modifoo

What it was

Martin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:22:09 +0000

Thanks for trying to find out what the picture was.

It was from a leaking sprinkler system on our local football (soccer) field, with a very low sun backlighting, and a very short exposure time.

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Size of a Red file

Martin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:20:33 +0000

Found a simple, straight-forward online calculator that helps you in figuring out how much storage space you need for a R3D (the Red camera codec) project.

1 hour at 25 fps in 16:9 takes about 115 gigs.

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What is this part II

Martin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:33:35 +0000

Well, you have almost guessed it last, but before I reveal the answer here is another photo from the same place. Again, click on the image to enlarge.

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Problems at the lab

Martin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:05:49 +0000

One of the great unknown variables of film making are the labs that process the film negatives. In the old days of film making, only about half of all exposed rolls would ever survive the lab, nowadays most productions go through the processing without a problem.

That said, the very first film I worked on (back in the early 1990s, a black&white silent short drama shot in Checkoslovakia, now Czech Republic) had to be partially re-shot because of some trouble in the lab. And one commercial that involved one of the hugest cruise ships going to the Hardanger Fjord in eastern Norway, filmed on speed boats and a helicopter, was totally ruined in the lab. Luckily they were covered and the project was re-shot 100%, much to the DPs delight, as the weather turned out much nicer.

Worst case

One story we heard in Filmschool was that one lab in London used to employ a blind man as their main lab person. He was very thorough. But the catastrophe hit when one evening the cleaning ladies forgot to switch off the lights…

Anyway, here comes a segment from Der Untergang with altered subtitles:

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

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What is this?

Martin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:11:23 +0000

Here’s a picture I took yesterday. Can you guess what it is? (Click on it to enlarge.)

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(Free) Music for (your) films

Martin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:50:33 +0000

For the financially challed film producer, Good Music often is out of reach. There are many so-so sources for CDs full of royalty free music (we own a huge library of those and hardly ever use it - unless we need something cheesy).

Then there are places where you can preview and download music for a fixed fee per piece (Shockwave Sound and Q Music being my preferred ones), and then there is our dear Kevin MacLeod. He offers his collection of music free, as long as he gets credit in the film. If, for some reason, you cannot or do not want to credit him, you can pay a little fee (30 USD).

And now music artist Moby has made his own mini-website where he published over 60 tracks that can be used free of charge for non-commercial productions (commercial productions have to pay a standard fee, the full amount of which will be donated to a good cause). Here’s the incredibly blurry announcement:

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Light-weight Rain deflector

Martin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:19:43 +0000

Sprayoff, not surprisingly a Munich-based company, builds light-weight rain deflectors. Their design is so small, that you can push it - just like a filter - into the front tray of a matte box. Power comes from the camera, so quite a speedy set up. Just over 300 gr.

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Red One 2.0

Martin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:17:17 +0000

Red has just released their newest firmware for the camera, featuring not only many new features (such a loop recording for 10/30 seconds - this is great if you are waiting for something to happen. You just leave the camera in loop, and then when you push record, you get the last 10 or 30 seconds as well) but a greatly improved noise floor. Here´s a quick test done by Alesniak that shows the difference in the blue channels, comparing the current with the previous build.

Here´s a full list of all the major improvements:

* New .R3D file format - requires the use of new versions of QuickTime Component, RED ALERT and REDCINE (not currently available)
* Digital Signal Processing optimization.
* Image Compression Optimization.
* Support for 4K 16:9 recordings in REDALERT and QuickTime based applications.
* Fixed high detail scene codec errors in 4K 16:9 recordings.
* Fixed polarity of audio recording relative to MIC and / or LINE inputs.
* Improved audio sample to video frame synchronization (lip sync accuracy).
* Reduced RED-LCD display tearing on last few lines in 4K record / playback.
* Addition of REDspace and RAW viewing modes.
* Updated file name structure to eliminate duplicate file names.
* Addition of Pre-Record (10 sec or 30 sec loop) mode.
* In-camera 1080p playback of REDCODE RAW .R3D files.
* Improved display precision and color response of RED-EVF and RED-LCD.
* Seperation of Sensitivity (ASA) and Exposure (Compensation) parameters.
* Extended exposure times of up to 1/2 sec enabled in TIMELAPSE menu.
* Added RED-EVF control over Audio, Shutter, ISO and Varispeed parameters.
* User programmable Tonal Response Curves menu.
* Look Around available on HD PREVIEW outputs when LCD and EVF are active.
* Improved video Genlock (Tri-Level Sync) lock for 23.98, 24.00, 25.00, 29.97.
* Added 1.85 and 2.40 Safe Action and Safe Title Protection Guides.
* Improved indiction of image magnify mode with new “X” cursor
* User programmability of A, B, C keys and USER 1, 2, 3, 4 keys
* Allow return to last menu position before exiting menus, when SHIFT-SYSTEM is pressed
* Disabled auto-reset of reel counter on change of project time base.
* Decreased boot time. Roughly 68 seconds.
* Also need new FCP Log & Transfer plugin (will be available soon)
* Red Alert will not loose audio tracks when re-generating QuickTime reference files
* QuickTime codec now supports full resolution reference files and full render quality output

Most other camera makers would make you buy a new cameras for all those new features. At Red it is not only downloadable, but the download is for free.

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Good use of money

Martin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:24:39 +0000

I just saw a very touching film, Waitress. Nicely balanced, well acted and executed. A real treat. Reading a bit more about the film, I was saddened to learn that its highly talented director/actress/writer was murdered. Her husband has set up a foundation in her name, aiming to help female filmmakers achieve their goals.

Adrienne’s passion in life was to make movies. She lived for her art; she never compromised her integrity or commitment to her vision. She always strived to help women obtain every opportunity possible to create their mark in film.

It is in the spirit of her passion and vision that The Adrienne Shelly Foundation has been established.

So, if you have a few PayPal dollars to spare, please do give them to the Adrienne Shelly Foundation.

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The $1 ultra-portable tripod

Martin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:48:56 +0000

Found a nice little do-it-yourself piece of equipment that helps you stabilize your shot. It won’t outperform a proper tripod, but you’ll never have an excuse again for not bringing a tripod at all.

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