I came across this video today that takes us along with the space shuttle during a launch. These cameras are attached to the shuttle’s SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters) and the video shows their entire path from launch and back down to the Atlantic ocean where they are picked up and reused.
Movie Genome mapping is nothing new. Netflix and itunes use it to recommend movies to its users based on movies you’ve viewed or rated in the past. This app is a bit different because it’s much simpler. The thing I love about the Discovr Movies application is it’s simplicity and graphical user interface. In the image above I used the app to map movies similar to “Amelie” and “A Woman is a Woman”.
Audi does the smart thing and skips hybrids all together which is smart because hybrids are a shortsighted investment. But since we’re talking about truth in engineering let’s not be fooled. Calling electric vehicles clean is a misnomer. Batteries are icky things to make and have their own environmental hazards but at least no wars are waged over Duracells.
So here’s the truth. Engineers can’t lie because numbers can’t. Their is always truth in engineering at least until the managers and marketeers get to the product. Batteries aren’t totally clean but at least it’s not blood oil. And that’s Truth in Engineering. Sign me up!
Unless of course if you get this case that lets you mount it to a tripod and attach a shotgun mic.
Really? Is this for real?
After I stopped laughing at the shotgun mic, I realized an actual real world use for this tripod mountable case. Video village and not production! It would be cool to mount your ipad to a stand and watch what the camera is recording. Sure beats renting a monitor for this purpose with all the ipads already running around. Another possible use would be multicam live show directing.
More info here.
A while back I blogged about HDSLR filmmaking being for real and that blog post was primarily about the fact that real cinematography lenses were being made for the camera. BUT now after having shot a couple of projects on a 7D and prepping a few others, everyone in community knows it’s here to stay, at least until the XL3HD comes out. Here are the top 5 reasons HDSLRs are game changing.
1) Price: But not for the reasons you think. Lots of people think that just because the camera is cheap that you can make a movie for cheap but these people have obviously never made a movie. The reason price is such a game changer is because it allows people better tools to develop their craft with. When you’re developing your craft you are often shooting with no crew and having a HDSLR in your arsenal unlocks so much more creative potential.
2) Size: Matters! The form factor of the camera lends itself to applications that were virtually impossible with a traditional film or video camera. Being able to throw the camera around and squeeze it into tight spaces opens up more creativity.
3) Dynamic Range: Dynamic range is off the charts. Especially with the 5D.. It hasn’t caught up to film yet but the gap is closing.
4) Professional Adoption: This is huge. Professionals have validated the tools and have also provided tutorials and lectures on its strengths and weaknesses including the jello effect.
5) Location fees. Hmmm The line is blurring if you’re shooting MOS and don’t require a crazy rig. I’ll let you make the conclusion. lol
I have a love/hate relationship with 3D. As an artist, 3D’s potential is exciting because it gives filmmakers additional faculty in which to shape story and emotion. Filmmakers (especially indie’s) should embrace this technology and move it forward from the mainstream trickery it has always been. This will happen naturally once the tools (both on the distribution and production sides) become less cumbersome and cost prohibitive. There also are a few monumental technology breakthroughs that we’ll need to solve the inherent problems with 3D. We can solve the technological problems but not if the artists and scientists are not pushing the envelope. Filmmakers and scientist please stand up!
As a consumer I hate 3D. What’s up with the glasses, headaches, higher ticket costs and software emulated 3D that looks like crap? I want my money back.
Gotta love the ingenuity but here’s how not to solve the technology problems.
Red Camera 3D rig. Handhold that? Yeah right.