Andrew Kimery

HDV and HD are not the same thing. If you want to cut HDV you can either purchase FCP 5 when it comes out or follow the workflow discussed in the link in my previous post. Andrew

FCP 4 doesn't recognize the HDV format (although the just announced FCP 5 does). Hit this place for your options. dvinfo.net That camera always shoots 1080/60i, IIRC. It has different shooting "looks" (like cineframe 24) but all they are are electronic filters manipulating the image, not a true change in framerate. -Andrew

Saying that projected films NEVER go down in such a way that an audience leaves seems to imply that projected films ARE bullet proof. And, like I said before, I've personally been in a situation where a theater was basically cleared due to proejctor/film issuses. If it had been a Saturday afternoon instead of opening night I think the entire theater would have left. John Sprung, I can't find the link, but there was an interesting article in Wired talking about organized piracy and how many (most?) pirated movies and albums are an inside job. And the payoff isn't $$$ but "street cred" basically. It was very interesting. If I can find it again I'll post it. Andrew

Blast! I just saw the article and came over here to post it. Too slow though... Andrew

I've never personally seen a situation where everyone had to go home, but I've seen a situation where most people chose to go home 'cause 20 minutes later the film wasn't fixed yet. I was w/some friends opening night of Star Trek: First Contact and most of theater left. I guess only the hardcore geeks stayed. :D At least I got 2 free movie passes out of it. I've also been in a situation where there was a film break and, for whatever reason, they started the movie at the beginning of the next scene (so we missed like 5 or 8 minutes of the film). Again, opening night of a Star Trek film (Generations), but no one left 'cause 1. it was geeks only and 2. it only took about 5-10 min to "fix" (I say "fix" 'caused we missed part of the show). I'm sure projecting film is more reliable than digital at this point in the game, but film is far from bullet proof. Lethal

Zipping around on a scooter has always seemed like an invitation for disaster, IMO. But people on motorcycles do have it a bit better than those in cars. Parking is easier and when the traffic starts to snarl they just motor by between the lanes. Andrew

Last summer there were mountain lion sightings/warnings in Griffith Park. -Andrew

I thought BWP was shot on a mix of film and video. Andrew

"Security through obscurity" is only part of the reason Mac users suffer so little compared to Windows users. If the roles were reversed would their be more virii for OS X? Of course, but it wouldn't be as bad as Windows is currently. MS is not the leader in the web server market, but they suffer the most attacks. If fame is gained by causing the most damage why is MS the biggest target even though it's not the biggest player? Do people really hate MS that much? Or are the holes in MS software that much bigger/more plentiful? Maybe a bit of both? I'm sure there are a ton of Apple-haters that would love to show Jobs w/egg on his face by creating a virus that would run wild thru the Mac world, but that's yet to happen. Excuses aside the current reality of the situation is that an off-the-shelf Mac will survive a lot better than an off-the-shelf PC in terms of spyware, malware, and virii, unless that PC gets a lot of TLC. It's one reason I've started gravitating away from my Win2k box towards my Panther box for web browsing and the like. Tinkering for a hobby is fun. Tinkering 'cause malware fouled your system just plain sux. -Andrew

As a relatively new LA transplant I'll toss in my two cents. For a 1 bedroom apartment in a "neutral" area (not bad, not good either) expect to pay a $1000 a month (finding a flatmate or 2 can really, really help out on rent). Hollywood isn't nearly as bad as it was 3+ years ago. Lots of new development is happening there, but I wouldn't call it a "nice" area (although it another 2-3 years it could be). Los Feliz borders Hollywood on the East and is kind of artsy/bohemian<sp?> kinda 'hood. Trendy, but not in a bad way. West Hollywood is pretty much a nice area AFAIK (I don't venture that far west too often). I live a bit south of the Hollywood/West Hollywood border. My 'hood is nice and I feel safe walking pretty much any where in/around the Santa Monica Blvd/La Cienga Ave/Beverly Blvd/La Brea Ave "box" I live in. It's not exceedingly expensive, but parking (95% on street) is a royal PITA. I have lots of places w/in walking distance (malls, theaters, grocery stores, bars, resturants, etc.,) of my apartment, but having a car is still a must. I'm lucky in that my typical work commute is only 25min or so each way (I work in North Hollywood). I have some friends that live in Burbank and North Hollywood (in the Valley on the other side of the Hills from Hollywood) that like it, but it feels too suburban to me. Living on this side of the Hills I feel more like I'm living "in" LA. I used to live closer to Griffith Park which was nice 'cause I could hike at the drop of a hat. Now it has to be more of a planned event. Anyway... To each there own though. As some one else said, LA is big enough for everyone. If you like it LA has it (aside from clean air, of course ;)). -Andrew

I agree w/Phil. The cameras of the day probably influenced the look of the video more so than the recording medium. You also have to keep in mind that image degradation<sp?> and/or restoration could contribute to the look of the video you see today (i.e. "fresh" footage shot w/tube cameras and recorded onto 2" video tape might look different than footage that's been sitting around for 20-30 years, and possibly re-mastered to a newer format, before being transfered to the DVD you have in your living room). And you are correct in assuming that 2", and 1", videotape are reel-to-reel. And, useless piece of info here, there is some guy that works at some TV station somewhere in Oklahoma that still uses 1" for b'cast purposes (at my previous job it was the one and only time someone requested 1" as the final delivery format). -Andrew

Probably. A couple of kids died immitating<sp?> a scene from "The Program" were football players laid between lanes on a highway (IIRC this scene was pulled from the movie while it was still in the theaters). If the dragging scene is "key" to the film, can it be done w/dummies? Do tight CU's of your actors (shallow DOF too) being pulled by hand laying on a skateboard or something and do wide shots w/homemade dummies being dragged behind the car. Andrew

No offense Jim but it doesn't look like you want a discussion just a fight. You've made up your mind, no outside ideas are entertained, and this thread was started just to whine/complain about how stupid HD is and how stupid people are who use it. Reasons why Lucas used HD (IMO): First, he has an obvious history of pushing the technical side of movie making (the ground breaking FX of the first films, the Edit Droid & Sound Droid, THX, ILM, Skywalker Sound, etc.,.). Secondly, he obviously believes that digital has a place in cinema and is willing to be an early adopter to help the new tech along thru it's growing pains. Reasons why no "significant" films/so few films have been made on HD: Well, first off you make 5 years sound like a long time and like every previous jump in tech (be it talkies, color, CG, or digital editing) was completely effortless and an instant success. Secondly, people have lots of time, money and experience in 35mm and don't neccisarily<sp?> want to learn/invest in something new. Especially something that is a completely new beast such as HD. I haven't seen anyone in this thread say HD is "bloody fantastic" but I have seen people disagreeing w/yer opinion that it's akin to a steaming pile of 20yr, old 6th gen 3/4". ;) Again, no offense, but everything I've said seems pretty obvious and it makes me wonder why you started this thread at all... Andrew