Virtual Backlot

Go to Stargate Studios and check out the Virtual Backlot reel in the lower left hand corner under Compilation Reels (not the Virtual Backlot tab).

This is the best visual effects reel I've ever seen.  It's not the big SFX stuff at the beginning that's impressive, it's the everyday scenes where you would never even guess it's a visual effect.

Everything can be shot on the lot, just like the old days.

http://www.stargatestudios.net/

Lens Skirt

Here's an idea for shooting through windows, the Lens Skirt.  I could actually use one of these shooting skylines from hotel windows.

Now, how can I make one of these for $5 bucks....

http://cinescopophilia.com/?p=3866&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lenskirt-allows-you-to-shoot-through-glass-stopping-relections

Pink Ponies: A Case Study

Yep...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRDhx8Lo37E

My 5D Rig

Here's a couple of links for brackets:
http://store.zacuto.com/dslr-z-cage.html
http://www.ktekbooms.com/norbert/
http://www.idcphotography.com/kart/index.php?p=product&id=127&parent=31

But before you plop down $870 bucks for one of these take a look at this picture, specifically, the monitor bracket.

I needed a way to mount a monitor, it was the weekend and the shoot was Monday morning.  I went down to Home Depot and bought a couple of framing brackets, bent them in a vice and pop-riveted them together.  I drilled some 1/4-20 holes in it and viola, instant bracket.

Total cost, $8 bucks.  It would have cost me $5 but I bought thin brackets the first time around, thin enough to be bent by hand.  These were too wobbly.  In retrospect, I should have painted it black so it would be super cool.  And I could have gotten a rental on it, too.

DLSR Rig Chart

Semi-interesting, although if your looking for a rig it's really interesting.

http://www.dslrrigcomparison.com/ 

A Photoshop Tutorial For Everyone

Yo yo yo, spy this Photoshop Tutorial.

It actually makes sense, I think...

http://www.mediabistro.com/mediajobsdaily/cmy-killah-the-most-entertaining-photoshop-tutorial-ever_b5308?c=rss

ALZO 770L LED Video Light

ALZO 770L LED Video Light 

• Compact and lightweight with ABS housing
• Includes & Metal Shoe Mount and Metal Barndoors
• Metal Shoe mount includes 1/4" x 20 female thread
• 70 LEDs produce broad soft light (7 x 10 array)
• COLOR TEMPERATURE 5600K
• Wide beam angle = 60 degrees (3 m width @ 2 m distance)
• Output = 100 LUX @ 1m
• 2 hour self contained Li-ion battery (60% duty cycle)
• Continuous operation with accessory 12-volt power set (see accessories)
• USB charging port allows many charging options
• Includes dual port USB charging cable and AC adaptor
• 4 LED battery power monitor indicator - 1 LED charging indicator
• Adjustable articulated support allows positioning of light
• 4" x 3.25" face dimension with removable plastic diffuser
• Weight = 12 oz

And all this for $67.50!  Now, would someone please buy one to see if it's any good?

http://www.alzovideo.com/alzo_on_camera_video_light_770l.htm

DOF, Angle of View and Sensor Size

Here's an interesting Prolost Blog about DOF, Angle of View and Sensor Size comparing 2/3" up to full size 35mm.

What may be more interesting is this Cinema Crop Chart.  I'm not sure the figures are entirely correct.  I think a 'standard' lens on a 2/3" camera is about 17mm, but perhaps that's 4x3 not 16x9.

I don't think I've ever seen Aperature Change To Match DOF numbers anywhere.

http://prolost.com/blog/2011/1/9/the-shot-you-can-make.html
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?227826-Relative-Focal-Length-Angle-of-View-and-CCF-Chart

For The Lack Of An "O"

OK, look at this carefully.  And if you can't find the spelling mistake there's a job for you at Fox 39.

Read The Comments.  My favorite is, "I can't believe you misspelled Dupnik".  This more than makes up for the Polar Bears....

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=500046234892&set=a.317963274892.146923.200632219892

Improve Your FCP Chops

Here's a few FCP tricks for you part-time editors like me.

Some of these I knew and forgotten because I don't use them all the time and some I've never seen.

http://digitalfilms.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/improving-your-fcp-chops/

1000 fps from 60 fps using Motion

This tutorial shows you how to use Motion to get 1000 fps look from regular old 60 frame video and then import it all at 24 fps into FCP.  So simple even I can do it.

You can some artifacts in the final video but it works amazingly well.

http://vimeo.com/18441588

http://vimeo.com/17905045

Sony SRW-9000PL

We hear about the lower end cameras but the higher end systems not so much.  The Sony 9000 is definitely higher end.  The new version of this 9000PL camcorder has the same Super 35mm sensor that's in the F-35 and a PL mount, hence the PL.   Sony considers the 9000PL a b-camera to the F-35.

I saw the 9000 at Band Pro's One World stacked up against the F3 and looking at the monitor it would be hard for a layman to tell the difference in picture on the monitor.  But the real difference (besides all the picture processing) is not what image the cameras put out but what they record.

The Sony F3 records a wimpy 35mbps in a 4:2:0 color space while the Sony 9000 is recording 4:2:2 at 440mbps.  Stick in the optional HKSR-9003 circuit board into the 9000 and the camera is capable of recording a whopping 880 mbps 4:4:4 signal.  Now, that's impressive!

There's also a optional HKSR-9002 board that allows S-log gamma recording and variable frame rates.

Earlier in 2010 I heard the MSRP of this camera was supposed to be around $130,000 but I know more than one company is selling the stock 4:2:2 version for $72,000 bucks.  I suppose this is the replacement for my F900 but cameras in this range are not what clients are asking for.

I guess I start looking at the Panasonic 100 again....

http://www.bandpro.com/products/cameras/digital-cinema.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=86&category_id=75
http://www.abelcine.com/store/Sony-SRW-9000PL-HDCAM-SR-Camera/