2 promising video cameras from CES

i try not to get too distracted by cameras, but there are 2 very interesting cameras that were announced at CES.

one is the canon vixia s10, which has the same form factor as their hf10 and records to flash memory cards.

jvc also has an camera coming out, the gy-hm100u. this also records to flash memory, and is the first camera to encode to .mov, which is final cut pro’s native file format.

the canon is slated to cost $1400 and the jvc should be $4000.

interviews from dc shorts on ourstage

ourstage.com interviewed some filmmakers at dc shorts, including some new friends i met there, and yours truly.

http://www.ourstage.com/

the link to the video is on the right under “what’s happening”.

focus on fewer things

i realized i have too many things i want to do. this includes:
- a web series.
- a music video.
- a feature script that deals with time travel.
- a feature script about 30 somethings in relationships that i can shoot low budget.
- a spec script for a sitcom.
- i already signed up for a class on after effects.
- i want to redo my illustration portfolio.

and that’s just film/art stuff i want to do. that doesn’t even touch on other things i’d like to do, the things i have to do, or should do more of.

so obviously that list is ridiculously long and it would take years to do everything on that list.

i’m going to learn after effects

i registered for a class at ucla extension that starts next month. i took a class years ago that taught final cut pro and after effects, and i used it to do the effects for edit>love, but i really need to learn it in depth. if you haven’t used it before, after effects is like photoshop with a timeline, and there are so many things you can do with it.

not only can it be used for motion design for commercials, film titles, and dvd menus, it can also be used for special effects compositing. the new version even has tools for character animation. there are other programs like shake, motion, inferno, etc, but after effects has just the right combination of being versatile and deep.

meanwhile, i want to start storyboarding my next project so i can experiment and do test runs of my effects shots.

more kung fu

atomfilms released my movie Martial Artsy with another short, Four Card Studs.

screening – ONCE

i saw an advance screening of ONCE last tuesday.

Here’s the summary from the Film Independent site: From acclaimed Irish director John Carney comes a beautiful, classic story of two artists falling in love. Starring Glen Hansard (of acclaimed Irish band The Frames) and Marketa Irglova.

it won the audience award at sundance earlier this year, and it’s easy to see why. it was a great film and it was inspiring because he made it on a low budget, there are no stars, but it has a simple story which is told very well. the characters are great, and there is real emotion which was so refreshing.

the director john carney was there afterwards for a Q+A.

25% of the year is almost over

i’ve spent most of the first 3 months of 2007 drawing. i took 2 concept art classes at gnomon, and they were really good classes. but because of that, i’ve barely written anything so far. my class ended last sunday so i need to switch back to writing and films.

currently, i’m outliining my short horror script, and i’m also trying to think of ideas for a web series.

i wanted to make 2 short films this year, so i have to get started soon if i plan on meeting my goal.

screening info

Martial Artsy will play at the Newport Beach Film Fest in the program called “Furiously Funny Shorts” on saturday 4/21/2007 at 9pm in the Edwards Island Cinemas – Cox Theater. it also plays in the program “Another Mix Tape” on 4/23/2007 at 4:30 pm in the Edwards Island Cinemas – Farmers & Merchants Bank Theater.

i’ll be there for the saturday evening screening but won’t be able to make it on monday afternoon.

modbook = tablet mac

i was waiting for apple to make this, but someone beat them to it, and i want it! drawing will be so much better than drawing on a regular wacom tablet.

compared to the cintiq, this modbook would be a bit cheaper, but portable, and is a computer, not just an input device.  however, the cintiq gives a bigger drawing area, and has more levels of sensitivity.

i’m going to wait a little longer because i’m hoping apple will release something with an iphone like touch interface.

on the lot submission

i mailed off my submission today.  i’ve been seriously procrastinating but i finally shot my intro video and filled out the application.  if you’re going to apply, do it fast!  the deadline is only 2 days away.