Notes On Video

Everything changes... IMPORTANT post | Jannard | RedUser Red to drop the price of the EPIC on November 1st: So. We could easily pretend and invent a new model to justify a lower price with higher performance. You are too smart for that. So are we. Instead... we will just lower the price of EPIC.EPIC continues to be modular. Dragon will be an upgrade. Meizler is a module. All is good in the world if you accept the fact that everything gets better, cheaper, faster and for less money over time.If you bought an EPIC in the past 30 days... we will offer a credit towards accessories. That amount will be posted along with the new EPIC pricing. Nov. 1st is when it happens. The Business of Screenwriting: The Power of “No” | Scott Myers | Go Into The Story Sure, you would have been out the money, but you would have earned some creative karma. And if you have the good enough sense to reject a project that is clearly not one you have any business writing, something good will come your w...

Interview with Canon’s Mike Burnhill on the Canon 1D C 4K DSLR | Andrew Reid | EOSHD Mike Burnhill: While the EOS-1D C is based on the core specifications of the EOS-1D X, it has been further optimised to provide even higher quality video performance that’s suitable for cinematic production. While both cameras feature the same sensor and processor, several of the circuit boards are different due to the high data rates and internal heat generated by up to 4K shooting. Capturing the Essence of the Edit | Ron Dawson | Dare Dreamer One of the most effective ways you can shorten an edit is to get rid of all the ums, pauses, and tangential thoughts an interviewee gives. Usually the more nervous a person is, the more of these they will have. So it behooves you to make them as comfortable and at ease as possible during the interview itself. Shoot Like a Pro Series - Interview Basics | Sony Professional | YouTube Basic interview lighting in a video tutorial: In this episode...

The venerable Canon 5D Mark II is currently selling for $1,699 . The $400 rebates end Oct 27th, though Canon’s rebates have already been extended multiple times and I can’t help think that they’ll probably continue until the camera is discontinued. The 5D Mark III has also dropped to $3,199 . $1,699 for a full-frame sensor DSLR which still does a pretty good job of capturing HD video is a very attractive price. The 5D Mark II has fallen in price almost $1,000 from when it first appeared. $1,699 is what I paid for the Canon 7D . I’ve wanted a full-frame sensor DSLR for a long time – I like to use wide-angle lenses! – so I’m very tempted to buy one. The only problem is that, for video, today I'd rather save my money for the Canon C100 or the Sony NEX-FS700 . Way Back Machine This September 17, 2008 post is the first I wrote on the 5D Mark II :  This SLR does bigger movies . Turns out I had no idea what this camera was going to be: If I hadn't just bought the Panason...

Canon 5D Mark III update to unlock high-end HDMI video | Stephen Shankland | C|net Canon promises an update to the 5D Mark III firmware in April of next year: When shooting video, HDMI Output makes possible the recording of high-definition uncompressed video data (YCbCr 4:2:2, 8 bit) from the EOS 5D Mark III to an external recorder via the camera's HDMI terminal. This, in turn, facilitates the editing of video data with minimal image degradation for greater on-site workflow efficiency during motion picture and video productions.  Canon 5D Mark III Getting Uncompressed HDMI in Official Firmware Update | Joe Marine | No Film School So why is Canon announcing this now, when we can’t get it until next year? There are a couple possibilities, but a good theory might be that they are trying to take away a little of the thunder from whatever Sony is announcing at the end of this month. It’s likely going to be a new camera with 4K capabilities that will slot above the F3, ...

A Complete Guide to Turning Your Garage into a Video Studio for Under $500 | Ryan E. Walters | No Film School I’ll be the first to admit nothing replaces a professionally built sound stage or studio. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot on a wide variety of stages and I appreciate what they bring to a production. However, I have also needed a space where I could shoot some of my stock footage, as well as record my training videos. And I need that space to be affordable and accessible to me at any time. So I converted my garage into a mini “studio.” To learn how I got this done for under $500, continue reading  THE WEEK IN CAMERAS: INTERESTING TIMES AHEAD | Michael Murie | Filmmaker Magazine The new toys that will be available shortly: When the Sony NEX-FS700 was announced, 4K support was promised sometime in the future. The camera is now shipping, but it still hasn’t been explained exactly when 4K support will be available, and what it will cost, or what hardware will ...

Handheld with a BMCC – Behind the scenes with Puberty Blues | John Brawley | Blog This is a good example of what to expect when shooting handheld with a BMCC. The camera had no rig at all and I was just handholding a straight body. I spent a single day shooting this and a day editing it together. I’ve seen a few discussions about not being able to shoot handheld with the BMCC.  After Effects: Offsetting Position Keyframes | Zola | MotionWorks In this Prosential tip, guest host James Zwadlo (@zola85) demonstrates different techniques for repositioning a keyframed motion path in After Effects How to Build Your Own Hackintosh Mac Pro | Danny Greer | Premiumbeat Apple is expected to announce an iPad Mini this week, but probably not a Mac Pro update. If not, you can always build your own Hackintosh following these articles from earlier in the year: Lifehacker has addressed this need with a post outlining the tech equipment you need to build your own Hackintosh Mac Pr...

Conforming and Finishing A Film in After Effects | SpliceNPost | YouTube Behind the scenes look at how the short film "Reasons" was conformed and totally finished in after effects. The whole idea for the film was to build a workflow which was built around conforming my final cut and finishing it in after effects without the use of a smoke, avid ds or assimilate scratch which I use mostly for finishing. The hardest part of it all, you might think, is conforming your edits in AE, but it tends out that it's more easier than you think.  CANON CINEMA EOS: THE C500; C300; C100 | Movie Machine An overview of the three Canon cinema cameras. EOS C500 2 versions are available: one to work with EOS lenses and the other designed for PL mount lenses. This cameras outputs 4K over 3G SDI and delivers the best possible imaging performance required by filmmakers. Aimed at top level production for cinema and broadcast. The Canon EOS-1D C is Different Than the EOS-1D X on the ...

Camera Shipping Update: 10/19 | Grant Petty | BlackMagicDesign I was going to do an update today, but I still have not quite got the latest info I need to update everyone accurately. However what I do know is there is a small amount of cameras shipping again, but its slow because some of the testing software needed to qualify sensors before they ship to us was completed later than we expected. However things are starting to move. I hope to have more info next week. The supplier is quite upbeat though and expects a lot more sensors next week to ship so that is good. "Pepephon"- Sony NEX-EA50 pre-production test footage | Johnnie Behiri | Vimeo The camera is very lightweight yet feels comfortable on the shoulder. Lightweight means you can easily mount it on your existing HDSLR accessories like a slider or tripod. Needless to say that by having a shoulder mount video camera the need for a rig and external audio device is eliminated. The most striking weakness of this ca...

Boston SuperMeetUp | November 9th | BOSCPUG BOSCPUG is holding it's Third Annual Boston SuperMeetUp  [ though the previous events lacked the 'Up' in the title- Ed ] Amongst the presentors: Oscar nominated film editor Tim Squyres, A.C.E. will appear on stage on behalf of Avid. Squyres has edited all but one of Ang Lee's films, including CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON; SENSE AND SENSIBILITY; THE ICE STORM, and the soon to be released LIFE OF PI. In addition, Squyres has edited SYRIANA, GOSFORD PARK and RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, to name a few.  Registration is just $10, or $7 for Students. But until midnight tonight there are two promo codes available: BOSCPUG48 to RSVP as General Admission for only $7.00 online (normally $10.00) STUDENT48 to RSVP as STUDENTS/FACULTY for only $5.00 online (normally $7.00) Canon C500 with Gemini 4K hands on | Mike Sutton |  Wide Open Camera For myself and what I shoot the C500 makes a lot of sense and does not lock me int...

The Effects of Diffusion on the C300 Color Fringing Issue | Josh | MagicGoggles The C300 is a fantastic camera; I wouldn’t have gotten one if it wasn’t. But like all cameras, it has its weaknesses. One minor one occurs when you blow out highlights. The edges can look sharp and aliased (sawtoothed), and can sometimes show green fringing. This is different from the chromatic aberration that’s present to some degree in all but the best lenses, but it remains to be seen if it’s entirely unrelated.  #TheNewF Webchat | Sony | Flashbook They haven't announced 'it' yet, but they have announced a web chat! Due to daylight savings adjustment, the scheduled time in the chat client below may not appear correctly. The chat will take place at the following times: Tuesday 30th October - 12noon San Francisco, 3pm New York, 7pm London, 8pm Paris / Berlin. Camera Shootout from MyTherapy | movieScope Magazine UK Digital colour correction studio Mytherapy have released a teaser...

SMPTE NE : Wednesday, October 17 meeting... Advanced Video Codecs and DSLR Cinematograph 7:00 PM At Rule Boston Camera PART ONE: AVC-Ultra presented by Steve Mahrer, Technology Alliance Manager for Panasonic PART TWO:New Developments in HDSLR TECHNOLOGIES presented by Carl Peer, Canon USA. PUB NIGHT : Thursday, October 18, Visual Effects for the Independent Film with Brickyard VFX’s Dave Waller and Geoff McAuliffe 6-8pm at Rule Boston Camera with Pizza and Beer With 25 years of shared experience on features big and small, Visual Effects Artists, Dave Waller and Geoff McAuliffe pull back the curtain – the green screen curtain – revealing methods for achieving a literal “bang for your buck” while generating seamless visual effects. Contrary to big-budget Hollywood films with big-budget effects, you’ll learn, in a few easy steps, how to create convincing effects that will enable you to tell your story. Chock-full of tips and tricks, anecdotal stories and shots gone bad. ...

GoPro brings 24p to your Hero2 with the Protune update | Scott Simmons | ProVideo Coalition Everyone’s favorite little action camera finally got the long awaited 24p update last week. GoPro shipped Protune which means your GoPro Hero2 is only a firmware update away from a higher bit rate and 24 frames per second. The Protune news is buried down in the press release about news of the GoPro app. Rick Macomber reviews the Team Tilta Budget Shoulder Rig | Rick Macomber | DSLR News Shooter Rick posted the video last week, but now he's posted a review: A Chinese company named Team Tilta has designed a new camera rig system that looks like something out of a Terminator film. On par with other top manufacturers in its build quality, its price point kills the competition. And it’s not just a flesh wound, its currently HALF the cost of many rivals! The manufacturer claims their quick release baseplate is made of aircraft grade aluminum. It is solid. It comes with a shoulder pad a...

CinemaDNG Technology Center  | Adobe From Todd Kopriva at Adobe: "The CinemaDNG Technology Center page has been updated with the CinemaDNG specification, example files, and other materials for those interested in working with this format. More than a decade ago, photography experienced a technological shift with the proliferation of digital cameras. As photographers embraced digital cameras, their desire to access low-level image data increased, resulting in the increase of RAW file formats and workflows. Unfortunately, the digital still image raw workflow brought with it a slew of file formats (over 200 for still cameras!) that are proprietary, closed, and sometimes even encrypted. Documentary Summit: Boston When : October 13-14, 2012. 9am-5pm both days Where : Boston University, Center for Digital Imaging Arts, 274 Moody Street, Waltham, MA 02453 The Documentary Summit is a two day professional filmmaker conference. With seminars from expert speakers and structured net...

MAN OF TAI CHI | ARRI News Keanu Reeves talks about shooting with the ARRI Alexa Studio Camera : "The camera was just out of beta and I wanted to test its limits," says Reeves, qualifying his comment about "breaking" the Studio. "We've been shooting in water, high temperatures, dust, using strobe effects, really pushing the camera - it's been getting a good workout! ALEXA is easy to work with and very well-made." Interview with Cira Felina Bolla | BandPro Shooting with the Sony F65 : I’m most impressed with the F65's color-space, sensor and latitude. I'll explain: its ability to hold information in the highlights up to 2 ½ stops over and up to 3 stops under in the shadows without degradation; no noise in the Blue channel; or any of the other layers. No other HD camera has been capable of this until now. This is how today's properly exposed film behaves. Sony F65 Gives a New Life to ‘Evil Dead’ | Digital Media World DP Aa...

(SR3) NEX-FS700: 4K upgrade coming next Thursday? | SonyAlphaRumors We know that the 4K announcement for the Sony NEW-FS700 is supposed to happen sometime in the next month - could it be this Thursday?: The first news is related to the Sony NEX-FS700 camera. An anonymous source just told me that there will be a new 4K upgrade coming on Thursday! Leòt’s hope this is true! Premiere Pro CS6 “Media Pending” | Philip Johnston | HD Warrior I had some problems with Premiere and .MT2 files a while back. I wonder if this "fix" might have solved that: If you are editing in Premiere Pro CS6 and get a “Media Pending” after importing a file, look at the file structure to see if there is more than one MXF file in the folder. I waited over 10 minutes for the “pending” to disappear on a file that was less than 60s long. TILTA CAMERA RIG REVIEW | Rick Macomber | Vimeo Rick showed me this rig the other day, and it certainly looked impressive: A Chinese company named Team Ti...

Win a $10,000 Film Grant in 'The Cabin in the Woods' Spoof Horror Film Competition | Justin Minich| No Film School It’s that time of year when people are thinking up costume ideas, picking out pumpkins for carving, making party plans, and if you’re a filmmaker with a penchant for horror, you’re probably also thinking about making a film. And really there’s no better time to do it. Vimeo and Lionsgate are putting on The Cabin in the Woods Spoof Horror Film Competition which is offering a $10,000 Grand Prize to the best satirical or comedic horror short. Blackmagic Camera Dynamic Range Stress Tests | Frank Glencairn | YouTube Shot some DR tests today. Nothing fancy or artsy, emphasis was on contrast handling (not on smooth camera moves - had that lightweight travel tripod with the crappy head again - but walking several miles with a 40lbs Vinten?) So I went out to the Park at mean noon sun. That, combined with a lot of trees is usual a receipt for DR disaster. Deep shadow...

Post workflow for the Blackmagic Cinema Camera | Frank Glencairn I was always a sucker and evangelist for an uncompressed workflow till delivery. I did that (whenever possible) since over 12 years now, starting back in the SD days, on the advent of the first Decklink cards. Having said that, uncompressed recording was prohibitive cumbersome for most projects (though I did it on some higher end stuff) and usually I had to start with some compressed camera format, that I converted to uncompressed before I worked with it. Southwold shot on the Black Magic Cinema Camera | Den Lennie | Vimeo I shot this in a couple of hours on a day out to Southwold in Suffolk. This was the first shoot I ever did with the #BMCC. I used a Sigma 8-16mm lens a Canon 16-35mm f2.8 and a Canon L 70-200mm zoom. I shot RAW and converted the files to ProRes Proxy using DaVinci Resolve. I then edited it in Final Cut ProX and round tripped the XML back to Resolve 9 for the grade. I relinked the xml to the ori...

Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Flash Voice Recorder I just found my digital audio recorder again, which is great news because its really useful. While I don't use it for video production recording, I often use it to record interviews for articles I write because the microphones in it are much better than the one in the iPad (the other device I use for such interviews.) But the problem is that the recorder is so small that I seem to loose it a lot. For long periods of time. This is the second time it has disappeared for more than a month, only to turn up in the pocket of a bag I forgot I put it in. Unfortunately its both a case of not putting it in the same place every time, and being so small it will fit in anywhere. I have multiple bags and - depending upon the situation - I will take a different combination of bags out to an event, and the recorder just gets thrown in to one of the pockets. When I come home, I don't usually unpack the bags straight away, and if I didn't...