Video Studio Support
What many people may not realize is just how important the A.D. department is to a production. In the following article, I interview three past and present Assistant Directors about the role of the AD on a film.
Tempus Fugit
A good AD can keep a production moving along, accomplishing the day’s work, while allowing the director to get not only the minimum number of shots they need to tell their story, but also the additional shots that flesh out the film.
Steven Gladstone: When I was doing a lot of production work, I would refer to the AD
Before the rise of the anarchy of digital video, analog video was ruled by engineers at virtually every step of production, post production, and delivery. There were rules that had to be adhered to very strictly to ensure that your footage met the technical requirements of broadcasters. Remember, NTSC was instituted in the 1940s, (PAL appeared about a decade later). So, making sure that your video would display properly on every television required a fair amount of control. Additionally, there were limitations within the capability of analog
by Peter Ward_1 ·Posted
The Introduction
In the introduction to his 1912 dramatic writing how-to, Play-Making, William Archer opens with this pessimistic observation:
There is thus a fine opening for pedantry on the one side, and quackery on the other, to rush in. The pedant, in this context, is he who constructs a set of rules from metaphysical or psychological first principles, and professes to bring down a dramatic decalogue from the Sinai of the lecture-room in the University of Weissnichtwo. The quack, on the other hand, is he who generalizes from the worst
Want to stream live video over the Web? In the following video, Mia McCormick, from KelbyOne Media, demonstrates five essential steps to successfully stream live video, including camera considerations, wired versus wireless connections, capture hardware, and streaming platforms. With each step, McCormick covers important considerations that will help eliminate possible issues that can arise when you get started. We hope you enjoy the video, and invite you to view the wide selection of other
by Peter Ward_1 ·Posted
In the world of film production, a Digital Imaging Technician (DIT) can be many things. Depending on the scope of the production, the scope of their job is constantly evolving. Taking advantage of the wonders of email, I checked in with a few working DITs to get a better understanding of their complex and ever-changing job. What became apparent quickly was that although most people in the industry start off as beginners, taking on the role of DIT requires a healthy balance of experience, people skills, technical knowledge, and an almost
Coinciding with the so-called “DSLR Revolution,” SmallHD has since been supporting camera assistants (ACs) assigned the daunting task of pulling perfect focus, Directors of Photography (DPs) light and compose their shots, and Directors (no fancy acronyms for this one) realize their vision, with affordable, high-quality, and durable monitoring solutions. I became familiar with SmallHD’s products when I was working in a video equipment rental house. As DSLRs and other popular video cameras would go out on rental, any SmallHD DP4, DP6, and DP7
In this quick look at the X-Rite Colorchecker Passport Video, Allan Weitz, of B&H Photo, details its uses and features, explaining the advantages of adding a color chart to your video workflow. In exploring this versatile-multipurpose tool, Weitz highlights the ease of use and specific advantages of each of the targets that make up the Color Passport Video, while pointing out their benefits to you in crafting your final image.
The Internet: where would we be without it? While I could spend an entire afternoon pondering that conundrum, the truth of the matter is that for the time being—barring some sort of global catastrophe—the Internet is here to stay. Not only is it staying, it’s growing fast, and you are a part of that growth. Building your own independent media empire brick by brick, as it were, takes time. And like most other crafts, proper tools of the trade are required. I am under the impression that you would like to create content for other people in the
Cameras continue to get smaller and lighter, without necessarily being designed with better ergonomics. Media costs drop, resulting in increased improvisation and on-the-fly filmmaking and, of course, you are always balancing quality with getting as much done as possible. So, unless you are making yet another Blair Witch Project, or reviving the shooting style of the TV series Hill Street Blues, smooth is the word when it comes to camera movement. In this article, I'm going to go over many of the available choices for stabilizing your camera
The Cinetics Axis360 Motion Control System and Slider was designed to enhance motorized slides, pans, and tilts in videography using most DLSR, mirrorless, and digital cinema cameras. Since I spent the early part of my career as a motion control camera assistant, working on complex multi-axis motion control rigs, doing stop-motion animation with 35mm motion picture cameras, I've had a fair amount of experience programming and operating motion control units, and I looked forward to seeing what the Cinetics rig could do.