Nokia, Spike Lee call for Collaboration
(Photo: Nokia site)
Nokia and Spike Lee have an interesting promotion that asks the internet audience to collaborate in a mobile, multi-media mix of text, photos, video and music. The site itself is interesting to poke around, and can fill in the blanks on exactly how we creative masses are being asked work together. In brief summary, the assignment (per Mr. Lee) is as follows:
“Humanity is our central theme. Think about its meaning and how music tells our story. Over the course of production, there will be three Acts for you to interpret.
Shoot a photo or video that reflects the Act.
Produce a soundtrack to enhance someone’s Act.
Text in ideas for others to go out and film.
Upload your work and if you want, edit in other people’s submissions to create a full Act.
Vote for your favorite Acts. The winners will appear in the next Spike Lee Joint.”
It all seems a tad overwhelming, in no small part because the site is so polished compared to the amateurish media with which it will no doubt be inundated. But that aside, the concept is truly mind-blowing in scope and absolutely warrants further investigation. Maybe folks in this region can get their collaboration mojo working and put together a submission that will catch Spike’s eye.
DCFCPUG will be keeping our own eye on this as it (and our understanding of it) progresses. Act I (”Birth”) is already underway and closes in a few weeks, so check it out.
And please tell us what you think . . .
Re-Launch Reminder
REMINDER: DCFCPUG.org is closing in on re-launch! New logos, new web site, and a renewed eye towards local collaboration.
Look for updates and info in the coming weeks, including dates for a meeting near.If you would like to become a contributor to the new and improved DCFCPUG.org, now is the perfect time.
Do you have an idea for an article, how-to piece, or video tutorial?
Have you uncovered the perfect workflow for “roundtripping” in FCS?
Care to share how you get your PC and Mac to play nice when sharing files?
Are you a short-cut speed demon with secrets and skills to show-off?
Please drop us a line at contact@dcfcpug.org.We’d love to hear from you!
Final Cut World Tour 2008
Mark your calendars folks: The FCS World Tour hits DC on 6/03/2008 at the Westin Washington D.C. City Centre from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT.
For registration information, please go to: http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/tour/
(Photo: Apple web site)
According to the Apple announcement:
Beginning in May, Apple takes Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server — Apple’s new media asset management and workflow automation software — on tour around the world. Attend a free, in-depth seminar that features workflows used by some of the industry’s leading film and video production companies. Apple experts will give step-by-step demonstrations that reveal how each of these customers used Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server to achieve exceptional results.
Final Cut Studio 2 puts Final Cut Pro, Apple’s legendary editing software, at the center of an integrated post-production workflow that includes Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro 2, Compressor 3, DVD Studio Pro 4, and Color — an application for professional color grading.
Final Cut Server takes post-production to the workgroup, with tools that make it easy for creative teams to share assets and automate routine tasks. It includes check-in/check-out protections for Final Cut Pro projects and automatic status notifications that keep every member of the production team up to date.
Both Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server can easily scale to meet your needs, whether you work in a two-person production boutique, a post-production house, a feature film studio, or a global news operation. Find out more at the seminar:
Learn about the key features of Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server. View demos featuring real-world projects from leading post-production houses, creative agencies, Hollywood film studios, and broadcast television operations. See live demonstrations of Final Cut Server, including examples of how it works with Final Cut Studio. Visit our free Final Cut Solutions Pavilion, where you can talk to representatives of leading professional video companies and view demonstrations of solutions combining Final Cut Studio with third-party hardware and software. Space in the Final Cut World Tour fills quickly, so sign up today to reserve your seat.
Fairfax Apple Store - Grand Opening April 26
And now a little something for the NoVa locals: Your very own Apple Store in Fairfax, Virginia!
Here’s the address (and map link): 11750 Fair Oaks, Fairfax, VA 22033
And here’s what the Fair Oaks folks are offering:
“To celebrate our Grand Opening, we’re featuring a week of exciting events.
In our store, we’ll have a variety of unique and educational presentations,
demonstrations and workshops — all free of charge.”
And yes, that includes a free Apple T-shirt to the first 1000 people to visit the Apple Store.
So head West on the 26th.
(You might just spot the DCFCPUG team staking out the new digs for upcoming meetings.)
idustrial revolution
(Photo: Apple web site)
NAB isn’t just for announcements by the big boys (see Canon’s new camcorder). It is also to give the smaller vendors a Vegas-size stage to showcase their work. Here is a great site for the Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express and Motion artists: idustrial revolution.
The company is devoted to cranking out templates, elements and plugins for the FCP, FCE and Motion - some free and some commercial. We’ll be looking to test and review some of these in the coming months (probably the freebie pack 1, to start). If you have experience with them, please share!
Look for a free plugin called Coverflux (similar to Apple’s Coverflow Leopard feature), coming soon . . .
Canon Announces XL H1S at NAB
(Photo: Canon web site).
Canon added an “S” to one of its flagship 3-chippers and launched the XLH1S at NAB earlier this month. The updated camcorder boasts 20X zoom standard as one of several updates that were apparently driven by user feedback.
Here is a quick driveby of the features and enhancements in the new XLH1S:
Three 1/3in. CCDs
HDV tape transport
Interchangeable lenses
20x HD Video Zoom Lens III standard
Focus and zoom rings feature different texture for better control
New iris ring on the lens
Improved zoom control with more gradual “step in” and “step out” to help avoid “zoom shock”
Greater setting customization, Greater range for white balance control and gain
Extended control over zoom, including the ability to “creep” zoom up to 5 minutes
As for the body itself, the two biggest changes seem to be a new, sturdier six-pin FireWire port and the stripping of two XLR inputs. (Canon officials assert that most users couldn’t employ the XL H1’s four audio channels in their editing suite, so the new XL H1S offers only two.)
The XL-H1S will be available in mid May.
Final Cut Server Now Shipping
(Photo: Apple web site)
In general, Final Cut Server is a new media asset manager and workflow automation application for the FCP workflow. The interesting feature is that it is cross platform - its client works on Windows and Mac. The application is tailored to improve group workflow. Here are the main features to assess when thinking about purchasing this product.
Automatic Asset Cataloging
Rapid search, preview, and access
Workflow automation tools
Intuitive collaboration features
Seamless multi-format delivery
Flexible configuration options
Apple has designed this product to be customizable at every level - no canned workflow.
For a mere $999 for 10 concurrent users or $1999 for unlimited users, you too can have this capability today…
DCFCPUG.org: Countdown to Re-launch!
DCFCPUG.org has started its countdown to re-launch!
And YOU can get in on the ground floor!
We are in the process of re-designing the web site, re-organizing our content and re-energizing our staff. We’ve expanded management, and we are working to expand the base of editors and filmmakers in the DC Metro area that can participate in this project.
So, look for updates and info in the coming weeks, including dates for a meeting near you sometime soon.
IMPORTANTLY, if you are interested in becoming a contributor to the new and improved DCFCPUG.org, now is the perfect time.
Do you have an idea for an article, how-to piece, or video tutorial?
Have you uncovered the perfect workflow for “roundtripping” in FCS?
Care to share how you get your PC and Mac to play nice when sharing files?
Are you a short-cut speed demon with secrets and skills to show-off?
We will provide editorial assistance to help get your piece publication-worthy, promote any piece published to the site and, of course, give you credit for your work.
We are looking for artists and authors who are interested in either one-time contributions, or to join our project on a more frequent (perhaps permanent) basis.
To discuss joining as a contributor, please drop us a line at contact@dcfcpug.org.
We’d love to hear from you!