Dawnian Productions

 Leaving...what a loaded word! One might be leaving home, leaving for work, leaving a perfectly good airplane to make a parachute jump, leaving prison, leaving court, leaving a marriage, leaving a home, leaving for war and leaving life! I was inspired to make this video (as many of my videos are) by a film I was watching, 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'. It is a fascinating film. I was particularly impacted by the moment when Harold Fry left the crowd of people walking with and supporting him, and decided to complete the 'journey' alone. The film left me with a question -  what does it take for someone to leave the 'crowd' and walk alone - what qualities within a person, enables them to do this? It begs the question - am I able to do this when needed? Am I strong enough? Do I have faith and convictions enough to do this? I don't know the answer to that question, but I know someone who has promised to sustain me when the going gets tough. He is my sou...

Well, there's the second one (my first fantasy video series ever attempted!) completed. I have so much to learn about what makes a good fantasy using Ai...but at least I've started!. I plan to do two more episodes to complete the series. The name of the next episode is, 'Glorious Awakening'. I'm looking forward to it, but not for a while. I normally don't watch too many fantasy-type films - I would prefer the gritty realistic movies, but in saying that, I do appreciate the sweeping, visual poetic beauty and imagery and the reflective pace of a Terrence Malick drama such as, 'A Hidden Life' (2019). I also enjoyed watching, 'The Thin Red Line' when it came out in 1998. I hope to develop a greater understanding how to use Ai in all forms of content creation. It is an incredible tool but at the lower end of the Ai spectrum (where I am), creating realistic human actions have still got a long way to go. I'm sure Hollywood uses the best Ai platforms...

  Eulogy...it is such an evocative word. It conjures up in most of us, people and places, funerals, family members and memories, failures and tributes. But a eulogy is so much more. It is a unique moment in time...where someone, usually closely connected to the deceased, sits down, using photos and a family's collective reflections, to create a narrative, a story that shows to others who the person was, their achievements, their quirky mannerisms, their wisdom and their impact on the lives of others. It is a time of truth but it is also a time of anguish, pain and pretence. It is a time when things are said that some of the people listening (or watching) know are not true. There is much reflection, some of which, might be described as anguished reflection, where tears are not enough and only 'distance' can assist in the healing. I've often wondered how eulogies of serial killers, might read. What could be said? What is left out? Are family expressions of love conveyed t...

  There are so many theories out there, it's hard to find one that is actually true or authentic. Muzak theory is different. Everybody has experienced what this short, understated video is about. There are stories, I have heard, that have actually resulted in mental health issues being experienced as a result of the craziness of waiting online. When, at last, a 'person' answers and contact is made and then is passed from person to 'person,' (I mean Ai entity to Ai entity) one can sense the slow progress into madness. When one is about to tear out their hair and (after many tears and a scream or two), they hear another voice ( at last - hope!) asking you if you would repeat your name, address and DOB and to explain what is the reason for your call. This is after you have been through this process at least 6 times prior. Then the voice goes on to say that they will transfer your call to someone else who can help. You hear another voice which asks you (for verification...

 I've just completed my latest video (Tracking Shot). It started life as something quite different but it ended up here. It can be viewed on Dawnian Productions, our YouTube Channel. I'm not quite sure what to say about this video project apart from, 'It's been a 'Journey'. Technically, I'm quite pleased with it (and I still have so much to learn about video production!).  This video ends with a Christian message of hope. (I hope, if you are reading this and intend to watch the video, you will watch to the very end). The video does portray a bleak global landscape, however this is not a video which does a 'deep dive' on the political, culture or digital aspects of global surveillance. It highlights (I hope), the need to be vigilant and to 'wake up' to what is happening around us and to remind ourselves and others, about being less distracted by what entertains us, and be more observant to what is threatening our very freedoms and beliefs, and...

You and I don't deserve it. Grace, that is. What actually is Grace, apart from a girls name and the short prayer of thanks before a meal? It is also now a 48 sec short video on YouTube from Dawnian Productions. But, seriously, what is Grace? The best definition I can think of, is, 'undeserved favour'...and the only way I can illustrate that is how God treats us. Grace is such a beautiful word. The onomatopoeia of the word, is pastoral. It is gentle. It is soft and joyful and full of hope! But there is so much more! Grace is what God did for us when we didn't deserve it (and certainly not able to earn it). It is seen in what Jesus, God's Son, did for humankind willingly. He gave up His life and gave us what we couldn't give ourselves - forgiveness for our sins and a new life, with the assurance of eternity with God. If you are not a Christian, this doesn't make a lot of sense. The whole cross thing. Why would people wear a symbol of one of the cruellest and b...

  What a title! Well, it's a title that encapsulates what I've been doing. I have been producing (amateur) a video about the harshness and reality of war ("War Memorial"- Dawnian Productions-YouTube) As a content creator, I am involved in the technical aspects of video/sound editing and making sure everything is looking and sounding as it should. It felt like I was producing while dodging 'bullets' (sort of how it felt). And it got me thinking. Am I living my life while dodging 'bullets'? Sometimes it feels like it. A phone call, an interruption, a forced conversation, a commitment...the list goes on. Is this how life should be? I believe a significant life is like this. Let me explain. Interruptions are good, especially in the shape of a child, grandchild, neighbour, parent or friend. A commitment to our spouse or partner is good, and will result in a closer relationship. A phone call or a visit to a friend in need of your presence. All these are good...