DC Metro Final Cut Pros

After spending most of 2008 raising funds, 19th & Wilson is pleased to
announce that Ghosts Don’t Exist is moving into preproduction phase (with
production slated for May of this year). Thus far, production locations will
be in the Metro DC area. Soon we will announce the date for casting calls,
which will most likely be in March.

We would like to thank Executive Producers Chris Cooley and James Mercurio
for their support, and Producer Tanner Cooley for his significant work on
championing the project. We also would like to recognize Tony Cord and
Chadleon Booker for their assistance and hosting a great 19W event.*

With the greenlighting now comes the time for us to being to finding crew.
We are looking for:

- Gaffers
- Grips
- Sound Engineer
- Personal Assistants
- Runners
- Assistant Director
- Data engineer for the Red One
- Production Designer

We are also looking for any DC Metro Area local businesses who would be
willing to donate or give a great discount on their products and/or
services.  We are in need of:

- Hotel rooms
- Food on the set
- Wardrobe
- Hair and Makeup
- Red One Camera & Equipment
- Lighting
- Generator
- Conference room or an Office Space

19th & Wilson is now accepting applications for the following crew members
on the upcoming film “Ghosts Don’t Exist”:
Director of Photography
Sound Engineer
Line Producer
Post Production Editing & Sound.

Please send us your resume and demo reel, if necessary, along with your
salary requirements for a 15-18 day shoot in the DC Metropolitan area to
contact@19thandwilson.com

Thanks,
19th & Wilson

Please send an email to contact@19thandwilson.com if you would like to be
involved.

Read the full press release at www.19w.com

Let them know you heard about this from the DCFCPUG.

I’ve been working with Mr. Mercurio and team on his Screenwriter’s Workshop coming to DC in April. The paid workshop will be 18-19 April. Location TBR.

Rodney
DCFCPUG

A “thank you” sale at digieffects is happening now through tomorrow. The company is celebrating “100% growth in 2008″ by offering the MegaSuite for $199 (usually $799) and the Aurorix/Berserk/Delirium bundle for $99 (usually $599).

FCP Plugins:  Recession-proof.

Here is a fresh batch of FCP plugins from across the Pond, care of Luca.

These additions were inspired by requests for certain effects, transitions or generators not currently included in FCP, as well as “the need to have specifically tailored effects for routine image control.”

These plugins are free, but donations would be appreciated and, as always, would inspire more plugins . . .

If you have a chance to use them, comment below and let everyone know what you think.

Here are two exceptional tutorials on primary and secondary color correction, courtesy of Director/Writer Eric Escobar and his PrepShootPost blog.  While both tutorials happen to demonstrate Red Giant’s Magic Bullet Colorista plug-in for FCP, don’t worry if (like me) you’ve never used Colorista.  The concepts translate seamlessly to FCP’s Color Corrector 3-way filter, and probably a slew of other CC tools or applications.  (That said, you may find yourself pining for a couple of Colorista’s added features, which are highlighted in the tutorials).

The Primary CC tutorial can be found here, and the Secondary CC tutorial here.  And take some time to peruse Eric’s web site, especially if you have any interest (as we all should, right?) in the “Prep” and “Shoot” – rather than merely the “Post” – aspects of filmmaking.

FilmFellas Cast 2 Trailer from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

This is a behind the scenes peek featuring influential and emerging new filmmakers who are making, creating and challenging the independent film scene and how we view entertainment. This is a four part series. The last one premiers on the 15th of February 2009… The next series starts in March so look for it in a separate posting.  You can also find them on iTunes; just search for Zacuto.

What are your thoughts on FilmFellas? Webisode 1,2,3 and 4 now posted:

                                                     Zacuto and Vimeo presents, FilmFellas

FilmFellas from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

 
FilmFellas – webisode 2 from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

 
FilmFellas – webisode 3 from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

FilmFellas – webisode 4 from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

Here’s what I like to think happened:  I posted a request for instructions on how to put together an animated heart-rate graphic in Motion on the Apple forums.  Producer/Editor Andy Neil responded with a step-by-step primer for Motion beginners.  I turned those steps into an illustrated tutorial (with Andy’s blessing).  Upon seeing my tutorial, Andy was inspired to put together a slightly more sophisticated video tutorial himself.

Here is what I think actually happened:  All of the above, except Andy had been working on his own tutorial for a while and was merely prodded to finalize it after I posted mine.

Here is what I hope didn’t happen:  Andy saw what a hack job I did, and felt compelled to post something more, uh, usable – to save poor FCP users, and his own reputation.

No matter how it happened, Andy’s tutorial is better in most every respect than mine.  First, it’s in video format, which is always nice.  Second, Andy has a better understanding of Motion and its capabilities, and presents those options clearly.  Third, his process gives you more control over the final graphic, which also looks better.

So, please check out his tutorial and look for more as he builds his site.

What did I learn from the tutorial?

1. How to more effectively use the Paint Stroke Tool.  (I had relied on the Bezier Tool because I didn’t realize how easily you could smooth out the initial freehand drawing).
2. How to batch-move keyframes in the timeline.  (Awesome time-saver).
3. That prodding more skilled artisans is sometimes the best service I can provide.  Uh, you’re WELcome, FCP users.