HDFilmtools.com

Hot Links: 10-24-08

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:22:45 +0000

Shane Ross/Little Frog in Hi Def

EDITGROOVE…FOR FCP

ANOTHER cool tool for FCP released today, EditGroove. This bit of software manages preferences and user settings for multiple users…on one machine or across a network. If you are working on one machine one day, then move to another, you can load your keyboard layouts….

Technorati Tags: add-ons, Final Cut Pro, Tools

Hot Links: 10-23-08

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:23:58 +0000

Richard Siklos / Fortune

Tense times in Hollywood’s dream factory

LOS ANGELES (Fortune) — Even in the land of make-believe, where the meltdown on Wall Street feels a million miles away, these are tense days. While no one can say for sure how the financial crisis will affect Hollywood, a prevailing view is that the film business is relatively protected for at least a year or two, but that the TV industry which was already impacted by last winter’s writers’ strike could be in for a rocky ride….

Technorati Tags: financial meltdown, movies, studios, tv

Blogging “The Conversation” - Berkeley Ca.

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:53:33 +0000

By Lawrence Jordan

8:45 Introductions from the Organizers: Ken Goldberg, Tiffany Shlain, Lance Weiler, Scott Kirsner

9:00 AM John Batter, Co-President of Production, DreamWorks Animation SKG; former Group Studio General Manager, Electronic Arts - The Future of Animation, 3-D Cinema, and Games

John presented Dreamworks perspective on the future of 3-D. He described “Digital 3-D” as the next big jump in 3-D production and exhibition. Showed a clip from Kung Fu Panda that was recreated from the ground up using this new workflow. Pretty amazing looking stuff. Stated that all future DW animation productions will be in 3-D. Also demoed the same clip on a 46″ plasma television. Batter next showed a clip from upcoming film “Monster’s vs. Aliens” DW’s first major 3-D release coming March 27th. This clip was also impressive, particularly the fact that Steven Colbert voices the character of the president of the United States.

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
The Future of Visual Effects and Pre-Visualization

John Gaeta, Visual Effects Designer, Speed Racer and the Matrix trilogy
John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic
Euisung Lee, Halon Entertainment
Phil Tippett, Founder, Tippett Studio
Barbara Robertson, Journalist, CGSociety, Computer Graphics World, Digital Production (Moderator)

Taped John Knoll and some of Phil Tippett’s discussion of new tools and techniques being developed for VFX. If I can get clearance I’ll post them asap.

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

New Forms of Storytelling

Michael Ferris Gibson, Director, 24 Hours on Craigslist & Producer, Truth in Numbers: The Wikipedia Story
Gregg Spiridellis, CEO Guy, JibJab Media
Evan Spiridellis, Head Art Guy, JibJab Media

The brothers Spiridellis, creators of JibJab, talked about building their content company and it’s explained a bit about its exponential growth. They also mentioned using taking thier content and spreading it across different products. Michael Gibson Talked about his film “Truth in Numbers: The Wikipedia Story” an example of collaborative filmmaking (he aggregated a crew and raised 60K online) after running out of money he created a trailer with what he had and was able to raise financing to finish. I taped both these speakers and will hopefully get clearance.

12:00 Just too much good stuff and and I’m finding it tough to write AND shoot. Will recap later this evening.

Technorati Tags: 3-D, Animation, digital cinema, theconvo

Matthew Wood: Supervising Sound Editor, Skywalker Sound Part II

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:15:19 +0000

Here is Part II of my interview with Skywalker Sound supervising sound editor Matthew Wood. In this segment we focus on Matthew’s work on Disney/Pixar’s WALL-E. Matthew worked closely with his mentor, the lengendary Ben Burtt, on the project, who supervised the sound design and also played the voice of the lead character, WALL-E.

We go on to talk about how he managed multiple projects of such a large scale (he was simultaneously doing WALL-E and Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and some of the cutting edge tools he learned, including Symbolic Sound’s Capabara Kyma. Matthew also give us some insight into working in animation and the unique approach he and Ben were able to take to create the audio environment for the film. Enjoy!

By Lawrence Jordan

iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch - Small
Windows Media Format

Link to Matthew Wood Interview Part I

Technorati Tags: clone wars, digital sound editing, lucasfilm, Pixar, plug-ins, pro tools, skywalker sound, sound droid, star wars, TDM, WALL-E, Waves

Be Part of “The Conversation” This Friday and Saturday

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:42:33 +0000

Digital technology is radically changing filmmaking and by extension all media. The future of movies, music, games, social communication is being created as we speak. This Friday and Saturday October 17th and 18th, you are invited to participate in helping to shape what this future might look like.

The team behind the event includes: Ken Goldberg, artist and director of the Berkeley Center for New Media, Boston Globe and Variety columnist Scott Kirsner whose new book”Inventing the Movies” is a must read for anyone interesting in the history and future of the medium, Tiffany Shlain, Filmmaker and Director of “The Tribe”, multi-festival award winner and the #1 downloaded short film at iTunes and Filmmaker and “Cultural Hacker” Lance Weiler, who Wired magazine named “One of twenty-five people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood.”

The Conversation promises to be an eye opening and fascinating event. Get an idea of what the future has in store for you by registering to attend The Conversation today.

Technorati Tags: digital cinema, games, indie film, media innovation, social media

Video Software Recommendations: Reader Beware!

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:55:02 +0000

Rarely do I snark at other publications for their missteps, but this one really caught my attention. In its latest issue, Information Week has an article entitled “Which Video Software Package Should You(Tube) use?”. While it does contain a few tidbits of useful information, the recommendation of Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 as “The Pro’s Choice” displays a lack of knowledge of what the majority of professional editors use to ply their craft.

Don’t get me wrong I have nothing against Premiere Pro, but for starters the CS4 version, which the article refers to, hasn’t even been released yet. This obviously precludes it from having been evaluated by professional editors. What I find more remiss is the failure to mention the real tools of choice for the majority of professional editors such as offerings from Avid Technology and their Media Composer, Sony, with its hugely popular PC editing package Vegas or Apple’s Final Cut Pro.

Anyone with even a peripheral knowledge of the professional editing tools market knows Premiere is not “the pro’s choice”. And while it does offer professional level features, it is certainly not as widely used in professional circles as products from the vendors mentioned above. This is reflected in the reader comments, which turn out to be the most educational and frankly, most entertaining part of the article.

Information Week should stick to subjects it knows best, otherwise it might become known as “Bad Information Week”.

Technorati Tags: Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid, digital video, editing software, Final Cut Pro, Reviews, Sony Vegas

Clip from HYBRID - Shot on the RED ONE Digital Cinema Camera

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:37:23 +0000

As a follow up to our series of interviews with John Leonetti, ASC about his experiences shooting one of the first feature films with the RED Digital Cinema Camera, here is a clip from the soon to be released film, “Hybrid“. The film was produced by Oliver Hengst and Elizabeth Wang-Lee, directed by Eric Valette with cinematography by John Leonetti, ASC. Hybrid was also the first feature film in Canada to be shot with the RED.

Thanks to Jakob Boersch at Stallion Media, LLC for helping us get this clip online.

Link to Interview with John Leonetti, ASC Part I
Link to Interview with John Leonetti, ASC Part II
Link to Interview with John Leonetti, ASC Part III

Technorati Tags: 4K, cinematography, clip, digital cinema, HD, Hybrid Movie, indie film, RED digital cinema, red one

Sony Announces Major Commitment to 4K All Digital Workflow

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:36:29 +0000

Major announcement for anyone working in the motion picture and television industries.

CULVER CITY, Calif., Oct. 2, 2008 – Sony Pictures Entertainment will use 4K digital technology in the making of most of its filmed productions, it was announced by Sony Electronics.

“With the industry moving rapidly to embrace the improvement in quality that digital cinema can offer, we believe that 4K resolution gives audiences the best seat in the house,” said Gary Martin, president of Production Administration and Studio Operations for Sony Pictures Entertainment. “That’s why we will be making more of our filmed productions at full 4K resolution, scanning at 4K, using a 4K workflow process, and releasing a 4K DCP to theaters. The crisp and vibrant images provided by 4K are the only way to ensure that audiences both today and in the future will really be able to see the full range of what we can capture on film.”

Sony Pictures has already released the summer blockbuster “Hancock” in 4K, with the motion picture grossing more than $600 million at the worldwide box office to date. Movies released in 4K can play in theaters with either 4K or 2K projectors. Among the next motion pictures to be digitally imaged in 4K by Sony Pictures, and available for 4K distribution, are expected to be “2012,” “Salt,” and “The Green Hornet,” with more titles to be announced.

“This commitment from Sony Pictures continues the momentum that is building behind 4K,” said Gary Johns, vice president, Digital Cinema Systems Division at Sony Electronics. “Exhibitors are realizing that 4K is a reality now, for enhancing their customers’ experiences, and studio support is a critical element to take advantage of the superior resolution of Sony’s 4K projection system. The growing number of 4K-equipped theaters will now have even more 4K content potentially available to offer their customers.”

More information about SXRD™ 4K digital cinema systems is available online at www.sony.com/digitalcinema.

Technorati Tags: 4K, digital cinema, Sony, Workflow

Matthew Wood - Supervising Sound Editor, WALL-E & The Clone Wars

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:45:38 +0000

By Lawrence Jordan

Today we present Part I of a three-part interview with Matthew Wood, supervising sound editor at George Lucas’ Skywalker Sound. Matthew is one of a unique new breed of craftspeople who have not only embraced digital technology but who, since early in his career, have contributed to its evolution. Starting out at Skywalker as a teenager, he’s had the amazing opportunity to see the technology develop from ground zero. From his beginnings as a QA tech on the first of its kind Sound Droid, he has had a chance to work on almost every digital editing technology used at the Ranch.

In this first segment I cover the basics. What exactly does a sound supervisor do? We go on to talk about how he approaches each project creatively, how technology has changed since he started out 16 years ago, and who were his mentors? We also talk about his current tools of choice and why those products best address his workflow.

Stay tuned for Parts II and III where we get more into what goes on up at Skywalker and his experiences working on his most recent projects, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and Disney/Pixar’s “WALL-E”.

iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch - Small
Windows Media Format

Technorati Tags: clone wars, digital sound editing, lucasfilm, Pixar, plug-ins, pro tools, skywalker sound, sound droid, sound toys, star wars, TDM, WALL-E, Waves

In Memoriam - Paul Newman: 1925-2008

info@hdfilmtools.com (Larry Jordan) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:52:20 +0000

A cultural legend, a master of his craft. A great philanthropist and humanitarian, a personal hero. He will live on in his body of work, but he will be sorely missed…

His kind don’t come through here often.

Technorati Tags: actors, Filmmakers, legends, Paul Newman