Canon Filmmakers Live : Thanks For The Memories

I thought I would use this time to thank each and every one of you personally!
When Cristina approached Phil about potentially doing a workshop in Philadelphia it was really just our way of trying to get our favorite DP to the place we call home. We had no idea what to expect as it started to look more and more likely that somehow this just might become a reality. So without any hesitation Cristina decided to undertake what Event-DV called our "most ambitious project to date". So,now we were on our way. The first step once we had Philip on board and tentative dates was to find the right location. After a long search through nearly every venue in Philadelphia we finally had a meeting with Gretchen from World Cafe Live. As soon as we sat down with her we knew that this was where it had to happen come hell or high-water. It was perfect.

We already knew for certain we had to have our good friends and social media gurus John Hyland and Anthony Quintano. We met John Hyland at Re:Frame Austin. We want to take a second to sincerely thank everyone involved in that event. Without that there would never have been a Canon Filmmakers let alone a Canon Filmmakers Live. We later met Anthony Quintano at Re:Frame San Francisco and immediately became great friends. So that being said thank you Re:Frame Collective you really opened our eyes and the network of incredible friends we made is priceless.

We couldn't have an event in Philly and not bring out our own Dave Williams. Owner of
Cinema Cake, master of the Glidecam, and early adopter of DSLR's for live events. We were absolutely thrilled to have him on board because we knew you guys and gals would get a lot out of his expertise.

So,now with those guys on board this thing was starting to feel like it could happen.
Next, we began contacting all of our favorite companies regarding sponsorship. The response was amazing. Kessler Crane, one of our premium sponsors, was one of the first on board and has been such an integral part of this event even happening. So from the bottom of our hearts, we would like to personally thank Eric Kessler. We had the good fortune of meeting him personally in Key West,about a week prior to the event and, I have to say, he is one of the most genuine, honest, hardworking and nicest people we have ever met. His approach to business is less about business and more about putting his soul and personality into it. Not many people know this but if you buy something from Kessler Crane and there is welding involved Eric Kessler is doing it himself. I was shocked when I heard that. That is dedication. I admire him for that and think we should all approach our businesses with a similar mindset.

Thank you to our other premium sponsor Red Giant Software for there generosity and ongoing support for independent filmmakers worldwide. I don't know what I'd do without Magic Bullet,honestly. Every piece we make runs thru it in some shape form or fashion.

Thank you to all of our sponsors Jag35, Zacuto, Singular Software, Glidecam, NewBlueFX, Event-DV, F-Stop Academy,B&H Photo. Also a huge thank you Jordan Oplinger and Jimmy Shelton from Cinema Cake for covering the photography for us.

Most importantly though, thank all of you. In this day and age it's easy to get lazy or make the excuse "I'm just too busy!" I am guilty of it. By nature we spend a lot of our time behind computers,on the internet,working and watching movies. Then,we have to find time for our family,friends and personal obligations. So, for all of you,and some of you travelled very far, to find the time, motivation, and trust in us to come out on a Sunday in July in Philadelphia, we can't thank you enough. Keep pursuing education. We are only as strong as our weakest link. When you help someone else get better,you will inherently get better too. It was a whirlwind of a day but I'll always remember every second of it. Keep it up on twitter guys we've carved out our own little corner over there at #cflive and I can't tell you all how happy it makes me to see all of you staying in contact,sharing, and helping each other.

So on behalf of all of us, a million thanks. It was more then a workshop, it was an experience.

P.S. Stay tuned for some exciting things to come.

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Our trip to Vimeo Headquarters with Philip Bloom

We recently went to the Big Apple and while there had the pleasure of visiting the headquarters of Vimeo, the awesomest web video hosting service on the planet. While there we were treated to an amazingly informative and hilarious tour by Andrea Allen. Here's an inside look followed by some time-lapses we shot at DUMBO during Philip Bloom's Brooklyn DSLR meet-up.

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Going Wide with The Canon 7D

We just got the Tokina 11-16mm 2.8. It is an amazing lens especially if you own the Canon 7D. Here is the first thing I shot with it. No one was around and it was late so I decided to test it out on Bruiser,our Old English bulldog. I set it down on the floor and moved away so he wouldn't realize I was shooting. It's a little long but wait until the very end. I was waiting for him to do something and then I finally gave up and said nevermind. He clearly is the World's Smartest Bulldog.

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Canon Filmmakers Live Twitter Wall

Just remember to include hashtag #cflive so your tweets show up!

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Canon Filmmakers Live: Meet Dave Williams

Here is one part of a larger project Dave Williams was commissioned to do for LensRentals.com .
It is a sneak peek into the caliber of education our lucky attendees will be receiving this Sunday at Canon Filmmakers Live. Can't wait to meet you all. There are 3 spots left so if your on the fence,hurry up before it's too late!

View on ExposureRoom

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The Mad Men of Canon Filmmakers Live

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

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Opening Sequence - "Norway Day at World EXPO 2010" by Håvar Karlsen

I found this on Vimeo this morning and enjoyed it so much that I figured I'd share :)

Shot on the Canon 5d and 1dmkIVat 25 fps and 50 fps

Check out their blog for some more info on the shoot.

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Canon Filmmakers Live Almost Sold Out !!!

There's only five spots left don't miss this opportunity!
Sign up now before it's too late

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Name That Jag Contest

Help the guys at Jag35.com name there new affordable DSLR rig and you could win a free one! Pretty sweet deal. I have already submitted a few name ideas here: Jag 35 Contest
You can enter as many ideas as you want so, have at it!

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Aerial Unit for Canon 5D

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Why We Are Thoroughly Embarrassed to Be Shooting Video with DSLRs

For those of you that haven't heard RED's Jim Jannard has lashed out at DSLR shooters, saying they should be 'embarrassed' to be shooting 1080p on line-skipping sensors. This is our letter to him :)

Dear Mr. Jannard,
We are independent filmmakers from Philadelphia. We are writing you this from the side of a pool as we bask in the glorious sun in beautiful California. We are so embarrassed that we got hired to come out and shoot a job because we use the Canon line of DSLRs. This all expense paid vacation to a gorgeous city on the completely opposite side of the country is shameful. We regret embracing the DSLR technology. Since we didn't just keep waiting for the Scarlet to come out, we have had the unfortunate luck to also be asked to go to Florence, Italy, Canada, Hawaii, Key West, and Haiti. We also filmed a documentary in New York for a company out of the UK. We got that job because we purchased the Canon 7D which shamefully gave great Depth of Field and shot at 25p. We will hang our head low as we have the embarrassing task of heading off to various parts of the world and get work we never would have gotten with traditional video cameras.

It's a real shame that Canon offered an affordable tool that is helping independent filmmakers like us across the globe. However, we are sure you are familiar with Canon, right? You remember Canon. The company that made the cameras that you shot all of Oakley's ads and commercials for the first 20 years of Oakley's history.* Yeah those guys. How dare they?

Anyway, we were humiliated when the opening sequence of SNL, a promo for Jerry Seinfeld's The Marriage Ref, a Nissan Commercial, a Puff Daddy/Rick Ross/Busta Rhymes music video and then, to make matters worse, the season finale of House were all shot on the same cameras we were using. How unprofessional it made us look to our clients.

Sir, while we can certainly understand the limitations of the cameras and your mounting frustration with the Scarlet still not being released it doesn't bode well for you as a businessman or a human to lash out so negatively. What sort of a response had you hoped for? Did you think it would make you a hero to RED users worldwide? Did you think all of us Canon users would have an epiphany and realize, "WOW, all of this work we have been getting is making us really self-conscious!" Did you envision us lining up to throw our 5D's, 7D's, and (gasp) T2i's into a big pile while we danced around them ceremoniously chanting Scarlet? Whatever you hoped to achieve we must unfortunately tell you, that you sir, have failed. We always see ourselves as forward thinkers quick to embrace technology. You have left a bad taste in our mouths and we regret to tell you that we will now probably never ever buy or use a Red camera. I couldn't possible live with myself knowing that I was supporting someone as arrogant and negative as yourself. I'm sure you don't care because you are a billionaire. Bottom line: The camera is just a tool. When you decided to post that comment, unfortunately, you proved that you are too.

Embarrassingly yours,
Jon + Cristina

P.S. If you'd like to attend a Festival of Shame I would suggest going to www.canonfilmmakerslive.com and signing up. I'll tell you what Jim, we will even let you have the student discount because, clearly you have a lot to learn.

* Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jannard  "Jannard shot all of Oakley's ads and commercials for the first 20 years of Oakley history. He used high-end Canon equipment, including a 1DS camera and one of few EF 1200 mm lenses in existence. "

Update:
In all fairness to Jim Jannard he made a clarification to what he said I can respect this a lot more then what was initially posted by him but I won't change what I wrote because it was a truthful response to something that happened and I will never bite my tongue. Would have been a lot better if it was said this way from the get go.:
Heh heh... I'm surprised that so many people are reading posts from Reduser! :-) Wow.

Clarification #1. I think that Canon should be embarrassed about pretending that line-skipping is good enough when they have the capability to do much more. I'm sure they will in the near future. Until then, they are delivering much less than they are capable of... which is one of the reasons I started this company. No one in this industry seems to move unless they are forced to.

Clarification #2. No shooting professional has to justify what equipment they use... only their results.

If people want to correctly point out our flaws as a company, they will only be joining my previous admissions. We have no idea what we are doing. We are always late.

On the other hand, I would bet that no company in any industry cares more about their customers than RED does. We have taught the industry about free upgrades, trade ins and customer service at 3am. We have set a new standard for direct communication with our customers, a standard that other companies are trying to figure out how to emulate.

I don't have any problem with someone pointing out that I have no idea what I am doing... I have said that all along. But it is curious that the industry is falling in line to "be like RED". All I can say is ... "don't do it. You are following the wrong guy." :-)

If these other websites are going to post my comments, I certainly hope they will post this one without edit.

BTW... we have taken a lesson from Apple. We will no longer discuss what we are doing until we are done.

Jim

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Who Hasn't This Happened To?

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Reel World: The most amazing tattoo shop commercial ever?

Wow ~ I'm not exactly sure what this is for but I am digging it.

Shot on the Red + 7d by Erik Ferguson:

Oslo city - Bride tatoo from Erik Ferguson on Vimeo.

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It's Official: Canon Filmmakers Live!

I'd like to thank Cristina for all of her hard work in putting this event together. We would like to proudly announce the launch of an exciting event: Canon Filmmakers Live on Sunday July 11th in Philadelphia at World Cafe Live.

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Philly Comedian Doogie Horner on America's Got Talent

This has absolutely nothing to do with Canon's or Filmmaking but when I used to do stand-up I met Doggie Horner and always thought he was hilarious. He's a really nice guy and he didn't desrve this. The crowd didn't even give him a chance. It was awesome to see him battle his way back and destroy the crowd.

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Control Your DSLR or Camera with iPhone or iPad

Thanks to Jordan Hayman for the scoop.

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Canon: Freeze Tag

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Reel World: Brad Kremer shoots Hayaku with the 5d

For anyone who knows us and our work, knows we LOVE timelapses. Something about the challenge and showing time pass appeals to me.

This video was shared to us via Vimeo and I figured I'd share it in case you haven't seen it.

Shot all on the 5d by Brad Kremer...

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iPad controls Final Cut Pro audio automation with Air Display app

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Reel World: A Raining Day by Daniel Peters

One thing I personally really enjoy about shooting with DSLR's is taking everyday activities and adding a little "epic" to them. That's why I am featuring this next film. It takes place on a day when it's tough to get much shooting done. It's raining outside and was probably not the greatest day to feel inspired to shoot as the weather could have easily squashed Daniel's creative aspirations. Instead, he picked up his camera and documented his dogs and developed a nice little storyline of how they were depressed and sleepy and dreaming of when the weather was nice outside.
Enjoy.

A Raining Day from Daniel Peters on Vimeo.

Follow Daniel on Twitter!

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Joe Simon is a Beast

Like the line from Forrest Gump.. "And that's all I have to say about that."

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Reel World: Director Kyle Day Shoots Feature Film Entirely on 7D

Quick Note: This trailer hasn't been color corrected yet.

Director Kyle Day just directed an action/revenge feature that was shot entirely on the 7D.

"We did it for an insanely low amount of money so given our shooting schedule, our DP, Andrew Barrera,utilized the 7D in a very "run-and-gun" mentality with little to no lighting most of the time. The story is a classic female revenge plot that we wanted to be a homage to many of the 80s movies that myself and the writer grew up on." - Kyle Day

Insanely low budget films that are super high quality mean one thing: Creativity is no longer constrained in filmmaking by the need for a huge amount of up front capital. In my book, that means people are now afforded the opportunity to take a lot more risk creatively without suffering the devastating financial repercussions. Anything that allows more creativity in filmmaking: I'm all for it.
For more information on this film go to www.CherryBombFilm.com

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Reel World: Ryan Hunts- Woven Spring Premiere

Woven Spring is a visual sketch of the colorful enchantment of springtime. This film was shot in the Texas hill country and on Padre Island using the Canon 7D and L series prime lenses.
We are honored to premiere this film here. For more info visit www.ryanhunts.com

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Stabilizing Your DSLR

I apologizing for not posting in a while... It's been quite busy and, believe it or not, this is the calm before the storm :)

So I visited the site and noticed the new poll Jon posted, what do you stabilize your DSLR with? I'm glad to see the tripod rules but a little surprised by how few people are using sliders + glidecams/stedicams. Personally, tripod and monopod come first but I love using the glidecam and slider to enhance the story through motion.

What is it about these tools that keep so many from using them, is it cost, setup difficulties, or lack of understanding how to use it?

You may be wondering why so many questions... As our free time slowly starts to diminish, we'd like to post a few video tutorials/gear reviews on our favorite gear but what would you like to see first?

Glidecam vs. Sliders?

Here's a short promo we shot for a local beer distributor where we utilized a tripod, glidecam, and slider:

Thanks for your feedback!

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Google TV

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Reel World: Nissan Commercial Shot on 5D MKII

So this is pretty awesome. This Nissan commercial was shot with the Canon 5D MKII R/C cars and a helicopter. Make sure you check out the Making of Video.
Watch it here
Thanks to @GaryNevittJr for finding this one.

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Reel Tweet: God I Love This Ad. So Simple...

The tweet said: "God I love this ad. So simple."
I found it to be a statement that spoke volumes watch the ad, then read below.



Simple in appearance yet definitely not simple to pull off. What do you think about the effort required to appear as if it required no effort?

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We Got That B-Roll

Thanks to Ron Dawson for alerting me to this one. This is hilarious :)

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Reel World: John Mayer Has a Canon 5D and a Vimeo Account

So apparently John Mayer has a Canon 5d MKII and a Vimeo account. Thoughts?

"A Life In The Day" from John Mayer on Vimeo.

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NKOTB: Joseph Stunzi at NAB

NAB: Joseph Stunzi from jehu Garcia on Vimeo.

Thomas Roberts talks to Joseph Stunzi about why everyone should attend NAB. He talks about some of his current projects like writing for CanonFilmmakers.com and his non-profit organization IENSE which focuses on teaching students all about filmmaking. As you can see Joe has a lot of projects going on.



For more NAB interview visit: http://jag35.com

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NYC DSLR Meet-up with Philip Bloom

There is going to be a ton of really cool DSLR filmmakers at this event including DSLR warrior Philip Bloom. The Canonfilmmakers.com crew will be well represented with Cristina and I making the trek to NYC for this one. Go here to RSVP and find details.
Here's what happened last time we were with Philip Bloom.

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Canon 7D and T2i AGC Bypass Trick

Audio out of these cameras is not good. You really have to record audio separately to get a good sound. However, the main problem with the audio recording on these cameras is the AGC. So take a look at this tutorial for a cheap DIY workaround.

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Be Nice and Build a Snowman

Do you know John Hyland? If you don't and you are on Twitter, follow him now, his handle is @johnhyland . He is the brains behind this little short film about building a snowman. It is a little over a minute long and covers the full range of emotions. There is laughter,there are tears, there is hope and utter disappointment. The fact that he was able to capture so much in such a short piece is astounding. He is very talented and this is hilarious to me. Anyway watch it for yourselves then let me know what you think.Oh yeah and listen carefully to the audio throughout in the background.

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Reel World: New York+Tilt Shift

I really enjoy the effect of tilt-shift. I think I really enjoy it for some of the reasons I enjoy
timelapses so much. It takes an everyday activity and makes it look different. Surreal. I like to try to see things from a different perspective and that's why I really loved this short.

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Reel World: First 7D Footage with Motion Capture

No it wasn't Avatar.
However, I had the pleasure of meeting the super talented Eduard Schneider
while in Chicago for The Zacuto Shootout. He sent me,what I believe to be, the first motion-capture footage shot with the 7D.

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Reel World: Canon 5D Used to Shoot 2010 WRC in Jordan

This is a very cool short film by Amr Toukhy from Visual Laundry. Keep an eye out, in partcular, for an awesome and super crisp slow-mo shot mid-way thru.


Go here For some Behind the Scene Photos
Also checkout visuallaundry.com

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Reel World: Awesome Music Video Shot on Canon DSLR's

Jesse Dana was the Director of Photography on this awesome music video shot on Canon DSLR's.

http://www.jessedana.com/

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5d Resurrected

Last week I had a huge shoot and had my 5d and Jon's 7d with me. We were filming inside and I tried to go into live mode on my 5d and it wouldn't budge. Nothing. No click, No image, nothing. I tried to turn it off and on a few times but it wouldn't budge. I tried to change the battery and nothing. By this point I HAD TO start shooting so I just grabbed another camera. Probably no less than a minute later, my colleague was able to turn it on and go into video mode and record.

What gives? I've actually read on a few other sites that people have had similar issues but should we find it ironic that all of a sudden, after the much needed firmware was released, that there are rare occurrences of the 5d just freezing up?

Lesson learned. Bought the new Canon T2i as a backup.

Alright... the title was a little dramatic but I'm a little worried and curious if anyone else has experienced this.

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Adobe CS5 to Support Native Editing Of DSLR Footage

Adobe CS5 Native Editing of DSLR Footage
The Question is how does FCP respond? I really don't want to have to go back to Adobe just because of this. FCP in my opinion is far superior in many other apects. Thoughts?

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Our First Same Day Edit: All Canon DSLR's

This was our first Same Day Edit. It was shot entirely on Canon 5D's and Canon 7D's.
We had hoped to include more audio but we had to show this while the band was on break
and after color grading it, we just ran out of time. It was very cool to finally get some
live feedback on an edit. The crowds reactions made all the time spent in pre-production
well worth it.

For more info check out Society Hill Studios blog.

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Follow Friday: NAB Edition

Sorry I know it isn't Friday anymore but T.R's picks for people to follow on Twitter are relevant no matter what day of the week it is. Enjoy!

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Who's Going to NAB?

NAB is right around the corner. While you're in Vegas you absolutely MUST participate in a great event for a wonderful cause. ALL-In film is a charity poker meet-up for filmmakers,film lovers and anyone that is into having a good time. The event takes place on Monday April 12th at 8pm, in the beautiful Hard Rock Casino poker lounge. The Buy-in is 60 dollars, which will get you into the game and make you eligible to win all of our prizes. To attend, send an email with your name to signup@ALLINfilm.org
Do you totally suck at poker? Not a problem. You still get to hang out with awesome people and they are going to randomly award a Steadicam Merlin and a High-Definition field monitor!! Plus you get to hang out with Philip Bloom, Rodney Charters ASC, Vincent LaForet, Shane Hurlbut ASC, and Kevin Shahinian. The playing field has been leveled. Sure Philip Bloom was at Skywalker Ranch but what's he going to do when you have the nut flush and push all-in and he's got a 2-7 off-suit.(He'll probably call. I hear he doesn't know anything about poker.) Sure Vincent LaForet shot Reverie but, he's going to wish he was back in that helicopter when your holding pocket Kings and he draws dead on the river. So make sure you go to ALL-IN Film.
Even if Shane Hurlbut "terminates" you, Rodney Charters "goes Jack Bauer on you", or Kevin Shahinian knocks you out of the tournament, while, simultaneously filming a concept film about it, it will be a blast. Don't be scared. It's ALL-IN good fun.

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Q: What Do SHS, Converse, and Stillmotion Have in Common?

A: They are all awesome and I will be talking about them in this post.

I must apologize. It probably seems like I have been slacking with my posts lately. I promise I am not. I have been very busy with an awesome venture and so now I would like to proudly announce the launch of a new company that Amy Reese, Cristina Valdivieso and I have been putting together for a little while now. Our site is finally live! The company is called Society Hill Studios we will be producing hand-crafted,high definition wedding films. We are all very excited and we plan on having a helluva first year. We have some very cool projects coming up so, stay tuned!!

So that's one part but what about stillmotion and Converse? Watch the video below and then I'll explain.

evo 3.0 // two . a converse commercial from the sm evo experience on Vimeo.

One thing I really have always loved about stillmotion is their dedication to education and pushing the envelope. This was a little of both. During evo 3.o they challenged the attendees to really push themselves. The contest: come up with a 30 second commercial for one of three pairs of shoes. The shoe of choice here, Converse. I think it says a lot that these guys were so inspired/educated at this event and were able to pull this off in 2 hours and 30 minutes. That's for everything: conception, pre-production (including storyboarding),and shooting. Then they only had overnight to edit it.
Hats off!! Brilliant work guys! Go here for more information on the stillmotion evo experience

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I'm On A Boat...

When I first started my career in the wedding industry I was, and still am, quite surprised how male dominated it is. I'm still not sure why that is but I'm thrilled to see a new, very unique event that is trying to change that. Reagan Zugelter from Studio + Z Films and Jen Moon from Northernlight Filmworks teamed up to create Posh ~ A Retreat for the Female Filmmaker. I was so excited to hear about this and even more excited that they had time for a little Q + A :)

Q. Tell me a little bit about POSH.

A. POSH is a retreat and educational experience for women event filmmakers and photographers interested in event film. Our mission for POSH is education + inspiration + relaxation so POSH 2010 is taking place on a Bahamas cruise, November 8-12, 2010.

Q. Where did you come up with the idea and what are your goals for this event?

A. We came up with the idea after seeing a conversation one Friday afternoon between several female event filmmakers about having a cocktail while editing. It turned into talking about how we should all meet up. Then Jennifer and I thought why don’t we do this but add in an educational element to it and make it just for women. Our goal is to connect, educate and inspire women as visual artists and business owners.

Q. Why do you think it's important to have an all female event?

A. A lot of women in this industry aren’t as well known. Our vision out of all this is to launch some new women leaders in the industry and see more of them on the EventDV 25, receiving International Awards and heading up their own workshops. This will also hopefully spearhead more women to get into event film.

Q. Nowadays there's a ton of learning seminars/events out there. What makes Posh different?

A. Along with our featured presenters, we are having small discussions between attendees so they have a chance to share and also learn in a more intimate way. We are going to ask the attendees prior to the cruise, what they want to talk about so we can mold the discussions to those topics. Our workshop is going to be more of a grass roots style.

For more information visit www.posheventonline.com

Northerlight Filmworks


Studio+Z Films

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New Kid on the Block: Joseph Stunzi

We are proud to introduce a new member to the Canon Filmmakers Team: 

Joseph Stunzi from IENCE.org 

He is an awesome guy and has done a lot of cool things with IENCE. Think Bill Nye meets MTV. He has spearheaded many filmmaking projects and we are ecstatic to have him on board. He is going to be writing a series aptly named: New Kid on the Block. I will let him tell you all about it but, I just wanted to formally introduce him. He will be a very integral part of our team and we have a lot of exciting things on the horizon. Stay tuned...

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Reel Talk: Thomas Roberts Interview with Rodney Charters

Here is an excellent interview that Thomas Roberts @TRStudios did with "24" DP Rodney Charters.

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The Great Camera Shootout 2010

So, it was very cool for Cristina and I to be a part of the Zacuto Great Camera Shootout of 2010. They really pushed the envelope with this one and did a great job seeing how all of the DSLR's would stand up against the gold standard of film. Check it out here...
The Great Camera Shootout 2010
Also sorry I haven't been blogging as much but I have been extremely busy with a really cool project that I hope to be sharing more of very soon.

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What happens in Vegas...

As some of you know, we just spent a week in Vegas... Why? Because I had a great opportunity to shoot with some of the top filmmakers in the wedding industry. Julie Hill from Elysium Productions came up with a very cool, unique concept for a same day edit and on top of that, brought together an all female crew. Event DV's top 25, Julie Hill and Kristen*, along with Kara Jensen and myself shot at the brand new Mandarin with one very cool couple.

Personally, this was my first all 5d wedding with a same day edit and what an experience. Check out the piece and let me know you thoughts :)

Aria & Elie's Rock and Roll SDE from the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas from Elysium Productions on Vimeo.

~Oh... side note: This is a new series featuring female filmmakers... If you are or know of women in the film industry producing great work please contact me: cristinamvaldivieso@gmail.com

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Canon 5D MKII Firmware is Here...

Everyone has been waiting forever and it's finally here the firmware that adds 24p for the 5DMKII !!
Also adds some audio control and a histogram.
http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos5dmk2/firmware.html

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Re:Inspired

I remember the first time I met Philip Bloom... I had no idea who he was and had no idea I would soon purchase a 5d. Before I heard him speak and show his work at Re:Frame Austin, I saw him constantly running around with a camera. At that time I was relatively new to the industry and what stood out the most to me is that he was one of the only ones who always had a camera in his hand. Yes, of course, his work inspired me but his passion for what he does inspired me even more.

I had always used the Canon XHA1 and found it was too bulky to carry around for fun but that all changed with the 5d... I took it everywhere and still do. I love seeing beautiful pieces that are done out of the blue. Filming something that is not planned and just for fun, because you love what you do, is what it's all about.

Now, let me get to my point... We just came back from Vegas and while I was there I tweeted about how dirty the window was and how I wanted to do a timelapse. Rob Parker wrote me back and sent me a link to a very nice piece and guess what I love most about it? He did it spur of the moment. Thanks for sharing this with me Rob :)

Racing Rain from Rob Parker on Vimeo.

Have you been re:inspired by your new DSLR? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

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How To Fund an Indie Project

I have all these great ideas that I want to do but it always seems like I am saying, "Man, I wish I had ten grand I would (insert pet project here)" So as an independent filmmaker or an aspiring one, I think the first and toughest obstacle we face is: Who is going to pay for this?
Art is great. Art without the financial backing is most likely going to remain an idea that never gets done. To me that sucks. I wonder how many of you out there have brilliant films/projects that will never see the light of day because you can't make it happen financially. I have the same problem lots of ideas but no viable way to make them come to fruition. Well folks, I may have the answer for some of you. I haven't tried it out myself yet and I only ask one thing of you in return. If you use this, please share your project with us. By that I mean either shoot me an email and tell me a little about it when it's done or even just shoot me a link to the finished product. I'd love to see what some of you ultra-talented filmmakers can do with a little backing.
Anyway so here it is check it out and let me know what you think. Again I haven't tried it yet myself but it looks amazing and it appears that others have had a great deal of success raising capital. Go here for a collaborative way to fund ideas and fuel innovation

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DIY: Protecting Your Camera From Mother Nature

"When it comes to protecting your camera from the elements we already know that a condom will go a great way. However, sometimes a more subtle approach is needed. Especially if all you are seeking is to protect your camera from a bit of rain..."
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Follow Friday

Sorry I was a little late on this one.

People I follow on Twitter from T R on Vimeo.

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A Trailer for Every Academy Award Winning Movie... Ever

A Trailer for Every Academy Award Winning Movie Ever -- powered by Cracked.com

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Reel World: Ryan Hunts and Woven Nuevo Leon

Woven Nuevo Leon- Shot with the 7D from Ryan Hunts on Vimeo.

A remarkable filmmaker from Austin, Texas, Ryan Hunts, decided to do a visual sketch of Northern Mexico's ancient wonders. This piece was wonderfully paced and beautifully graded. I first heard of him when Chad Nickle of Wild Orchid Studios  sung his praises. I love getting the inside scoop on amazing filmmakers before the general public. I have been privy to see some of his other work and I have to tell you all, this is definitely a rising star to watch this year. I am sure his contributions to independent filmmaking will be astounding. Stay tuned... you heard it here first.
check him out out here RYAN HUNTS

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Reel Inspiration: Take 7 with Rob Imbs

It's been awhile since the last installation of Reel Inspiration. So, I definitely wanted this one to be someone that has a REAL passion for filmmaking. Enter Rob Imbs, a filmmaker from Buffalo, New York that has produced for television, edited commercial work, and written, directed, and edited several features. My first run-in with Rob was on Twitter and I have been an avid reader of his blog Lovely Junkie since then. He is a real sharp, geniune guy and he loves what he does. That's the kind of people I like to surround myself with and when he says he likes a movie I know that I'm going to get something out of it. So with out further ado...

"I think it’s essential for creative people to surround themselves with positive and encouraging influences. I love the technology surrounding the process of filmmaking, the friends that I make along the way and the feeling of accomplishment when a project comes together.


It’s nearly impossible for me to pick my three FAVORITE films, but let’s give it a shot.

The Big Kahuna:

The DSLR craze has helped us all to become obsessed, and rightfully so, with depth of field, bit rate, color depth, and frame rates. The way that a film looks is important because it shapes the way we perceive the story. That said, probably once a year I throw the Big Kahuna into my DVD player, and it’s not because of how it looks. This film is by no means a technical achievement or in any way revolutionary, but it does showcase what is often forgotten in most films, dialogue.

The film is about 3 lubricant salesmen who are out of town on business. The director, John Swanbeck, chose to shoot the entire film in one location, which to me is ballsy! Imagine how limiting that must have been, he couldn’t hold the audiences attention by cutting away to another location. I think the Big Kahuna personifies what makes a good film, a good story, great writing, and wonderful acting. The Big Kahuna inspires me to want to become a better writer every time I watch it.


Kill Bill 1:

Tarantino is obvious known for the way he showcases violence in his films. But what I never hear him praised for is his cinematography. Violence aside, my favorite things about Kill Bill 1 were the cinematography and art direction. The whole film feels very conceived, that is to say, I feel like every shot in the movie was meticulously boarded and setup. A wonderful example of this is the tracking shot that begins the “House of Blue Leaves” scene. I’ve probably watched this shot over 50 times. It lifts and twists, catching little pieces of light and color in a inspiring and masterful way. So the shot isn't just a technical achievement, it also progresses the story by establishing the location and characters. I feel like I could teach a class using this shot as its inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke6KUtcG9jY&feature=related

It’s also worth noting that I’m a huge fan of anime, so when Quentin chose to animate entire scenes of the film, it scored points with me :)


The Insider:

Take a moment to think of your favorite film, does it include Megan Fox bent over a motorcycle, or does it speak to who you are as a person? To me, drama’s are the most rewarding films to watch because they have the most potential to change a person’s mind or affect someone in an emotional way. I saw the Insider years ago and I can say quite certainly that it helped to shape me into the person that I am today. The film is about doing what is right even when everyone abandons you. So without being too preachy, I'll just say that I liked this message and the film." Rob Imbs


Check out Rob Imbs blog Lovely Junkie
Also follow him on Twitter: @lj_director

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Reel World: Brian DeFrees + Canon 7D

The thing that I really love about this piece is that it takes something I absolutely loathe,taking a car to get serviced, and makes it fun. This was also the first thing he shot on the Canon 7D, so stay tuned. I have a feeling we are going to be seeing a lot more.

Service from Brian DeFrees on Vimeo.

Who is Brian DeFrees?

I am a cinematographer who shoots and edits commercial and corporate videos for an Advertising Agency in Upstate NY.

Did you have any problems you had to over come when shooting this?

This was the first thing I shot on the Canon 7D.It was hard to choose the correct exposure when shooting the scenes with the flying sparks. I felt I coudn't get a setting where the sparks were orange enough without darkening the rest of the image.

What was your favorite thing or things about the Canon 7D?

The Sharpness of the image straight of the camera is amazing. Coming from an HVX200 with a Cinema lens adapter to the 7D is an amazing transition as a filmmaker. Easier rig to use and focus, especially in tight situations like the ones in this video. And image quality is superb!

How about the glidetrack? Which version do you have? How do you like it?

I have the Glidetrack SD range 1 Meter version. It's a great piece of equipment. The Glidetrack is a compact, bring-anywhere piece of equipment that makes it easy to add a cinematic look to your films.

Do you have any plans for shooting with the Canon 7D in the future?

I plan on shooting all of my future films with the 7D: Music Videos, Wedding Videos, Commercials and more short films are in the works.

For more info on Brian DeFrees

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Canon 5D MK II Firmware announced for Mid-March

London, 2nd March 2010 – Canon today pre-announces the release of a firmware update for the multiple award-winning EOS 5D Mark II. Originally announced in late 2009, the update adds 24* and 25 frames per second (fps) recording to the camera’s EOS MOVIE video function, and will be available as a free download from the middle of March.



Developed following feedback from photographers and cinematographers, Firmware 2.0.3 further enhances the EOS 5D Mark II’s excellent video performance. The addition of new frame rates expands the camera’s video potential, providing filmmakers with the ability to shoot 1080p Full HD footage at 24fps (actual 23.976fps) – the optimum frame rate for cinematic video. 25fps support at both 1920×1080 and 640×480 resolutions will allow users to film at the frame rate required for the PAL broadcast standard, while the new firmware will also change the 30fps option to the NTSC video standard of 29.97fps.

A new histogram display for shooting movies in manual exposure, shutter-priority (Tv) and aperture-priority (Av) have been added, and exposure modes will also be available in movie mode. Improved audio functionality will allow users to set sound record levels manually using a sound-level meter displayed on the LCD screen. The audio sampling frequency has also been increased from 44.1KHz to 48KHz, providing the optimum audio signal typically required for professional or broadcast material.

With its full frame CMOS sensor and compatibility with Canon’s wide range of premium lenses, the EOS 5D Mark II is already recognised for its outstanding HD video performance. Launched in September 2008, the camera immediately created a wide range of new possibilities for photographers and videographers, and the addition of new frame rates and manual audio levels extends those possibilities even further – allowing movie makers to shoot stunning movies to suit practically any creative purpose.

Extreme sports photographer Richard Walch was one of the first to be given the chance to use the newly updated EOS 5D Mark II to shoot the snowboarding movie “I Love My Friends”. Commenting on the EOS 5D Mark II’s video performance, Richard said: “The addition of the new frame rates opens up a whole new range of possibilities. If you’re a cinematographer, independent film maker or just enthusiastic about making your own movies, get out there and give it a try”.

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To 7D or Not to 7D That is The Question...

Honestly I haven't had a chance to sit down and watch this video, but I had the good fortune of meeting JJ Kim, at InFocus in Austin, and he's a stand up guy. He did this because he's cool. Read below for my take on the 7D vs. T2i so far. I have only had the camera for a day and I am slightly biased, as I paid good hard earned money for my 7D, and it hasn't failed me but has never failed to impress me.

7D vs. T2i Comparison Video from Orange Wedding Films on Vimeo.
If you own a 7D should you dump it and grab a T2i and a lens.
In good conscience I could not advise that.
If you don't have enough for 7d + lens and cards,and batteries. Yes. You can always keep your lenses just don't buy crop lenses, get full frame lenses.
If you want a B-Roll camera and already own the 7D and can't afford another one. Yes. However you will have to buy all new batteries and cards,and a card reader that reads SDHC cards so calculate the difference between T2i and 7D. Then add new cards and batteries/reader to price of T2i.  If you already have a decent supply of cards/batteries stocked up for 7D and it will cover both cameras on most shoots. Get another 7D that camera is still a massive steal at $1600.
If your on the fence and can afford it or are close to affording it, get the Canon 7D or 5D. Depending on the body of work that you will do.
Advantages of T2i much crisper LCD. Cheaper.
Disadvantage
 Loss of a LOT of ISO's that I use. A LOT. You have to jump from 100 to 200 to 400 to 800 to 1600. You completely skip ISO 1250, which I use a lot in fairly dark rooms.
 If you have a 7D, and have to,then, get another one for B-Roll. If your strapped for cash,and want to shoot DSLR,well then jump in my friends, the water is warm.

Disclaimer: This camera just arrived. If anything bad happens a month from now contact Canon. I receive nothing from them. I'm not a fanboy. I'm a blue collar guy, trying to help if I can. If you have specific questions, let me know, I'll do my best to get back to you as fast as possible. Stay tuned! Footage is on it's way. Loads more reviewing to come before I make any definitive conclusions. This is just a real-time spewing of my impressions thus far. I just hope I can help people make educated decisions regarding camera purchases. I have learned a lot from people like David Perry, stillmotion, Philip Bloom and many others over the last year plus about giving out information and help just to do it. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback thus far. For that I thank you all. Oh yeah. Keep on rocking in the free world. We are lucky to be alive in the greatest Renaissance independent filmmaking has seen in a long, long,time. Never forget that.

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Canon T2i Compared to Canon 7D: First Thoughts

The body of the 7D is way better. More rugged build. When you hold the T2i (if you are used to the 7D it feels like a toy. This is a very stupid thing I guess but I prefer my 7D a lot in this way.
I still have to get used to the button configuration/controls which I found to be a bit harder to figure out where the 7D it just makes sense. A few interesting things I will explore further is that while in Movie Mode you can very easily switch between a variety of White Balance presets as well as a custom one you can set yourself. Another feature I do prefer in the T2i is the ability to switch the framerate you are shooting in without ever leaving Live View. There is a setting in the Menu as well for Automatic focus while in Movie Mode. I would never shoot in Auto and I am not sure if that actually works or I am a fool but found that interesting. I plan on shooting a bit tonight when we go out for dinner to see how it holds up in a real life situation. Here's another odd thing I noticed
The ISO for the T2i in Movie Mode
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400

There seems to be quite a few ISO settings missing that are available in the Canon 7D .
If you own a 7D I wouldn't feel bad about your purchase. I am certainly still very happy with mine. I absolutely love it and it definitely seems to have a much better build, as I would assume. Now for $800 I think it may be a great camera for someone who wants to get there feet wet in the DSLR video world. I plan on shooting more as I said and hope to have various videos up tomorrow. Two other things of note if you already own Canon DSLR's you will need new batteries and you will need new cards. The T2i  takes SDHC not CF cards.

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Canon T2i First Look

T2i Unwrapping! from Cristina Valdivieso + Jon Connor on Vimeo.

More to come...

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Canon T2i Has Arrived

It's in a box sitting on my couch. My better half is on the phone. I can't open it until she gets off of the phone and I am dying right now. I feel giddy like a little school girl. It's snowing like mad outside and i literally just caught the UPS guy thanks to the supreme intelligence of our bulldog Bruiser. The guy went to the wrong door and Bruiser was kind enough to alert the entire neighborhood by barking like a maniac. Stay tuned as we work this camera out and see what exactly we have on our hands here. I am very excited to put this thing to the test. Too bad I can't really go outside because of snow but I am definitely not complaining.

Update: It's out of the box. If you are already sold on the Canon T2i
and you already own the Canon 7D or 5D MK II make sure to buy extra batteries because the T2i doesn't use the same batteries.

From T2i

From T2i

From T2i

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