Posts tagged with ‘filmmaking’

Scamazon Studios: Bend Over (and take it).

Amazon recently launched Amazon Studios. Democratic revolution in filmmaking? You decide.

Here are some thoughts from The Artful Writer and John August.

As some of you know, I’m involved with the British Council’s TN2020 program. Every now and then they have some amazing creative programs, initiatives and contests. Below is one of them. Please pass along to any young filmmakers you may know. ———————————————————— For the second year, the British Council is partnering with the global campaign 1 Minute to Save the World, a global competition for filmmakers. Young film-makers from around the world can take part in the international film competition by entering 1 minute films on regional climate change.  The films will be shown on the internet, at targeted political screenings and film festivals worldwide. Winning films will be screened in front of world leaders at the COP16, an international summit on climate change and be part of an on-line campaign going out to millions of viewers. Winners also have a chance of receiving £5000 as well as other film making equipment. Competition deadline is 17 December 2010. Deadline for applicants aged under 18 is 12 November 2010. For more information about the competition, visit 1 Minute to Save the World.

As some of you know, I’m involved with the British Council’s TN2020 program. Every now and then they have some amazing creative programs, initiatives and contests. Below is one of them. Please pass along to any young filmmakers you may know.

————————————————————

For the second year, the British Council is partnering with the global campaign 1 Minute to Save the World, a global competition for filmmakers.

Young film-makers from around the world can take part in the international film competition by entering 1 minute films on regional climate change.  The films will be shown on the internet, at targeted political screenings and film festivals worldwide.

Winning films will be screened in front of world leaders at the COP16, an international summit on climate change and be part of an on-line campaign going out to millions of viewers. Winners also have a chance of receiving £5000 as well as other film making equipment.

Competition deadline is 17 December 2010.
Deadline for applicants aged under 18 is 12 November 2010.

For more information about the competition, visit 1 Minute to Save the World.

Hi Zadi, so I was wondering what kind of a converter you guys use for your canon dslr HD video raw files to be converted into native files for FCP or Premiere pro editing (I use premiere). Can u also recomend some software especially free one. I'm planing to borrow my friends canon 5d mark2 to shot something. — asked by Anonymous

Hey! Thanks for the question.

After importing footage from the 7D, I convert it using MPEG Streamclip, it’s a free video converter for both Mac and PC. It works great and I’ve never had a problem with it.

mpegstreamclip

List —> Batch List (Command B)—> Import your list of videos —>Export to Quicktime —> Click OK —> Select destination folder —> Compression: Apple ProRes 422 (LT) —> Quality 100% —>Uncompressed, Stereo, Sound 48 kHz (I use audio recorded externally, but keep the audio so I can sync it in the timeline) —> Frame size —> 1280x720 (HDTV 720p) —>Frame Rate: 29.97 (make it match the frame rate you recorded in, and make sure your FCP/Premiere Pro timeline settings match as well), Frame Rate: Uncheck “Interlaced Scaling,” Click “Make Movie”

I then import that footage into FCP. If all the settings are correct, they should all import seamlessly and you shouldn’t have any rendering issues.

Production Notes: Right now I’m editing. Thought I’d share some knowledge, since I often get asked about production/producing/editing/etc.  This is what we use to record audio: Zoom H4N. Runs for about $300. It’s great. True Stereo mic (no time lag). Records 4 channels. Records to SD. Up to 96kHz/24bit wav recording as well as mp3 recording for smaller files. Speed control playback. XLR input. Time stamping. USB 2.0. Great for field work, indie productions, and guerilla-style filmmaking. Sturdy, portable and has never let us down. The sound we get is pretty great. Have any questions about this or any other stuff? Let me know. :)

Production Notes:

Right now I’m editing. Thought I’d share some knowledge, since I often get asked about production/producing/editing/etc. 

This is what we use to record audio: Zoom H4N. Runs for about $300.

It’s great. True Stereo mic (no time lag). Records 4 channels. Records to SD. Up to 96kHz/24bit wav recording as well as mp3 recording for smaller files. Speed control playback. XLR input. Time stamping. USB 2.0.

Great for field work, indie productions, and guerilla-style filmmaking. Sturdy, portable and has never let us down. The sound we get is pretty great.

Have any questions about this or any other stuff? Let me know. :)

Coming July 1st: Footloose Remake! 54 scenes by 54 independent video-making fiends.

davidseger:

Our Footloose Remake (First Official Trailer)

Made a trailer this morning for Our Footloose Remake, which screens at The Downtown Independent in TWO WEEKS.

Have you heard about this? We split 1984’s Footloose into 54 scenes and handed them out to our talented friends video-making friends. Everyone worked together and collaborated on this weird experiment. Someone called it a “filmic Frankenstein” and that’s a pretty good estimation.  It’s weird. It’s fun. It’s different. It’s ours. 

Come to The Downtown Independent on July 1st if you want to check it out. I think we’ll do a few more screenings and eventually put the whole thing online. I think it’s gonna be fun.

ruperthowe:

Crazy DSLR Rig Contraption How-To! by Jon Barnes

Don’t spend thousands of dollars on an expensive DSRL rig for your new Canon video set up! For a just a couple bucks and using common household materials you can create this INSANELY elegant and practical DSLR rig. Features include:

  • Shotgun mic mount
  • Nintendo NES controller
  • LED book light
  • ipod holder
  • Compass with cigarette lighter plug
  • GPS unit
  • Large LED light
  • Old-school flash grip
  • Stylish handle
  • All-black assassin styling

This is pretty funny. Ah, the trials of DSLR filmmaking.

Cool iPhone/iPad app: DSLR Slate for shooting video on your DSLR Along with a color chart and selectable running timecode, DSLR Slate has all the traditional items for input such as Scene, Take, Framerate, Director, etc. DLSR Slate also provides unique items aimed specifically for DSLR cameras such as ISO Speed, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Lens, Filter, and more. While being invaluable on set, these items also prove useful when shooting tests in varying lighting conditions. $4.99. *Note: Will definitely be getting this and trying it out. :) (via @Threnn/@matthewrex)

Cool iPhone/iPad app: DSLR Slate for shooting video on your DSLR

Along with a color chart and selectable running timecode, DSLR Slate has all the traditional items for input such as Scene, Take, Framerate, Director, etc. DLSR Slate also provides unique items aimed specifically for DSLR cameras such as ISO Speed, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Lens, Filter, and more. While being invaluable on set, these items also prove useful when shooting tests in varying lighting conditions. $4.99.

*Note: Will definitely be getting this and trying it out. :)

(via @Threnn/@matthewrex)

Absolutely fascinating TED talk!

Minority Report science adviser and inventor John Underkoffler demos g-speak — the real-life version of the film’s eye-popping, tai chi-meets-cyberspace computer interface. Is this how tomorrow’s computers will be controlled?