Archive for the ‘moviemaking’ Category
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
I attended, working on one of the camera units. Had a great time, learnt lots, at all sorts of levels. Even how to make good use of the Movie Slate application on my iPhone! Link: http://www.fstopacademy.com/
Posted in lighting, transcode, storyboard, Encoding, logging, FCP7, wide-angle, codec, render, levels, recording, SteadiCam, Sony FS100, Sony F3, enhance, MovieSlate, 10-bit depth, film, workflow, lens, iPhone, XDCAM EX, moviemaking, self-organization, tutorials, ProRes, Mpeg StreamClip, Sony EX XDCAM, Music, Formats, Setup, collaboration, gamma, file mgt, folder structures, grading, filters, XML, storage, camera technique, Final Cut | No Comments »
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011
iPhone app: “Light Meter”:
- Uses iPhone-4’s cameras (front or rear), displaying image with overlays reporting framerate (can specify fixed e.g. 1/60), f-stop, ISO.
- Usage with my Sony XDCAM EX3 video camera:
- In settings, I set Stops to Halves, as that’s what the camera uses.
- I typically use an EX3 with a Tiffen T1 IR-blocking filter. What’s the ISO for this arrangement?
- What do the EX3’s ND filters do to the ISO?
- EX3 has ND1=1/8, ND2=1/64
- (From EX3 user manual, page 50)
- I think ISO is linear, so if Camera is 320 ISO, they imply equivalent ISOs by simple division:
- 1080p: Clear=>320, ND1=>40, ND2=>4.5
- 720p: Clear=>400, ND1=>50, ND2=>6.25
- 1080i: Clear=>640, ND1=>80, ND2=>10
- Alternatively, for ND1 filter you can leave the app’s ISO setting as Clear (no filter) and instead adjust the app’s Correction Factor to -3 EV (though it’s maybe better reserved for simulating lighting variations e.g. due to weather, as in the Exposure Value Table further below).
- I guess from this one off case that EV is logarithmic, since 2^-3=1/8 as per ND1.
- That guess was later confirmed by further web research (further below), stating that EV is an “additive system”, i.e. operates in the logarithmic domain, base 2.
- Caution: being an ISO/EV newbie, I can only hope this is is all correct!
- Nevertheless, when I tried my naive settings they worked just fine - I was successfully able to use the iPhone Light Meter to obtain a sensible camera configuration for good exposure level and (given the ND filters) the kind of shot I want (e.g. degree of DOF). When tested on the camera, they all worked out as expected. Cool!
- The Light Meter app optionally displays EV400, EV100, Lux, FootCandle. Latter units are explained in great detail at at [johnlind…] link below.
- The app can also “log” readings - in the form of jpg images of the screen and overlays including geographical location - to a DropBox account. For example, when I clicked the [Log] button, a jpf file appeared on my MacBook in the folder [ /Users/davidesp/Dropbox/Photos/Pocket Light Meter].
Exposure Values & Exposure Theory:
- http://johnlind.tripod.com/science/scienceexposure.html
- <<The full name for Exposure Value, or EV, is the Additive Photographic Exposure System. Exposure Value has two equivalent definitions. The first defines how much light will be admitted to the film by the combination of lens aperture and shutter speed. The second defines how much exposure is required by the combination of subject luminance (e.g., how bright it is) and film speed. Setting a combination of aperture and shutter speed on a camera with an EV that equals the EV for the subject luminance and film speed should result in a properly exposed photograph>>
- (The article continues at length. For example the “Additive” element reflects the fact that this system operates in the logarithmic domain. The article also distinguishes luminance from illumination, explains units such as point-source intensity in candelas, flux in lumens, light illuminating a surface in foot-candles, light radiated from an area in foot-Lamberts, luminence in candelas per area (square foot or square metre)
- An EV (Exposure Value) table is presented. I guess (?) this is useful for the iPhone app, where EV can be shifted up/down by a control, to estimate what would be needed should the lighting conditions vary:
- -1 EV: light sand or snow
- 0 EV: bright or strong hazy sun (distinct, sharp shadows)
- +1 EV: weak hazy sun (soft shadows; distinct sun outline in clouds)
- +2 EV: cloudy bright (no shadows; sun creates bright area in clouds)
- +3 EV: heavy overcast, but not “black” (no shadows; sun location cannot be determined)
- +3 EV: open shade (in shadow but 60% sky not obscured)
- +4 EV: deep shade (in shadow with obscured sky; under forest canopy)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value
- Exposure value is a base-2 logarithmic scale
- (This article has a more comprehensive table of EVs and weather conditions etc. than the above)
f-numbers
Posted in lighting, levels, logging, iPhone, camera technique, grading, moviemaking | No Comments »
Monday, September 26th, 2011
I’m a background Extra in it. No guarantee that my bit will make it past the edit of course. A two-part drama to be shown on BBC4:
Posted in casting, moviemaking | No Comments »
Sunday, September 25th, 2011
Movie★Slate is a slate and clapper board— traditional movie-making tools for syncing picture with sound, and photographing shot/production info at the start and end of shots. Movie★Slate also provides an easy way to log footage and take notes as you shoot— saving you time during capture and edit.
- Documentation:
- http://www.pureblendsoftware.com/userguides/MovieSlate/English.lproj/help_web.html
- e.g. Starting a Take
- To start a take, tap the clapper at the top of the slate.
- Timecode IN, all production info, and camera optics data are automatically saved in History when you start a take. This data can be emailed from the History tab (see instructions below).
- The clapper’s behavior can be customized from Settings -> Slate Behavior. Choose to play sounds, freeze the timecode briefly, show credits leader/end roll animation, and more.
- Video/Audio Quality ★-rankings can be set during the take.
- Circle Take button marks good takes by circling the take number in the History log. This practice is an old Hollywood tradition.
- End the Shot button saves a Timecode OUT marker with the shot history.
- e.g. Starting a Take - Shot Markers
- (Log footage and take notes as you shoot— saving you time during capture and edit).
- Add Shot Marker/Notes button saves timecode-stamped notes during a take. When shooting interviews, this is a useful way to document what remarkable thing was said, and when.
- Build notes from Snippet phrases by tapping the Content/Shot/Movement buttons. You can also enter text with the keyboard. Use the Snippets tab to customize your phrases.
- FAQs/Tips:
- http://www.pureblendsoftware.com/support
- “Movie★Slate is a slate and clapper board— traditional movie-making tools for syncing picture with sound, and photographing shot/production info at the start and end of shots.
- Movie★Slate also provides an easy way to log footage and take notes as you shoot— saving you time during capture and edit.”
- Link: MovieSlate Help
- What does M.O.S. stand for?
- The term “M.O.S.” generally appears on a slate when a scene is filmed without sound. Hollywood legend defines the term as “Mit Out Sound”.
- MovieSlate’s optional PRO Sync (TimeCode-Sync)
- (Normally) You’ll need a camera or timecode generator that’s capable of sending and/or receiving LTC (Longitudinal Time Code) over an audio cable.
- My cameras are old DV units or are consumer models with no LTC support. Can MovieSlate’s optional PRO Sync module still help me sync a multi-cam shoot?
- Yes, through additional software available from VideoToolShed. Here’s how:
- Set MovieSlate to output timecode through one of the audio channels and connect from the headphone jack to your camera’s AUX/MIC audio.
- Shoot your footage with MovieSlate running and Sending sync through the headphone jack. The LTC audio signal will be recorded on on one channel of your DV tape. (Please note the obvious: If this cam is handling your main sound then you will not have stereo audio).
- Import the footage into Final Cut Pro or Avid.
- Use VideoToolShed’s FCP auxTC reader software to create an AUX TC track in FCP/Avid and sync your footage with your other cams and audio. http://www.videotoolshed.com/?page=products&pID=26
- Disclaimer:
- We do not have any relationship with VideoToolShed and also cannot attest to the function of “FCP auxTC reader”.
- Please visit the VideoToolShed.com website for more information and 3rd-party websites like Creative Cow for more information and workflow tips.
Posted in MovieSlate, iPhone, tidy, moviemaking | No Comments »
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
Posted in moviemaking, Avid | No Comments »
Saturday, August 13th, 2011
You can see and comment on a number of scripts, some pre-production.
Posted in scripting, moviemaking | No Comments »
Saturday, July 16th, 2011
General & Surveys:
- Google: [storyboard lighting camera blocking animation software]
- Previzualization (general subject & software review)
- 3D Animation Software (general review)
- CeltX and StoryBoards
Specific Applications:
- MovieStorm
- (From Google: [storyboard lighting camera blocking] )
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moviestorm
- http://www.youtube.com/user/Moviestorm
- MovieStorm’s YouTube Channel - Instructional videos and demo productions
- http://www.moviestorm.co.uk/
- Virtual studio, cameras, blocking….
- Like a mini NLE: tracks, video, audio (library), used by some to produce films for YouTube.
- Mainly prefab hence easy to use (but therefore restricted) - though can expand on props.
- Modders Workshop (tool) allows creation of ‘props’ and a wizard allows the direct import of models from Google SketchUp version 6.
- FrameForge:
- http://www.frameforge3d.com/watch-demo/
- http://www.frameforge3d.com/Products/
- FrameForge Previz Studio comes in three versions: Core, Pro, and Stereographic 3D
- Create a virtual 3D set in your computer with the freedom to place any number of virtual cameras in any placement, angle or height desired. Each camera features full Pan/Tilt, Dolly, Zoom, Roll and Crane control with the options to limit focal length to a specific zoom range or set of prime lenses, limit minimum and maximum heights (due to equipment limitations or physical ceilings) to accurately portray the actual range of your equipment.
- FrameForge is not about your mastery of the pencil but more how you can explore and see what your actual equipment will see.
- Blender
- Virtual Light Lab
- DAZ 3D
Posted in Blender, Daz 3D, storyboard, 3d animation, moviemaking, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Saturday, July 16th, 2011
Storyboard Advice Links:
- From Google: [storyboard lighting camera blocking]
Posted in storyboard, moviemaking | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
- London Underground (”Tube”) http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/media/lufilmoffice
- Student/Non-professional permit:
- Crew max Five; Lightweight, handheld equipment only.
- Fee £40 (inc VAT) - Valid one month from issue
- “We generally need 2-3 weeks notice to process applications, but dependent on the request we can some times turn these around more quickly”
- Great video of film-making on the Tube, at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/media/lufilmoffice
- River Thames
- Filming and photography on the River Thames requires the prior written permission of the Port of London Authority, http://www.portoflondon.co.uk
- http://www.pla.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/4051/site/pla
- The Port of London Authority (PLA) owns and operates Richmond Footbridge, Lock and Weir, situated between Teddington and Richmond, which offers a wonderful location for any type of film and television productions as well as still photography.
- permission to film on or by the Thames requires a filming license issued by the PLA’s Corporate Affairs department.
- Location “scouting”: Some on-line film clips: http://www.pla.co.uk/films.cfm
- Buses
- http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/4933.aspx
- “We don’t usually allow filming on buses that are actually in service. However, outside peak commuter hours you can hire a bus that will look like the bus on the route you wish to film, complete with driver.”
- “In most cases you will need to give at least seven days’ notice.”
Posted in moviemaking, Uncategorized | No Comments »
