Just days ago Canon displayed a Concept 4K camera. There will be many changes when it is released – I wonder when but it is very interesting that Canon is entering this High Definition Market. Canon is probably leveraging the increased interest in HD-SLR Cameras (Video capable DSLRs). Currently their is nothing between the current crop of HD-SLRs and a fully fledged 4K camera – well, not until RED Scarlet comes to market.
However, there are questions:

• What price will this come in at? $5000? or more?
• What codec will be used?
• What bit rate?
• What sacrifices are being made to get a 4K sequence of images from a 2/3″ sensor.

Regardless of that, it is exciting. RED Scarlet will probably come out before the Canon 4K, but that may be doubtful because RED’s focus is on the EPIC first.
All I can say is: Bring it on.

More information (and photos of the camera): Canon 4k concept camera and first images from Canon Expo in NY

[Photo(modified) of a Canon Camera by jessi.bryan]

At the start of every month I take a look at the most popular posts of the previous month. 99.9% of posts are filmmaking related. August 2010 was an amazing month – I topped over 1000 views on two separate occasions because of my Demolition video. Numbers aside, it was an awesome experience and a cool video; check it out below and let me know what you think. Otherwise there is a leaning towards HDSLR posts as I prepare to sell my Panasonic so I can buy a Canon 550D and a new computer. (it will be a sad day when I sell my camera – it has served very well) So here we go …
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A two part tutorial detailing how you can use the Canon plug together with Final Cut Pro’s log and transfer to inject the content off the SD card in a similar way to a tape based work flow. The two videos are related to the Canon 7D, but it is applicable to any of Canon HDSLRs.
This is quite important to me because I currently make use of a tape based workflow with Final Cut Pro and want to make the shift to DSLRs – in particular: either the Canon 550D or the 60D.
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Here is an interesting Film Festival. Instead of just offering a once off prize, the New Mexico International Film Festival will be giving Filmmakers who have been officially selected some awesome prizes. Well, more like Compensation, Opportunity and Rights. Once selected, filmmakers will be compensated:

FILMMAKER COMPENSATION, RULES & REGULATIONS

COMPENSATION PACKAGES:

Official Selections of the New Mexico International Film Festival are compensated for exhibition.

Short Films (Documentary & Narrative) shall receive:

1.) $200.00 towards travel expenses.
2.) (1) hotel room for the length of the festival.
3.) (9) pre-paid meals at a participating restaurant.
4.) 10% of box office gross if paired with a feature film.
5.) 50% (divided by the number of accepted films & attending filmmakers) if programmed in a shorts block.
6.) 100% of all direct merchandise sales.
7.) Reimbursement of submission fees.
8.) Review of film from either festival director or associate director to be used for future publicity.

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I do not know about you, but I can’t help myself when it comes to role playing the purchaser. If you have heard about or played Role Playing games – half the fun is creating your character on a character sheet. The purchaser in this fantasy world is someone who pretends that he/she has a certain amount of money and then goes to a store – choosing items that can be purchased (but not actually buying anything).

This I did on the  Silverado online store for their new RED Rocket Lab. For obvious reasons I went straight through to the store after a go an email about this. Also pretending that I need a Monster Dream machine for my R3D editing (although I do not have a RED camera – that is another dream altogether). Here is what I came up with (by the way there is an option to select 50 of these beasts): (more…)

Five interesting links I found that are filmmaking related. Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

1. My thoughts on the new Canon EOS 60D & Canon L lenses : I find this very exciting since I am considering the purchase of a HDSLR – in particular the Canon 550D. And now this happens. Hopefully I can sell my Panasonic AG-DVX100BE by the time the 60D is available – or should I stick with the 550D.
2. New DSLR Filmmaking Bundle available : I try to attend these Webinars as often as possible. Bought one (the one on the RED workflows) and won one (FCP Shortcuts). They are extremely useful, well presented and I am impressed with the connection handling. Now this Bundle is great on the heels of all the DSLR releases and discussions – I may just get this for myself. Only $40.
3. How to make and sell your first documentary film : Free Podcast with James Collie on ‘Beyond Biba’
4. Of HD-DSLR interest: H.264 to be royalty-free for the life of the license, beyond 2015 : There is a bit of a worry about this, what if this encoding has to be licensed. My first thought is : much can change in 5 years. Someone will come up with something else and if H.264 has to be paid for then many will jump ship.
5. Build a DIY Fig Rig : Got to try this out when I buy an HDSLR camera. Althought it may be hard to handle with a big lens.

I posted a video on YouTube and Vimeo a few days ago:

Vimeo : http://www.vimeo.com/14333667 with almost 5000 views on vimeo

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpGqGNxtkSY with just over 150 views.

The same video. First Vimeo on the Sunday and then YouTube almost two days after that. Here are a few Observations:

Facebook is the Video Play King

According to the embed statistics of vimeo, people you load the video will most likely play the video: (more…)

Attention Filmmakers

The submission period has started, but there is still time:

16 August 2010 to 15 October 2010

If you have already created a full feature length film/movie and you are looking for a way to get recognized and or discovered then here is a great opportunity. In fact any competition is a great opportunity. So check out the Big Break Movie Contest. Sontinue reading for more information.

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Thanks to my Stuntman friend; John, and fellow traveler on the journey of filmmaking – I was able to take up a fantastic vantage point.
From atop John’s roof I was able to record the amazing demolition of the Athlone Cooling Towers. Unfortunate for some, they pushed the button early – I was not taking changes Also it did not seem that the explosion went to plan.
It was supposed to take 10 seconds for the first tower to go down, then a 10 second break before the next set of set of explosions – seemed like everything went off at the same time.
Check the video out – it is awesome : (more…)

Oscar and Sundance Award winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos discusses his feature film The Cove.

Synopsis

Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

The interview :
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