James Boyd Presents

From The Vault: The Nodance Film Festival In Black And White

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 22:01:00 +0000

Throwback to the Nodance Film Festival YEAR 6 event from 2003. Nodance was the world's first DVD-projected film festival held in Park City, Utah. Nodance catered to first-time filmmakers and digital filmmaking. These stunning black and white photos were recently unearthed from my dank & creepy garage, and with a little spring cleaning, I present them here for the first time seen anywhere.

I was the founder and festival director of Nodance.

YEAR 6 was the year we got involved with the very talented Mr. Forest Whitaker. Forest was so enamored of the Nodance spirit and enthusiasm, he brought some friends along for the ride.

And what a ride it was...

Nodance is no longer with us, but we can still enjoy the memories.

#makeyourmovie

Photographer: currently unknown

< Our Nodance storytelling panel with director of photography Matthew Libatique (CHI-RAQ, BLACK SWAN), moderator Chris Gore, director Mike Figgis (TIMECODE, LEAVING LAS VEGAS), and actor-director Forest Whitaker.

< Forest Whitaker giving a passionate speech about making movies with whatever means you have to tell your story.

< Nodance programmer Will Hartman, myself (Mr. Thumbs Up), and Forest Whitaker introduce the Mike Figgis DV world premiere of HOTEL.

< View of the storytelling panel from the back.

< The Nodance Film Festival HQ on Main Street.

< Hanging in the HQ with filmmaker/programmer Will Hartman (right).

< Chilling by the Nodance front entrance with event producer Ali Hileman-Brown and coordinator Francy Kachler.

< Ali Hileman-Brown surveys the scene at the closing night party.

< Me (left) with Nodance volunteer/filmmaker Ron Najor. Ron went on to produce indie classics "Short Term 12" & "I Am Not A Hipster."

< The one Nodance sign allowed on Main Street.

< Actor Jason Schwartzman & friend at the Nodance closing night party.

< Nodance cameraman Kevin Potter chatting with Forest Whitaker at the closing night party. Kev shot video with Nodance from Year 1 - 6.

< Here's me, overlooking the Nodance audience.

< Event producer Ali Hileman-Brown with publicist Jim Dobson.

< Nodance with our good friend John. We always threw a good party, open to the public.

< Nodance programmer Will Hartman (left) and me at the closing night party. We met one day in Hermosa Beach because he noticed the IFP-West sticker on my car. Good times.

Happy Birthday To Us! Five Year Anniversary Of James Boyd Presents Blog.

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:22:00 +0000

Today is the five year anniversary of this blog. Thank you to everyone who has visited and supported my strange, weird and mostly offbeat adventures in the world of filmmaking.

I've always tried to bring an original slant to everything I post, things you can't find on the many fine camera tech blogs out there. So I hope you keep tuned in to this blog to find a unique voice amongst the noise. This blog is completely free, with no ad sponsors, and that's the way it should be to get the straight skinny on what's up.

I'll keep going, as long as you keep visiting. For additional content, follow my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter stuff. All of it run by me, and different from each other.

Live long and prosper...and, as always, keep shooting, my friends.

The Moondog Labs Anamorphic Adapter for the iPhone 6+ and Sean Baker's TANGERINE

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 19:40:00 +0000

So I just received my Moondog Labs anamorphic adapter in the mail. Very pleased to give this bad boy a whirl. It creates a beautiful, widescreen look to your average iPhone footage. It's perfect for using in a small footprint production, where intrusive cameras can distract from your actors, or even draw bad attention from passersby.

Filmmaker SEAN BAKER successfully shot his Sundance Film Festival film TANGERINE with a good story, the iPhone 5s with anamorphic adapter, the FiLMic Pro app and a Steadicam. Congrats to Sean, and all he accomplished with his upcoming Magnolia Pictures release.

The micro-budget filmmaking wave is breaking.

Moondog Labs ANAMORPHIC ADAPTER $175.

James Boyd Presents: A blog for DIY filmmaking, indie film hacks and new camera gear advice.

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Sat, 23 May 2015 17:57:00 +0000

Director James Gunn On Writing Like A Pro

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Wed, 06 May 2015 17:56:00 +0000

Photo: © Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images

Writer-director James Gunn (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, SUPER, TROMEO & JULIET) recently posted to his Facebook page his thoughts on screenwriting like a pro.

=====================

James Gunn (via Facebook account):

"For writers (and probably others as well)...

While writing, I have moments of utter excitement, thrills, and inspiration, laughing out loud at what characters say and do in my office, weeping because of their hardships, and feeling as if they are speaking through me. When I'm in the pocket, I'm not a fictionist, I'm a meta-dimensional journalist, just watching what these characters do in front of me and taking it down (it would be difficult for me to be one of those guys who writes in Starbucks because I spend a lot of time laughing and crying while I'm writing, as well as a lot of time pacing around the room talking to myself in different characters' voices). Anyway, those are the good days.

On other days I wake up feeling uninspired and don't feel like writing at all. I feel like everything I write will suck. My inclination is to wait until I am in the mood. But I know, as a professional writer, my feelings are irrelevant. So I'll write anyway. It is my belief that "writer's block" is often the inability to accept that writers write because we must, not because we feel like it, or even because we like what we do. We merely put pen to paper or fingertips to keys, and go.

It really is ninety-percent effort. The magic is, with that effort, eventually inspiration will come. The paradox is you can't be looking for it.

Have a grand day. And if you don't have it right now, find it."

=========================

Don't write because you feel like it...write BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO. Now, stop reading this and go write for an hour.

How To Make It In Hollywood : YEAR ONE

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 23:52:00 +0000

With producer Peter Baxter at our premiere of THE NEW GODS (SXSW)

With age comes experience.

I was recently sent an email from a young filmmaker on how to gain a foothold as a producer-director in Hollywood. I decided to publish my thoughts below in hopes that it can help any new filmmakers currently living in Los Angeles, or anyone thinking about making the big move to the ridiculously expensive City of Angels.

FROM EMAIL:

I can only give you advice from my own experiences.

There is no one way to be successful in the industry. Everyone's path is different.

When I first moved to LA, I had to intern at three different companies for a full year, before I could find paying work as an office PA. It wasn't until I started writing screenplays that I gained a foothold as a creative. However, even though I had representation as a screenwriter, and had lots of meetings with top production companies, none of it ever paid the bills.

Most everyone is working a day job to afford the incredibly expensive lifestyle of living in LA. There is absolutely no shame in working any PA, bartender, waiter, editing, etc job in order to pay the rent. The only real shame is having talent and desire, and not working toward your goals by getting sidetracked with ego-flattering life events. Don't try to join the "cool kids club" by networking at the nightclubs and industry screenings. Stay home and write, instead.

As a director, watch movies. Educate yourself on the language of cinema by studying the history of world cinema. Become a knowledgeable cinephile by watching current indies, and our history's best films. Directors direct. Period. There's a long line of truly talented directors in front of you, so being unique in your storytelling is the single most important thing in being a new director. Make short films that can be turned into feature films. Follow & attend Sundance, Slamdance, SXSW, Tribeca, and the LA film festivals. Everyone is broke. There is no money in the indie film scene, so everyone has a day job. Yet, they still manage to make films on the side.

Nodance Film Festival with Forest Whitaker, Mike Figgis, Salma Hayek, and me

As a producer, understand the how and why films get made. Understand the relation of the Cannes Film Festival in raising foreign pre-sale money by getting certain actors attached. Understand genre. Understand China's new influence on movie financing. Read scripts and write coverage, if possible.

You can make your own indies, or work for a company that is making films. Be persistent in looking for paying work, but not annoying. Check in with certain companies once every few months, looking for a job opening.

It took almost twenty years for most of my friends to gain a financial foothold on the production side of things (camera, art and AD depts). The jobs will come if you treat everyone you meet with respect, do the best job you can, and NEVER be late to anything. Over time, you'll see the same familiar faces you worked with back in year one. Let people know you want to be a producer or director by actually creating indie projects, and working on other people's films. I want to stress that I gained valuable experience and contacts in the early stages of my career by helping out on my friend's silly films.

To get representation, I wrote over 500 hundred cover letters to agencies. I have received hundreds of rejection letters. But, I kept going. I missed my friends, and burned relationships to cement myself in LA. I respectfully ignored any rejections, and kept working towards my goals. I begged family for rent. I begged friends for forgiveness in my tardy attention to our relationships. I was not in LA to have fun, or make friends. I came to LA to make movies. I lived a robust lifestyle in order to extract an artistic muse, so don't forget to live your life while pursuing your dream. Attend film festivals, and meet other filmmakers. Shoot films on the weekends with friends with an iPhone, and help out other friends the very next weekend. Give back where you can, and always be nice.

Directing Tom Arnold on the set of HECKLERS

LA can be a very lonely place because everyone is working so hard on their careers, and the clock is ticking.

But, you're not alone in being lonely and broke. It's a tough city to gain traction, so love movies, be a fan and enjoy the ride.

Case Study: AWAKENING TO YOUR STORY

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 05:32:00 +0000

< I decided to shoot a small 3-camera video project for Austin-based life coach, author and blogger Alicia Hartzell called AWAKENING TO YOUR STORY. Alicia needed a 45 minute video as downloadable web content, and my traveling plethora of cameras was just the ticket.

< I pulled the one-man band set up, and went with my trusty Canon 5DMKIII DSLR, a venerable Canon 5DMKII, and an iPhone 6+ for a third close-up angle. Alicia only needed quick and easy web content, so the high def capabilities of the Canon DSLRs seemed to be an appropriate solution. Plus, I was on a fading SXSW road trip, and it was all I had with me. A perfect mobile set up.

< I brought out the RODE NTG-2 shotgun mic for A-camera sound synced to the 5DMKIII with a JuicedLink pre-amp. I added a Sanken COS-11 lav mic connected to a Zoom H1 for back up. I rented one c-stand, and a few affordable lights. I tried to go with a ring light for some beauty lighting, but the reflection off of Alicia's whiteboard was too intense. I moved it to camera left for a nice key, then bounced a few CFL bulbs off the wall for fill. I even brought out the LitePanels mini to highlight the plant in the corner, hanging it off an extra tripod.

< I used an iPhone 6+ (not shown) as a 3rd angle camera, and was very pleased with the image. I'm not sure how it will blend with the two DSLRs, but life is an adventure, so it's worth having an extra angle in post.

< Alicia was amazing in front of the camera. She quickly adjusted to the DSLR's 10-minute limitation, and was able to deliver her great 45-minute speech. I kept a timer on my iPhone, and signaled her when she needed to "wrap up a thought." If you get the chance, you can check out her book on Amazon HERE.

Photo: Alicia Hartzell

< Director/DP James Boyd (me) tweaking the 5DMKIII DSLR A-camera.

Thanks to Alicia for allowing me to film her web content. It was great just to pull out the cameras, and make the magic happen.

Short Film: TRANQUILITY

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:49:00 +0000

Here's a quick short film I made with my iPhone 6+ while having lunch. I was bored, so I made a 240 fps shot from my view of Congress & 7th Avenue. The phone was handheld, and I give mad respect to the new stabilization features of the iPhone 6+. I opened the shot in my iMovie app, and cut it for length. I added a black and white filter for effect, and then added the in-app music track. I improvised and recorded a first pass voice over that included the restaurant's ambient sounds. I even added some foley work, with a few sounds of my dinner glasses clinking together, and my knife hitting the plate. However, this ambience was too distracting, so I re-recorded the exact voice-over in a quiet room. I played with the voice over timing, and slowed down the intro and exit. Finally, I layered in the "film by" credit, and output to 720p. This iMovie film was completely improvised, and done entirely in my iPhone 6+. You never know when the inspiration will strike to make a film, but luckily your phone is well-equipped to handle your muse.

SXSW 2015 - Sights and Sounds

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 23:41:00 +0000

The 2015 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas is one rockin' experience. Over 20,000 people descend on this city every year for a blurry convergence party of film, interactive, music, sports, comedy and fashion. My first feature film (THE NEW GODS) played SXSW back in the hazy day, and I always try to return for the fun that Austin brings.

For complete coverage, please follow my Twitter (@JamesBoyd6161), my Instagram (@jrb6161) and my Facebook fan page (facebook.com/JamesBoydPresents).

Thanks for it all, SXSW!

< Austin delicacies at the ZEFR panel with Ondi Timoner.

< Picking up our stinking badges. It took me all of nine minutes to get from the back of the line to pick up my badge, bags, and exit. Well done, SXSW!

< The BATES MOTEL promotion for A&E's TV show. There's always a vacancy here.

< Stopped by the Canon Filmmaker Lounge, and checked out their entry level DJI F550 drone with 1080p camera. Check out the camera specs with the Teradek transmitter system and custom gimbal. Not really a commercial product, but interesting. However, I would recommend the DJI Inspire 1, but thanks for playing Canon.

< Certainly one of the hottest films at the SXSW Film Festival was the sci-fi epic EX MACHINA. It made it's North American premiere at the world famous Paramount Theater.

< Stopped in and showed some love to the PBS Filmmaker's Lounge. Watch more PBS!

< Loved this shot from one of the many promo booths outside the convention center (I think it was 3M).

< By far, the most emotionally compelling panel of the festival was for legendary Texas filmmaker LM Kit Carson. The best stories were told that aren't on Kit's Wiki page. He had his thumbprints on many of the best filmmakers working today (Wes Anderson, Guillermo Del Toro, Owen & Luke Wilson). #TexasFilm

< If you've ever seen actor Michael Shannon's dramatic work, you know he is one of the finest actors working today. Every word that came from his mouth was like the golden music of inspiration. Dig the shoes, buddy.

< Moderator Michael Tully (PING PONG SUMMER, Hammer to Nail) chats with writer-director Jeff Nichols (MUD, AQUAMAN) and actor Michael Shannon (REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, MAN OF STEEL).

< The world famous Paramount Theater from above. Nice sunshine.

< The SXSW Film Festival had a great poster gallery on display.

< SNEAKERHEADZ director, David T. Friendly, stopped by the Canon Filmmaker Lounge for a chat about his new documentary, and the benefit of using Canon cameras.

< Got a great sunset shot from the roof of the Contemporary Art Gallery. Magic.

< Getting some much needed sunshine in front of the Samsung Studio.

< Great "Meet The Insiders" panel with Craig Schoenbrun (Kickstarter), RJ Millard (Obscured Pictures) and UTA agent Jenny Maryasis.

The best advice came from Ms. Maryasis about not letting your PR "heat" die down while you play your film at obscure film festivals. Always be working on your next project, and strike while you are hot. Maryasis was instrumental in getting Lena Dunham's first feature film TINY FURNITURE into the minds of other industry agents and execs, which launched GIRLS.

< The UTA film financing panel, with David Herrin, agent Jonathan Levy and agent Hailey Wierengo. Levy gave sound advice by suggesting that many filmmakers can get obsessed with their DIY self-distrbution route, and end up spending 7-8 years of their life trying to recoup their money. He recommended cutting your losses, and using the PR momentum from your initial industry attention to get your next project made.

< Lurking at the world premiere of director J. Davis's MANSON FAMILY VACATION (starring Jay Duplass) at the Alamo Ritz. The line was WAY TOO LONG, and the energy was crazy outside the theater. Lots of good love to go around, and it made me happy to see and feel the energy of this lucky crowd for an indie film.

Interview With Rhonda Vigeant - Home Movie Legacy Project

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 15:54:00 +0000

Rhonda Vigeant is the creator of the Home Movie Legacy Project, and is instrumental in spreading the gospel about converting your home movies to digital format. We sat down for her podcast, and chatted about my experiences converting my family's home movies, indie filmmaking advice and lessons learned from Hollywood.

YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE 50 MINUTE INTERVIEW HERE.

Thanks to Rhonda for including me in her story.

#HomeMovies - My First Music Video in 4th Grade

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 22:13:00 +0000

You wanted the best. You got the best. The hottest band in the world...TINY KISS. From my recent #HomeMovies archive transfer at Pro 8mm Film Lab, comes my first music video shot in 4th grade with the benefit of the Kodak Ektasound 130 8mm film camera.

The stick puppets were created by my mom, complete with real human chest hair for Paul Stanley (not really, weirdo). We were rocking to "Detroit Rock City." And, seriously, who doesn't rock to DRC?

Make Your Short Film Now - The #FilmmakerChallenge

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 06:17:00 +0000

If you're a filmmaker, pay attention. The 2015 Sundance Film Festival short film entry deadline is one week away (Aug 25th, 2014 - $60). That means you have seven days to come up with an idea, then shoot, edit and submit it. You don't need permits or a crew or a wealthy uncle to fund your film. What you need is a brilliant idea. That's the easy part since you're a cinema genius. Now for the hard part: tools. Since necessity is the mother of invention, use your boundless creativity to shoot on your iPhone, or borrow a friend's GoPro camera. Shoot Super 8mm film. Go fully digital and animate in a computer. Use available light and sound. Friends and relatives suddenly become actors. Make your movie, and story is everything.

I give you permission to safely shoot in your living room at night, after work, because true cinema never sleeps. Just you and your genius subject idea. You may also edit on your laptop during your lunch break because true cinema doesn't eat like the normals. Do whatever it takes, but...

Tell your story.

The excuses are already building in your mind. "I don't have time. I missed the deadline already. 'Game of Thrones' is on my Apple TV." These are work barriers you create in your mind from fear. Fear, that prevents you from making the great American 8-minute short film. That #shortfilm is getting in, kid. You're gonna do it! You're gonna crack that 00.002% that gets accepted. You might even be discovered by Hollywood at America's best film festival. It happens every year.

I exaggerate to make my point. But not so much that I can't mention the story of filmmakers Mark & Jay Duplass. I attended a Sundance Film Festival "Artist At The Table" event, where Mark and Jay gave the intro speech (FYI: I bought a ticket). They told the story of making their lo-fi, second short film "This Is John." With days remaining until the Sundance deadline, they decided to improvise their film with the materials available to them. The Duplass brothers filmed in their apartment in less than 1 day for the cost of a $3 DV tape, posted on their home system and submitted to Sundance 2003.

"This is John" got accepted, and the rest is, well, you know.

Good luck, filmmakers. Don't be boring. I challenge you to make a film and submit. Let me know how it goes (#filmmakerchallenge).

Here's Mark Duplass talking about investing $3 into his career, and staying indie until it was time to move up to studio filmmaking. ***MUST WATCH VIDEO FOR ANY FILMMAKER***

Here's Mark's Guide To Sundance Success (from Buzzfeed).

Here's Film Independent's Guide To Sundance Successful Submissions.

#FilmmakerChallenge is for positive, creative change. It is not affiliated with any film festival or organization in any way. It is an open tag for the stimulation of creative thought, with the hope of furthering better cinema.

Here's a reminder from Forest Whitaker, Mike Figgis, Salma Hayek and yours truly to MAKE YOUR MOVIE.

2015 Sundance Film Festival
Official Shorts Deadline: $60 entry - August 25th, 2014 (arrival date)
LATE Shorts Deadline: $80 entry - September 15th, 2014 (arrival date)

Kodak 8mm Home Movies: A Short Film

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 22:28:00 +0000

"Dracula Vs The Wolfman" - This horror short film from 1973, shows the eternal conflict between the lawful evil dark lord "Dracul" and his chaotic evil nemeses "The Wolfman." Shot on 8mm Kodak film, it was thought lost forever, until a print miraculously appeared in a condemned Chilean insane asylum (screening was confirmed by a 1974 "Cray-Cray Bingo Night" pamphlet). Unfortunately, the young female was devoured during the making of the film.

The film is directed by Patricia Boyd, and stars Tre Hellman as "Dracul," and the first on-screen, magnetic appearance of James Boyd as "The Wolfman." A five-year old Boyd was rumored to have stayed in character, even as the cameras stopped rolling from production. Boyd was later seen in THE ROAD WARRIOR, and had a scene cut from THE LOST BOYS.

Photo: Robert Stenger

< Director James Boyd reminiscing on the power of Kodak Super 8mm home movies. Organic, man.

< Discussing 8mm home movies as our link to the past, and they're slowly dissolving in attics and garages all across our country. Help preserve this amazing art form by transferring your home movies to digital. But, be prepared for what you might find.

Rhonda Vigeant, "Home Movie Legacy Project"

< Rhonda Vigeant, creator of the "Home Movie Legacy Project" at Pro 8mm film lab in Burbank, CA.

Short Film: Super Secret Untitled James Boyd Kodak 8mm Home Movie Project

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 01:31:00 +0000

< Sliding with the Philip Bloom Pocket Dolly and the Canon C100 on a home movie project.

< 8mmmmmm goodness. These are my family's memories and Kodak moments from 1958-1982.

And then the video camera arrived...but that's a story for another day (UPDATE: See below).

Welcome back, Kodak! On this day (July 31st, 2014), Kodak decided to just keep making film. Now we can all be "filmmakers" again. Thanks, Kodak (and the very powerful filmmakers who made it so).

#QUADthemovie Buzzes The Aerial Cine Conference at AbelCine Burbank

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 05:09:00 +0000

So #QUADthemovie got the opportunity to head on down to AbelCine in Burbank to witness their aerial cinematography conference. This was an awesome spectacle of serious camera people and their passion for flying the box.

On display were Hollywood-style drones that can hoist high-end professional cameras. Safety and education were themes stressed all day long by the conference speakers, like Rich Hanson from the AMA, Lucien Miller from Innov8tive Designs, San Diego-based Aerial Mob and Charles Eide from the FlySafe training program.

Special thanks to Robert Rodriguez, Andy Shipsides and the AbelCine team for hosting us, and putting on such a kick ass conference for aerial cinematography. I met some very passionate people at this event, and #QUADthemovie is very honored to be working with some great pilots and hobbyists.

< At the aerial cine conference, shooting with Canon C100 with Atomos Ninja 2 external recorder for uncompressed ProRes HQ files. Our lenses were 14mm, 24-70mm f/2.8L and 70-200m f/2.8L. Audio was direct to dailies through the C100 via a Rode Lav on channel 1, and a Sennheiser MK-416 shotgun boom mic on channel 2. We used my Philip Bloom pocket dolly for some cool b-roll on the drone floor.

We shot B-cam on an iPhone 5s for BTS stills, and any quick b-roll video pickups. We had a rock solid 5DMK3 DSLR on site as a back-up to A cam.

< #QUADthemovie be book leernin'.

Keep on quadding in the free world.

QUAD THE PLANET.

< Aerial Cine leader Robert Rodriguez announced the formation of the Society of Aerial Cinematographers. Safe flying standards for commercial artists are a must.

Photo: Alex Meza

< Conferring over the c100 and Atomos gear.

Photo: Alex Meza

< Drones aplenty at the Aerial Cine event. The passion of the pilots and industry attendees convinced me that the #QUADthemovie documentary was in good hands.

< Test 1-2. Sipowitz. Sipowitz...

< Going handheld in the sponsor area.

#QUADthemovie Quadcopter Free Gear Giveaway - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!!!

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 02:38:00 +0000

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: J.B. O. wins the

Zenmuse H3-3D Gimbal

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING - JULY 22nd, 2014

GEAR LIST:
• Zenmuse H3-3D gimbal (open box) (JB O)
• GoPro Hero 3 camera (used, excellent condition) (Jason M)
• Black Pearl 7" monitor (new) (Rick V)
• DJI FPV System (open box) (Tobias B)
• Set of Tiger Motors (x4 engines - open box) (Drew P)
• Sandisk Class 10 Micros-SD card (64 GB) (new) (Chuck P)
• Hubsan X4-C Mini-Drone (new) (Ben)
• Polar Pro ND Filter (new) (Jason)
• Getterback Flotation device (new) (Brady K)
• DJI Phantom Propellers (1 CW, 1CCW) (new) (R.L.)
• #QUADthemovie swag

You can enter with email or social media via Rafflecopter.

SCORING:

You can enter by liking my fan page on Facebook, following me on Twitter, or sweetening the deal by sending out special #QUADthemovie tweets during the 3-week entry period (via Rafflecopter entry only).

Rafflecopter Entry System:
+1 = Tweet #Quadthemovie message (x1/per day for entire 20-day entry period)
+2 = Follow me on Twitter (x1 entry only)
+2 = Like me on my Facebook page (x1 entry only)
+5 = Tweet one of the best #QUADthemovie messages ever (x1 entry only)
+10 = Special "secret squirrel" info

E.g. Tweet-enter every day to increase your chances.

For more detailed information on how and why, please CLICK HERE.

Only tweets, likes and follows through the Rafflecopter entry system below will be accepted. Please follow the entry procedures. All winner data will be double-checked. All Twitter and FB accts must be valid.

I will announce the winners in a recorded live drawing video on Youtube or Vimeo on Friday July 25th. The winners are randomly selected by Rafflecopter.com. 18+ only. U.S. residents only. 1 prize per person per household. Cheaters will be disqualified. Please follow all local, state, & federal laws for raffles, and Rafflecopter's rules and regs.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: J.B. O. wins the

Zenmuse H3-3D Gimbal

All winners have been contacted. If your name is listed as a winner, and you haven't received notification, then please contact me (Deadline is Monday August 11th, 2014 to contact me for your prize). UPDATE (8/3/14): If you entered through FB, then your notification email was sent to the email linked to your account. I still have not heard from some of you regarding your prizes. You must contact me by the date listed above to claim your prize.

Thank you all for trying.

#QUADthemovie.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: Mike C. - You had the greatest number of entries, but you were unfortunately blanked on every draw. Just to show you that fate is not as cruel as you think, and to show you that the filmmakers of #QUADthemovie got your back, you win a Hubsan X4-L micro-drone. Congrats, man.

Mike C. photo used with permission.

One Person, One Vote: My Comment To The FAA Regarding Drones In Hollywood

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:18:00 +0000

The FAA wants to hear from you regarding model aircraft rules. Under current law, no American can make money from flying commercial drones of any size.

That needs to change.

If you fly a drone (e.g. DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter), please sound off. You have until July 25th, 2014 to make your comments known about the drones you love to fly.

DEADLINE JULY 25th:

Enter your comments to the FAA HERE.

Erlich Rules

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:44:00 +0000

Happy 4th Anniversary For Blog

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:14:00 +0000

Happy 4th birthday to the blog! Thank you for reading and participating in the DIY filmmaking evolution.

As a token of my appreciation for the support, I'm offering a free raffle for some great quadcopter gear via #QUADthemovie. Make sure you ENTER TO WIN a free Zenmuse H3-3D gimbal, DJI FPV system and more. Tweet-enter daily to increase your chances of winning.

Details HERE.

And again, A BIG THANK YOU for stopping by.

"The Bravest, The Boldest" Wins Audience Award at 2014 Nantucket Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 20:12:00 +0000

Congrats to director Moon Molson, and the rest of the #TBTB team for winning the Audience Award for best short film at the 2014 Nantucket Film Festival.

Read the Hollywood Reporter article HERE.

Follow the #TBTB Facebook page HERE.

FAA Restates Its Position On Hobby Drone Pilots

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 15:40:00 +0000

Yesterday, the FAA gave a big help to the R/C community, and drone pilots across the country, by reaffirming its position on hobby aircraft. They're operating with some transparency in hopes of easing the confusion by many newer pilots. If you're an FPV pilot, you need to pay attention.

Some quick bullet points (from FAA doc):

• These operating standards included restricting operations over populated areas, limiting use of the devices around spectators until after the devices had been flight tested and proven airworthy; restricting operations to 400 feet above the surface; requiring that the devices give right of way to, and avoid flying near manned aircraft, and using observers to assist in operations.

• With respect to UAS used as model aircraft, the FAA reiterated the operating guidelines in AC 91-57, and further noted that to qualify as a model aircraft, the aircraft would need to be operated purely for recreational or hobby purposes, and within the visual line of sight of the operator. The policy statement also clarified that AC 91-57 applied only to modelers and “specifically excludes its use by persons or companies for business purposes.”

• Under the terms of the Act, a model aircraft is defined as “an unmanned aircraft” that is “(1) capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere; (2) flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft; and (3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes.”

Here's the biggie, and the part that bans FPV goggles for hobby pilots:

• By definition, a model aircraft must be “flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft.” P.L. 112-95, section 336(c)(2).1 Based on the plain language of the statute, the FAA interprets this requirement to mean that: (1) the aircraft must be visible at all times to the operator; (2) that the operator must use his or her own natural vision (which includes vision corrected by standard eyeglasses or contact lenses) to observe the aircraft; and (3) people other than the operator may not be used in lieu of the operator for maintaining visual line of sight. Under the criteria above, visual line of sight would mean that the operator has an unobstructed view of the model aircraft. To ensure that the operator has the best view of the aircraft, the statutory requirement would preclude the use of vision-enhancing devices, such as binoculars, night vision goggles, powered vision magnifying devices, and goggles designed to provide a “first-person view” from the model. Such devices would limit the operator’s field of view thereby reducing his or her ability to see-and-avoid other aircraft in the area. Additionally, some of these devices could dramatically increase the distance at which an operator could see the aircraft, rendering the statutory visual-line-of-sight requirements meaningless.

Someone asked me on my Facebook page how I was able to shoot #QUADthemovie legally. First of all, I'm a member of the AMA, and I follow their guidelines for safety and legal issues. Second, #QUADthemovie was, and is, a hobby project. At the time of #QUADthemovie, I was in grief for the loss of a family member. I intended to travel, and find beauty along the California coastline. The quads just happened to come along, as part of my flight therapy. With the exception of hotel bills and food for my vacation, I spent very little on the production of the film.

Rob Stenger watches Quad

Additionally, safety was my number one concern while shooting #QUADthemovie footage. Many times I wouldn't fly a location if there were too many people wandering around. It was difficult finding locations that didn't have people, but we increased our chances of a deserted location by filming in the early mornings. We never flew around humans, children or animals, and were always respectful of others in our environment. Speaking of environment, we always tried to remove trash from a location as a way of thanking the location for giving us good images. This increased our positive karma flow. Unfortunately, we removed a lot of trash, and it was sad to see so much human trash and litter ruining an otherwise pristine spot. Please always leave your location better than when you arrived.

We never flew over 400' feet because it's extremely dangerous to commercial flight traffic. This is common sense. There's no need to fly over that height because you lose detail in your shot. Height? Distance? Who cares? I want beautiful shots!

We always flew with an FPV monitor, and not with FPV goggles. We were a 2-man team at all times (pilot & spotter with walkies), and frequently compared ourselves to Mav and Goose. It is perfectly legal, logical and acceptable to reenact macho TOP GUN volleyball scenes after flying. But, that was mainly Rob, as I simply did the Rick Rossovich pose ad nauseam.

For more safety & video tips from our experiences shooting #QUADthemovie, check out my Top 100 Quad Tips article.

Bottom line, the FAA is trying to help the DJI Phantom 2 pilots out there with a clear set of rules on hobbyist flying. However, with the exception of a foreign oil company that recently damaged our coastline, the FAA is STILL not allowing Americans to make taxable income in order to put food on our family.

UPDATE: Bike Racks 3 o'clock High - Fight! Fight!
"The AMA Cannot Support This Rule" - Response To FAA

IKAN FLY X3 Smartphone Gimbal Review

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:30:00 +0000

JB Quick Review: C+ = don't buy (see below)

After a very long wait, Ikan has finally released their new smartphone gimbal called "The Fly X3" smartphone gimbal. This is a 3-axis brushless gimbal stabilizer that will turn your iPhone (or Android) into a steadi-device for micro productions. I wanted to love this product. I was very excited to use it, and have been waiting many moons for a product like this.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to keep waiting. While this gimbal may be good for smaller productions, or stabilizing handheld interviews, it's not robust enough to be used (without frustration) in a professional setting. Certainly not for the $299 price tag they lump on this paper weight. Being the first to market is an exciting prospect for a fledgling monitor company like Ikan, but releasing a product that works out of the box is a priority to a consumer like me, over shipping speed. You get one shot with me, otherwise I'll push my dollars elsewhere. I'm a fan of Ikan. I own one of their monitors that I really like, so I trusted the brand would perform. That being said, it kinda worked. After every 4-second calibration process, there was a slight sloping or leaning, down to the right. I couldn't ever correctly calibrate the machine to fix this issue. Sometimes it worked, but most of the time the Ikan Fly X3 did not perform as advertised.

I hate being so negative on a product. But I was really wanting to love it, so it pained me to have so many issues. The Fly X3's battery charged quickly (within and hour or so), but the two thin wires to plug in the battery are prone to destruction when I apply my ape-like hands. Something more robust in the power cables would be an upgrade. I liked the blue "power on" light, and it is very simple to calibrate. The absolute best part of the gimbal is the phone holder. It's very snug, safe and you can access your home screen. I would consider the Ikan Fly X3 for half its current cost, but if you're looking for something more robust and reliable for professional video production, pass on this product in its current condition. I'm returning mine.

Ethics Statement: I own an Ikan 5" monitor, that I purchased in 2010. I purchased the Ikan Fly X3 smartphone gimbal. Ikan did not send me this product to review. Ikan does not sponsor me in any way, nor does this site accept any sponsorships.

DJI Lightbridge FPV System - "The Unboxing"

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:00:00 +0000

VIDEO: James Boyd's Quadcopter Gadget Review - Eps. 1 (Presented by #QUADthemovie)

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 14:05:00 +0000

The Hubsan X4 "Ladybird" Drone Has Arrived

noreply@blogger.com (James Boyd) — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 19:14:00 +0000

In addition to some awesome X4-C quad models, I just received the Hubsan X4 "Ladybird" micro-drone ($45). It is nearly identical to the X4-C model, except that it is slightly smaller in size, and has a smaller LiPo battery. Hubsan also makes a larger model, the $173 X4-D. I've been crashing them around my apartment for the last few days, so stay tuned for a full review.

My initial thoughts from the 659 crashes I've experienced so far are that these quads are a blast to fly, and are extremely durable. However, the video is lacking, and not really useable at a pro level, but it is fun to watch your near-misses (on microSD cards). I read these things can do flips in expert mode, so I'll try to work it into #QUADthemovie.