Peter Jackson's Crossing the Line shot on the Red One

A while back (2007) Peter Jackson directed a short film entitled Crossing the Line to test a new model of digital Cinema camera, the RED ONE. The film takes place during World War I, and was shot in two days. “Crossing the Line” was shown at NAB 2007 (the USA National Association of Broadcasters). Clips of the film can be found at Reduser.net.

The Red Digital Cinema Camera Company manufactures digital cinematography cameras and accessories for professional and cinematic use. The company’s main product is the Red One, capable of recording at resolutions up to 4096 horizontal by 2304 vertical pixels, directly to flash or hard disk storage. It features a single Super 35-sized CMOS sensor and a cinematography industry standard PL mount.

The Red One does not capture at standard definition or high definition resolutions. However, as part of the process of delivering the raw image data recorded by the camera, the RedCine desktop software can downscale to these resolutions. This process yields extremely high-quality output due to significant oversampling.

On November 13, 2008, larger formats were announced, including a proposed expansion of up to 28,000 horizontal pixels, for a 261 megapixel sensor.

For comparative purposes click the image for a graphic representation of various shows the image resolution of camera outputs. Pixel range from NTSC to 28K resolution shown in comparison at one-tenth scale to other digital video formats. “K” means thousands and refers to the horizontal pixel count, rounded.

Dan Brown's New Thriller! The Lost Symbol released today

Dan Brown’s new novel, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 international phenomenon, The Da Vinci Code, which was the bestselling hardcover adult novel of all time, will be available today (September 15, 2009).

The Lost Symbol will once again feature Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon.

“The Lost Symbol is a brilliant and compelling thriller. Dan Brown’s prodigious talent for storytelling, infused with history, codes and intrigue, is on full display in this new book. This is one of the most anticipated publications in recent history, and it was well worth the wait,” said Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor in Chief of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

The Lost Symbol Website and game: http://www.thelostsymbol.com/
The Lost Symbol on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LostSymbolBook
Download a PDF of the book cover now to see all the artwork details: http://www.danbrown.com/pdf/TLS_cover.pdf

Where
Anywhere books are sold or Amazon

When
September 15, 2009

Using a Clap board, clapper board, Clap slate

Using a Clapper
1. Color Reference Stripes
2. Running Time Code
3. Scene Number
4. Take Number
5. Camera Roll Number
6. Director
7. Director of Photography (D.O.P.)
8. Date
9. Episode Number (if filming for TV)

View the original document on Scribd

The Clapper 1. Color Reference Stripes These stripes serve as a standard color reference for the people who edit episodes of Andromeda, so that they can make sure colors are true-to-life (unless they are intended to be otherwise). Because the colors are always in the same place on the clapper (i.e., Red is always first, Blue is always second, etc.), the editors will immediately know they have to fix something if the colors on the clapper appear out of place. 2. Running Time Code Each frame of film used in the making of Andromeda has a number assigned to it. The numbers you see in the digital display on the clapper are the numbers being assigned to the frames of film being shot as you watch. These frame numbers come in handy when directors, editors and other behind-the-scenes folks leave notes for other Andromeda workers: They can indicate exactly which piece of film they’re talking about without having to resort to descriptions like “It’s the scene where Dylan fires his force lance.” Frame numbers are much more accurate and get the job done more efficiently. 3. Scene Number In each episode of Andromeda, each scene has a number. The scene number is indicated on the clapper so that the film being shot shows the same system of scene numbering as the script. In the image above, scene 26 is being filmed. 4. Take Number Each time the actors perform a given scene, it is called a “take.” Take numbers are shown on the clapper so the editors can understand the director’s instructions when he or she indicates which performance of a given scene should be used in the final cut of an episode. In the image above, Take 1 is being filmed. 5. Camera Roll Number This is just like the film you shoot in your camera on vacation: Sometimes you shoot so many rolls of film, you have to number them in order to keep track of them. It’s the same situation here. Each physical roll of film (which can be used to shoot up to 20 minutes of footage) used to make Andromeda gets a number. Most of that film is transferred to videotape and/or digital format for editing into the final product. If, for some reason, a picture problem is spotted in editing, the Camera Roll Number tells the editors can see exactly which roll of film to look at to see if there was a bad spot in the film, or if the problem lies elsewhere. 6. Director The name of the person directing the episode is shown on the clapper. The director oversees every aspect of production and has final approval on many decisions made about an episode. 7. Director of Photography (D.O.P.) Also often referred to as the cinematographer. The D.O.P. oversees the composition of each and every shot used in an episode of Andromeda. 8. Date Clappers used in production of Andromeda show the exact date on which any piece of film was shot. 9. Episode Number (production) Andromeda clappers also feature the production episode number. This number differs from the numbers you eventually see in the Official Episode Guide because the shows are often filmed in a sequence different from the order in which they are broadcast. So while production episode #509 is the ninth episode filmed for that season, it may be broadcast as the fourteenth episode of that season, making it broadcast episode #514. The Official Andromeda Episode Guide uses the broadcast episode numbers to identify specific episodes.

For full certification to operate a clapper board. One has to be able to mark up:

Production information: Director, Director of Photography, Production Company and Production title

Scenic information: Day or night, interior or exterior, stock numbers, scene and slate numbers, take numbers, roll numbers, pick-ups, guide tracks, syn/MOS, A and B cameras and symbols

Additional information: Camera speed, shutter angle, filtration, reverse running, lens, stop

Sources: Call sheets, stock cans, script supervision or DOP

We have moved to: http://lscas.blogspot.com/

We have moved to: http://lscas.blogspot.com/

Exclusive preview screening Of Disney-Pixar’s Up3D and Q&A

onedotzero_preview: Up 3D + Q&A with Pete Docter & Jonas Rivera

Carl Fredericksen, a curmudgeonly 78-year-old balloon salesman, is not your average hero. When he ties thousands of balloons to his house and floats to the wilds of South America, he finally fulfills his life-long dream of adventure. But on discovering an 8-year-old stowaway named Russell, an unlikely duo, they soon find themselves on an hilarious journey in a lost world filled with danger and surprise.

Disney Pixar Up 3d movie trailer
by exploretv

The BFI are delighted to welcome director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera for a Q+A after the screening of this Cannes-opening crowd pleaser.

District 9: Behind the Visual Effects – Vancouver Film School (VFS)

Rules to watch film by:

BFI & Empire's Movie Con 2 : Day 2

The full schedule for Movie Con 2 can be found over here on Empire’s website. Below are my highlights from day 2:

Day 2 started with a flash of fury, explosions and red metal, that’s right! Some seriously awesome clips from Iron Man 2 were on display introduced by Robert (I’m in town to shoot some additional scenes for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes) Downey Jr. Unfortunately I was late and missed what was a highlight of day 2.

The legendary Kim Newman ran his now infamous Movie Quiz with the precision of a T800 which was loads of fun. One of the prizes was for a winner’s name to be used in Mr. Newman’s next novel.

Next up was a clip from the super tense Hurt Locker and Q&A with Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal. Loosely based on Boal’s experiences in Baghdad. Hurt Locker is refreshingly direct and will keep you on the edge of your seat. It could be seen as a natural progression to Point Break.

Optimum rolled out a hilarious and heartwarming presentation for Bunny And The Bull. Hosted by Director Paul King and Star Simon Farnaby. If you are looking for something that lands somewhere between a holiday, run by The Mighty Boosh filmed by Michel Gondry.

“Bunny & the Bull is a road movie set entirely in a flat. Stephen Turnbull hasn’t been outside in months. Living with a painfully restrictive routine, he refuses to interact with the world or think about the past. When a sudden infestation of mice forces him to change his ways, he finds his mind hurtling back to the disastrous trek around Europe he undertook with his friend Bunny, a womanising, gambling-addicted booze-hound. Unable to stem the flood of memories, Stephen’s flat becomes the springboard for an extraordinary odyssey through landscapes made up of snapshots and souvenirs, from the industrial wastelands of Silesia to the bull fields of Andalusia. A story of love, disillusionment, stuffed bears and globalised seafood, Bunny & the Bull is an offbeat and heartfelt journey to the end of the room.”

Next Director/Writer Stuart Hazeldine introduced Exam.

“Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, an Invigilator gives them eighty minutes to answer one simple question. He outlines three rules they must obey or be disqualified: don’t talk to him or the armed guard by the door, don’t spoil their papers and don’t leave the room. He starts the clock and leaves. The candidates turn over their question papers, only to find they’re completely blank. After the initial confusion has subsided, one frustrated candidate writes ‘I believe you should hire me because…,’ and is promptly ejected for spoiling. The remaining candidates soon figure out they’re permitted to talk to each other, and they agree to cooperate in order to figure out the question: then they can compete to answer it. At first they suspect the question may be hidden in their papers like a security marker in a credit card, and they figure out ways to change their environment to expose the hidden words. But light, liquids and other plans all come to naught. Soon enough, the candidates begin to uncover each other’s background, prejudices and hidden agendas. Tensions rise as the clock steadily descends towards zero, and each candidate must decide how far they are willing to go to secure the ultimate job.” Tense stuff.

The end of the day closed with a 3D spectacular! You should know that I love 3D! Even the crappiest film in the world can become wonderful by either showing it in IMAX or 3D format. I have never seen a bad 3D film at the IMAX. Even the big screen 3D trailers are Worth the entry alone. So what if this new push towards 3D was engineered by Hollywood marketeers to revitalise the industry and shaft Movie piracy. I love it. The final hour and a half of of Movie Con was spectacular. In order:

Disney presented; The trailer & loads of footage from the mind boggling A Christmas Carol, the trailer for Toy Story 3, and footage from the much talked about Up.

Welcome back Flynn!
Then we were shown the 3D trailer/footage from Tron Legacy ! This was the same bootleg footage that haunted the net after Comic Con last year and was recently released onto the net in high def. Except that this was in 3D on a BIG screen! Tron Legacy looks like it will be worth the 27 year wait.

Finally we were treated to footage from Jim Cameron’s 4 years in the making AVATAR. Stolen from Empire’s blog:

“James Cameron recorded a short introduction, just for Movie-Con II, to two scenes of footage from Avatar, due out in December. We wouldn’t be exaggerating too far if we say that jaws hit the floor. The first, short scene gave a flavour to the threat in the film: Stephen Lang’s Colonel Quaritch explaining to newcomers just how dangerous the world of Pandora is, and telling them frankly that they won’t all make it out alive. Then we saw Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) Avatar alive and working in the jungles of the planet. Having faced off one rhino*/hammerhead shark added by me:)*-looking beastie, he’s surprised by the much more dangerous spider-lynx looking monster, and a spectacular chase scene occurs. We also get a glimpse there of Sigourney Weaver’s Grace in action: check the next issue of Empire for more on that.

Naturally, we had to see that again, so we rewound and went for a second go.” The team also let us know that there would be more & different footage shown on AVATAR day this Friday. Info here!

All that is left for me to say is thank you Empire & BFI. I had a wonderful time. Next year please bring some display cases and props with you. I’m just saying.

UK Avatar Day

UK Avatar Day

The 15-minute Avatar Day screenings, presented in 3D at “select cinemas and Imax theaters,” will provide regular moviegoers their first glimpse of Cameron’s highly anticipated sci-fi epic outside of footage screened last month at Comic-Con International in San Diego and Movie Con 2 at the BFI London hosted by Empire Magazine last weekend.

The big-budget sci-fi movie, conceived by Cameron 14 years ago and filmed in stereoscopic 3-D using cameras developed by the director, takes place on Pandorum, a strange and beautiful planet replete with bizarre creatures and plant life. Sam Worthington plays a paraplegic who is linked through a medical process to an “avatar,” a 10-foot-tall, blue-skinned creature that looks like Pandorum’s native Na’vi

Also rolling out on Friday’s Avatar Day:

– The official Avatar trailer, which will be shown in theaters and online. The worldwide trailer launch will be presented in all formats, including Imax 3-D, Imax 2-D, digital 3-D, digital 2-D and 35-mm 2-D, the studio said.
– 3D/lenticular one-sheet posters for the film.
– The trailer for Ubisoft’s videogame James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game.
– First look at Mattel action figures for the film’s avatar and alien Na’vi characters.

The showings will be limited to two on the 21st, except for the BFI Southbank, which is holding four.

Among the participating cinemas:

Cineworld Aberdeen
Cineworld Birmingham, Broad Street
Cineworld Brighton
Cineworld Cardiff
Cineworld Edinburgh
Cineworld Glasgow, Renfrew Street
Cineworld Sheffield
Odeon London IMAX Greenwich
Odeon London IMAX Wimbledon
Odeon Manchester Printworks
Odeon Southampton
Vue Bristol Cribbs
Vue London West End
BFI Southbank IMAX

Avatar hits theaters Dec. 18.

Friday August 21, 2009 at 1:30pm
BFI London IMAX
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk
London, England SE1 8XR

The Robert Rodriguez 10 Minute Film School