Ok day two photos from the NAB convention. It's been a great day overall. My only regret is that I didn't take a selfie with Rev Run when I saw him walking through the MGM Grand this morning. I said hello to him, and he did the same, but I should've grabbed a photo...opportunity missed...fiddlesticks. Anyway, the rest of the day was outstanding. Here are some highlights:
The Edit Share system will be a dramatic difference in the new studio. Each student will log in when using a computer workstation, and all projects and video files will be accessible from any computer, because it will all be housed on the Edit Share. You can think of this in some ways like our current "Server" in the studio, except that it's on steroids and Hulk-level roid rage.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]One of the unique abilities within the Edit Share is that you can tag clips as you log them. This can potentially be very interesting for highly involved, complex projects. For instance, in this photo below, even though the video clip of the owl doesn't match the tagging profile (for the show "Big Brother") that's loaded below it, you can imagine the tagging that might take place if we were logging (instead of a video clip featuring an owl) a video clip filmed in the Big Brother house. Editors looking to put a scene together for an episode would want to be able to search through the Edit Share for the sort of clips they have in mind, so if the clips are tagged as they're logged into the system (in this case, the tagging features where in the house the clip is filming, what kind of action/activity is going on, and who is featured in the scene/clip), the search for the right footage can be much more efficient and not feel like a needle-in-a-haystack sort of quest.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]The Edit Share will also be able to work with the Digital Rapids system pictured below. Digital Rapids will be configured to act upon anything we export to a "Watch Folder" from the Edit Share. For instance, any time we export an episode of "Before the Bells" or a PSA or a highlight reel, we can send it to the watch folder, where Digital Rapids can automatically convert it to the format we need to put it on the tv channel, and it can also automatically (and simultaneously) compress it to an HD web video so we can upload it to the website much more efficiently and consistently.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]The Float Cam and DC-Slider was one of our favorite pieces of equipment we checked out today. It can be set up with or without a jib arm to serve as a highly mobile unit that can capture effective crane type shots. The slider feature provides a highly impressive smooth look that allows it to serve as a crane or even a short-track dolly. While it's not cheap, it's a cost-effective solution to open up multiple capabilities that can add a professional look to our shots if we're able to acquire one of the base models (which is the one pictured below). We are hoping this is something we can purchase (sooner or later, but hopefully sooner), but there's no saying for sure right now it/when that might happen...but we're pitching a case for it, just like the Mōvi rig we love so much.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Speaking of the Mōvi, we checked that out some more today as well. Here you see a guy who looks kind of like Dave Grohl testing it out and showing a little more clearly some of the angles the camera can swing to as the operator manipulates it.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]This remote follow/focus unit is how filmmakers get the most precise, accurate results using the Mōvi. One operator holds the device itself (where the camera is housed), while another operator monitors and adjusts the follow/focus.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]And now for some AMAZING camera shots. We're looking to purchase one high end digital cinema camera for our most accomplished students and our most high profile projects. The Cannon C300 got our attention due to its remarkable ability to function and excel in low-light conditions.
What follows is 3 versions of the exact same shot. The only thing that changes in all 3 versions are some settings on the camera to adjust the iris. First up, the shot as it appears naturally (which is pretty dark without sufficient lighting):
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]This next version is the exact same shot, with the exact same lighting, but with a couple of adjustments, the improvement on screen is dramatic:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]And if we want, we can even take it further, as evidenced by another simple adjustment:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Speaking of cameras, here's a slightly better look than I was able to get yesterday of the model we're interested in for our studio cameras:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]And now some things we don't quite have the money to afford, but they were undoubtedly cool, so I figured I'd share them...
Motorcycle camera mount on a Steadicam arm...
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]GoPro booth just mounting their cameras to ridiculous sports cars. Unnecessary? Absolutely. But still very cool. First, the Ferrari:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]And then they rolled out the rare Italian hand-built Pagani (which costs a mere 1.3 million dollars).
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