The Panasonic AG-HPX255 Camera and BT-LH1850 Monitor By Jeremiah Hall
The AG-HPX255 is a hand-held 1/3 2.2 megapixel 3-MOS camera. It uses P2 cards. It records full 1920x1080, 10-bit 4:2:2. It is also capable of being used in a studio environment, thanks to a remote terminal compatible with Panasonic's AG-EC4 Paint Box remote control. Not bad for a camera that lists at $6,995.00. The BT-LH1850 is 18.5" monitor. It has a resolution of 1366 x 768. It's big enough for multiple people to look at, while being small enough to carry around to shoots. It has a built-in vectorscope, as well as a waveform monitor for RGB signals.
...Read More »
Replay XD: "A POV Camera Designed for Professionals?" By Douglas Spotted Eagle
In the earliest days of sport POV production, photographers were excited about the advent of the "lipstick camera" for its small form factor and ease of use. The camera(s) could be mounted on a wing, helmet, or other foundation, cabled to a recorder, and used for new angles in production. These bullet wonders helped create the sense of "being there." They were also horribly expensive and fragile. In modern times, we've seen the camera shrink in size, and dramatically improve in image quality. In many cases, this size-shrink inspires kludgy form factors, and this is where the Replay XD camera shines.
...Read More »
Content Insider #279 - NAB 2013 Wrap By Miles Weston
Every time I come away from a big show I have to give myself a reality check and recall it was only a few years ago I waxed on and on about 3D TV and netbooks. Saw where that went right? Right. But NAB this year was freakin awesome. Cameras are getting to the point that any indie can afford them. The industry fatcat days are gone and they ain't coming back so the people who will survive are working harder/smarter. Broadcast folks welcomed the telcos in with forced smiles and there were some who weren't happy with competition at all. But with all the 4K-8K content it is still all about storage and that cute thing called "the cloud." We'll tie up all the loose ends...next week.
...Read More »
FlyingS3D sets Le Crazy Horse on Fire with Pablo
FlyingS3D opened its doors early in 2010 as France's first dedicated stereoscopic 3D post production facility. FlyingS3D is the brainchild of managing director Audrey Bourdiol, who had spent her career up until then looking after the technical side of one of France's largest post houses. With already more than 30 major S3D projects under its belt, in 2012 FlyingS3D won the full post production for 'Feu' (Fire) - a 3D film by Le Crazy Horse - one of its most ambitious projects to date. Le Crazy Horse cabaret was founded in 1951 by the avant-garde artist Alain Bernardin and has delivered its own special brand of glamour entertainment to millions of men and women for more than sixty years. 'Feu' is designed to bring Le Crazy experience to cinema audiences worldwide; 3D was "the natural choice" to achieve this aim, says Audrey Bourdiol.
...Read More »
Preserving Groningen's History through Film
Cultural heritage is a community's legacy. Something we live with today, and what society will eventually pass on to future generations. Acting as custodians of the past, archive centers around the world are tasked with not only storing content, but also making it accessible. Groningen Audio Visueel Archief (GAVA) is one such facility in the Netherlands responsible for looking after more than 24,000 audiovisual items relating to the region of Groningen, which are kept on formats varying from nitrate film base to digibeta. Founded in 1992 as the second regional AV archive in the Netherlands, GAVA specializes in cataloging and preserving sound and video programs about the province of Groningen, as well as productions created by residents from Groningen. In addition to acting as a repository, the center is also tasked with making all of its archived footage available to broadcasters, artists, museum organizations and businesses online.
...Read More »
Right on Schedule with The Delivery Men and DaVinci Resolve 9 for Andy Roddick Foundation
The Andy Roddick Foundation (AFR) believes talent is universal but opportunity is not, which is why the nonprofit's goal is to provide all children with a support system that gives them hope for a brighter future. To achieve this goal, ARF has raised more than $10 million since inception to fund programs improving the daily lives of thousands of children. While ARF runs and supports programs that enhance educational and economic opportunities for thousands of children throughout the United States, the nonprofit is headquartered in the city Andy Roddick calls home: Austin, Texas. To help increase awareness and support for its local initiatives, AFR turned to Austin based production company The Delivery Men to create the "This Is" promotional film for its 2012 Andy Roddick Foundation Gala in Austin.
...Read More »
Sweet Sadie Helps Disney Theatrical Productions Commemorate "The Lion King's" 15th Anniversary
A call was heard in New York that echoed around the world" was the emotional theme of a video produced by Sweet Sadie, Inc. for Disney Theatrical Productions commemorating the 15th anniversary of "The Lion King's" debut on Broadway. Disney provided the studio with a massive trove of stills and videos tracing the far-flung 15-year history of the show from which to draw. Employing After Effects, the Sweet Sadie team set about to bring this material to life by animating cast and crew images against new backgrounds, such as show set photography and crowd scenes complete with flash bulbs popping. 2.5D techniques were used to "cut out" foregrounds from backgrounds to stunning effect.
...Read More »
The Art of the Trailer: Two Years in 30 Seconds
The trailer plays a major role in the marketing and ultimate success of a feature motion picture. This on-screen advertisement is so engrained in popular culture that most of the time it is taken for granted by movie goers. But industry marketing veterans know the trailer is the first and last chance to create a lasting impression on an audience. Most trailers range in length between 30 seconds and two minutes. It's within that short time span that the viewer will pick up on hundreds of cues about the movie. In the blink of an eye he will determine the genre, the gist of the story, the aesthetic and level of production. By the end of the trailer the viewer might well determine the fate of the movie. Is it a must-see or to-be-avoided?
...Read More »
DaVinci Resolve 'Elementary' in Color Grading Hit CBS Crime Solving Television Show
While it may take Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson just 60 minutes to crack a case on an episode of the hit CBS television show "Elementary," Tony D'Amore can do it in less. As the Senior Colorist at LA based post house Encore and lead colorist for the wildly popular series, Tony is responsible for color correction and grading the weekly show, and he relies on DaVinci Resolve color correction software.
...Read More »
Seattle Children's Hospital Upgrades its Auditorium From Analog to Digital
Consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country, Seattle Children's is a 254 bed hospital that has been delivering patient care and advancing new treatments through pediatric research for more than 100 years. Located in the Giraffe wing of Children's, the Wright Auditorium is a vital part of the hospital's infrastructure. It holds numerous staff trainings, medical lectures and patient/family education events throughout the year, which means it must always be ready for the next event, be it a simple PowerPoint presentation or a multi site videoconferencing and video recording event. In March of 2012, the hospital's A/V department decided to upgrade the video system in the 266 seat auditorium. The department, which consists of 5 staff members and which supports more than 100 meeting rooms across eight office buildings and multiple regional clinics, knew this might not be an easy task.
...Read More »
EYES IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD..... By Douglas Spotted Eagle
With the new Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon, syncrhonized video with two channels/angles in a single stream is quick and easy. This camera is unique in that it features dual lenses, shooting two views to a single stream that may be displayed either side by side or over/under. This allows not only for POV, but reactions to the POV. The large button allows even the most thick mitten or glove to turn on/off the camera. Powering up the camera also starts record mode.
...Read More »
Ensworth High School Video Board Lights Up the Night with ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher
Ensworth High School's football team is in for a challenging autumn. The Nashville, TN Ensworth Tigers, led by coach Ricky Bowers, are heavily favored to win their third consecutive D-II Private School State Championship. Luckily for the Tigers, they have no shortage of die hard fans in their stadium as well as around the country, and this year the cheers will be intensely magnified thanks to the very generous donation of a video board and the installation of a completely HD broadcast workflow from Blackmagic Design.
...Read More »
It's Hell on Wheels at FuseFX
The second season of Hell on Wheels continued its epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier, and his dramatic journey west as he struggles to leave his past behind. The building of the transcontinental railroad serves as the backdrop to the entire series. The scope and challenges of the expanding railroad were critical to the storytelling and couldn't be achieved without the resourceful use of visual effects provided by FuseFX. At the center of the traveling town are the trains. Production built full scale replicas of the period trains and laid down a few hundred feet of track to support tight shots and moments when the train isn't moving. But almost all shots showing wider perspectives and moving trains was achieved with CG models of trains and railroad tracks composited into live action backgrounds.
...Read More »
Coca-Cola's 2012 Euro Cup "Spirit of the Euro" Commercial Rockets to Life with DaVinci Resolve
Coca-Cola's 2012 Euro Cup "Spirit of the Euro" commercial is an animated wild ride that captures the excitement, fun and craziness of the soccer tournament and its fans. In the spot, a very passionate fan zooms through the sky in a Coca-Cola powered soccer boot, releasing soccer ball bubbles in its wake that turn all they touch into deliriously enthusiastic soccer fans. Produced by Portland, Oregon based BENT IMAGE LAB and directed by Carlos Lascano, "Spirit of the Euro" is a highly creative and exciting commercial that required equally intense and vibrant color to bring it to life, which was achieved thanks to Jalal Jemison, BENT's lead colorist, and Blackmagic Design's DaVinci Resolve color correction software.
...Read More »
Best POV Action Camera Shootout By Douglas Spotted Eagle
We set out with 6 of the most popular models of action cameras in an all-out camera review. Our desire was to uncover the answer to the question "What is the best POV camera on the market?", and at the same time determine the strengths and weaknesses of the cameras being reviewed. The overall performance results were a little surprising to us... Could the GoPro be dethroned?
...Read More »
Petabytes are the New Terabytes By Tom Coughlin
Digital storage plays an enormous role in the creation, distribution and use of rich media content. In addition, higher resolution content places increased demands on content archiving. The 2013 Storage Visions Conference (SV 2013, www.storagevisions.com), a partner event to the 2013 CES in Las Vegas, taking place January 6 & 7, 2013 will explore the implications to digital storage of all elements of the content value chain. The conference theme, based upon the growth in storage demand to meet rich media requirements, is "Petabytes are the New Terabytes." This article will explore trends driving the storage requirements for rich media that will be among the topics discussed at SV 2013. Much of the content here is extracted from the 2012 Digital Storage for Media and Entertainment Report from Coughlin Associates (http://www.tomcoughlin.com/techpapers.htm).
...Read More »
Electronic News Gathering In The Real World By David Hague
While Ben is a true news gathering video journalist, I was more interested in trying to tell a story. Those that know me know of my passion for motoring safety - I have been on various committees and bodies to promote this very thing over the years. We have all seen footage of accidents on TV, probably go tut tut, how sad, but I can tell you, until you have actually been on the scene, there is no describing what you don't just see, but feel as well.
...Read More »
AJA Ki Pro Finishes First for Digital Garage
Formula 1 (F1) Drivers Lewis Hamilton, Bruno Senna and Heikki Kovalainen recently took to the race track, except this time, the race was digital. Codemasters, developer of the new F1 2012 video game, brought the drivers together for a promotional event during the Italian Grand Prix, where they raced on a digital track using Sony PS3 consoles. The BBC was onsite to record live action footage of the event, while UK reseller & systems integrator Digital Garage Group Ltd. used AJA Ki Pro digital video recorders to capture gameplay from the developer versions of the game consoles. All footage was edited and used to create a BBC segment that aired during the Singapore Grand Prix.
...Read More »
DaVinci Resolve 9 to the Rescue!
Founded in 1973 by Surf Life Saving Australia, the WWestpac Rescue Helicopter service is the longest serving search and rescue helicopter service in the world. Each year, Westpac saves an average of more than 2,000 lives and has carried out more than 22,000 flights, ranging from medical emergencies to search and rescue missions, during its 39 years in operation. Westpac decided to debut a public service announcement (PSA) about its efforts and called upon well known sponsors Reinhold and Jamie-Lee Habeler from Concept Creative Communications to handle the production. The Habelers then turned to The Film Bakery's Ben Allan and Clara Chong as the cinematographer and director team on the project.
...Read More »
The City of Pocatello Upgrades to SDI Workflow
Pocatello, Idaho's Public Access Television department isn't like those of other cities. In addition to offering its residents, as well as those of neighboring Chubbuck, the opportunity to use its production facilities, linear and non linear editing facilities and field equipment all free of charge, Pocatello's Public Access department also holds free studio, camera and editing workshops and welcomes volunteers of all ages and abilities to help produce shows in the studio.
...Read More »
The Panasonic AG-HPX255 Camera and BT-LH1850 Monitor
The AG-HPX255 is a hand-held 1/3 2.2 megapixel 3-MOS camera. It uses P2 cards. It records full 1920x1080, 10-bit 4:2:2. It is also capable of being used in a studio environment, thanks to a remote terminal compatible with Panasonic's AG-EC4 Paint Box remote control. Not bad for a camera that lists at $6,995.00. The BT-LH1850 is 18.5" monitor. It has a resolution of 1366 x 768. It's big enough for multiple people to look at, while being small enough to carry around to shoots. It has a built-in vectorscope, as well as a waveform monitor for RGB signals.
...Read More »
Replay XD: "A POV Camera Designed for Professionals?"
In the earliest days of sport POV production, photographers were excited about the advent of the "lipstick camera" for its small form factor and ease of use. The camera(s) could be mounted on a wing, helmet, or other foundation, cabled to a recorder, and used for new angles in production. These bullet wonders helped create the sense of "being there." They were also horribly expensive and fragile. In modern times, we've seen the camera shrink in size, and dramatically improve in image quality. In many cases, this size-shrink inspires kludgy form factors, and this is where the Replay XD camera shines.
...Read More »
Content Insider #279 - NAB 2013 Wrap
Every time I come away from a big show I have to give myself a reality check and recall it was only a few years ago I waxed on and on about 3D TV and netbooks. Saw where that went right? Right. But NAB this year was freakin awesome. Cameras are getting to the point that any indie can afford them. The industry fatcat days are gone and they ain't coming back so the people who will survive are working harder/smarter. Broadcast folks welcomed the telcos in with forced smiles and there were some who weren't happy with competition at all. But with all the 4K-8K content it is still all about storage and that cute thing called "the cloud." We'll tie up all the loose ends...next week.
...Read More »
FlyingS3D sets Le Crazy Horse on Fire with Pablo
FlyingS3D opened its doors early in 2010 as France's first dedicated stereoscopic 3D post production facility. FlyingS3D is the brainchild of managing director Audrey Bourdiol, who had spent her career up until then looking after the technical side of one of France's largest post houses. With already more than 30 major S3D projects under its belt, in 2012 FlyingS3D won the full post production for 'Feu' (Fire) - a 3D film by Le Crazy Horse - one of its most ambitious projects to date. Le Crazy Horse cabaret was founded in 1951 by the avant-garde artist Alain Bernardin and has delivered its own special brand of glamour entertainment to millions of men and women for more than sixty years. 'Feu' is designed to bring Le Crazy experience to cinema audiences worldwide; 3D was "the natural choice" to achieve this aim, says Audrey Bourdiol.
...Read More »
Preserving Groningen's History through Film
Cultural heritage is a community's legacy. Something we live with today, and what society will eventually pass on to future generations. Acting as custodians of the past, archive centers around the world are tasked with not only storing content, but also making it accessible. Groningen Audio Visueel Archief (GAVA) is one such facility in the Netherlands responsible for looking after more than 24,000 audiovisual items relating to the region of Groningen, which are kept on formats varying from nitrate film base to digibeta. Founded in 1992 as the second regional AV archive in the Netherlands, GAVA specializes in cataloging and preserving sound and video programs about the province of Groningen, as well as productions created by residents from Groningen. In addition to acting as a repository, the center is also tasked with making all of its archived footage available to broadcasters, artists, museum organizations and businesses online.
...Read More »
Right on Schedule with The Delivery Men and DaVinci Resolve 9 for Andy Roddick Foundation
The Andy Roddick Foundation (AFR) believes talent is universal but opportunity is not, which is why the nonprofit's goal is to provide all children with a support system that gives them hope for a brighter future. To achieve this goal, ARF has raised more than $10 million since inception to fund programs improving the daily lives of thousands of children. While ARF runs and supports programs that enhance educational and economic opportunities for thousands of children throughout the United States, the nonprofit is headquartered in the city Andy Roddick calls home: Austin, Texas. To help increase awareness and support for its local initiatives, AFR turned to Austin based production company The Delivery Men to create the "This Is" promotional film for its 2012 Andy Roddick Foundation Gala in Austin.
...Read More »
Sweet Sadie Helps Disney Theatrical Productions Commemorate "The Lion King's" 15th Anniversary
A call was heard in New York that echoed around the world" was the emotional theme of a video produced by Sweet Sadie, Inc. for Disney Theatrical Productions commemorating the 15th anniversary of "The Lion King's" debut on Broadway. Disney provided the studio with a massive trove of stills and videos tracing the far-flung 15-year history of the show from which to draw. Employing After Effects, the Sweet Sadie team set about to bring this material to life by animating cast and crew images against new backgrounds, such as show set photography and crowd scenes complete with flash bulbs popping. 2.5D techniques were used to "cut out" foregrounds from backgrounds to stunning effect.
...Read More »
The Art of the Trailer: Two Years in 30 Seconds
The trailer plays a major role in the marketing and ultimate success of a feature motion picture. This on-screen advertisement is so engrained in popular culture that most of the time it is taken for granted by movie goers. But industry marketing veterans know the trailer is the first and last chance to create a lasting impression on an audience. Most trailers range in length between 30 seconds and two minutes. It's within that short time span that the viewer will pick up on hundreds of cues about the movie. In the blink of an eye he will determine the genre, the gist of the story, the aesthetic and level of production. By the end of the trailer the viewer might well determine the fate of the movie. Is it a must-see or to-be-avoided?
...Read More »
DaVinci Resolve 'Elementary' in Color Grading Hit CBS Crime Solving Television Show
While it may take Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson just 60 minutes to crack a case on an episode of the hit CBS television show "Elementary," Tony D'Amore can do it in less. As the Senior Colorist at LA based post house Encore and lead colorist for the wildly popular series, Tony is responsible for color correction and grading the weekly show, and he relies on DaVinci Resolve color correction software.
...Read More »
Seattle Children's Hospital Upgrades its Auditorium From Analog to Digital
Consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country, Seattle Children's is a 254 bed hospital that has been delivering patient care and advancing new treatments through pediatric research for more than 100 years. Located in the Giraffe wing of Children's, the Wright Auditorium is a vital part of the hospital's infrastructure. It holds numerous staff trainings, medical lectures and patient/family education events throughout the year, which means it must always be ready for the next event, be it a simple PowerPoint presentation or a multi site videoconferencing and video recording event. In March of 2012, the hospital's A/V department decided to upgrade the video system in the 266 seat auditorium. The department, which consists of 5 staff members and which supports more than 100 meeting rooms across eight office buildings and multiple regional clinics, knew this might not be an easy task.
...Read More »
EYES IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD.....
With the new Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon, syncrhonized video with two channels/angles in a single stream is quick and easy. This camera is unique in that it features dual lenses, shooting two views to a single stream that may be displayed either side by side or over/under. This allows not only for POV, but reactions to the POV. The large button allows even the most thick mitten or glove to turn on/off the camera. Powering up the camera also starts record mode.
...Read More »
Ensworth High School Video Board Lights Up the Night with ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher
Ensworth High School's football team is in for a challenging autumn. The Nashville, TN Ensworth Tigers, led by coach Ricky Bowers, are heavily favored to win their third consecutive D-II Private School State Championship. Luckily for the Tigers, they have no shortage of die hard fans in their stadium as well as around the country, and this year the cheers will be intensely magnified thanks to the very generous donation of a video board and the installation of a completely HD broadcast workflow from Blackmagic Design.
...Read More »
It's Hell on Wheels at FuseFX
The second season of Hell on Wheels continued its epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier, and his dramatic journey west as he struggles to leave his past behind. The building of the transcontinental railroad serves as the backdrop to the entire series. The scope and challenges of the expanding railroad were critical to the storytelling and couldn't be achieved without the resourceful use of visual effects provided by FuseFX. At the center of the traveling town are the trains. Production built full scale replicas of the period trains and laid down a few hundred feet of track to support tight shots and moments when the train isn't moving. But almost all shots showing wider perspectives and moving trains was achieved with CG models of trains and railroad tracks composited into live action backgrounds.
...Read More »
Coca-Cola's 2012 Euro Cup "Spirit of the Euro" Commercial Rockets to Life with DaVinci Resolve
Coca-Cola's 2012 Euro Cup "Spirit of the Euro" commercial is an animated wild ride that captures the excitement, fun and craziness of the soccer tournament and its fans. In the spot, a very passionate fan zooms through the sky in a Coca-Cola powered soccer boot, releasing soccer ball bubbles in its wake that turn all they touch into deliriously enthusiastic soccer fans. Produced by Portland, Oregon based BENT IMAGE LAB and directed by Carlos Lascano, "Spirit of the Euro" is a highly creative and exciting commercial that required equally intense and vibrant color to bring it to life, which was achieved thanks to Jalal Jemison, BENT's lead colorist, and Blackmagic Design's DaVinci Resolve color correction software.
...Read More »
Best POV Action Camera Shootout
We set out with 6 of the most popular models of action cameras in an all-out camera review. Our desire was to uncover the answer to the question "What is the best POV camera on the market?", and at the same time determine the strengths and weaknesses of the cameras being reviewed. The overall performance results were a little surprising to us... Could the GoPro be dethroned?
...Read More »
Petabytes are the New Terabytes
Digital storage plays an enormous role in the creation, distribution and use of rich media content. In addition, higher resolution content places increased demands on content archiving. The 2013 Storage Visions Conference (SV 2013, www.storagevisions.com), a partner event to the 2013 CES in Las Vegas, taking place January 6 & 7, 2013 will explore the implications to digital storage of all elements of the content value chain. The conference theme, based upon the growth in storage demand to meet rich media requirements, is "Petabytes are the New Terabytes." This article will explore trends driving the storage requirements for rich media that will be among the topics discussed at SV 2013. Much of the content here is extracted from the 2012 Digital Storage for Media and Entertainment Report from Coughlin Associates (http://www.tomcoughlin.com/techpapers.htm).
...Read More »
Electronic News Gathering In The Real World
While Ben is a true news gathering video journalist, I was more interested in trying to tell a story. Those that know me know of my passion for motoring safety - I have been on various committees and bodies to promote this very thing over the years. We have all seen footage of accidents on TV, probably go tut tut, how sad, but I can tell you, until you have actually been on the scene, there is no describing what you don't just see, but feel as well.
...Read More »
AJA Ki Pro Finishes First for Digital Garage
Formula 1 (F1) Drivers Lewis Hamilton, Bruno Senna and Heikki Kovalainen recently took to the race track, except this time, the race was digital. Codemasters, developer of the new F1 2012 video game, brought the drivers together for a promotional event during the Italian Grand Prix, where they raced on a digital track using Sony PS3 consoles. The BBC was onsite to record live action footage of the event, while UK reseller & systems integrator Digital Garage Group Ltd. used AJA Ki Pro digital video recorders to capture gameplay from the developer versions of the game consoles. All footage was edited and used to create a BBC segment that aired during the Singapore Grand Prix.
...Read More »
DaVinci Resolve 9 to the Rescue!
Founded in 1973 by Surf Life Saving Australia, the WWestpac Rescue Helicopter service is the longest serving search and rescue helicopter service in the world. Each year, Westpac saves an average of more than 2,000 lives and has carried out more than 22,000 flights, ranging from medical emergencies to search and rescue missions, during its 39 years in operation. Westpac decided to debut a public service announcement (PSA) about its efforts and called upon well known sponsors Reinhold and Jamie-Lee Habeler from Concept Creative Communications to handle the production. The Habelers then turned to The Film Bakery's Ben Allan and Clara Chong as the cinematographer and director team on the project.
...Read More »
The City of Pocatello Upgrades to SDI Workflow
Pocatello, Idaho's Public Access Television department isn't like those of other cities. In addition to offering its residents, as well as those of neighboring Chubbuck, the opportunity to use its production facilities, linear and non linear editing facilities and field equipment all free of charge, Pocatello's Public Access department also holds free studio, camera and editing workshops and welcomes volunteers of all ages and abilities to help produce shows in the studio.
...Read More »
