Quintessential Studios' Weblog

Chris Hart, an L.A. area editor and shooter, sends out a regular email to his industry contacts met through various events. Usually you get one reminding you about upcoming events that he might attend and sometimes one after events he’s attended to share information from the event.

Both Chris and I attended the April LAPPG meeting and here are our email notes from it:

Chris Hart:
“At the LAPPG last night I learned a lot about all the latest digital cameras, a little of which I share below, and I won the Duck. That’s right, a free Automatic Duck plugin with which to translate all my FCP timelines into AE timelines with a keystroke. WHOOOOOO!!!! I’m still stoked, as you can tell.

…

“Aaron McNally of Moviola gave a breakdown of all the latest cameras. Here are various interesting tidbits from what he said: The RED camera, on which Knowing was shot, can use a 16G card that will store 9 minutes of its 4k footage; it can also use a DLT tape which can store more. It produces 32-bit raw files that probably require serious color adjustment. In a discussion of cards vs tapes, Aaron remarked that some cameras can record and transmit the data wirelessly to a capture device! No card OR tape! Also, some 2k and 4k cameras can simultaneously record a low-res proxie on an SD card.

“Panasonic’s HVX200, which uses P2 cards, is getting a fair amount of professional usage: studio footage in Dancing with the Stars and certain Biography channel docs use it. It records @ 480 but can enhance that signal to 1080 @ 100 mbs. On the other hand, Discovery channel requires all its docs to be shot with a 1920×1080 native 3cc camera or better. Project:Runway shoots with 10 cameras simultaneously, using the HVX900 DVCPRO50, which uses cassettes, at 24p. An HVX900 is a $20,000 camera.

“Wes Plate then spoke about Automatic Duck, which translates timelines from FCP to Avid or Avid to FCP or Avid or FCP to AE, depending on the plugin. An awesome product, which as I mentioned I now own. Sweeeeeeet!”

My reply:
“WTG Chris! I was there too but all I won was a mouse pad…. lol

“I’d like to add a little more to that camera part you wrote, Chris. Here’s something else that I learned from last night’s talk. This is in regard to the compression rates Aaron spoke of. He basically compared Sony to Panasonic (as well as others) but it went basically like this. Sony can capture at full 1080 but it compresses the file down to like 30mbs and you lose a lot that way. Panasonic HVX200 is like you said and you lose less with the 100mbs compression of the file, but it captures at a lower (res?) and computes the rest to make up the HD.

“So, either way you lose something, it just depends on where you want to loose it. He also said that the Panasonic Cine-gamma developers were really good and in the computing of color for your shot came up with some nice end results.

“That’s where RED is different because it doesn’t compute any color to save to the image. It’s just raw and you have to create the color you want in post. (basically) The other cameras have to compute to create the color data to save to tape/data card or what have you.

“Also, the wireless transmitter still has to send to some sort of recording device but that it’s not on the camera.

“The other part I learned was that sensor size, 1/3″ or “2/3″ etc. determines depth of field. The smaller the sensor the less depth of field there is and the larger the sensor, the greater the DOF. And RED with their “Big Ass” sensor has a depth of field like film cameras, very shallow. (Which I have heard at various RED demos too.)

“Sorry to get all technical on you. I just really learned a lot from that part of the talk and sure wish I had recorded it for future reference! I definitely will call Aaron up at Moviola if I need to know any camera specs!

“I’ll just add that Wes Plate was very cool and funny and I did learn a lot about FCP and Avid and AE workflows from him. Good stuff.

“Also, shameless plug here. I was on the Digital Production Buzz tonight, should be archived soon for all to hear. Read my blog to get more of the info I wanted to say: http://wordpress.quintessentialstudios.net”

LAPPG is the Los Angeles Post Production Group and they meet every second Wednesday of the month at Allied Post Audio in Santa Monica. RSVP is required as space is VERY limited.

P.S. Don’t forget to call HD Expo to get a 20% discount on one of their two upcoming P2 camps:
Either April 19-20 in Las Vegas or August 6-7 in Los Angeles. Info here: http://wordpress.quintessentialstudios.net/?p=44

Just finished listening to the Filmmaking Central pre-NAB podcast (available here: http://filmmakingcentral.com/fmc2/) and it got me thinking about MY list of things to see and attend at this year’s NAB.  (Note: you can still use the promo code for a free Keynote and exhibit hall pass: http://wordpress.quintessentialstudios.net/?m=20090418&cat=84.)

First and foremost is the FCPUG NAB SuperMeet.  I’ve attended almost all of the LAFCPUG meetings this last year and I learn something new at every one.  January’s Macworld FCPUG SuperMeet was “off-the-hook”.  I enjoyed it so much that I made plans immediately to go to NAB’s FCPUG SuperMeet.  

Honestly, since hearing that Apple and RED and Avid were pulling out of NAB, I had no reason to go to NAB but I still decided to go to the FCPUG SuperMeet.  I just hoped that there would be some way to go to NAB via free passes from somewhere and lo and behold, NAB themselves offered up free promo codes.  Thus I’m going to attend my first NAB.

Since NAB is fronting the $150 exhibit pass, you should treat yourself to something extra, like a Super Sessions pass or specified training.  There really is a TON to do the week of April 18-23.  Not only just the NAB events but lots of related external events and parties.  Like HD Expo/Createasphere’s P2 Camp! (Get 20% off.  Details are here: http://wordpress.quintessentialstudios.net/?p=44)

Don’t let the name “National Association of Broadcasters” fool you.  There is a lot more to the event than that.  There is gaming, mobile and filmmaking too.  Yes, even Indie filmmaking!

The Super Sessions include:

Monday, April 20

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Disney & Adobe: Reinventing the Boundaries of Storytelling
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Independent Filmmaking — A Million Dollar Look on a Thousand Dollar Budget: 2009 Edition
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Henry Selick: Blending Classic and Digital Techniques for a Timeless Experience
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Alternative Stereoscopic 3D Content: The Next Breakout Hit?

Tuesday, April 21

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Rob Cohen: In Defense of the Action Film
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Cool Gadgets, Hot Content
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Making of Battlestar Galactica: Or, How to Create a Dark, Desperate, Nihilistic Franchise in the Age of Comfort Food Television
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Mass Animation: Crowdsourced Creativity on the Social Networking Frontier
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Mobile Video Entertainment to Go

Wednesday, April 22

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Reality Check: The New Content Paradigmi
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Generations: Media Consumption Habits and Preferences
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Josh Schwartz: Creating in the New Media Landcape
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Personalized Content: Is It TV’s Next Given?

In addition to exhibits, there are a lot of other free NAB things to do.

There are book signings.  The book signings I recommend are:

Monday, April 20
12 – 12:30 p.m.
Larry Jordan Edit Well: Final Cut Studio Techniques from the Pros
2 – 2:30 p.m.
Norman Hollyn The Lean Forward Moment: Create Compelling
Stories for Film, TV, and the Web
3 – 3:30 p.m.
Stu Maschwitz The DV Rebel’s Guide: An All-Digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap

Stu will also be speaking at: Independent Filmmaking — A Million Dollar Look on a Thousand Dollar Budget: 2009 Edition Super Session

The complete book signing schedule is here:
http://www.nabshow.com/2009/attendee/booksigning.asp

My personal itinerary:
Monday, April 20:
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Independent Filmmaking — A Million Dollar Look on a Thousand Dollar Budget: 2009 Edition
2 – 2:30 p.m. — Book signing: Norman Hollyn The Lean Forward Moment: Create Compelling
Stories for Film, TV, and the Web
3 – 3:30 p.m. — Book signing: Stu Maschwitz The DV Rebel’s Guide: An All-Digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap
4:40 – 5 p.m. — Anthony Artis – Down and Dirty Filmmaking Crash Course” (FCPUG SuperBooth)
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. — NABTweetup (Luxor)
7 – 10 p.m. — MediaMotion Cafe (Money Plays)

Tuesday, April 21:

10 – 10:30 a.m. -– Rick Young – Affordable HD Overview (FCPUG SuperBooth)
11:20 – 12 p.m. -– Rob Birnholz – Building a Broadcast Promo in After Effects CS4 (FCPUG SuperBooth)
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. — Cool Gadgets, Hot Content
2 – 2:30 p.m. -– John Flowers – How Fast Are You, Really? (FCPUG SuperBooth)
4:30 – 11 p.m. — FCPUG NAB SuperMeet
One of the items on the agenda that I am most interested in seeing is:
Wounded Marines Careers Foundation
The current class from the Wounded Marines Careers Foundation in San Diego returns to the SuperMeet to show off thier latest video. I read about this foundation last year and it is amazing!

Wednesday, April 22

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Final Cut Studio Class by Promax (Palazzo)
3 – 11 p.m. — Reduser Party (Rio)

Interspersed among these days, I will also be visiting the FCPUG SuperBooth (#SL10129 in the South Hall) as they will be having all kinds of cool demos there. Also, hanging out at the ProMAX Digital Lounge, visiting the Digital Production Buzz booth and the Birns & Saywer booth (Central Hall C-3447), not to mention trying to see all the other exhibitors’ booths. This is going to be SOME event!

Hope to see you there!

This event is free & open to the public. No reservations necessary; seating is first-come, first-served.
Bring your questions for the audience Q&A to follow the discussion!

Click for more information.

With World Renowned Sound Designer Sandy Berman

Tuesday, April 28th
7-9PM @ Video Symphony
266 E. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank
FREE 

This month we’re proud to have Sandy Berman, a world renowned sound designer who has spent the last 25 years literally redefining the art of sound in motion pictures. Unless you’re enrolled in our Pro Tools Program, you probably don’t get very many chances to gain insights into the often-neglected but immensely important world of sound design– so don’t miss this opportunity to hear from an audio pro. 

Sandy Berman is responsible for some of the most innovative and creative uses of the medium in a wide variety of films such as “THE PRINCESS BRIDE”, “GET SMART“,“BEDAZZLED“,“SCARY MOVIE“,“DOUBLE JEOPARDY“,“ANALYZE THIS“,“ALADDIN“,“TOMBSTONE“,“HOT SHOTS!“, “JAWS 3“ & “JFK“ (for which he received the British academy award) to name but a few.

He just completed sound design work on the feature films, “OBSERVE & REPORT” & “PUBLIC ENEMIES” and he also was the picture editor on John Mellencamp’s new video “A RIDE BACK HOME”.

He has provided the sound design for the theater productions of “INTO THE WOODS” & “THE WAY OF THE WISEGUY” written & directed by “Crash” writer Bobby Moresco.

Sandy is also an accomplished musician who has played & recorded with a diverse list of artists such as Bruce Springsteen, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Hall & Oates, Junior Walker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Duane Eddy & even “Weird Al” Yankovic .

He serves on both the Executive Committee & the Rules Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences & is a past president of the Motion Picture Sound Editors. He currently lives in Los Angeles. 

“Pizza & Post” is a great opportunity to gain new insights, ask a few questions, network with your post-production peers, and as always, eat a lot of pizza.

What: Sprockets to DI – A Candid Discussion about Feature Post Production

When: April 30, 2009 7:15 PM

Price: $5.00 per person

Where: Click the link below to find out!

Meetup Description: Please join us at the next Get Lit event which promises to be informative and exclusive. I say exclusive because the members who actually show up to this event will get to hear candid and true stories from big budget Post Production Supervisors who are working with A-List directors and other talent. They have graciously offered to share some of their trade secrets on what it takes to finish a film for all types of distribution and the ways you can save money when working with a Post Supervisor.

It has been taught in many different ways that the best way to control your post-production budget is by preparing for the delivery requirement in pre-production. But how do you budget for a 35mm filmout if you don’t know whether or not you will get a theatrical release deal? How much does a digital intermediate cost nowadays and what are the pitfalls with distribution if I shoot digital? If I spend $1000 a week on a post supervisor during production will it save me that much money or more on the delivery requirements when I sell my film? These are the questions I plan on asking and I hope you are as serious as I am about attending this event to get the real answers.

Free parking on Sunset Blvd after 7:00pm
The $5 dollars goes toward food and drinks and I guarantee your hunger for food and knowledge will be satiated.

Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/GetLit/calendar/9903248/

http://www.nabshow.com/2009/eventInfo/schedule.asp

The countdown to the 2009 NAB Show has begun, and I’m sure you’re busy gearing up for yet another exciting year!

The passcode that will give you free access to the opening keynote and the exhibit hall is still good and will save those who register online $150! 

Here’s the information for you again:

Free Exhibits Passport Code: TP01
This pass includes access to the exhibit floor and the opening keynote – a $150 value.*  Please pass along and visit http://nabshow.com/passport to redeem!

*One thing to note – the passcode can also be used when registering on-site; however, there is an additional $20 fee that will be charged.

This year and especially in this environment, the NAB Show may have more impact than ever before.  At a time where businesses everywhere are seeking some positive momentum, this is an event that helps provide it.  With the help of industry influencers like you, we’re driving real BUSINESS – over $50 billion in sales!

Okay so I was just on the Digital Production Buzz with Larry Jordan and Michael Horton.

It’ll be archived for anyone that wants to listen to it here: http://digitalproductionbuzz.com/Archives/

Here’s what I wanted to say but couldn’t quite get out in six minutes:

How do we find bargains for our editing studio equipment?

That’s a great question!

Well Larry, I want to discuss how Seminars, expos, user group meetings and the Internet add value to your edit suite.

The first thing is Knowledge.  The more you know about the items you need or want to buy the better able you are to make wise decisions when it comes time to actually make a purchase.  

For example, before I ever bought a mac or final cut pro, I first researched what editing program I wanted to use.  I talked to filmmakers I knew, I spent many, many hours researching both Final Cut and Avid on the Internet.  Having decided what program I was going to eventually use, I still didn’t buy the program.  I looked for classes on Final Cut and found that my local community college had one and I took it.  It was in that class that I actually learned what other components I would need for a studio.  

But still I was patient.  I didn’t have the money to buy a mac, yet alone Final Cut Pro but I continued to learn more and more about each.

That’s the second point, patience.  I believe that you can get pretty much anything you want at the price you want, if you’re patient enough and you are diligent in looking.  I once bought a tape lecture called “Everything is Negotiable”.  You know what?  I never listened to the lecture.  The title was enough for me.  I just go about life with that idea.  Everything is negotiable, you can get what you want if you are patient and put yourself in the position to find it.

Did you ever look for a four-leaf clover as a kid?  You know what? You won’t find one if you don’t look.  I looked and lo, I found one.  Not everytime, but I’ve found a few and that is what finding a deal on a piece of equipment is like to me.

You gotta know what your looking for, be patient and actually look!

(A little more on knowledge: Overall knowledge of your subject can always be improved and for me, I spend a lot of time going to Expos [like HD Expo/Createasphere], Seminars, Meetups, User group meetings [like LAFCPUG], and I most always learn something new.  In fact, I was surprised that I knew more about the Silicon Images’s SI-2K camera than a Moviola camera rental rep, last night.  All because I had just seen it demoed and talked about at another event, two weeks ago. Of course he knew a LOT more about EVERY other camera out there and a TON about compression and data rates of the different cameras and so, I did learn things from him.  But the point I want to make here is raffles and door prizes!   For example, in the last year I’ve won over $1700 in software and training DVDs just by going to LAFCPUG meetings!  I buy $10-$20 worth of raffle tickets each time I go but the education I get each night is worth that alone!!!)

NOW that’s all very nice but the next obvious question is WHERE to look.

Where do we look to find bargains?

I’m going to just talk about Internet sites to go to tonight but you can expand on these to other resources in your own local areas.

First, an easy one is EBAY.  I bought a $5,000 camera with an additional $4,000 worth of accessories on ebay from a director in TX for $5670 shipped.

Directors and Independent producers buy things sometimes instead of renting and then sell off the equipment after the job is done.

Some people are affraid to buy on ebay and I understand that fear but I did an experiment once with ebay and I almost lived entirely off of it.

I found my house, store front, car, moving truck and sold stuff off of ebay as my sole income for a year.  I’ve been a power seller three times over.  I just could not find groceries on there!!!! hahaha

Sure it was still scary sending $5,000, plus, to someone I’ve never met, but I did some things before-hand to settle my mind: I called the seller, we had many conversations before I committed to the buy.

The next is craigslist.org. This is an amazing resource.  One thing though that I’d like to mention about buying software and goods on ebay and craigslist.

Don’t buy pirated software or stolen goods.  If it’s really TOO good of a deal, then it’s probably one of the above.  Don’t do it.

That’s my third point, Ethics.  I did eventually buy my first Mac and FCP but the only way I would was if the SW was ligit.  I repeat, THE ONLY WAY I WOULD.

Call it Karma or whathaveyou but what goes around comes around and if you are out there always doing good, good things (and deals!) will come your way.  

If you’re into stealing, prepare for a tough life, Man!

Hey, I want to make my living with movies so I’ll never ever download pirated movies.  You know what I mean? That’s just Bad Juju!

Now on craigslist is where I bought my first Mac, it was a G4 but not only was it a Mac that had ligit Final Cut Pro studio ONE but I bought, practically a whole studio’s worth of equipment from an independent studio in Hollywood.  The original bill for the setup, which he had with all recepits was like $50-60,000.00
 and would you like to guess what I paid for it?  $1500.

Now that isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime deal, I’ve seen whole setups go for free.  You just have to be on the lookout for ‘em.

The thing that gets me is having to pass on deals. I passed on a NEW Mac-Pro with Final Cut Studio and 4Gs of Ram for $1000.  That one bothered me, still does.

But I know that if there was that kind of a deal once, that it can happen again.  So I bide my time, mwah-hah-ha!!!

Couple more points, social networking.  I just bought an HV30 and Redrock M2 35mm adapter and handheld kit with a canon lens off a twitter “friend” for $1000 shipped.  That’s like getting a free HV30 and Redrock Micro micro Shoulder Mount.  Can’t complain about that!

So to review:  Knowledge (know what you’re buying), patience (be willing to wait to get it), ethics (karma, Man!), networking (Really this means communication, get to know people) combined with raffles, door prizes, SWAG and eBay and craigslist.

If I’m going to buy a book online, I look at at least three places (Amazon, ebay, half.com, and maybe buy.com) I most definitely will Google it.  Yeah, don’t forget Google is your friend, from computer problems to finding deals, use Google liberally!

On top of all of this, you’ll probably find work.  I don’t think there is anything, editing equipment-wise, that I have bought that hasn’t also lead to a conversation about what I do and an eventual contact for future work.  After all who’s selling editing equipment?  Editors! or their bosses!

I started the day by looking at a “live” event production truck. A great deal, but it’s mostly standard definition equipment. I’m still considering it but I have to justify the costs. Maybe someone will partner up with me.

Next, I met up with a twitter contact who was in town from Baltimore, http://stratatekstudios.com. I met with Charlie Anderson. He was in L.A. for a couple reasons, a shoot for Under Armour and a premiere of a feature he shot. We exchanged stories or how we got into what we’re doing and where we want to end up. Check out his work and hire him if you need a DP or RED tech.

Next I was off to Allied Post Audio in Santa Monica for their monthly LAPPG meeting. Woody there runs a top notch shop and has an awesome post production meeting. It’s by RSVP and limited seating, so you have to be quick or you won’t get a spot.

I arrived early to volunteer and help setup for the event. Jesse, an intern there, who is going into USC’s Directors Master Program, (now there’s someone you should get to know, was there and he explained what he was up to. It was nice to get a young perspective of the industry. Quite refreshing. Also there were Candice and Wendy. All great people.

Soon Wes Plate, founder of Automatic Duck arrived and I explained that I had so many of his keychains that I felt obligated to follow him on Twitter.com. He said to check out the video on the site about how they’re made. It’s here: http//www.automaticduck.com/keychains/ , well it’s supposed to be

Wes gave a great presentation on all their products. I learned a lot about Avid, FCP and AE workflows.

Before he went on, Aaron McNally from Moviola presented and I learned a LOT about compression and video capture of cameras. Really wish I would have recorded that presentation. It was that good.

Before the presentations and during the breaks and after the meeting I meet the following great people:

Von Thomas, of Digital Tech NYC/LA a new Red One owner and renter of such.
Kent Luck, independent editor
Jay Miracle, editor of Hearts of Darkness documentary — BTW, Jay is looking for a great titler for a non-profit gig, an hours work. Let me know if you’re interested….
Heather Konkoli, Producer of TV Guide Channel’s InFANity show.
and David Buller, a promo editor for Fox TV.

Tuesday night I met Marty over at Brins & Sawyer. She’s great too.  I highly recommend their store!  Service is awesome.

Hi All,

I hope everyone is doing well.  This Thursday, I’ll be on The Digital Production Buzz, a video production, post production and distribution  podcast.

http://digitalproductionbuzz.com/LiveThisWeek/

There’s a live on-line chat during the show too.

So tune in!

My first introduction to Larry Jordan was a just over a year ago at the March 2008 LAFCPUG Meeting when Larry gave a “Converting HDV to ProRes 422 – and why you want to” demo. It was a fantastic demonstration and communicated clearly and precisely. Larry’s communication skills carry over to a variety of media.

Larry is the quintessential FCP guru having authored a few books on the subject and countless tutorials and articles. He puts out a monthly newsletter STUFFED with Final Cut Pro and related information. (Sign up for his newsletter here: http://www.larryjordan.biz/nxlttrs.html.) He also is the voice of the Digital Production Buzz, a weekly podcast on digital production, post production and distribution.

Larry Jordan travels the world with his Power Up with Final Cut Pro seminars and they grow every year. Luckily for us in Southern California, he spends a lot of time here and there are a lot of classes to attend. If you’re looking for a class to take on FCP, I would highly recommend you check his class schedule here: http://www.larryjordan.biz/training/index.html) and find one to attend. In fact, if you’re not 100% satisfied, there is a money-back guarantee. You can’t beat that! If you can’t make one, maybe order a DVD or book.

The worth of the Digital Production Buzz has been noticed by NAB and they are the official podcast for NAB. You can (should be able to) get them below:

NAB News Briefs (April 18-23, 2009)

Digital Production Buzz

BuZZ Shows (Ongoing)

Digital Production Buzz