Jonathan Bryant

Yeah by the way how much will the Full size HD 2/3rd inch chip P2 cameras cost? (I.E. P2 Varicam)

Are you sure it was a Varicam? On Panasonics webpage for the Varicam it says " Recording Format DVCPRO HD (720/60P, 720P/59.94P)" Nothing about 1080i 50. Could you have mistaken Panasonics 1080i camera http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/s...Model=AJ-HDX400 for a Varicam?

Patrick nice website! Definately not any VHS material on there. How do you get that high key chearful lighting on all the Kraft product commercials?

Yeah more people will see it if he films them, but hey they are out in public view the wife could just as well see it. Doesn't sound like a good marriage anyways. This reminds me of what commedian Chris Rock said "Men get caught cheating with their wifes best friend in town. Women don't get caught because they go out of state on a business meeting or a trip with the girls (wink wink) and cheat with some guy her husband will never know" Both of course wrong though

Yeah it amazes me that if you go with a professional 35mm or betacam to film some location like a Airport and they consider you are a terrorist or something. Wouldn't the terrorist carry an inconspicuous camera. Heck you can now get satelite photos of almost anything. What about cameraphones. I think they should treat you just like any person with eyes who can take a mental picture. Unless of course you are using lights. I don't expect them to accomodate you with 2 10k HMIs,or etc... Also I can understand them wanting to scan your equipment for weapons. But is the consensus that you can't film in airports without permission because Homeland Security? Even though I have friends in the security industry, I think the whole 9/11 thing worked like the terrorists wanted it to by crippling our country into a high security zone with fewer freedoms. I would even goto say that the added security doesn't hassle the right people and so for the most part it is useless.

I have also read in Millimeter that they felt that the b and w film made zits and other skin imperfections to noticeable. From what I understand they took out some of the red channel to make skin imperfections to go away. And the lower contrast helped smooth the faces. Another note is that Clooney shot alot of this movie using two cameras saying he hates using one and redoing the lines for different angles. Haven't seen it yet, looking forward to it. Looks like a good storyline and B and W is just kewl. Though I hope it is better than another actor turned dirrector movie I saw recently "Million Dollar Baby" After seeing that I am now less likely to watch movies directed by actors. I like what Hitchcock said "I never said all actors are cattle; what I said was all actors should be treated like cattle. "

I applogize David, I was just reporting what IMDB said in the Tech specs section of Empire Strikes Back. Now I will have to wonder if the other information on that site is correct.

There is always a big difference between 1/3rd inch chips and 2/3rds inch chips. A Sony Z1 res doesn't compare to a HDW700 HDCAM. And f8 at 2000lux is a bigggggg difference than f11 or f13 at 2000lux Dude. I want to see both the footage and the specs. But the specs count too. I find it alittle odd that they send out literature that doesn't have the full specs, and a video without ANY footage from the camera. I even think they could come down on the price some more. My thought is this, The video production industry is small in comparision to average american consumers. Why doesn't SONY,Panasonic, and JVC cut prices on HD equipment to barely above cost. Alot of TV stations aren't going to switch until they have to. The more HD production equipment that gets sold then more HD content will become available, which in turn will drive the Jones to go by a new HD Plasma from the Big Box store. Thats who you should be putting your profit margins is in consumer HD products that will fly off store shelves once everything is HD. Weither true or not most consumers are waiting out on an HD tv because the old one analog hasn't broke yet and they don't feel like there is enough HD programming. I wonder how much the P2 Varicam will be. Anybody know?

The colored backlight help overcome green spill on the subject. Also the client commented on how it will help seperate them more from the background instead of having the subject blend in to the backgroung kinda like they were cut pasted on and flat which is what IMHO would look like without the backlight. IMHO you have to give the shot depth. Yes if the lighting in the background is coming from a different direction that your lighting on the subject that looks unatural. I was going to use a backlight to begin with but didn't consider using a colored gel. The shot keyed alot better with the backlight and its cto gel. Some of the more oranger light spilled onto the reflector to make the fill alittle more warmer which help give his face more dimension. All in all I and our client was very pleased. If i were to be the one keying the final shot in a nle I would add some shadow,make the background a little softer than the subject and put a transparent mask over the background to have more of a textured lighting on the background. All to give it what most chroma key shots are lacking, Depth.

LOL Now thats funny. I had a similar argument with a teacher back in MS who was making us cut out everything to furnish a house from a Sears catalog who said"Don't look for a VCR in any catalog older than 1989 because thats before VCRs were invented" Its amazing what great minds we have teaching the children of tommorow. Trouble with your teachers statement is JVC introduced SVHS in 1987, "Empire Strikes Back" was filmed in 1980? Also show him this link http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/technical. Something I didn't know was that some of the special effects were shot on 65mm. Have any of you guys seen the new remastered DVDs of the first three Star Wars. Wow all my friends were commenting on how good they look. I think people love the dark rich blacks and the low grain most about the new transfers. Oh course alot of people don't like some of the newly added effects and clips. I think the first three Star Wars blow the newest ones away in terms of storyline and realistic look. The newest ones look to CG and slick.

I would make the DVD under 5 minutes. You might wanna call them and take them out to lunch or something. Ther Radio and TV stations here in the states that I have been aroung and worked at I notice they get tons of submited material, alot of it gets thrown away not even looked at. And alot of stations don't have almost any free airtime to work you in. I would say call them ask for a tour get to know them, And like I said feed them :) Alot of stations always have slow news days and would love to work you doc in a story(IF its interesting and different ie NEW NEWS) from there you might could work it into airing. Just like direct mail advertising you have to be different from the others and get their attention. And help them out in some way. That may be as I said giving them a news story,taking a salesman out to lunch which gives you ample opportunity to get someone at the station excited about your doc. Forget the letter, the sales department runs the station, just talk to them. If you can get a couple of sponsors then your golden. Also I would choose which stations to target based on the what the subject matter of the doc is and what age range it would attract. You are selling your doc, so first rule in sales narrow down your prospects by avoiding the ones least likely to say yes. Good luck

What law is that? Every book I have read about cinematography and photography says you own anything YOU shoot unless you put it in writing that someone else owns it and has full rights. Take for example stock footage. When I buy a clip do I own the rights to sell it? no I just have the limited rights to use it in my productions. I don't know maybe you are right but the laws effecting cinematography seem pretty vague from person to person. If I had to bet money now I would say you could take him to court and get your footage for demonstration purposes. You created the images so you own them unless utherwise stated on paper.

Yeah I want the best of both worlds. Low compression,multiple frame rates,interchangeable lens(real lens) all for under 10k I guess I will just end up bying a used HDCAM

Yeah I would have to ask the same question. But if he is maybe he can tell us what the ccd specs are. What is the resolution of the ccds and what Fstop are they rated at 2000lux. My question is how do you and JVC plan on selling cameras without giving out specs and footage filmed by the camera?

I have one, How much are you looking to spend?

I know I know another x vs y camera post. Its just that I am so excited about both of these I wanted to get everyones comments on the two. Do any of you plan on buying one or the other? And why? I will chime in my oppinion later.

I just got the HVX Countdown DVD in the mail. Was any of that shot with the HVX? Didn't look like it, looked like varicam and 16mm. Sorta a big let down.

My understanding is anything you shoot yourself is actually intellectual property of yours. Even if you are doing a commercial and give them the footage. My understanding of the law is they own a copy, UNLESS otherwise stated. Next time can't you have the colorist run two decks at once during the telecine for only alittle more in cost? I bet you had to shoot 2.5 hours because the guy couldn't make up his mind right? Unless the footage I shot was for internal use only by a company and I signed a confidentiality statement any time I have asked I have always been able to get tapes back from rather large companies. I think we all have had great shoots and the client wants the raw footage now and we never get a copy to show. Bummer. I would like other people said just act stupid (or like you haven't even spoke with the unexperienced director) and call all the other people around him and ask for the raw footage. Good Luck

If you have your own gear I would say atleast $250. I think that is what the bare minimum is for any guy doing audio for tv. Then of course (don't throw rocks at me)but how much work goes into boom operation?

What do you think of the 1080i vs 720p argument? Have you used this camera and if so what are your thoughts?

I have only seen downcoverted footage to DVCAM from these cameras. Though I have had a brief encounter with a f900 what are the differences between these two besides 24p and 30p? Both have FIT ccds right? I guess the F900 is 12 bit where as the 700 series is only 10bit? To my eye the 1080 interlaced footage converted to SD DVCAM looked alittle edgy. Is that normal and just a side effect of using 1080i instead of a progressive system? What overall do you guys think about the Sony 1080i cameras? Would you rather shoot Varicam for the cinematic look? Or could you deinterlace these to have comparable results to 720p? Is it safe to use one of these cams in HD without a HD lens until I could afford it?

Thanks guys upon testing I got a good key in most NLEs basic greenscreen keyer plugin. Though the Serious magic Ultra 2 keyer is way better. I saw no hint of green at all and it has smooth edges too. Most of all the backlight/hairlight with the cto gel on it helped out the most. So what is the perfect IRE level I should have on the waveform for the greenscreen? Oh and what do you guys use for lighting the greenscreen? We first tried one 300watt Tota above, but now I am using two 300watt Lowel Totas with umbrellas just off to the side and above (just like lighting copywork) to give it a flat even look. We have a Photoflex fabric greenscreen which I am going to try and steam tommorow before the shoot to even out the wrinkles. The greenscreen isn't perfectly flat on the waveform yet hopefully I can get it perfect tom. Thanks again for all your ideas!

Wow Sony HDV not ready for prime time. Could you post a link to the finished video?

What is the best way to light one person on a greenscreen that the client wants on DVCAM? Camera: DSR-500, Lights: Every Lowel light ever made with chimera softbox Greenscreen: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...egoryNavigation Test Equipment: http://www.dvrack.com/ I know there are special software that can make it easier. But how can I light the person and know that any idiot and using any software could easily pull a key from the footage. And yes it has to be DV though I hope this doesn't turn into a headache. I have heard mixed reviews on keying in DV. How do you light the backdrop perfectly even and what ire level should it be at?

Does Film Emporium sell brand new fresh stock? I am confused why you have to enter in x number of feet vs just ordering a can of 100ft or 400ft.