Japanese Tools/Shoji Video introduction

[Brian Holcombe]

My good friend Tommy Bartlett is videographer. We've been working on a project together, this is the first 1/2.

Enjoy


https://videopress.com/v/XbjGe6vW

[Graham Haydon]

Always good to see your workspace and process.

[Rick Malakoff]

Most excellent, but I'm afraid were going to need more, lot's more!
Rick

[Stanley Covington]

Nice! Beautiful photography.

Nice plane. I see your hands turn JP White Oak black too.

Nice hammer. Copper-plated or solid copper?

Looking forward to seeing more, especially your hikouki kanna in action.

Are you going to make full-blown 2-layer mentori kumiko with a kamahozo top rail?

Do you always use a plane left-handed, or are you entirely ambidextrous?

And what about your planing robe and embroidered planing slippers? You look wonderful darling. Don't tease us forever. :D

Stan

[Patrick Chase]

More robes and slippers, please.

[Patrick Chase]

Seriously my only critique, and this is subjective, is that I'm not a fan of the super-desaturated colors.

While I can understand the desire to avoid the "garish look" (which is undoubtedly worse) I think you've taken it too far. I imported the video to Premiere Pro and quickly looked at the vectorscope and waveforms, and it looks really compressed in chroma to me though reasonable in greyscale.

Full disclosure: I used to do a lot of color management in my former imaging role, so I'm picky.

[Brian Holcombe]

Thanks Gents, much appreciated!

Patrick,
Appreciate the feedback! Good eye! My friend Tommy did all of the videography, I encouraged him to take it anywhere he wanted and we bounced around ideas on how to play out the scene for this. We both wanted to do something where I'm not doing any sort of narration or anything like that, we wanted the feel of it to come through more than anything. I enjoy the desaturation, I think it goes well with the goal of the video which was to bring out the feeling of the work. He picked up on so many things that have gone unnoticed by me doing the work daily now.

Stan, the second half of the video is my cutting out a haunched double tenon with jaguchi shoulder, so it won't get into the kumiko work at all. We set aside about 7 hours or so for filming and these two parts ate up all of that. The work went fast but there is an incredible amount of setup for each small scene.

Haha, your comments have me rolling!!! I nearly forgot about the planing robe, that should be a video in and of itself. That hammer is solid copper, I love it, nice to use a hammer to set the blade and not damage anything. I also turn the wood black, I'm reactive it would seem, hah.

[Stanley Covington]

Haha, your comments have me rolling!!! I nearly forgot about the planing robe, that should be a video in and of itself. That hammer is solid copper, I love it, nice to use a hammer to set the blade and not damage anything. I also turn the wood black, I'm reactive it would seem, hah.

Whoever does your hair and makeup did a wonderful job. You looked absolutely marvelous, dahling!

In combination with the planing wardrobe, some gold accessories, an earing and chain for instance, would add mystery. You should also consider a more "daisensei" style, perhaps something Yoda-like with green blush and some ear prosthetics complete with hairs for your next video.

See you at Canne, darling! Ha ha

Stan

[Brian Holcombe]

I'm hoping that it makes the rounds, would love to see people really share it.

Haha, I will take these under consideration :D Solid gold Jikatabi!?!

[Stanley Covington]

I'm hoping that it makes the rounds, would love to see people really share it.

Haha, I will take these under consideration :D Solid gold Jikatabi!?!

Absolutely marvelous, dahling!

[Pat Barry]

i saw about a 3:05 video that was elegantly produced which included a tad bit of sharpening, the plane setup and a few plane strokes / shavings. Is there more? How can I navigate to it.

[Patrick Chase]

i saw about a 3:05 video that was elegantly produced which included a tad bit of sharpening, the plane setup and a few plane strokes / shavings. Is there more? How can I navigate to it.

If only you knew how difficult and time-consuming it is to produce video with those production values (notwithstanding my quibble about color-management in post).

There's a reason why most "high instructional content" WWing videos are basically an expert talking away in front of a single fixed camera, with maybe a few closeups at critical points. It would be too expensive to produce longer videos otherwise. This is more like a music video :-).

[Pat Barry]

If only you knew how difficult and time-consuming it is to produce video with those production values (notwithstanding my quibble about color-management in post).

There's a reason why most "high instructional content" WWing videos are basically an expert talking away in front of a single fixed camera, with maybe a few closeups at critical points. It would be too expensive to produce longer videos otherwise. This is more like a music video :-).
So, you're saying I saw it all then. Its a nice start, but way over produced. Just my opinion. I am fascinated by Brian's work, just not this video.

[Brian Holcombe]

Pat B, there will be more, this is intended as an introduction to my work not a 'how-to'. We wanted something that would introduce the spirit of the work to people entering my website and give a good idea of what it's all about rather than an essay or video with narration. I have plenty of that in other sections of my site, so for the landing page we wanted something exciting.

[ken hatch]

Pat B, there will be more, this is intended as an introduction to my work not a 'how-to'. We wanted something that would introduce the spirit of the work to people entering my website and give a good idea of what it's all about rather than an essay or video with narration. I have plenty of that in other sections of my site, so for the landing page we wanted something exciting.

Brian,

The world is overrun with instructional youtube videos. It is good to see a video that imparts the feel of working wood. Good on you and Mr Bartlett.

ken

[Mike Allen1010]

bigQUOTE=Stanley Covington;2736693]Whoever does your hair and makeup did a wonderful job. You looked absolutely marvelous, dahling!

In combination with the planing wardrobe, some gold accessories, an earing and chain for instance, would add mystery. You should also consider a more "daisensei" style, perhaps something Yoda-like with green blush and some ear prosthetics complete with hairs for your next video.

See you at Canne, darling! Ha ha

Stan[/QUOTE]


Brian, your video is fantastic – the slow-motion footage of shavings spilling from your plane totally qualifies as woodworking porn – thanks for sharing! Please let me know when I can subscribe to your woodworking channel – would be the best thing I've seen on TV, since watching the Dodgers take a 3 games to 1 lead versus the Cubs in the National League championship series!


Stan, I hold you personally responsible for causing me to spit an excellent single malt all over my desk because I read with your post about wardrobe, accessories, Canne film Festival etc. Seems like you definitely have an eye for for the work of a Hollywood "stylist" who makes movie stars look good on the red carpet! Must be the aesthetic appreciation you've developed from your extensive experience with Japanese woodworking?


Please keep the posts coming – I will be following with great attention.


Best, Mike

[Patrick Chase]

Brian, your video is fantastic – the slow-motion footage of shavings spilling from your plane totally qualifies as woodworking porn – thanks for sharing!

It's sort of the woodworking answer to Giada de Laurentiis (https://harpers.org/archive/2005/10/debbie-does-salad/)

[Stanley Covington]

Brian, your video is fantastic – the slow-motion footage of shavings spilling from your plane totally qualifies as woodworking porn – thanks for sharing! Please let me know when I can subscribe to your woodworking channel – would be the best thing I've seen on TV, since watching the Dodgers take a 3 games to 1 lead versus the Cubs in the National League championship series!


Stan, I hold you personally responsible for causing me to spit an excellent single malt all over my desk because I read with your post about wardrobe, accessories, Canne film Festival etc. Seems like you definitely have an eye for for the work of a Hollywood "stylist" who makes movie stars look good on the red carpet! Must be the aesthetic appreciation you've developed from your extensive experience with Japanese woodworking?


Please keep the posts coming – I will be following with great attention.


Best, Mike

Sorry about the adult beverage!

Unlike the long-haired and scruffy Mr. Schwarz the publisher, Mr. Underhill, who looks like a friendly potato farmer, Mr. Vila of This Old Outhouse TV show, and Mr. Abrams of the New Yankee Powertool Shill TV show, Brian is a young, well-spoken, and handsome guy with style. He has the potential to improve the image of woodworking far above what we have seen in print and television so far. If I can help with expert fashion tips, its the least I can do.

And Brian, if a fellow named Weinstein invites you to a party at the Four Seasons Hotel, you know you've made it!

Hello to Hollywood!

[Brian Holcombe]

Brian,

The world is overrun with instructional youtube videos. It is good to see a video that imparts the feel of working wood. Good on you and Mr Bartlett.

ken

Thank you Ken! Glad to see that the spirit of this video was conveyed and received! Much appreciated!



bigQUOTE=Stanley Covington;2736693]Whoever does your hair and makeup did a wonderful job. You looked absolutely marvelous, dahling!

In combination with the planing wardrobe, some gold accessories, an earing and chain for instance, would add mystery. You should also consider a more "daisensei" style, perhaps something Yoda-like with green blush and some ear prosthetics complete with hairs for your next video.

See you at Canne, darling! Ha ha

Stan


Brian, your video is fantastic – the slow-motion footage of shavings spilling from your plane totally qualifies as woodworking porn – thanks for sharing! Please let me know when I can subscribe to your woodworking channel – would be the best thing I've seen on TV, since watching the Dodgers take a 3 games to 1 lead versus the Cubs in the National League championship series!


Stan, I hold you personally responsible for causing me to spit an excellent single malt all over my desk because I read with your post about wardrobe, accessories, Canne film Festival etc. Seems like you definitely have an eye for for the work of a Hollywood "stylist" who makes movie stars look good on the red carpet! Must be the aesthetic appreciation you've developed from your extensive experience with Japanese woodworking?


Please keep the posts coming – I will be following with great attention.


Best, Mike[/QUOTE]

Hahah! Thanks Mike! Will do, I have a feeling you will greatly enjoy the video Tommy is preparing currently.


Sorry about the adult beverage!

Unlike the long-haired and scruffy Mr. Schwarz the publisher, Mr. Underhill, who looks like a friendly potato farmer, Mr. Vila of This Old Outhouse TV show, and Mr. Abrams of the New Yankee Powertool Shill TV show, Brian is a young, well-spoken, and handsome guy with style. He has the potential to improve the image of woodworking far above what we have seen in print and television so far. If I can help with expert fashion tips, its the least I can do.

And Brian, if a fellow named Weinstein invites you to a party at the Four Seasons Hotel, you know you've made it!

Hello to Hollywood!

Thanks Stan, very much appreciated!

[Brian Holcombe]

We've got part 2 up, this completes the two part introduction to my woodwork, focusing on shoji in this case. This is not meant as a how-to or anything like that, just something to enjoy;

https://videopress.com/v/NYtSdm9Z (https://videopress.com/v/NYtSdm9Z)

[Rick Malakoff]

Thanks again.....Rick

[Matt Lau]

Beautifully done! I think you perfectly captured the essence of the work. It reminds me of "peaceful cuisine" on youtube.

Btw, I thought you'd be some old guy in a black and white picture with a pipe?

[Brian Holcombe]

Thanks again.....Rick

Thank you!


Beautifully done! I think you perfectly captured the essence of the work. It reminds me of "peaceful cuisine" on youtube.

Btw, I thought you'd be some old guy in a black and white picture with a pipe?

Thanks Matt!

My photo is of the Prince of Wales, I suppose it's finally time for me to change that avatar.

[Rick Malakoff]

Ha Ha, I knew that guy looked awfully familiar, I like the new one better!
Rick

[Patrick Chase]

Hey wait... that slow-mo of the sawdust spurting out at 0:45... I swear I've seen verrry similar-looking footage before somewhere. I think that sort of shot is supposed to go at the end of the video, though. Tension and release and all that.

I also like the soft-focus just as you went off-line at 1:07. We should add that to Jim's survey of "ways to deal with mistakes".

Nice video!

[Chris Parks]

Brian, the link in the first post opens in a screen that has the time bar and pause controls etc but the video does no play. Has anyone else had this problem?

[Brian Holcombe]

Hey wait... that slow-mo of the sawdust spurting out at 0:45... I swear I've seen verrry similar-looking footage before somewhere. I think that sort of shot is supported to go at the end of the video, though. Tension and release and all that.

I also like the soft-focus just as you went off-line at 1:07. We should add that to Jim's survey of "ways to deal with mistakes".

Nice video!

Thanks Patrick!

I have had an intern for the past three weeks. She commented that she saw me wince as I noticed that I went off the line in the video. Hah, but I decided just to let it go.

[Brian Holcombe]

Ha Ha, I knew that guy looked awfully familiar, I like the new one better!
Rick

Thanks Rick!


Brian, the link in the first post opens in a screen that has the time bar and pause controls etc but the video does no play. Has anyone else had this problem?

Plays for me, but also curious if anyone has trouble?

[Rick Malakoff]

Brian, the link in the first post opens in a screen that has the time bar and pause controls etc but the video does no play. Has anyone else had this problem?

Just tried it, works for me.....Rick

[Chris Parks]

It doesn't like the browser I use (Opera).

[Patrick Chase]

It doesn't like the browser I use (Opera).

David's video is MPEG4, and it looks like Opera may not do that out of the box. A quick search suggests there may be a plugin available.

Full disclosure: My employer also makes a web browser, I'm not speaking for them, etc.

[Christopher Charles]

Both videos are a welcome respite, with a quiet and calm pace that is inspiring. Thanks for making the effort

[Brian Holcombe]

Thanks Christopher!

[Rick Malakoff]

Try YouTube.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49u-iWrTLtU


(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49u-iWrTLtU.....Rick)

[Brian Holcombe]

Thanks Rick, I've got this one up on Vimeo now as well.


https://vimeo.com/240306987

https://vimeo.com/240306987

[John Gornall]

Enjoyed these videos - thank you

What wood are you working?

[Brian Holcombe]

Thanks John! That wood is yellow cedar, which is a type of Cypress from Alaska and British Columbia.

[John Gornall]

Thanks Brian - I'm in British Columbia

[Steve Voigt]

Brian,

The world is overrun with instructional youtube videos. It is good to see a video that imparts the feel of working wood. Good on you and Mr Bartlett.

ken

I'm with Ken. There are some extraordinary moments, like when you're setting the plane iron, or examining the iron you've sharpened, that truly convey the sort of concentration and attention to detail that is necessary for working at the level you work at. The lack of any sound other than the very crisp sounds of the work itself contributes to this as well. The viewer cannot help but feel an intense sense of being in the moment, hearing and seeing every tiny detail. It is very Zen. :rolleyes: Well done, Brian.

[Patrick Chase]

I'm with Ken. There are some extraordinary moments, like when you're setting the plane iron, or examining the iron you've sharpened, that truly convey the sort of concentration and attention to detail that is necessary for working at the level you work at. The lack of any sound other than the very crisp sounds of the work itself contributes to this as well. The viewer cannot help but feel an intense sense of being in the moment, hearing and seeing every tiny detail. It is very Zen. :rolleyes: Well done, Brian.

FWIW I feel the same.

I couldn't resist poking fun at the slow-mo "money shot" earlier, but it takes a lot of skill to realize something like that to begin with. I think this is a case where the slick production reinforces the message instead of distracting. Again, nicely done both to you and your partners!

[Brian Holcombe]

I'm with Ken. There are some extraordinary moments, like when you're setting the plane iron, or examining the iron you've sharpened, that truly convey the sort of concentration and attention to detail that is necessary for working at the level you work at. The lack of any sound other than the very crisp sounds of the work itself contributes to this as well. The viewer cannot help but feel an intense sense of being in the moment, hearing and seeing every tiny detail. It is very Zen. :rolleyes: Well done, Brian.

Thanks Steve! Very much appreciate your comments! It was really enjoyable working with someone, a close friend, who really gets what I do and is well equipped in how to best show it.

Basically we were both in agreement over the entire thing, from the choice not to narrate all the way on through to just the noises of the shop.

This truly was fun to produce.


Thanks Brian - I'm in British Columbia

Consider yourself lucky, you are in the land of beautiful high quality softwoods.


FWIW I feel the same.

I couldn't resist poking fun at the slow-mo "money shot" earlier, but it takes a lot of skill to realize something like that to begin with. I think this is a case where the slick production reinforces the message instead of distracting. Again, nicely done both to you and your partners!


Thanks Patrick! No worries, your comments are always taken in good spirit.