Inspired by this short film today. Enjoy.

As you may or may not know FCPX now supports multi-cam editing and it actually does it quite well; I’d say it’s even significantly improved over its predecessor, namely for the ability to choose to only cut video and leave the audio fixed. For quite some time I have relied heavily on PluralEyes to sync multiple tracks of video and audio clips in FCP7 and I have long-awaited the ability to use PluralEyes’ powerful tools in FCPX. It seems the day has finally come and I’m now even more impressed with both PluralEyes and FCPX.

If you ride a motorcycle you know there’s always something to tinker with, tweak, fix or adjust. In my opinion it’s one of the biggest joys of owning a motorcycle, that moment when you make your bike just a little bit better, just a little bit cooler, just a little bit faster. However, there is one common problem for me – that is, not having a work space or the proper tools to get the job done. What if there was a local shop stocked with all the right tools where I could work on my bike myself? That’s exactly what these two cool guys from Vancuver decided to do! Now we just need one here in Orange County. Somebody get on it….

Apple’s AirPlay Mirroring has been around since the iPad 2, allowing you to wirelessly stream your iOS device’s screen to a television through the Apple TV. But Macs have so far been left out of the picture, requiring long, ugly and inconvenient cables in order to connect to a TV. Until now, that is. Thanks to a new app called AirParrot, you can now mirror your entire Mac’s screen to your television through AirPlay and the Apple TV.

While AirParrot is a fantastic idea, it’s not quite perfect yet. I’ve speent a little time messing around with it and it seems it can’t output if you’ve password protected AirPlay on your Apple TV, it can’t display DRM-protected content, and it can’t prevent the Apple TV from going to sleep while mirroring. Streamed video also doesn’t always look great, as it doesn’t adapt well to the resolution of my TV. But I contacted AirParrot and they said they have some great improvements for their next release including audio steaming.

Despite its imperfections, AirParrot is a fantastic step in the right direction, and is available immediate for $9.99.

Every now and then I come across something that truly inspires me to become a better more thoughtful creative, something that reminds me to put intention behind every artistic decision and something that reinvigorates my belief that I should always strive to do my best work, always.

Stephen’s thoughtful process is so evident even in brewing a simple cup of coffee; his easy manner shows even with the stress such an elaborate production; his commitment to excellence is apparent in every detailed drawing, adjusted structure, selected fabric; it’s incredibly refreshing to see a renewal of craftsmanship in our generation after what seems years of mass manufacturing. Stephen’s work, lifestyle and process is truly beautiful and inspiring. Not to mention, I want to own the rad products he creates.

Could it be more hipster? I don’t think so…. but I don’t say that with any sort of negative connotation, I say “hipster” emphasizing the artistry in filmmaking and alignment with current trend seen in this short narrative. Highlighted by filmmakers collaborating with craftsmen to tell the truth about their process, this is the story behind The Process Collective. “Its people, its purpose, its heartbeat. From sketchpad, to final product.”

Be inspired!

When the new Final Cut Pro X launched, one massively important feature that Apple failed to include was the ability to import projects from FCP7. As far as I am concerned, this one lacking feature was Apple’s biggest offense with the release of FCPX. Most of our troubles are over with the 7toX app and the latest update to FCPX. This morning I spent a little time working with 7toX and it seems most of my projects migrate quite seamlessly – more so than the sequence seen in the video above. However I would like to clarify, FCPX is stil a ways off from completely satisfying editing professionals but this is clear evidence that there may be a positive future for FCPX. At this point, most of my entire workflow has switched to FCPX, so that in itself says it’s holding up to my professional workflow. However, I have had several conversations with other professional editors that prove a few remaining flaws that continue to keep them from stepping into a FCPX workflow.

Here’s to a nice step forward!

Yep, Final Cut Pro X FINALLY received a shiny new update today, outfitted with support for some of the things we were missing:

1. Multicam Editing
2. Chroma Keying
3. Ability to reconnect media
4. XML Support across color, effects and audio
5. Import from FCP7
6. And more…

Most importantly though is support for a new third-party plugin which lets editors import their sessions from legacy version of Final Cut Pro. Something I have had long lamented.

According to PC Mag, this new $10 plug-in, names 7toX, will take your old FCP sessions in the .EDL format and convert it to a compatible XML file, which Apple stands firmly behind.

Key to the app’s development, according to {Apple exec Richard Townhill], was the new plug-in API. “We wanted to make sure that we were building APIs for Final Cut Pro X that were richer and more powerful than what we had in previous releases. We’ve actually got a faster growing ecosystem than we’ve ever had before.”

The update is free and available now, along with 7toX. Now will you fanatics quit with the sobbing, at least a little?

Back their project on kickstarter.

The 50-Dollar Follow Focus’s Story…

All we wanted was an affordable way to adjust the focus on our DSLRs in a precise, repeatable manner. We wanted a device that performed solidly and intuitively and we didn’t want to spend a lot of money on it since we’d rather spend our hard-earned dollars on more lenses or food and beer for the underpaid crews on our low-budget shoots. But such a follow focus didn’t exist, until we made one, that is.

What better way to reinvigorate the joy of REAL books than to make an amazing stop motion video?! Also a shout out to my friend Elana Cherin for sending this video to me!

This is the first of three lighting tutorials created for philipbloom.net, Eve talks you through simple to advanced lighting setups that are easy to achieve and produce beautiful results. She explains simply, how to get the most from your existing lights and some quick tips to create a really impressive shot. In tutorial two Eve covers using budget lights from around your home and in tutorial three Eve explains how to light a green screen.

Eve is Director of Photography for The Underwater Realm, a series of 5 films set underwater being shot by a team of volunteers in the UK. Follow Eve on twitter @evehazelton.

It’s a smart phone based – 31 megapixel – wireless lens – full manual control – SLR quality – camera system? Could this really be possible? Is this the future of digital cameras as we know it? My eyes couldn’t hardly comprehend what I was seeing when I watched this video straight from the show floor of the annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). What do you think? Is this for real? Do you think this is where we’re headed? Post your thoughts comments below…

THIS JUST IN…. Sadly I just found out that this is just a concept camera not in actual production, see their website here: http://www.artefactgroup.com/wvil/

Can someone please tell me how in the world this shot was accomplished? My best guess is that the medicine cabinet is actually CG. But I dunno…. Post your brilliant ideas in the comments.

Ready to have your mind blown? Join Eelis Rankka, Tommi Salminen, and Jukka Pelttari on their fishing trip under Lake Saarjarvi in Vaala, Finland through this video. The adventure starts out pretty normally, with the fishermen walking along an ice floor. But soon, things start getting a bit surreal, and the viewer’s perception is forced to shift. Nothing makes sense until the end, when you realize that everything is an illusion. The effects are stunning and trippy all at the same time. Quick warning though, the end is cheesy compared to the rest…

Originally posted by GOOD http://www.good.is/post/intermission-fishing-under-ice/

‘The Christmas Story’, as told by the children of St Paul’s Church, Auckland, New Zealand. What a fun and whimsical way to tell the story of the birth of Christ through the eyes of a child. May this inspire you Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve at ROCKHARBOR is nothing short of amazing! What you’re seeing in this video is a team of more than 10 people moving shadow puppets behind the screen live on stage. What a visual masterpiece beautifully portraying the magnificent birth of Christ.

Merry Christmas!