Next Houston Film Crawl?

[cooltouch]

Just curious if folks have started discussing when the next Houston Film Crawl might happen. Last one I went to was a couple years ago, and it was in January, which is why I'm asking about it now. I did a search just now and didn't come across any indication that one might be in the planning stage. So . . . I thought I might get the ball rolling?

[crazyfoo]

so what is a Houston Film Crawl?

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by cooltouch

Just curious if folks have started discussing when the next Houston Film Crawl might happen. Last one I went to was a couple years ago, and it was in January, which is why I'm asking about it now. I did a search just now and didn't come across any indication that one might be in the planning stage. So . . . I thought I might get the ball rolling?

Lee, Tropicpine, is usually the one who gets these started.

You may want to PM him.

I think he tried to get one going in December but there was very little interest.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by crazyfoo

so what is a Houston Film Crawl?

A slower paced group shoot. Its intent is to allow for the use of film/ Large Format cameras.

However, everyone is always invited.

[LEO III]

Best way to find out, Justin, is to come with us on the next one. We'll 'splane it to you as we go along.

Like Kevin said, we (figuratively) stick a finger in the air and decide where we are going to go, and then we go and spend the day shooting whatever we find there. There is much discussion during the planning stage of where we want to go: We're always looking to go somewhere new and exciting and different, but there is always talk of returning to a previous crime scene, because someone missed a shot that someone else got. Hate it when that happens.

An equally important consideration is making sure we choose a place that meets or exceeds our demanding culinary standards. Good food, usually classic (not classy) BBQ or pizza, is important for artistic film crawlers, so that their minds and bodies and eyes are in sync with the photography gods. Think David Carradine (RIP) in Kung Fu, Grasshopper.

Please also note: Michael's subject line is misleading. "Houston" refers only to the general area where most of us live and the departure point of the crawl. Yes, we have done some around town, but we've also been to such Texas pleasure capitals as Anderson, Luling, and New Gulf, stopping along the way to and fro to shoot whatever old church or barn or mule or whatever else we pass along the way that catches someone's fancy.

If you'll take a look at some of the threads started by Lee (Tropicpine) last year, you'll get the idea. You'll also be able to see some of the results.

Three other things:

1. As Kevin said, you don't need to shoot film. All I have is my crummy little Rebel XT, and that's good enough for me. I learn a ton, just seeing how the pros do it.

2. There is usually a post-crawl get together a couple of weeks or so after the crawl, so that we can share the fruits of our labor. (Hah! It's just another excuse to eat again!)

3. IT ALWAYS RAINS ON FILM CRAWL DAY!

We look forward to seeing you on the next journey to The Outer Limits. If there is anywhere you would like to nominate for our target of opportunity, let's have it, especially if it has some outstanding eating establishment(s) in close proximity.

[wclavey]

Happy New Year to you all...

Larry, you make it sound so enjoyable! LOL! But it is true that it seems to always rain on Film Crawl days...

Some of us shoot at a slower pace even when we are not shooting film! In fact, one of my resolutions this year (following the strong advice of Kevin & TJ) is to get the camera off the tripod more... I'll need to take lessons from Ice or Murph (can't remember which one) about how to use my shift lens with the camera hand held!

There was some interest expressed a few months ago for another night shoot... That could be interesting, but I would not use film...

Michael, you were on our film crawl trip to Anderson, TX last January... arranged by Lee... it rained!

[crazyfoo]

Sounds cool, I would love to go! This would be a great learning experience as well lots of fun! And Westley, I would love to do a night shoot, it has always interested me but I have only tried a few shots.

[tropicpine]

Originally Posted by LEO III

An equally important consideration is making sure we choose a place that meets or exceeds our demanding culinary standards. Good food, usually classic (not classy) BBQ or pizza, is important for artistic film crawlers, so that their minds and bodies and eyes are in sync with the photography gods. Think David Carradine (RIP) in Kung Fu, Grasshopper.

LARRY! YOU FORGOT THAT THE CLASSIC QUISINE MUST INCLUDE BEER!

Yes its loooong past due for anoter film crawl.

Given Larrys oversight I would recomend we make a trip out to Shiner Tx.. Unfortunately the brewery tours only run from Monday to Friday. Lets have some locale suggestions and I'll start stitching this togeather.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by tropicpine

LARRY! YOU FORGOT THAT THE CLASSIC QUISINE MUST INCLUDE BEER!

Yes its loooong past due for anoter film crawl.

Given Larrys oversight I would recomend we make a trip out to Shiner Tx.. Unfortunately the brewery tours only run from Monday to Friday. Lets have some locale suggestions and I'll start stitching this togeather.

The tour is only open during the week.

However, the hospitality room is open on the weekend.

[cooltouch]

Originally Posted by wclavey

Michael, you were on our film crawl trip to Anderson, TX last January... arranged by Lee... it rained!

Yeah, you're right. I plumb forgot about Anderson until Leo mentioned it.

[tropicpine]

Not long ago I did a solo trip to Galveston.
The Strand was almost a complete bust.
There was plenty of historic arcatecture to shoot.
East Beach/Apffel park, almost compleatly devoid of people was intresting as well.
Some intresting, abandoned drop forges just North of Broadway between 59th and 54th street. (You can see them, or at least their shadow on Google Earth near Ball St.)

Cold beer and warm gumbo were great on the Seawall.

Let's hear some other suggestions for Galveston or elseware in the Houston area.

[tropicpine]

Originally Posted by KJ Smith

However, the hospitality room is open on the weekend.

Best use of the 'friday' smiley I have seen to date!

[cooltouch]

Never been on their tour, but there's St. Arnold's here in Houston as well. Any micro breweries around?

Dunno if a night shoot would be all that great for a film crawl, really. It seems to me that subject matter would be rather limited. Unless maybe we had a Part II after dinner or something?

When it comes to a locale, I tend to draw blanks. About the only place I can think of that I've been wanting to get out to, to see if there was anything worthwhile to take pics of was the coast west of Galveston Island -- say around the Surfside area. I haven't been out that way since the early 70s, so I don't recall much of it anymore.

Huh, Lee I reckon I was thinking about Galveston and its old homes right about when you were posting your message.

[LEO III]

I'm pretty open to shooting just about anywhere. Either Galveston or Shiner would be fine with me, but I'll leave it up to the group.

I would like to suggest January 22nd as a target date in the discussion. Of course, if Lee wants to do the usual voting ritual, that's OK too. We could have two or three or four possible locations on the board, and as we get closer to the date and see how much rain will be involved, we can narrow it down to the best possible site.

Michael, we did a nighttime crawl last July in lower downtown. Even though it was hot and sweaty, we had a good time and got some great stuff. Personally, I think it is a little too early for another one. We might want to wait a couple of months.

[venchka]

I missed this over the weekend. Nothing concrete yet?