Drones For Life

One thing I have truly been fascinated by is the growth and development of drones for cinema. This past couple weeks I really got to get up close in personal with one, and see how they work. You would think that it would be pretty simple to fly because they are so attainable, but thats completely false.  The controller has two pannels, one that deals with the flight pattern and another controlling the camera. Im so proud that I developed a true appreciation for how difficult it is to pilot one. Now heres a sick fucking drone video

http://devour.com/video/air-time/

Red Bull's Latest Video & Forced Perspective

Red Bull just released a new BMX video, and it plays heavily with forced perspective to add an interesting element for all viewers, BMX fans or not.

Wikipedia defines forced perspective as: A technique that employs optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger or smaller than it actually is. It is used primarily in photography, filmmaking, and architecture.

Here's a picture for example:




and here's a video Arturo showed me a few years ago really highlighting forced perspective.

So after seeing some other examples of forced perspective, here's the BMX video:

The DJI OSMO

Needless to say one of the most up and coming camera companies is DJI. With their state of the art drones, portable 3-axis gimbals, and the new line of cameras they are releasing, they are changing the world of cinema as we know it. These kind of technologies create a more immersive experience and allow filmmakers to create new and unique shots. The newest item to their arsenal is the DJI OSMO, take a look at the video below to experience the magic.

As you can see it is quite the gadget. I see large resemblances of GoPro type features, including stills, variable frame rates, high resolution of 4k, and they even added a panorama feature which will be interesting to see results of. However, it doesn't seem that the OSMO is waterproof, this is the edge that GoPro still has going for them.

The gimbal is truly amazing as well. DJI is very good at combing all of their products together, and the OSMO is a fine example of this. Taking the gimbal features that were originally used with their drones and Ronin, and adding a true handheld design is amazing. The shots of the boxer in the video above took camera moves to a whole new level. The new Zenmuse cameras for DJI's drone series can also be interchanged on to the pistol grip OSMO to have the ability to change lenses and take advantage of the micro 4/3rds sensor. The additional viewfinder via iPhone is also genius. With cameras like the GoPro, the bluetooth signal to your phone is never strong enough and the LCD viewfinder is just too small. You can also change settings of the camera like shutter speed and ISO through the app on your phone.

This new device packs a powerful punch and I am interested in seeing how it is put to use within the next few weeks. The film industry is in a constant stage of progression and this is a clear example of what we are capable of and what is in the near future. Storytelling has never had so many resources available, now just to get out there and capture the moment.

The new RED Raven

RED has teased at it's newest camera, The Raven, and will be announced September 25th. It is currently rumored to shoot 4K at 120 FPS and has built-in WiFi.

Most of the information currently known is based on speculation, leaked information, and leaked photos via employees and the president at RED. The raven will most likely feature a fixed mount, which fans are speculating will be an EF mount. From the above picture it is likely that the Raven will take mini-mags for media storage. 

Based on announcements from other companies, fans are guessing that the Raven will come at a price point of under $10,000 (body only) and will be replacing SCARLET MX. More information will be released on Friday during the official announcement, but until then, speculation will have to get your fix. 

A7S II

Yeah I'm late. BUT thats only because I heard about this announcement from Sony and I wanted to wait to see if it got confirmed today. It did! The A7S II is finally here and it is impressive. The camera builds on the power of its predecessor while introducing new elements from the A7R line. Notably, the camera now shoots natively in 4K. Unlike the previous model, which you would need an external recorder to squeeze out any more than 1080p, this one shoots it directly onto your cards. The low light range has been kept the same (still absolutely insane at a possible 400,000+ ISO) but an added bonus is the internal image stabilization that we saw introduced to the A7 and A7R lines not too long ago.

As an active proponent for Canon, even I am finding it difficult not to make the switch when such amazing possibilities are becoming available. The only thing that is currently keeping me where I am is the lens selection, but their 8K cameras are still less than impressive. Its time for them to pick up their game and catch up with the advancements of Sony.

It's Not the Camera...

The common questions that is raised among student filmmakers is, "What camera did you use?" While each camera has it's own perk, the Phantom with amazing variable frame rates, the RED with insane resolution reaching up to 8K, or even the A7s with its outstanding low light capabilities, it all really comes down to the operator. Its proven every day on Instagram that you can produce beautiful images with an Iphone or Go Pro. But there have also been plenty of bad movies shot on high level cinema cameras as well.

Above is a video created by DigitalRev that shows filmmaker Philip Bloom create a very unique piece of work with just the camera that comes in a specialized Barbie doll. If you have the chance to watch it please do, it is quite amusing and the results will amaze you. Below is the trailer to a recent Sundance film that was shot completely on the Iphone 5s and has been one of the most talked about movies to come out of the festival.

These are just two real world examples of how the camera really doesn't matter when it comes to story. Films are about relaying a message. Even though I would love to shoot pretty Bokeh images all day long, the fact of the matter is viewership comes from how well the story is told. Only the film students in the audience will be thinking about what camera and lens the DP used, the rest of the audience will be focused on what is happening in the universe that is being created before their eyes.

Composition of shots and the technical precision of the camera work will be noticed in film only when done badly. But when done right, these factors drive the film. Blown out windows is commonly a jarring feature of a movie and the most common mistake among students is breaking the 180 degree rule. But both a RED and a Iphone can break this universal rule.

We are no longer in the age of film where every shot literally costed money. With digital media you can shoot for hours on end for no extra cost, and this has created a shift in the way filmmakers work. Any yahoo can operate a camera but doing it well is another story. 3 hours worth of bad footage will never trump the longed for 1 minute tracking shot. We are sacrificing quantity for quality and students are the number one culprit. We need to get back to focusing on how the technology we have available to us can add to the story rather than focusing on what certain cameras can and cannot do. Will 4k really make your movie better? Or is it just being used because thats what "The Hobbit" shot in? Story is the center of cinema, the camera is what relays that story, they are two separate factors that combine to make a masterpiece, but only when sculpted together with the right hands.

4K filming changing the gam

As the supper bowl is coming our way, many people are excited for the game, the commercials, food, friends, but what a lot of tech geeks are looking forward to is the 100+ cameras (several of which being 4K) they will be using.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that enormous amount of background work that goes into media aspect of such an event. Other than the $3,000,000 30second commercial spots, the technology that will be used to make this showdown is unfathomable.

Unfortunately, we are not at the point where we can film the entire supper bowl in 4K nor are we at the point where we can view it at that quality, but it is coming soon. Many people will not be able to appreciate the picture quality that will come from these cameras because it will be broadcast on television in 1080p and available for streaming in only 720p, regardless, it is quite the triumph to get where we are today. A majority of the cameras being used will be the HDC-1500 and HDC-2500, which will be routed to any of the 5 production trucks used during the game. I am still trying to get a grasp on the FS-100 so it will take some research for me to full grasp the capabilities of the cameras they are using now.

What Fox is trying to do with these cameras is allow for a type of digital zoom the will not degrade the picture quality but allow for cropping on original 4K images to fit a full HD resolution. In essence Fox is trying to improve their picture quality through placing their new cameras along the sideline, goal line, and will be used to improve officials reviews of plays. This new technology is going to change not only football, but all sports, TV shows, and News. Movie theaters have already adapted to the new ways and movies are already being shot and viewed with 4K technology. For instance, “The Hobbit” was beautifully made shot with high-resolution cameras that gave an amazing dynamic to the film.

 All forms of broadcasting are changing rapidly, soon it will be the norm to have only 4K TVs and say bye to 1080p HD.  I am excited for what will be coming next; I heard 8K cameras are in the making…

TimeScapes

Time lapse photography. I am fascinated with it. When we talked about Koyaanisqatsi (and a couple of other related films that I can't remember right now), I immediately thought of a project that I saw on Vimeo a couple of years ago, TimeScapes...

When I purchased my first DSLR, I researched a bunch of different tricks I could do with it. I naturally went to Vimeo where I stumbled across the profile of award-winning cinematographer Tom Lowe. His focus was nature, and his work was some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. He soon embarked on a journey across the American southwest to record some of the most beautiful landscapes and cultures on Earth.

Released a few months ago, TimeScapes is the first 4K film to be sold to the public. While I have not seen it yet, it looks gorgeous (I really want to see it, but am waiting for some cash so can purchase the Bluray version... damn being a poor college kid). From all of the trailers, I can gauge a few things: the night sky is freaking beautiful, I want a RED camera, time lapses are even cooler when on a moving rig, and there is no need for a narrative to make a film work.

Non-narrative films are things that I am starting to enjoy. As I grow up, I appreciate art more and more. These films are as much art as they are entertainment. With my camera and remote shutter/timer, I hope to someday create something 1/100th as creative as TimeScapes.

Check out one of the many awesome trailers for TimeScapes below. And for more information on the film, check it out here.