If you need a handy reminder of FCP shortcuts on your desk you can now download this Iphone/Ipod Touch App. From beginners who want to learn the shortcuts of FCP, to Pros who need this App as a pocket size reference or to learn some hidden shortcuts not even published by Apple. Keep this on your iPhone as a mobile “cheat sheet”. FCP Shortcutz costs 59p or $.99 and requires the iPhone 3.0 Software Update or later.
Go see FCP Shortcutz at the Apple store 
Just released is the Livepack by video streaming service aptly named Livestream. It’s an all-in-one, backpack-sized device available for lease that enables live, mobile, HD quality broadcasts.
Livepack is carried in a backpack has no requirement for a laptop, features a touch screen and six integrated 3G/EVDO modems from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint that combine to offer up the highest possible available bit-rate. In good hotspots it can achieve a 700 kbps connection (it can go up to 1Mbps), in poor areas with patchy reception, the six modems together can provide 300 – 400 kbps.
Here’s the summary:
Another potential market for Videomakers has launched with tiny Video screens appearing in magazines in the US. The screens are disposal but there are plans to make them reusable for people who buy the magazine to store their own Videos on. (Can’t think why they’d choose this method?)
The screens could turn into quite a cool fightback by print magazines losing people to online media who are attracted by Video in websites (like this one). The screens are also being produced for wedding albums to offer Video alongside the pictures.
Makes the magazine hard to fold and stick in your pocket though!
This handy little charger can be used with 85% of block style camcorder/camera batteries, which could lighten your luggage if you are carrying loads of camera kit around or have a large family of videomaking nuts. No need to bring 5 different chargers just one of these will keep you in shoot mode. It works with both Solar Technology’s FreeLoader and FreeLoader Pro solar gadget chargers. You can also use it in your car lighter socket or your computer. Another plus, it arrives with an adaptor for both US and European outlets when you finally get the call from Hollywood. The CamCaddy will set you back £24.95 ($41.00)
Time for the first ever guest post on Jules.tv. Freelance Director Joe Shaw shares his experience of using the new HD Video shooting Panasonic GH1.
Cut to Joe:
“I had my first opportunity to test the Panasonic GH1 out recently and took the camera out to the Thames Barrier Park in London. The park has 22 acres of lawns, trees and a fantastic formal garden that echoes the unique architecture of the Barrier.
The first enjoyment of using this rig for me was the sheer portability of it. I’m used to lugging a Panasonic HVX200 around and with a 35mm lens adapter attached plus a heavy duty tripod… Since this was the hottest day of the year so far, I felt a sense of relief every time I looked down at my lightweight backpack.
Another benefit of shooting with such a small camera is that it allows you to be more inconspicuous. I was paid little attention - and this allowed me to capture some nice candid moments of people relaxing in the sunshine.
The camera was great to use. The viewfinder is bright and detailed and has a dioptric adjustment for glasses wearers such as myself. Under normal conditions, the LCD screen is very good - I particularly like the fact that it can articulate into different positions, allowing you to see the screen clearly whilst shooting at all sorts of angles. But in bright sunlight it is hard to see properly – particularly as it is highly reflective. I’m considering the particularly funky Sock Loupe to deal with this issue.
Another consideration in the bright light is getting a decent exposure. I wanted to achieve shallow depth of field and in order to do that you need to open up the aperture. However, as the camera has no ND (Neutral Density) filters built into it - as a video camera might - there is no way of restricting the light coming into the camera.
I bought the Cokin P series filter mount which holds up to 4 filters and was suddenly transported back to my days of stills photography. The camera is extremely sensitive to light and I will need to buy more ND filters for future use.
One of the beauties of the GH1 s how adaptable it is. There are a large number of adapters available online to allow you to mount lenses from different camera systems to the body of the GH1. I’ve picked up a few Canon FD primes on Ebay - (28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 100mm 2.8) for use with my SGPro 35mm adapter, but with an adapter they worked great on the GH1. I used the Jinfinance, which is a well made adapter that screws neatly and simply onto the lens and then onto the GH1 body.
One thing to bear in mind is that the Panasonic uses the micro Four Thirds system, which means that when you mount a 35mm still lens on the camera it will have an equivalent focal length of 2x. This means that a 50mm lens will have the look of a 100mm lens in 35mm terms.
I shot most of the Thames Barrier Park film in FHD mode - this is the camera’s full HD 1080/25 AVCHD mode. There has been a lot written about the quality of the codec in this mode. I would say best on my brief experimentation so far that the codec in this mode can cause you problems. The picture can break up if you move the camera too quickly - but this can be planned for and avoided. However, I did notice some artifacting even in static shots – high detail scenes such as foliage seem to be particularly problematic.
That said, the camera does have a fantastic 720/50 mode. All of the slow motion shots in the film were done in this mode. The codec appears to be much more robust in 720 and anything fast moving or that required quick camera movement should be shot in this mode for best results. As a bonus, since it is 720/50 - dropping the footage onto a 25p timeline allows for very simple and effective slow motion. This is achieved differently in various NLE’s, but in Edius - my editing setup - I simply dropped the footage onto a 25p timeline and changed the speed to 50%.
I’m already looking forward to my next outing with the camera and can see this being an extremely useful part of my kit. For lowlight work, or where I need to be compact and portable, the camera is perfect. Using a DSLR to shoot video also has the added benefit of being able to deliver high quality to stills to clients as well - all from the same unit.
For audio, I’m about to invest in a Zoom H4N recorder. This is an extremely popular option for recording sound with a DSLR. Compact and able to record on 4 channels simultaneously, the H4N can also provide phantom power via XLR – which means the mics I have for the HVX200 will work great with it.
In September I’m off to Hong Kong to start work on a long-term documentary following new students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The fact that this setup is so portable means it will be my first choice for kit for the shoot – which is remarkable considering the cost of the camera. My HVX200 is going to have to sit this trip out …”
To find out more about Joe Shaw please visit his website.
BUY THE PANASONIC GH1
(US) Panasonic GH1 (UK) Panasonic GH1
Meet Lusy from Swedish furnishings company Ikea. She’s a bedspread. This quirky company loves odd named products and also serves up the finest meatballs in town. It’s worth paying them a visit if a) you need a cheap lunch or b) you are for looking for improvised lighting, props etc. for videomaking.
Just like Lusy - not only can she keep you warm at night she’s perfect as a bargain bucket greenscreen solution for your homemade Web series.
This video shot on 14th July (Bastille Day) in Paris jumped out at me straightaway. Great visuals that play tricks on the eye plus an ultra cool soundtrack. JTV checked in with Albrecht Gerlach, Photographer/Director from Alta Media Productions to find out how the Video was made.
ALBERT GERLACH: ‘The hardest part of pulling this off was getting access to the Rooftop on the Champs Élysée. We probably knocked on about 50 doors and almost gave up on the project. In the end it worked out really well thanks to and old lady that let us up on her terrace. We actually were right next to two Snipers of the French Special Forces watching over the terrain. After all you had the President (Sarkozy) and a bunch of high ranking officials passing by just in front of you.
On the technical side we used four 5D MKIIs. Two cameras from the main position. One with a 24mm TSE shooting the whole scene, and one with a 90mm TSE getting the close ups. The shot of the planes going by as well as the opening shot was done from the rooftop of an office high-rise. No TSE lens on that camera. The effect was done in Post, you can probably tell. We did also have one camera on the Eiffel Tower with a long lens but ended up not using those angels since the lighting conditions didn’t match well with the main footage.
Canon EOS-5D-MKII
The parade and the preparations were on for about 4 hours, and it was pretty tricky to shoot with two cameras, and manage the files at the same time. I was constantly emptying cards and making backups on a notebook. I only had 6 CF cards with me that day. However I did get my hands on those elusive LP-E6 spare Batteries just before the shoot.
Probably quite hard on the cameras, doing around 14.000/h for four hours in a row. On a side note, I did have one of the bodies checked by CPS in Paris and they were all confused and were like: Sir, did you know that your camera already has xxx.xxx shutter actuations?!?
Processing the files does require some beefy hardware. Even with a top of the line MacPro, I had Final Cut crash on me all the time.
Basic color correction in FCP, some Grain with Tiffen DfX and cloning away birds etc. in Photoshop. The Smoothcam Filter was also invaluable, since even with a heavy tripod there was always some camera shake due to wind.
I’m very happy about the soundtrack. It was mixed by Camille Michel, a Paris based sound designer.’
Credits:
Photography: Albrecht Gerlach www.albrechtgerlach.com
Production: Tatiana Pereira @ Alta Media Productions
Camera Assistant: Tom Chabbat
Sound: Camille Michel www.unterdecke.com
5DmkII rental in Paris: www.photocinerent.fr
ALTA MEDIA PRODUCTIONS ON VIMEO
See the Canon EOS 5D MKII at Jessops
High Speed Kingston Compact Flash Memory Cards
READ MORE POSTS LIKE THIS? See the ‘Making of Hot for Words‘ with Number 1 Russian YouTube star Marina Orlova!
‘Know Your Meme‘ is an excellent Web series from the people who bring you ‘Rocketboom’. Some of the epsiodes get 350,000 views on YouTube alone. So call me a killjoy but I couldn’t help noticing the mixed lighting.
Now I have ‘mixed’ feelings about this, you could say it’s a creative tool or I’m being picky and it isn’t a big deal, but I reckon it would be better if the whole shot was consistent in colour balance.
As you can see from the thumbnail above the Presenter is lit with unfiltered tungsten (warm light) and the camera is white balanced to that light, but the windows, walls (and Computer screen) have all gone blue due to the high level of ambient daylight (or cooler light).
Solution? Put blue gels on the Tungsten light to balance them to the daylight (easiest way), or add orange gels to the windows (carefully so it doesn’t show up in shot) to balance the daylight to the tungsten light which can then be used as is, without gels.
A great light that doesn’t require any gels is the Kino Flo Diva Lite. You can just swap the tungsten balanced strip lights for daylight ones in a couple of minutes, and you have a soft light ideal for lighting people that also doesn’t give off masses of heat and can be easily dimmed. (See video below)
Looking for a Tungsten softlight? I also use the Rifa Lite (economic, soft light that’s great for interviews and presenters). Check out the Lowel Rifa LC-66eX eXchange-Lite, 120-230VAC, 25″ x 25″ Collapsible Soft Light System
Check out this DIY Denim Iphone case. I reckon the Iphone 3GS will turn out to be THE portable video camera/mobile combi of choice for Videomakers who want ultra light gear rather than to carry around multiple bits of kit. I am a Flip Video fan but it’s under serious threat. So what better (or cheaper) way to keep your new baby nice an cosy than a homemade pouch made out of cast off Levi’s.
VIA INSTRUCTABLES
I know how hard it is to stop watching your own work, so now you can even view your Video creations in the bath or under the sea. The H20 Idive300 is a waterproof casing for your Ipod or Iphone that’s waterproof down to 300ft/90m.
A microprocessor allows for push button control of the click wheel and touch screen, it comes with over ear speakers and a built in amplifier. Apparently divers get bored waiting to decompress so it can kill the boredom.
See the Idive in underwater action by watching the Video above.
In this video Derek Yeo of Treasure Productions goes to a ‘toystore’ for camera kit (Expandore Electronics) to tease his Sony PMW-EX3 with some great accessories. I like this film because it’s got a sense of humour and a popular touch, though no Oscars for the acting. There are so many dull videos of people demonstrating video kit out there, but this one is no yawn.
If you are looking for a business video for your site and your brand can handle this style (not recommended if you run an Undertakers) it’s worth trying to do something a bit different and take inspiration from these creators.
I have never worked with any Camerapeople like these, but for my next Fashion Reality show - you’re hired!
Disclaimer: Dear female readers, before you rush off to hit the unsubscribe link, this post is meant to be a comment on the way Video gear is marketed to men!
The thought of turning your beautiful shiny Macbook into something out of Scrapheap Challenge might make some Mac owners feel dizzy. These ‘Urban Dirty’ skins created by Brighton based designer Paul Burgess were inspired by a splatter of paint he found in a parking garage. He takes photos and turns them into skins to cover up the back of your laptop. They are available in standard Macbook, Powerbook and ibook sizes and you can get them in PC sizes too if you are a PC.
I reckon they’ll cause a few heads to turn in Starbucks if you crave attention. I’ve got an old Powerbook that looks so battered it would definitely look better for a makeover like this. The skins are priced at $29.99 from Infectious.
Yes you can blink, this is a crane for under US$300! The Kessler KC-Lite 8.0 won’t suit big cameras but if you are using DSLR’s or lightweight DV cameras under 10 pounds this could be a way into recording some slick crane shots.
It boasts a 3/8″ thick ultra rigid mounting plate, 3 modes of crane operation (manual tilt, fixed-angle mode, & automatic mode) and a 100% tool-less set up! Find out more here.
Check out this custom made office deskspace. If you are juggling video editing, blogging, surfing and watching Hulu all at the same time this could be perfect. Steve Price built a custom made cabinet to house all his kit and now he looks like he is an Air Traffic Controller!
Construction pix and more info over at Lifehacker.
