA says: “Actually, it was all digital, so no film was involved. Someday our language will catch up with technology.”
Don’t hold your breath. After all, we still “dial” telephones.
- Jack
April 8th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Carey – one can hope. I certainly do. I think Skeptologists has the potential of being the greatest show ever (allowing for slight exaggeration, of course).
April 8th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Just sent an email, I hope I get to help out!
April 8th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
sweet, just sent an email
April 8th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Hmm, I’d like to help out, but I imagine that would require them shipping DVDs to me, no? Given that I currently reside in Canada, I suspect that would pose a problem by forcing them to pay more shipping costs. Or is this not a problem for them?
April 8th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
While some of the entertainment might be lost in the lack of profanity, I think the amount of science could easily make up for it. I can say for sure that at least the 2 of the cast I’m familiar with are competent and entertaining. I think it could be a nice companion to BS if it doesn’t surpass it.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
The phrase ‘videotaped’ has been around for some time.
Just saying…
(altough with current solid-state media that phrase will also be redundant soon…)
So how will we be able to see the show in Europe then?
April 8th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Just emailed her
April 8th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Just emailed her. This is so awesome!
April 8th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
So, has Milena called up to complain about how she’s buried in offers to help yet?
April 8th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Big John,
Crossroads was just a sham to get interviews by the real scientists. They had the expelled name domain registered before the interviews were conducted, so they knew they’d be calling the movie expelled by that time. Typical deception tactics by these people.
I’d offer to help transcribe, but I know that there’s only a tiny chance I’d get picked… so many will be offering. I offered to do music for Brian’s (Dunning) film, but never heard back from him.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Emailed, though by this point I imagine she’s got more than enough offers.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
The BA says: “Actually, it was all digital, so no film was involved. Someday our language will catch up with technology.”
I think it already has. ‘To film’, in that context, currently means to make a video recording, regardless of the storage medium. The relationship of the verb to celluloid is of interest to etymologists, but it doesn’t have to restrict the evolution of the word’s meaning.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
You could just say you “shot” the episode … Not sure if that has any connotations to film or not.
April 8th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Actually “film” is still accurate, as in videotape the magnetic “images” are stored on a film of chromium oxide (or some such material) on a plastic base. “Shoot” is used a great deal as well, so that makes me a “hired gun” or a videographer for hire. Lots of cool double entendres in the biz. I shoot, I edit, I do animations & graphics, I author the DVDs, I do all that stuff.
I’ll ping her an email to see if she still needs help. She might be wary of another producer working on her project, though.
Rich
April 8th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I’ve emailed. I’d love to help out, so we’ll see if I get lucky.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Technically Phil shouldn’t it be “re-purposing” electrons?
April 9th, 2008 at 4:14 am
It’s not just ‘filmed’ . . . also ‘footage’. That word refers the actual lengths (measured in ‘feet’) of film.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:24 am
If the work is just transcription, why is video needed at all?
Your editor/post house/slave minions can just export audio only files, load them to a secure – even streaming – FTP server and release the work in passworded segments.
It will be much easier to track, to manage, and work with.
It will also save enormously on postage – and has the added advantage of not releasing your precious digital video into the vast ether of inter-webbed humanity.
I’m just sayin’ is all…
April 9th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Yeah, I fired off an email as well. Hopefully I can help! We’ll see what happens…
April 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
As for language keeping up with technology, my 4 year old neighbor told me his two favorite saxophone *records* are called “Bird” and “John Coltrane”. (Okay, he’s an unusual kid…) So third millennium children still refer to recordings as “records”, even when they are really CDs.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I know this is pretty late to comment on this post, but I’m a bit worried. I DID get selected to help transcribe for Skeptologists (which is so awesome I can’t believe it) but after sending the information requested of me yesterday, I got an email today asking for it again, in all caps, as if I hadn’t sent it the first time. It also said if I don’t respond within the specified time-frame, they would have to find someone else. Well, I sent off another email with the info again, but I’m worried that whatever problem prevented them from receiving my fist email will recur and I won’t get to do the transcription. So if you read this, Phil (or anyone else, really), any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Sorry for my previous post, please disregard it, as the info was received.