Saturday, November 14, 2009
Interview Project: Vernon from Keene, New Hampshire.
Take a look at David Lynch's Interview Project. He's been traveling around the country interviewing ordinary people and posting the interviews on his website. They're pretty interesting. Interview Project: Vernon from Keene, New Hampshire.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
A Time Comes - The Story of the Kingsnorth Six
"In this nineteen minute short Nick Broomfield goes back to look at a group of Greenpeace activists who decided to climb the chimney of Kingsnorth power station in protest of government plans for the first new coal-fired power station in Britain for three decades. The protest made national news and the activists were arrested. The resulting court case gained support from the world’s leading scientists and their subsequent acquittal was historic and changed government policy."
A Time Comes - the story of the Kingsnorth Six from Greenpeace UK on Vimeo.
Friday, October 30, 2009
TERRA 527: Climate Change in the Caribbean, Part Three: Taking Action
The most important thing to remember when it comes to climate change is that you can help, and there is still hope. This animated series reminds us that while the problems are dire, we have to remain hopeful, and even have a bit of fun from time to time. Produced for broadcast throughout the Caribbean, this is Part Two of a three-part PSA series/awareness campaign on climate change, its effects on the Caribbean, and action that people can take to help the situation. The series combines animations and footage from Trinidad with explanations from climate change experts from Trinidad & Tobago. Funded by Trinidad & Tobago's National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology in association with University of Trinidad & Tobago.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Grading
http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/categories/color-correction/magic-bullet-colorista/
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
The tallest tree and picture on earth...
NatGeo just published in their October issue one of the "biggest" pictures ever taken. Check out the NPR article
here
and the little video clip on how they did it.
here
and the little video clip on how they did it.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Panasonic 3D
I checked out Panasonic's 3D setup at Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. Generally I was impressed but I think they still have a way to go before it really becomes accepted technology or anything more substantial than a niche product. It did well in creating depth away from viewer but objects that were closer to the viewer were distracting and gave me a headache as my eyes tried to focus at different depths. The main problem that I had was how it handled objects very close to the camera. The problem in my view has to do with the fact that these images are recorded on two cameras. An object that might be in front of one camera may not be visible on the other or may be in a completely different location on the screen. This seems to create some kind of a 3D ghost as the image isn't fully there or as my eyes try to refocus on a distracting close image.
Filmmakers For Conservation
Filmmakers for Conservation
This is an organization that I ran into in Jackson Hole. It seems to be a fairly active community who are willing to give advice or help to other members on any green project
This is an organization that I ran into in Jackson Hole. It seems to be a fairly active community who are willing to give advice or help to other members on any green project
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
TERRA 524: The Barge That Wouldn't Budge
In March 2009, a group of NOAA scientists and marine debris experts gathered on the shores the Potomac River to tackle a problem left ignored for the last 25 years. Abandoned during the construction of a local yacht club since the 1980's, a barge stuck in the mud poses potential environmental and navigational hazards. Yet, no one knows who left it, and no one has been able to remove it. NOAA and the Alice Ferguson Foundation have banded together to sort the problem out. This first installment traces the mounting effort through the silent perspective of the The Barge That Wouldn't Budge.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
2/3" Red Scarlet Footage, Red Reel, and Epic
Some footage released by Red shot on the not-quite-released-yet-but-I-hope-it-will-be-soon Scarlet with 2/3" sensor.
"pulled straight from a 3k movie ( and scaled down of course )... Shot at T5.6, 100mm, Izzy was about 4-5 feet away from the camera."
This is the new RedReel sample footage shot on a Red. It's a big damn file 1080P so don't download it unless you have a fast connection.
And here's a photo comparing the size of the new Epic to the Red One
"pulled straight from a 3k movie ( and scaled down of course )... Shot at T5.6, 100mm, Izzy was about 4-5 feet away from the camera."
This is the new RedReel sample footage shot on a Red. It's a big damn file 1080P so don't download it unless you have a fast connection.
And here's a photo comparing the size of the new Epic to the Red One
Doing the Rounds
First I cannot begin to express how thankful I am to be around like-minded filmmakers; kindred spirits full of curiosity, ambition and zeal. My hopes are to provoke, nurture and learn from each of you over the years to come.
I've been hit hard, in the face, many times. Though my nose doesn't show it, I clawed through the racial rancor and adversity of age to fight in the amateur boxing's world equivalent of Sundance - the Golden Gloves boxing tournament. But even after an undefeated tournament not even the best in the ring could've prepared me for the prolonged sparring match with the gatekeepers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
My friend Leonard, by his accounts, slept with thousands of men. As the AIDS epidemic began to decimate even his most chaste friends he couldn't understand why he went unafflicted. Though he tested positive during the first wave of the epidemic his CD4s (an early marker of HIVs pathogenesis) went unchanged, sparing him the opportunistic infections caused by AIDS. Almost thirty years later his viral load is undetectable – no meds, no disease.
NIH calls them Long-term Non-progressors (LTNPs). Many in the AIDS research community believe that by reverse engineering the immunological gifts that Leonard and many like him have, the missing link to vaccine would be found. NIH researchers just happen to be leading the charge.
AIDS didn't spare my family. Nor is the crisis at an end. The corrective terror of the 80's and 90's is dissipating. With all of the new drug therapies, no one actually dies of AIDS any more. Fertile territory for a documentary right?
All press and media inquiries (independent filmmakers are categorized as journalists) regarding research at NIH are funneled through their media department. I call up completely stoked about the proposal, give a hard pitch and pant on the other end awaiting my contacts feedback.
“Send it to me in an email and we'll talk,” she said. A day after sending the proposal I get a call back.
“I'm sorry, but at this time I can't give you my approval.”
“Can you explain why?”
(Dramatic pause.)
“When you can prove to me that you know what you're talking about then maybe I can arrange for an interview.” Honestly, I wish I could've recorded the Monty Pythonesque conversation.
“How much more can I know about the research without speaking with the researchers?”
Her voice hit the depths of monotone, “Mr. Minard I'm in no position to bother the researchers with your request until you're more acquainted with the research performed here.”
“The research is only a part of the personal stories that these LTNPs have to share.”
“Well then I guess you'll have to focus on their side of the story. Thank you very much. Goodbye.”
Crestfallen and battered my head spun. I called Leonard. He growled, “If the bitch doesn't want to let you in I'll just take you myself."
And he did.
During his bi-annual visit he escorted me into the Clinical Center and sat me down in front of the researchers. I pitched them for an hour. They a made a few phone calls after we left. Days later I get a call from NIH media with a begrudging approval for a tentative shoot date. The collaboration was on!
The researchers became my biggest collaborators. Doors were open at all times to help educate my team. Other LTNPs came out of the dense veil of obscurity. Over the next two months we interviewed ten different LTNPs from all walks of life. We honed our shooting set-up and distilled provocative interview questions. We revisited the NIH campus to pre-interview the researchers. Hell, I went down to the blood bank in the basement and gave blood. The passion for the documentary had suffused all of the participants and all the folks at NIH.
All except one.
(Look for Part II in two weeks)
I've been hit hard, in the face, many times. Though my nose doesn't show it, I clawed through the racial rancor and adversity of age to fight in the amateur boxing's world equivalent of Sundance - the Golden Gloves boxing tournament. But even after an undefeated tournament not even the best in the ring could've prepared me for the prolonged sparring match with the gatekeepers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
My friend Leonard, by his accounts, slept with thousands of men. As the AIDS epidemic began to decimate even his most chaste friends he couldn't understand why he went unafflicted. Though he tested positive during the first wave of the epidemic his CD4s (an early marker of HIVs pathogenesis) went unchanged, sparing him the opportunistic infections caused by AIDS. Almost thirty years later his viral load is undetectable – no meds, no disease.
NIH calls them Long-term Non-progressors (LTNPs). Many in the AIDS research community believe that by reverse engineering the immunological gifts that Leonard and many like him have, the missing link to vaccine would be found. NIH researchers just happen to be leading the charge.
AIDS didn't spare my family. Nor is the crisis at an end. The corrective terror of the 80's and 90's is dissipating. With all of the new drug therapies, no one actually dies of AIDS any more. Fertile territory for a documentary right?
All press and media inquiries (independent filmmakers are categorized as journalists) regarding research at NIH are funneled through their media department. I call up completely stoked about the proposal, give a hard pitch and pant on the other end awaiting my contacts feedback.
“Send it to me in an email and we'll talk,” she said. A day after sending the proposal I get a call back.
“I'm sorry, but at this time I can't give you my approval.”
“Can you explain why?”
(Dramatic pause.)
“When you can prove to me that you know what you're talking about then maybe I can arrange for an interview.” Honestly, I wish I could've recorded the Monty Pythonesque conversation.
“How much more can I know about the research without speaking with the researchers?”
Her voice hit the depths of monotone, “Mr. Minard I'm in no position to bother the researchers with your request until you're more acquainted with the research performed here.”
“The research is only a part of the personal stories that these LTNPs have to share.”
“Well then I guess you'll have to focus on their side of the story. Thank you very much. Goodbye.”
Crestfallen and battered my head spun. I called Leonard. He growled, “If the bitch doesn't want to let you in I'll just take you myself."
And he did.
During his bi-annual visit he escorted me into the Clinical Center and sat me down in front of the researchers. I pitched them for an hour. They a made a few phone calls after we left. Days later I get a call from NIH media with a begrudging approval for a tentative shoot date. The collaboration was on!
The researchers became my biggest collaborators. Doors were open at all times to help educate my team. Other LTNPs came out of the dense veil of obscurity. Over the next two months we interviewed ten different LTNPs from all walks of life. We honed our shooting set-up and distilled provocative interview questions. We revisited the NIH campus to pre-interview the researchers. Hell, I went down to the blood bank in the basement and gave blood. The passion for the documentary had suffused all of the participants and all the folks at NIH.
All except one.
(Look for Part II in two weeks)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Is this what I've been looking for?
Is this what I've been looking for, a backpack that is designed to carry camera equipment and camping equipment? Granted it's designed to carry camera equipment not film equipment, but still it carries 85 liters for camping gear plus camera gear. I think they're on to something. Check out their website and a review by someone who clearly had an interest in giving them a good review. The only question is if they make it tall enough for a person like me. Also take a look at this hokey youtube video by Naneu Pro which needs some serious assistance from an audio professional and anyone who has ever thought about shooting commercial content.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thinking About a DLSR for Video?
Check out this cool product from Zacuto to make handheld shooting a lot easier
Introducing DSLR Gorilla Kits from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Untamed Science
Fellow MFA graduate Rob Nelson started his own company making educational science videos for kids. Instead of old school broadcast, he has ventured into the virtually untouched area of making films for school textbooks. That's a video per chapter, not per book, which is a lot of filmmaking! Check it out a sample video:
And for more on Untamed Science:
Kristyn
And for more on Untamed Science:
Kristyn
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Canon 7d Unveiled
Canon juste "released" its new DSLR that has amazing HD video capabilities. Will this be the future of one man band productions?
Canon's website (specs and features)
dp Review website
Enjoy
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
TERRA 522: Disturbance PART TWO
As a hybrid of natural history documentary, art film, and political commentary, this film explores the complexity of fire management and fire ecology of the Northern Rockies. Shot completely in Montana, this experimental documentary showcases extraordinary footage of black-backed woodpeckers, boreal toads, and other fire-dependent species, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of fire command camps
GOOD SOUND in a Canon 5D Mark II
1st.
The conclusions of a test to find the best on-board and off-board sound recorders for the Canon 5D Mark II.
2nd.
The video of the guy who came up with a firmware to unlock some of the A/V constraints of the Canon 5D Mark II.
Enjoy!
The conclusions of a test to find the best on-board and off-board sound recorders for the Canon 5D Mark II.
6. Canon 5D Mark II Audio Exposed - Conclusions from P3Pictures on Vimeo.
2nd.
The video of the guy who came up with a firmware to unlock some of the A/V constraints of the Canon 5D Mark II.
Magic Lantern firmware introduction from Trammell Hudson on Vimeo.
Enjoy!
Monday, August 10, 2009
TERRA 522: Disturbance PART ONE
As a hybrid of natural history documentary, art film, and political commentary, this film explores the complexity of fire management and fire ecology of the Northern Rockies. Shot completely in Montana, this experimental documentary showcases extraordinary footage of black-backed woodpeckers, boreal toads, and other fire-dependent species, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of fire command camps
Sunday, July 26, 2009
TERRA 521: Chesapeake Gold
Oysters were once capable of filtering all the water in the Chesapeke Bay in two days. Now after centuries of Oyster harvesting the bay is no longer capable of cleaning itself. A new brand of oystermen is emerging to meet the needs of the bay while also satisfying customers who are hungry for Chesapeake oysters. These Oystermen have replaced antiquated dredging techniques with aquculture, or oyster farming, and have discovered a sustainable way to harvest oysters while also helping to clean up the bay.
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