Fake rain is used all the time in film, but what do you do if you don't have a huge budget and your location doesn't have a faucet to plug your hose into? Here is a guide to creating practical rain for your film or photography project.
Basic "Rain Machine" Equipment
You'll need the following:
1. Water
Alternative Sources: a nearby lake, a nearby river, pre-packaged containers of water, water truck, ice that can be melted at location, containers filled at home and transported to location. Sixty-four gallons might only last a couple of minutes. If you choose to use water from a lake or river check to make sure you're not breaking any laws.
2. Large Containers
Examples: garbage cans, storage bins. These containers are to hold the water as it is fetched from the water source.
3. Submersible Roofing Pump
This is normally used to clean up flooding and, depending on the type, may look a bit different than the picture below. Home Depot usually rents these for about $15 a day. A garden hose attaches to the white part and the rest of the pump can be put all the way into the water. The pump will suck the water up and shoot it back out very quickly. Getting enough pressure shouldn't be a problem, however you might have to be conservative with the water if you have a limited amount or are taking trips to your source to fill up your containers. Be careful not to get large particles suctioned up. Even though there is a filter, you may accidentally damage the pump.
4. Garden Hose
This screws onto the white part of the roofing pump. Option: If you wanted to, as seen in other peoples' videos (here and here) you could puncture the hose in multiple places and hang it onto a makeshift frame above the actors. For my project I opted to attach a spray nozzle that would allow me to change the roundness of drops and have better aim.
5. Spray Nozzle or Sprinkler Head
The type of nozzle or sprinkler depends on your needs. Think about how large of an area you will need covered and if your camera will pick up small drops. Usually cameras have a difficult time picking up rain unless it is bouncing off of an object. You could either add milk to your mixture or create larger drops with the type of nozzle. You will probably want to experiment with a couple of different types. Remember to aim the hose/nozzle/sprinkler upwards so the rain falls to the ground naturally. You could cover the end of the hose with your thumb to create the same effect, but it might get cold quickly.
Power Equipment
The roofing pump needs electricity to work. If you don't have a power outlet available you will need the following:
1. Generator
An gasoline powered generator may be your easiest option. Most are powered with regular unleaded gasoline, but double check the label on your generator. Generators are very expensive (over $100), but they are also available to rent at some places. I rented one at Home Depot for $50 a day.
2. Gasoline (if needed to power generator)
Explained above.
3. Extension Cord
The cord of your roofing pump could be short so its a good idea to bring an extension cord just in case. While your roofing pump can be put in water, do not get the connection between the cords wet or it could be fatal.
Optional Equipment
1. Hand Tuck
To help transport containers of water or other equipment.
2. Dolly
To help transport the generator (they are heavy) or other equipment.
3. Rope
To attach to the dolly in order to pull it.
4. Rain Poncho
Just in case.
Step-by-Step
1. Attach spray nozzle or sprinkler head to hose.
2. Attach hose to roofing pump.
3. Fill containers full of water.
4. Place roofing pump into water.
5. Plug roofing pump into operating generator. (It should automatically start sucking up the water).
6. Aim the hose upwards to create natural looking rain.
*I am not a professional rain machine maker. This is based off of my own dilemma of creating fake rain without a water tap. I do not have video to demonstrate, as the day we were to film it snowed. We were going to fill our containers with water from a lake. (We didn't want to put the pump directly into the lake because the sand might be sucked up). I believe this will work as I did rent all the equipment and tested it with an employee of Home Depot.
**As an alternative you might be able to use a pressure washer with a water inlet tube that allows you to draw from a container of water. I was going to try this method first, but you would need at least 1800 psi or greater. Pressure washers of this psi were around $200 to purchase so I opted with above option which was about $100. Also, the nozzle of a pressure washer might not give you the coverage that you are looking for.
If you have any remarks or questions please leave a comment below. I'd love to know how this method turned out for you.
"Bestia" is the core of Lullabied. It is the driving force behind the rest of the songs. It is the reason that this album exists.
Bestia is the Spanish word for beast. This beast, you fight. It is part of your inner-battles. Your weaknesses, struggles, temptations, wrong-doings.
Behind the Scenes Video
Composition
The majority of this piece was written towards the end of 2013. At the time I had been out of college for only a couple of months and living in a small town in Oregon. This was also a very intense emotional time for me as I was exploring my career options. Also, my family was under a lot of stress because my grandma (who lives with us) had recently broken her leg twice, and I had just left them to make this unexpected move. A couple months after my move, my depression was at its peak.
After a major relapse, a doctor recommended I move home to take some serious time to focus on my emotional and mental well-being. It was embarrassing to be at the point where I needed to finally ask for help. I had been struggling with depression, and apparently bipolar disorder, for ten years and had been doing fine on my own up until then.
As I was taking time to recover, I finished writing "Bestia," which was intended to be a solo piano piece. After my first recording session, I later heard a cello part in my head and afterwards, a beat that seemed to add a sense of oppression.
The Recording Process
This was the first song off the album that was recorded, and my first real professional studio experience. A few years prior I had recorded a demo of "Lullabied," which didn't turn out so well and wasn't a good experience, so I was weary of trying it again. As a potential new independent artist with very limited knowledge of the music business, understanding what resources were available to me took some time.
I saw a picture of one of my friends from college playing the drums at a nice studio. As I looked further into where the picture was taken, I found out that the studio was only an hour from my house. After listening to samples on the website, I contacted Jason Jones at Art City Sound to set up an appointment.
Jason was incredible to work with. He took the time to listen to my needs, what similar artists sounded like, and he worked with me to get the sound I was looking for. I knew I had found the right place to create. The prospect of recording an album soon became a reality.
My brother came to the studio with me. He was a good sport, as he sat through this first six hour session. He even sang four notes, which can be heard from 3:22 - 3:36. What was originally intended to be a piano piece quickly turned into an in-studio-writing-marathon as I learned what tools and instruments were available to me.
The cello was played by Kathryn Andelin, who had been a client of the studio before. As we recorded there was confusion and the cello didn't turn out nearly at all like I had written, which was a blessing in disguise. It much better suits the song how it is.
Because we recorded the piano without a click track, the drums were entered in manually instead of using a looping method.
The Music Video
The music video was filmed and edited by Eric Thayne from Celadora Studios. The concept and design began shortly after the filming for "Breath and Dust" was complete. (This was second video to be filmed). It took me nearly three months to make all the props and costumes. I began designing the Bestias' (wild men) first with the intent of having them look similar to the stuffed animal. Because my sewing skills lack, the costumes evolved into more of a wild man look, which ultimately was better for the storyline.
The costumes were made from minky, a very soft fabric intended for blankets. I liked how it looked like animal fur, which would give the actors a more primitive appearance. Two weeks before the video shoot, I buried them in dirt and occasionally sprinkled water on them to get mud to stick. I wanted the actors to look like they had been living in the forest for a while. When the day to shoot came, my actors didn't appreciate how dirty their costumes were, but they were good sports.
Though it doesn't look too complex, the cage was one of the more difficult things I've built. After deciding that a traditional shelter wouldn't do, I had to create my own design. I am lucky to live close to mountains, where I was able to get some of the wood. However, my first resort was driving through my neighborhood on garbage day looking for wood and branches people had cut down from their trees. A few people were kind enough to give me their wood, and even help load it in my car.
Because the piano I used for "Breath and Dust" was trashed, I bought a used one for $50 and refinished it ivory colored. It had been too much work to gut the previous one, but after moving it in and out of a moving truck several times for this video, I've decided it is worth the time to gut it. It weighed about 400 pounds.
Two locations were chosen for the shoot. The first one was a dry river bed at Battle Creek (Kiwanis) Park in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Some friendly hikers helped us get the fragile wooden cage down into the river bed (which was down a hill).
Shooting the piano part was a little more difficult. Originally we had planned to place the piano in a forest, but because it was incredibly difficult to move, we had to improvise. It was placed at the edge of the parking lot next to a tree, creating the illusion that it was in the forest. Perhaps next time I can plan better and we can do the real thing. Apparently there were hikers that were stopping to watch. I didn't know that, as my back was turned.
For the second location we made a return to Utah Lake, where "Breath and Dust" was filmed. I wanted to start to bridge the gap between the videos so that eventually when you watch them in the order that the tracks are on the album, it will create a storyline. "Bestia" is number two, and "Breath and Dust," four. The bridge between them is "Heaven Rain" - which is planned for filming.
I need to mention the actors in this video. The boy was played by Andrew, who is a piano student of mine. Currently he has been playing for about five months and his progress is incredible. He is able to play pieces that took me 10 years to get to. Next up on his list is "Bestia." After he learns it I may be able to convince him to let me record him playing it.
The Bestias were portrayed by my brother, Berlin, and cousin, Sam. Both have been huge supporters of my music. (Both are also goof-balls as you can see in the video below). Berlin helped me behind the scenes with my previous video, "Breath and Dust," and recently graduated from college with a degree in musical theatre. On the set he was dancing around in his costume joking that he was in this video because it was a musical. Sam is the biggest fan of "Bestia" that I know. Whenever I came up with a new idea for this video, I had to run it by him first.
Extra: While Sam and Andrew were filming their fight scene, Sam was so into it he broke his weapon. Here's a picture of them practicing their scene a few weeks beforehand:
Symbolism in the Music Video
1. A stuffed animal, or monster. I call this the Bestia, which is Spanish for “beast”. The Bestia represents weaknesses, struggles, temptations, and even wrong-doings. These things you battle daily, inside of you.
2. Bestias (the wild men) and their camp. This is a more physical and visual representation of the evil, weaknesses, struggles, and temptations that we face every day. These are the "bad guys".
3. The boy. He is seen spying on the Bestia camp, which causes him to ultimately get caught and held prisoner. The Bestias (wild men) smear mud on his face as well as put a black cape on him in attempt to turn him into one of them. When he is freed he remembers his potential and fights his demons. This is you.
4. White body paint. White is often accepted as a symbol of innocence, purity, and faith. The designs on the boy's and my body represent healing and safety from those things that one may participate in that ultimately cause harm. This could be an addiction, overindulgence, or something smaller such as a white lie. In my personal case, they represent my recovery from self-harm.
5. Metal lock on the wooden and twine cage. To most people that see the video, the metal lock seems out of place. However, as will be explained in a future video, it is not. One never gets them self into really bad situation all at once. It is usually little by little, which causes their predicament to become worse and worse. In this case, we can assume that the longer the boy was imprisoned and spent time with the bestias, the cage would eventually transform into a completely metal structure from the fragile wood and twine. It would have been harder to escape from.
6. The Lake. In a Christian sense, this body of water can be viewed as baptism, being born again. Shedding of those things that make us weaker. Cleansing. The boy symbolically gets rid of his weaknesses and recent mistakes by throwing the stuffed animal in the lake.
All the music videos for the album (Lullabied) are connected. Each song a story, each story a lullaby.
If there are other symbolic references that you see, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you take away. Enjoy.
When I began college my declared major was Music Education with a plan to transfer to another University to become a Music Therapist. Though I still hadn't had any teaching courses, a few semesters in I switched to a Music Composite degree, giving me more flexibility with my music courses, and allowing me to stay at my current college (which I had quickly fallen in love with). To be honest, I also had secretly feared being front and center in a classroom. For the time being, my fears got the best of me.
College quickly came and went, and as I held my diploma I realized that I still didn't have a career plan. (Sometimes I ask myself if I still do). Eventually the opportunity arose to live at home, where I gained responsibilities that limited my availability to work full time. Many friends and family suggested I give private lessons.
The college I attended gave the students daily opportunities to instruct one another one-on-one, in groups, and in a classroom setting, no matter the course. These interactions helped me gain the rudimentary skills needed to share insight.
I will tell you something. Teaching is wonderful. And I love it.
Over the past year, as needs for my students have risen, I have designed my own curriculum, creating worksheets, exercises, and concept explanations to suit individual needs. While it is far from being "complete," this two-inch binder is nearly full. I hope to one day create a more cohesive book to distribute to future students.
It's been wonderful being able to review core concepts and explain them to others in a way that is easy to understand. Many times we take the knowledge that we have for granted.
If you or someone you know is in the Salt Lake City, Utah area and interested in learning piano, please send me an email at chelseyjoymusic@gmail.com. You may also use the inquiry form under the "lessons" tab of my website, www.chelseyjoy.com.
The concept for this video began when I realized that I wanted it to be symbolic of what this song is about, which is losing a part of yourself to those things that tear you down. They could be certain temptations, over-indulgences, struggles, or weaknesses that you cannot forgive yourself for.
Being the most emotional and personal song I have
written so far, “Breath and Dust” is very close to my heart. The first time I heard it all
the way through I cried. It had only been finished a week earlier, and the
events that were the inspiration for this piece had taken place less than a
month before.
Because of the personal nature of this song I will
not describe the incidents that inspired it. It is sufficient to say that it is
about loss, which I tried to illustrate through abundant symbolism in the music
video.
Behind the Scenes Video
Composition
Regarding the writing process, one memory comes to mind. I had been sitting at the piano and my grandma was in her bedroom (just down the
hall). She was on oxygen at the time, and I could hear the machine helping her
breathe. Her breathing reminded me of my own emotional state at the time. I felt as if I were drowning.
The
Recording Process
“Breath and Dust” was the forth song we recorded on the album. I contacted violinist, Ricky Cardoso, who was
recommended by the studio, Art City Sound, and asked if he would come in to record some violin
and viola tracks. I was blown away by how well he played. He was able to
capture the heaviness of the song in such a beautiful way.
Two different piano sounds were used, including an “abandoned” piano sample.
This can be heard during the descending eighths (3:38 - 3:57) while the young woman in the video is drowning. When it is first introduced, it
is slightly detuned.
I received a comment from a professional regarding
the mixing and mastering: the violin could have been blended a bit more with
the rest of the instruments, creating a smoother sound. I would have agreed
with him if it weren’t for what it is about: pain and loss. When someone cries,
truly, and alone, it is rarely censored. The violin is the instrument most
resembling the human voice. The voice in this song is weeping. If things sound
a bit off in this song, it’s on purpose.
The Music Video
My fans are amazing. They donated over $500 to the making of the video, which was filmed by Eric Thayne from Celadora Studios. The concept for it had been developing for a while and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to finally see it come together.
My goal was to have the video explore the interesting relationship between despair and its defeat, or triumph. The storyline was very basic: a young woman wades into a lake and sees a stuffed animal. She decides to try and retrieve it, but starts drowning. She is rescued by a stranger. Two locations were chosen for the shoot. The first one was beautiful Utah Lake near Provo, Utah. When we arrived it was raining, but we only had to wait about 15 minutes before it stopped. The rain clouds produced stunning lighting and backdrop. I had asked two of my friends, Becca and Rick, to be a part of the video. Becca was a great sport and spent nearly three hours standing barefoot in the lake that we were at. She was absolutely freezing by the time we were done shooting but I didn’t hear her complain once. Rick helped steer the canoe while Eric got shots of Becca in the water.
I felt guilty sitting on the beach the whole time eating
M&M’s and Cheetos. However, it was a bit amusing hearing all three of them
sing the opening song from Pocahontas
while they rowed out onto the lake.
The second location was a bit trickier to get to. A
friend had been visiting ghost towns and came across a cool house in Thistle,
Utah. He sent me a picture and it was exactly what I had pictured for the piano
part of the shoot. There was one problem; it was on top of a huge hill. The
only other way to approach it would be to drive over two sets of railroad
tracks. My brother, who had also helped out at the lake, was kind of enough to
come help me at the house too.
It was quite the adventure. At home we loaded up my
“stunt” piano, which I gutted to make it lighter, and easily came apart. We were a little weary because our truck has a history
of not starting. However, an hour and a half later we arrived in Thistle with
no problems. We just had to find a way to drive up to the house without getting
in trouble, and without tipping the truck.
I first attempted to drive over the
railroad tracks but it was obvious that we were going to get stuck. We went
back down the main highway and (I) decided to drive across the field that the
house is located on and go around the hill, up a part that is slightly less
steep. I have to add that the whole time we were going through the field, which
is covered with rocks, weeds, bushes, and uneven ground, my brother thought we
were going to die and was holding on for dear life.
We finally arrived and unloaded the piano. We also
parked around back because we were unsure if we were trespassing. After waiting for about 45 minutes for Eric to arrive we
realized that there was no phone service. We had to drive back down the hill, 10
miles into town to contact him, which we did, right after the truck stalled.
Eric picked us up, we shot the video within an hour, and he dropped us back off
at the truck.
The truck was low on fuel, so a tow truck brought us some. My brother was too hungry
to go back and get the piano so we got food first. (It was a super hot day,
making us very thirsty and tired). At the drive-through the truck stalled again,
resulting in pilled up cars full of other famished people. And it wouldn’t
start, again. After an hour the tow truck returned and took us, and the truck home. The piano was left behind at the abandoned house.
Three weeks later the truck was still broken, but decided to take a trip back down to
Thistle to check on my piano. I took my car. When I arrived, my piano had been torn to pieces, the piano
bench gone, and most of the keys stolen. It was heartbreaking, but I was able
to get the majority of what was left into my trunk. I have plans to use the left over pieces for a future project.
Symbolism
in the Music Video
1.A stuffed
animal, or monster. I call this the Bestia, which is Spanish for beast. (“Bestia” is also the title for the
second track on the album). This Bestia represents weaknesses, struggles, and temptations.
2.The girl in
the lake. She is seen going after
the Bestia (weaknesses, struggles, temptations), which causes her to “drown.”
She drowns gracefully, as if she is enjoying her decision to associate with the
Bestia.
3.The man in
the canoe. He pulls her out of the
water into the boat. He is a savior figure.
4.Water. In a Christian sense, it can be viewed as baptism,
being born again. Shedding of those things that make us weaker. Cleansing.
5.The old house. It looks as though it has been destroyed, piece-by-piece,
and everything is crumbling down.
6.Empty picture
frames. Because of past decisions or
circumstances are there experiences or people that would have been part of your
life now if it weren’t for these things?
Each music video from the album is connected in some way. Each song a story. Each story a lullaby.
If there are other symbolic references that you see,
please leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you take away. Enjoy.
As many of you know, for most of my life I've struggled with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. (If it wasn't for those things I probably would have never pursued music). These mental illnesses led me down a terrifying path of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and negative-self image for many years. Thankfully, I finally accepted help and for the first time in a long time I actually feel happy and in-control of... me.
For many others that suffer from mental illness, it may be difficult to confide in someone, or find the appropriate help. Everyone is different, and while one of the first things people usually recommend is seeing a therapist, talking with a stranger about your problems sometimes doesn't help. I was lucky enough to finally find a medical doctor (after a lot of searching) with whom I could connect with on a personal level - who not only treats me as a friend, but is able to provide me with medical advice that is applicable to my brain chemistry and situation.
While on Facebook the other day, I came across this article which lists eighty-one free resources that those struggling with mental illness, addiction, grief, anxiety, PTSD, or other problems, can look into for help. Many of them are apps that can be downloaded via your smart device. Others are website forums. Others are many different centers you are able to call and talk with about what you are going through. Check it out here: http://greatist.com/grow/resources-when-you-can-not-afford-therapy.
There is something for just about everyone here; an app to help tolerate negative thoughts, an app to help free one from obsessive thoughts, breathing therapy, a daily mood and thought diary, depression self-help guide, mood-trackers, PTSD coach, help to quit smoking, anxiety monitor, an app with tips to manage alcohol sobriety, a center for complicated grief, connection to a LGBT center, Borderline Personality disorder help, live-time online chat to help empower those feeling despair, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder help, a center for victims of crime, an eating disorder association, help with those involved with stalking, suicide help, disaster distress hotline, center for those that are bullied, those that pull hair. the Domestic Violence Hotline, the Sexual Assault Hotline, Gambling/Drug/Sex/Over Eating Addiction Support Groups, and there is also a link to a support group for those that have friends or family members that suffer from addiction.
While it's true that pain can make you stronger, it can also crush you. It will often take more than one time to find what is right for you. You may be someone that needs to only write in a journal, only medication, or only therapy, but if you're not finding relief you might need a mix of things. It took me nearly a year to feel better and though there are days I don't feel the best, the good days out-number the bad. It's worth trying to find help.
The goal has been reached! In fact, with only a couple hours left, we are over our goal of $500! :) Thank you, thank you. I really mean it. This is my second successful Kickstarter funding, the first being to produce the album itself last year.
I cannot adequately express how grateful I am that each of you have given of your resources to help bring this video to life. Earlier I was talking with my cousin about how blessed I am to have good friends and associates in my life. Many people dream, but dreams remain dreams. I have been able to see many of mine become a reality because of the support I receive. Because I've been so blessed, I give back as often as I can to help others also find success. It is an important principle to live by. Please continue to do good, and to help those around you.
Currently, we are scheduled to film at the end of May. We will be needing volunteers to help with lighting and other technical aspects during the shoot. If you'd like to help out, please let me know and I'll keep you updated. The video will be shot at Utah Lake in Provo, Utah and one other location close by. It will be for the song, "Breath and Dust."
Your rewards will be shipped out to you within 1-2 weeks of receiving your surveys, which you will be getting in a couple of hours. Please complete them as soon as possible. If you pledged more than $50 you'll get a T-Shirt! Please visit www.chelseyjoy.com/rewards.html to view the shirts and their options. There are adult and youth sizes available.
A few of you did not choose a reward option. If this was a mistake, please let me know. I'd love to give some thing back to you for your help. :) If you only want part of the reward your eligible for, that's possible too.
If you have questions regarding rewards or anything else, please let me know!
Last month I was asked to accompany a university student that will be graduating in Musical Theatre this semester. He is putting on a musical review of The Last Five Years. It came out in theaters earlier this year, but for those of you that aren't familiar with the work, Wikipedia gives a good synopsis of the show:
"The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie, a rising novelist, and Cathy, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect."
Here is the trailer for the movie version:
The other day we had our first rehearsal for the recital, which will be at the end of the month. It was a lot of fun! Both performers are incredibly talented. I'm confident it'll will be a wonderful show. I enjoy working with other musicians. There is only so much one person can do on their own.
I was also asked to help create a poster to advertise their performance. The student wanted the result to be similar to that of Swell Season's Strict Joy album cover. Here is the result before he added some more effects and text:
I'm looking forward to continued work on this project. :)
I'd like to thank you all for the support you gave me last year in helping cover some of the costs associated with producing Lullabied. It has gotten a lot of great reviews from fans and professionals. A few months ago the album was reviewed by curators of Pandora Internet Radio and will soon be added to their rotations!
Even before the album was realized, concepts for music videos were being created. Today I launched a new kickstarter, entitled "Experience Lullabied Through Film," in order to help raise some of the money that will be needed in order to produce at least one music video for the album.
The goal is $500 in 30 days, which will pay for 5 hours of video production services. Music videos take hours and hours of filming and editing to complete. Depending how much we raise, we may be able to make more than one.
There are some new rewards including keychains, T-shirts, dreamcatchers, piano lessons and even the opportunity to be part of the process! The deadline is April 22, 2015. Please help me make this possible! I promise it will be beautiful.
