All things becoming digital, as they will be -  probably forever. From the time that Google started digitizing libraries till who knows when. Magazine publications are realizing that this reality is what appeals to most readers, especially those tech savy – those who know how to fin information semi-immediately on the interwebs.

So it is great to see a good film making magazine going digital as well.  I love this, not only because it is a tech process, but also because I don’t get to see these magazines on the bookshelves of South Africa. The digitized version of Movie Maker opens up the opportunity to subscribe to a very relevant publication. Relevant to my interests and passions. And hopefully yours

So check it out at Movie Maker.

And an article from the latest copy: 25 Must-Have Apps for Moviemakers (more…)

EPIC Reservations Begin…

from REDUSER.net – Recon by Jannard
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We are now taking orders for Stage 2 of the EPIC program. http://epic.red.com – Jim

Awesome stuff. If I had the funds I would be putting my reservation down right now. (more…)

The Compositor’s Bible

I have been wanting to get my hands on a copy of the second edition for a while. Now with the third edition coming out in May – I have renewed incentive. The new edition by Steve Wright looks really good (well – the second did as well)  it contains new stuff on 3D compositing (very well timed, eh), stereo and multi-pass CGI. (more…)

I started a blog series a few weeks back with the intent of highlighting the Stuff I can only dream about. Sorry for the detail in starting the actual series, but here it is.
First of all: The Camera. It is possible that you could argue a better camera that what I have below; probably based on experience and preference. What I have below it the camera that appeals to all my senses, talents and abilities. (more…)

This sort of brings to a close to this series but I will certainly revisit different elements as I get new news, insights and experience. And remember always, that I am keen to hear of your thoughts and experiences.
So here are the Digital Video Camera Brands that I took a look at. The purpose of this was to just talk a look at the camera – not to go into a detailed review – a video camera fashion parade if you will: (more…)

I’ll have to revisit this early December after the Scarlet announcements on Nov 30th.

RED One
	Effective Pixel Resolution 4520 x 2540 Color Space 4:4:4 Sensor 12 Megapixel Mysterium™ FrameRates 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30 fps 4K
EPIC X 35
	Effective Pixel Resolution 5120 x 2700 Color Space 4:4:4 Sensor 30x15mm FrameRates 5K 2:1 – 100fps 4K 2:1 – 125 fps QuadHD 16:9 – 120 fps 3K 2:1 – 160 fps 2K 2:1 – 250 fps 1080p – 60fps
Epic-617 Pro
	Effective Pixel Resolution 28,000 x 9,334 Color Space 4:4:4 Sensor Sensor 168x56mm Mysterium Monstro FrameRates 28k 261MP28k: 1-30fps 9k: 1-50fps 6k: 1-100fps 5k: 1-110fps 4k: 1-125fps 3k: 1-150fps 2k: 1-250fps

There are some seriously hardcore and stunning digital (I know the picture above is an 8mm) Video cameras out there (besides the RED one) *grin*. The question is which are they. Not just the coolest, the sexiest, the most fancy or the biggest. Or the, ummmm, most expensive. So join me in this search to find them and what makes them so awesome.

And, yeah,  feel free to add some suggestions for me to look into.

The purpose? Well – why not? There are blogs about hot women and hot cars; I am a camera enthusiast (amongst other film related things), so why not camera

So I was thinking … to start with these:

• RED One (and the soon to be released Epic and Scarlet) – dahh
• Sony CineAlta F23
• Thomson Viper FilmStream
• ArriFlex D-21
• IMAX

Aweome stuff, I say, awesome stuff

[Photo by: tanaka]

http://change.gov/page/-/officialportrait.jpg

Canon 5D Mk II Shoots Obama Portrait

So what does this really mean?

Supporting the switch to Digital in every manner and means? Or is he into photography and thinks that the 5D MarkII is a cool camera? Does he have one? Maybe – if he a really revolutionary – we will find out that his video podcast was filming with this 5D. Well that’s an assumption if there ever was one – but still an interesting idea (actually I am not sure if there is a Presidential podcast).

But just the fact that the portrait was taken with a digital camera will follow through to many other areas where high profile pictures are taken. In the past film would have always been the choice and for all the right reasons, but now many people that were originally using film will want a digital camera – a 5D markII – maybe for the wrong reasons. hmmm

Todd Vaziri, who has worked on some really awesome titles such as Mission Impossible III and Transformers (see more here), has some in depth and informative points to consider when setting up and creating visual effects camera work. Check it out at FXRant. If you ever wanted to know about real work application of the rule of thirds, Todd shows a great example from ‘A fish called Wanda’ and contrasts it to an effects shot he did on Mission Impossible III – the bridge attack scene.

Maybe the reason why it’s more pleasing to line up the eyes on the top third line is because our eyes are situated on the top third of our face, or it’s just a good place and predictable.  ha ha ha.

Well either way the natural feel one gets from lining up and panning a physical camera is not easily simulated in a digital environment, it’s gotta be something about the chaotic nature of each person’s interpretation of a move, the intricacies in the panning and tilting mechanism of the camera package, or the random responsiveness of people’s reflexes.

So watching and studying the real camera moves as well as actually performing them would go a long way to achieving a realish feeling digital pan and/or tilt etc. That is to say that experience will out weight curve presets 99% of the time but will add effort and time to the task at hand.