Red Giant's New Media Management Software - Offload November 24 2014, 0 Comments

Media management is one of the biggest issues facing content creators today... not only archival, but also on set during production. Not every job can afford to hire a DIT to manage, backup and log the footage.

Enter 'Offload' from Red Giant and Stu Maschwitz. A new simple, yet powerful app for getting your shots off your camera and onto your computer. And it's affordable too at only $49. 

We really think this is a great idea and have actually been wanting an affordable solution like this for a while.

Why?

Mainly for the checksum verification, but also for the logging. Traditional DIT software like Silverstack is great, but expensive. Offload is squarely aimed at indie creators and/or smaller productions - however, we wouldn't be surprised if DITs (media mangers/wranglers) use this too on smaller jobs.

Read more details on the software here, from Stu himself.

The "Robot Cameraman" - Soloshot November 21 2014, 0 Comments

Having a robot run a camera doesn't sound like great job security for filmmakers per se, but in the case of the Soloshot, we think it makes a lot of sense.

So what is Soloshot? Watch this:

This looks like it could be an interesting option for certain jobs, especially event-style work (corporate, sports, weddings, etc.) where manpower is often short and a second camera is needed. The time-lapse camera movement looks like it could be cool, too.  

We've not seen one of these in action though, but definitely considering buying one. 

Has anyone tried a Soloshot?  If so, please let us know us know in the comments!

Meet Me In Big Sur - Shot on a BMCC November 19 2014, 0 Comments

This video from filmmaker Andrew Julian really showcases the abilities of shooting RAW on the Blackmagic Cinema Camera... 

This was released on Vimeo back in early 2013 too, right when the initial BMCC orders were being fulfilled. The camera has come along way since then through various firmware updates, but the RAW image quality was there from the beginning. Choosing the right lenses and knowing the best time of day to shoot, etc. really helps make any footage sing too, just as Andrew did here. And interestingly, he used Lightroom for the color grading, which is typically used for stills photography (but created amazing results here).

Lots of our footage is available in RAW .R3D formats from RED, and in ProRes HQ from BMCC (that was originally shot in uncompressed RAW Cinema DNG). 

It's a good time to be a filmmaker with all these really great and affordable cameras around... don't you think?

Our YouTube Channel is Now Live November 17 2014, 0 Comments

If you're on YouTube (and who isn't really?) please subscribe to our channel here.

Why subscribe? This is where we'll post filmmaking tutorials, explainer videos and product demos (along with on our Vimeo page).

Here are a few examples: 

Lots more videos coming soon!  Hope you enjoy and perhaps learn something. :)

High-End Compositing, 3D Animation and Motion Graphics Software - for FREE? November 12 2014, 0 Comments

Yep. Blackmagic Design has done it again. Read more ➠

Xhail and Let Your Computer Score Your Film... November 05 2014, 0 Comments

Or, that's what the folks at Score Music Interactive hope will happen with their new production music endeavor, Xhail... Read more ➠

The GaffGun November 04 2014, 0 Comments

This falls under the cateogory of WHY DIDN'T WE THINK OF THAT?

Very useful tool here for grip work on pretty much all kinds of sets.

Check out their website here to buy one.