Episode 51

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Articles on Sessue Hayakawa:
IMDB.com

Gold Sea Spotlight on Asian Americans

Watch the entire 1915 film “The Cheat” by Cecil B. DeMille

Top 7 Articles of the Week

7. Deconstructing the Lighting of a Scene

StillMotion demonstrates three lighting set ups for different moods and how and why they used the lights they did.

6. The Future of Cinema according to Douglas Trumbull

Harry Knowles (Ain’t it Cool News) sits down with film legend Douglas Trumbull who created visual effects for films like “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and “Blade Runner.” Together they cover the evolution of film and the state of film projection today.

5. The Two Take Minimum Theory of Filmmaking

J. Ott asks for a second take and explores why you should almost always shoot a second take even if everything is perfect the first time around. How many takes do you generally ask for?

4. What’s new in After Effects CS6 in under 6 minutes

VFXBro runs down what’s new in the latest iteration of the popular compositing software from Adobe.

3. To Kill a Canon 7D…

How durable is the Canon 7d? DigitalRev TV dares to put the question to the test by hitting it with a car, dropping it down some steps on a wheelchair, freezing it, soaking it, and setting fire to it.

2. DIY: How To Make The Best Helmetcam Ever

The DakaKin team shows you how to create the best Helmetcam ever.

1. The Engineering behind CCD cameras

Bill Hammack takes apart a digital camera and explains how its captures images using a CCD (charge coupled device). He also shares how a single CCD is used with a color filter array to create colored images. This video is based on a chapter from the EngineerGuy team’s latest book Eight Amazing Engineering Stories (Learn more at http://www.engineerguy.com/elements)

WTF Post of the Week

NSFW: Gilbert Gottfried Reads Fifty Shades of Gray

Episode 50

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Vidblaster: Multicamera editing on your desktop.

My Copter Crashing videos:

Real Life Rocket Engine:

See the rest of my photos on my album on Facebook

Top 7 Articles of the week

7. Trippy Demo of Focal Length and Spatial Distortion

This quick little gif demonstrates the difference between focal lengths and how they stretch or compress the sense of depth.

6. Star Wars – if it were made by the Internet

Star Wars Uncut is a website that asked people around the globe to recreate a scene from the 1977 film. The Director’s cut, the full feature length recreation below, is the final result.

5. Exploding Photographers, Disappearing Clothes and the Development of Film

Roger Cicala journeys into the 19th century and weaves a tale of explosive cotten, synthetic fabrics and how it all culminates in the true purpose of photography – capturing images of scantily clad women.

4. Making the Most of Long Exposure Handhelds

Shoot steadier handheld DSLR shots using techniques used by marksmen to steady their rifles.

3. The Three Basics of Photography

Matthew Gore of LightandMatter.org explains the three parts of getting a proper exposure: Aperture (or Iris – for us video folk), Shutter Speed, and ISO.

2. 2 Techniques for Writing the Masterpiece Genre

John Truby discusses the Masterpiece Genre. Learn two key techniques to master this Genre as well several questions and point to keep in mind while writing.

1. Damnit Jim – I’m a Filmmaker not a RED Camera Propagandist

No camera on the market today sparks as much fan boy bullshit spirited debate as the RED line of digital cinema cameras. Now I present you latest dust-up between RED camera pioneer Jim Jannard and Zacuto’s Steve Weiss.

Spoiler alert, these are the kinds of comments you will hear in my film: I asked 9 ASC cinematographers, if they had to pick between shitty picture or shitty sound what would they recommend to the director if in the situation you could only have one? Every single cinematographer said shitty picture. There reason: You can tolerate shitty picture but shitty sound is intolerable.

I asked a cinematographer if he would be willing to live with a take where the actor didn’t hit his mark and isn’t in their eye light but the performance was better then when they hit their mark and his answer was an astounding yes.

This is what DP’s in a collaborative effort do and I felt it was important for people to hear this as well as well as see what camera are capable of…. If all you want to see is a raw test, they are out there, although, I’m not sure how fair and accurate they are. My film is the hows and whys of how to make your camera look great, plus a lot more. Actually, to be honest, I’m not totally sure what my film is yet because I haven’t even really started it prior to getting the comments from the screenings.

WTF Post of the Week

Actual Cannibal (Shia LaBeouf)

Super Moon 2012 Facebook Album

Why is the Moon reversed in some of these photos?

Here is an image from Caról Mckenzy Mcloud of Santiago, Chile:

Here is one I took Saturday night in Temecula, CA. Notice the difference

The reason is the Northern & Southern Hemispheres see the moon reversed.

So where did the Moon come from?

Giant impact hypothesis

The giant impact hypothesis states that the Moon was formed out of the debris left over from a collision between the Earth and a Mars-sized body, sometime around 4.5 Ga (four and a half billion years ago). The colliding body is sometimes called Theia, for the mythical Greek Titan who was the mother of Selene, the goddess of the moon.

How far away is the moon?

Average Earth moon distance (384,403 km) + moon diameter at equator (10,920 km) = a 395,323 km rope for the lasso (245,642.3 miles).

Speed of light from Earth to Moon

Scale model of the Earth and the Moon, with a beam of light traveling between them at the speed of light. It takes approximately 1.26 seconds.

So how can I take great pictures of the Moon?

Rule #1 make sure you have a Tripod.
For more tips check out the videos below.

DSLR Tips: Night Photography

Landscape Astrophotography Tutorial – First Night Out

Photographing the Moon with a DSLR and a Telescope

Thats No Moon!

You’re right it’s Pink Floyd.

The Dark Side of Oz

Dark Side of the Rainbow – also known as Dark Side of Oz or The Wizard of Floyd – refers to the pairing of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon with the visual portion of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. This produces moments where the film and the album appear to correspond with each other. The title of the music video-like experience comes from a combination of the album title and the film’s song “Over the Rainbow”. Band members and others involved in the making of the album state that any relationship between the two works of art is merely a coincidence.

Episode 48

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Facebook Link

Relevant posts:
CNN Fires Editors & Photojournalists Because Amateurs Will Work for Free

Being an Independent Filmmaker is Like Opening a Restaurant

Top 7 Articles from April 22-29, 2012

7. Making of a Canon L Series Lens

See the making of a Canon 500mm L Series Lens from its lowly beginnings as refined sand all the way to final assembly.

6. Community’s 8 point Story Structure

Dan Harmon drives himself crazy writing the scripts for Community. As the series creator, he’s been hard at work studying story and looking for a common structure. Brian Raftery reports on Dan Harmon’s story philosophy and spends some time with this interesting individual.

5. The Traditionalist: an Interview with Christopher Nolan

Jeffrey Ressner interviews Christopher Nolan about how he works, the fact that he didn’t go to film school, and why he wears suits on his set.

4. John Cleese on Creativity

John Cleese pontificates on creativity in this video from Video Arts circa 1991.

3. Off Book – The Art of Film and TV Title Design

The credits are often the first thing we see when we watch a great film or TV show, but the complexity and artistry of title design is rarely discussed. Creators of title sequences are tasked to invent concepts that evoke the core story and themes of the production, and to create a powerful visual experience that pulls the viewer into the film’s world.

In this episode of PBS’s Web Series “Off Book” we hear the stories of some of the most inventive people working in the field, including the creators of the iconic Mad Men sequence, the hilarious Zombieland opening and “rules” sequences, and the stirring end credits from Blue Valentine.

2. The Essence of Comedy Writing

All comedy is built around the same principles. Laughter is the release when we are taken quite suddenly from one expectation to a completely unexpected one.
Read the rest

1. Andrew Stanton: The Clues to a Great Story

Filmmaker Andrew Stanton (“Toy Story,” “WALL-E”) shares what he knows about storytelling — starting at the end and working back to the beginning.

WTF Post of the Week

Say No to Crack and Yes to Rollerskating

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Top 7 Articles of the Week from April 15-21, 2012

7. How It’s Made: Optical Lenses

Watch this video from the Discovery Channel series “How It’s Made” to see how glass goes from a block to a highly polished optical lens. Now you know why they are so expensive.

6. Amazing Stop Motion Video: The Shins “The Rifle’s Spiral”

Director Jamie Caliri’s beautiful stop motion animation video for “The Rifle’s Spiral,” a new track by The Shins. Caliri observes: “It’s now more like the years before MTV, when music videos did not have a formula. You can be expressive and idiosyncratic.”

The Shins: The Rifle’s Spiral on Nowness.com.

5. How to get into a Film Festival – Advice from a Festival Director

Darren Levine, Festival Director & Co-Founder NYC Filmmaker’s Fest., offers some advice to filmmakers on how to submit your project to film festivals.

4. Stupid & Dangerous Super Slow Motion Footage with the Phantom Flex

Super slow motion highlights, from Danish TV show “Dumt & Farligt,” using the Phantom Flex.

3. Battle of the Canon 5ds: Mk II and Mk III – an UNscientific-Real-World Test

Does the new iteration of the 5d stomp out its older brother? We put to the cameras to a test in a head to head at NAB2012 in a real world duke-it-out test. No charts, no controls and slightly hung-over… which camera will come up on top?

2. NAB 2012: Black Magic, Adobe, Canon, Sony, and A Shiny Pimpin’ Van

NAB has become the world’s largest convention of media geeks and nerds around. Mid-April thousands make the pilgrimage to the land of Lost Wages to get a chance to look at new equipment and ask simple questions that could have been answered by a quick Google search.

Read the Rest of the NAB Coverage Here

1. Fear and 4K in Las Vegas: Filmmaker IQ Peeps at Canon’s Pixels

In this Article I pixel peep Canon’s 4k offerings and point out shots where Shane Hurlbut’s crew couldn’t nail focus:

Read my Full Write up Here

WTF Post of the Week

Just for John

Episode 46

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Referenced from this article by Carlton Bale

Top 7 6 Articles of the Week:

6. Titanic in Super 3d (as presented by Lucas, Abrams and Bay)

Because we all know what was missing from Titanic was Storm Troopers…. and Billy Zane shot first.

5. Evil Dead 2 Trailer – Rotoscoped!

The Trailer for Evil Dead 2 rotoscoped by “Pretend For Real.” Rotoscoping is an animation technique in which animators trace over live-action film movement, frame by frame, for use in animated films. It’s an extremely tedious process that took these creators 3 years to complete.

4. I know that Voice!

The names may not be recognizable, but their voices are household staples. Even in an era where Animation studios are trying to insure their films with A-List celebrities as voice actors, there’s something unique and wonderful about those behind-the-scene actors who really elevated voice acting to another level. “I Know That Voice” explores their work including appearances by Billy West, John Di Maggio, Tara Strong, and June Foray.

3. Top 4 Filmmaker “Must Do” Legal Practices, and Why

Aspiring filmmakers often let the contract and business details of film production be an afterthought, thinking “that’s not fun. Or creative. And I don’t have the budget for that un-fun, un-creative stuff. I’m working with my friends… it’ll all be fine.”

But they’re unlikely to do so again after the many problems arise (which they always do) and perhaps render their hard work practically and commercially unusable. Neglecting contracts and business formalities may prevent getting investors for your film, or may cause a host of other problems that mean a film cannot get interest or distribution.

What follows is a brief list of a few critical “what and why” business details that filmmakers must do, from the outset, to minimize obstacles to a film or project’s success.

2. The F%^&ing Nikon D800 vs. Canon 5D mkIII Shootout

This is a shootout of the new Nikon D800 and Canon 5D mkIII DSLRs, with a focus on the video quality in particular.

1. The 4K Cameras Debuting at NAB 2012

The cool camera stuff happens in Vegas

WTF Post of the Week

Sunshine, Lollipops

Episode 45

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Top 7 Articles of the Week

7. Canon 5d Crash Cam Reel

Vashi Nedomansky put together a sizzle reel of Canon 5d MkII cameras being used as Crash Cam in various productions as shot by Shane Hurlbut.

6. Canon 5d MkII & III Side by Side

Nathan Lee Bush from Adorama TV post a side by side comparison of the 5d MkII and MkIII comparing things like Moire, Rolling Shutter, Low Light Capabilities and Dynamic Range.

Can you see much difference?

5. Philip Bloom Reviews Canon 5d Mk III

Philip Bloom puts the latest Canon 5d iteration to the test in the islands of New Zealand.

4. Polone: Who Really Determines the Fates of Aspiring Screenwriters?

Gavin Polone, producer of Zombieland, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the Gilmore Girls, talks about who really controls the future of aspiring screenwriters.

3. Pricing Strategies for Creatives

How much to charge perhaps the hardest part of the freelance business. Jason Blumers offers a few tips for better pricing habits.

2. The Dark Knight Rises – LEAKED Audio of Freeman admitting he doesn’t get Batman

Can’t Christian Bale have a crazy conversation on set without somebody recording it? These “authentic” outtakes from the set of “The Dark Knight Rises” show Bale and costar Morgan Freeman spinning on not understanding the difference Batman and Bruce Wayne to Christian Bale wondering why he wasn’t asked to be in Inception.

Created by Irony Point NYC.

Yes, it’s a joke… More videos on the link.

1. Sneak Peak at Sony NEX-FS700 – Sony’s New Super Slo-Mo and 4k Camera

The Sony NEX-FS700 is making the rounds as the next anticipated “It” camera. Capturing with a 4k chip and scaling down to HD (with 4k as an upgrade option in the future), this camera boasts the capability to over crank up to 240 frames per second in full HD (an 960 fps in 480p mode). Here the first official promo video from Sony to hit the webs:

WTF Post of the Week

Did I just fall into the Rabbit Hole?

Episode 44

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Check out my interview with Pablo Pappano!!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pabcast-ep.-10-filmmaker-john/id493896698?i=112412414

Top 7 articles from March 25-31, 2012

7. SAG and AFTRA merge to become one Über-Union

The vote is in – members of the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) voted overwhelmingly to combine creating the largest Hollywood entertainment union.

6. Auto-ADR in Adobe Audtion CS6

Automatic Dialogue Replacement or Over-dubbing may get a considerably easier as demonstrated here in this sneak preview of Adobe Audition CS6:

5. David Mamet’s Notes to the Writers of “The Unit”

David Mamet’s “The Unit” ran on CBS from 2006 to 2009 and covered the lives of secret military operatives. Prior to airing, Mamet wrote this memo to the writing staff chock full of useful writing tips.

4. How Color Affects Black and White Photography

Sure you could set your camera to black and white, but you could potentially loose a lot of creative control if you don’t shoot in color for Black and White Conversion in post. Mark Wallace demonstrates specific techniques that can be applied in Lightroom or similar editing software to make your black and white images more impactful.

How Colors Influence B&W Photography Ep 232: Digital Photography 1 on 1: Adorama Photography TV from AdoramaTV on Vimeo.

3. Shooting The Crazy Chicken with a C300

Shane Hurlbut blogs about his experience shooting a round of spots for El Pollo Loco using the Canon C300.

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2. DIY Dishpan Light

Griffin Hammond crafts a unique DIY lighting solution for $86, using hardware store parts, and eight 100-watt-equivalent compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs.

1. Michael Caine on “Acting in Film”

In 1987, as part of a British series on acting, Michael Caine conducted a Workshop where he teaches the art of movie acting to five young actors, who perform scenes from Alfie, Deathtrap and Educating Rita.

See the rest of this video.

WTF Post of the Week

Super Sax Man Sergio’s “Careless Whisper”>

Episode 43

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Top 7 Articles of the Week

7. Old Meets New – Modding a 90-year-old Camera to work with the 5D

Jason Bognacki modified a 90-year-old Piccolette Contessa-Nettel camera with Bellow lens to work on his Canon 5d MkII.

6. Guide to using Nikon Nikkor Lenses on your DSLR

Caleb Pike explores the cheaper but incredibly effective use of Nikon Prime Lenses for your DSLR.

5. The Digital Slate that’s also an Assistant Editor

Digtal Slates for iDevices have been around for a while now. But now, through an innovative use of QR Barcodes, the metadata that’s on the slate can be attached to the video clip itself. With QRSlate for iOS and a Desktop Importer for Mac OS, QRSlate allows you to automatically import and embed metadata included on your movie slate into your clips, as well as find the slate clap, lay down markers, and more!

4. Citizen Kane makes it’s debut in Hearst Castle

Seventy one years after Citizen Kane premiered, Orson Welles’ thinly veiled character study of a mogul resembling William Randolph Hearst is finally getting a screening at the real life version of Xanadu. As part of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, the film was showcased on a 5 story tall screen at Hearst Castle on March 9, 2012.

3. Behind the Madness of Mad Men

In preparation to the new season of AMC’s Mad Men, Nightline goes behind the scenes of this Emmy Award Winning Series.

2. Behind the Scenes of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations”

The crew behind Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservation”, a globe trotting show focusing on some of the weirder more exotic food from all over the planet, opens up about what it takes to shoot and put together this show for the Travel Channel.

More videos in the article

1. The (Insert Any Camera Here) Debate

Jon Connor breaks down the course of a camera debate and outlines the personalities of the players.

WTF Post of the Week

Chelsea explains “Miles Per Hour”

Episode 42

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Dr Brené Brown’s TED talks:

Another overview from Dr. Brown

Top 7 Articles of the Week

7. The Digital Bolex

The consumer film camera of yesteryear is getting a modern upgrade. Armed with a 16mm sized chip and the ability to shoot truly uncompressed RAW at 2k resolution for less than the cost of a Canon 5d MkIII, the newest entry in the digital cinema world will both tread lightly on your wallet and satisfy your hipster need for defiance.

At time of posting this camera is over $280k of it’s $100k goal… I’d say there’s at least a market for it.

6. How to Fix Your Camera Lens with Peanut Butter

Casey Neistat dropped his DSLR on the streets of New York. And it broke. Now he’s going to fix it. With Peanut Butter.

5. Conan O’Brien’s Editors Talk Adobe Premiere Pro CS6

Rob Ashe and the rest of the staff at Conan, talk about making the switch from FCP X and give a quick humorous peak at the next rendition of the Adobe Software.

This… I am excited about…

4. 10 Tips for Shooting Low Budget from SxSW

At SXSW a panel titled “The Great Cinematography Shootout” gathered a group of directors and cinematographers to discuss independent film lensing in an age of proliferating formats and lower-cost, high-quality cameras, like the Canon 5D.

3. Hitchcock’s Definition of Happiness

Give the man a high 5 – don’t leave him hanging…

2. Copyright Math: Why the MPAA is Full of Sh*t

Numbers don’t lie, lobbyists do. Comic author Rob Reid unveils Copyright Math in this TED Talk, a remarkable new field of study based on actual numbers from entertainment industry lawyers and lobbyists.

Click over and read the commentary. It’s worth it

1. What is Shame, and How It’s Preventing You from Achieving What You Want

That was pretty obvious….

WTF: Post of the Week

This week’s honor goes to Simon Hosick for posting:

Watch it before they take it down…
Charlie Brooker learns the truth about Kony 2012