DC Metro Final Cut Pros

Courtesy of our DCFCPUG friends at :

The handle attaches to a quick release plate to which we occasionally mount a gyro stabilizer. This solution works very well and no longer requires the operator to touch the camera to trigger video recording. Instead, just a small thumb press and the camera blinks to life.

This was built specifically for a Canon T2i, but would also work with a 7D and 5Dmk2. Total parts cost about $10.

Enjoy,

Rodney Mitchell
DCFCPUG Leader and Apple Ambassador

Behind the Scenes on Lucasfilm’s Red Tails with the Canon DSLRs from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

For those that participated on the crew of the feature film – “At the Top of the Pyramid”, the pace and set sounds in the video will bring back memories… The cameras they  used were the Canon 5DmkII, the modified for PL mount lenses, Canon  7D from Hot Rod Cameras and the Canon 1DmkIV.

Excerpt from the article:

The major issue we had with the Canons was the monitoring issue. These cameras are still cameras first and foremost and that causes many issues, one of the biggest is they all use a mini HDMI as it primary video out, which also causes the camera LCD to shut off.  We experimented with using powered HDMI splitters to feed both the Marshall monitors for my focus puller and myself but also for video village. This was not very successful at all for our purposes. For a small crew using the excellent Jag35 splitter we used would have been fine but we had to go a different more pro route. So what we ended up doing was using a Blackmagic HDMI to HD-SDI convertor. This required different monitors as our Marshalls were HDMI only but it did mean it slipped into the video village feed so much easier than before.

This I have to say is essential in any serious production. Dump the HDMI and go HD-SDI, HDMI is a not a pro connection systems and suffers because of it. It just is not robust enough. The big issue we had with the 5DmkII (the 7D and 1DmkiV were unaffected) was that when you hit record then the image drops from 1080i to 480p making using the monitor for focus a major issue and also caused about a 7 second black image for the director in video village. Not great. The new firmware for the 5DmkII has not rectified this issue.

I have to agree with Phillip as we found on the set of “At the Top of the Pyramid”, HD-SDI was the way to go for the video village setup.

Video Village for the LucasFilm – RED TAILS project!

LucasFilm - Red Tails feature film: Video Village

Enjoy Phillip Bloom’s experiences on the set of RED TAILS.
Full story on Phillip’s site…

Video optimized for the iPad

While on this latest feature film production, we experimented with the use of an iPad for dailies.

We found this article provided a useful method for encoding video optimized for the iPad.

Credit: Ken Stone’s Final Cut Pro Web Site

Author: Richard Taylor

Principle Cisco design thoughts in keeping your IP based video network running optimally…
I’ve experienced the issues highlighted in this lesson and its hard to find and resolve but it gets at the root cause of the issues described in a workflow.

Hope the filming of “At the Top of the Pyramid” has a successful month of shooting in Northern Virginia this month!
Shooting is scheduled to begin next week.

Good luck Cirina, IZEK, and Richard and team… I know you will do well!

Rodney Mitchell
DCFCPUG Leader

This is public information on the Mandy.com site so I a relaying it here on DCFCPUG for our membership to see and respond to if interested…

All Production Crew-ALL DEPTS with Slamgate Productions

Apply to: Robert Brooks

(Fairfax – USA Dist. Columbia), 6/1/10 for 30 days. Movie Production CREW Wanted!!! June 1, 2010 – July 1, 2010 Fairfax County, VA SLAMGATE PRODUCTIONS, LLC is seeking production crew for PAID POSITIONS in ALL DEPARTMENTS (Camera, Sound, Lighting, Electric, Art, Location, etc) for a movie shoot starting June 1, 2010.
You will have the opportunity to work on a professional production set, working closely with veteran Hollywood filmmakers.

Film Project: AT THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID: Family, Friendship, Cheerleading Duration: 1 Month

• Start date: June 1st
• End date: June 30th
• Application Deadline: Immediately!
• Compensation: Negotiable. Based Upon Experience.
• Requirements: * College and/or short film and/or low budget independent film experience
• Very reliable and eager
• Willing to listen and learn
• Punctual
• Strong Integrity Perks * PAID POSITION!!
• Food will be provided during days on set

* Name will be listed in the credits If interested, please contact us at: pyramidprods@gmail.com

In the subject line of your email, please include the following:

ATTENTION: CREW POSITION- (department and title)- [Your First and Last Name]

Include in your email all contact information, especially your cell number and CURRENT direct email address. Not the school or work email address.]

What to include in your submission: * Resume
* Any additional materials (ie, work samples) with your submission such as hs/res
* Availability Dates (if there are conflicts within the 30 days)

YOU WILL BE CONTACTED IF YOU ARE SELECTED.

Good Luck!

Rodney Mitchell
President and Apple Ambassador
Washington DC Final Cut Pro User Group
http://www.dcfcpug.org

For all members and guests who MISSED the May DCFCPUG event… you missed a treat!!!

However, we have the teaser now posted to share with the world on DCFCPUG and YouTube!

Teaser trailer for “Runway Racers,” an action documentary about the secretive and glamorous sport of airport runway racing. It was a privilege to be on the ArrowTen crew for this event. Looking forward to seeing the DVD come out soon.

Produced by ArrowTen Media and ExoticsRally.com.

Rodney Mitchell
DC Final Cut Pro User Group Leader