News From Here & There

Sony's view on DSLR's
DPReview interviews Masashi 'Tiger' Imamura, President of Personal Imaging & Sound Business Group and gets some interesting perspective on Sony and their Alpha and NEX cameras. He even mentions the NEX-VG10:

'As well as the easy-to-use and DSLR capabilities, we're also thinking about the camcorder style shooters and technologies. The NEX VG10 is one example of that. The barriers between compacts, DSLRs and camcorders will merge - not necessarily in a single device but with technologies and capabilities being shared between them. Our mission is to create new markets - we don't want to make the same products as everyone else and just cannibalise each other in the existing market.'

DPReview: Sony looks to change the world of DSLRs



Luca Visual FX Announces Film FX 2.0
Film FX Transitions Pack 2.0 provides 23 unique "grungier" film effects, including more light leaks, film burns, scratches and dirt. With this new release we are also introducing new leaders and old film textures. For the first time we are offering unparalleled natural-like 'scratch on film' transitions, purposely manipulated to create striking edge wipe effects with a retro touch. Through January 14th the pack can be purchased for $59 (the special “launch” price).
FCP Daily has an interview with LucaVisual about the new filter pack.
FCPDaily: Luca Visual FX Announces Film FX 2.0 New effects and interview with the creator
Luca Visual: Film FX Transitions Pack 2.0



Banjo Documentary
Marc Fields has been working on a documentary about the banjo for nine years now, and it's still not quite done. An interesting article at The Boston Globe charts it's history;

“Let’s put it this way: If I had known how big it was when I started, I wouldn’t have done it,’’ he says, before cracking a joke about how he had a full head of hair when he started it in 2002. “Other people have tried something like this, but I outlasted them. I feel like I’m going to be the one to tell this story.’

TheBostonGlobe: A banjo lesson a long time in the making



Looking forward to The Green Hornet?
I hope not, because IndieWIRE eviscerates it:

Loud, clamoring, haphazardly thrown together and risibly scripted from what feels like a poor first draft, Michel Gondry‘s unfunny, unengaging “The Green Hornet” lands in a January release date because it’s exactly warranted: it’s a throwaway action picture meant to fill the early new year void, but contains zero substance and few genuine joys or laughs.

indieWire: Review: ‘Green Hornet’ Lacks Sting, Anything Else Even Remotely Interesting



Digital Effects
Brainstorm Digital's before and after shots from season 1 of HBO's hit series "Boardwalk Empire". (courtesy of Home Box Office, Inc)


Boardwalk Empire VFX Breakdowns of Season 1 from Brainstorm Digital on Vimeo.