CasablancaExpert

Beautiful Video - Shot at the Arctic Circle, Edited on Casablanca S4100

Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet) Jewel of the Arctic

 

If you are a member of my website and by chance have joined us for a recent Monday Morning Meeting of the Minds/Casablanca Coffee Klatsch - you are well aware that our colleague Syl Renaud recently traveled with a group to the Artic Circle and shot some great video!  Here is the description/background of the above video from Syl Renaud - Reno Video Productions:

 

"I wanted to honour the beauty & beautiful peoples of Pond Inlet in this piece. It was not easy to shoot video in -30C / -22F weather all alone... I had my 7d freeze up on me once because I left it in the shade. I had only one day to capture the town of Pond Inlet. I could not of done this video without the help of the Z-Finder from Zacuto it performed flawlessly in extreme conditions.

What a great honour for me to have Paul Hamilton write another perfect musical piece to match the beauty & positive vibes from this little community in the middle of nowhere. It was _very_ cold but the people were so warm hearted. Your intuitive 6th sense never seizes to amaze me Paul. Merci mon ami! It's scored for full orchestra: strings, brass, woodwinds & timpani, 2 accordions, 2 guitars, glockenspiel, celesta, handbells. The Inuit throat singing & chorus he multi tracked (recorded with Logic Studio).


Special Thank you to Michelle Valberg for giving me the opportunity to experience the Upper Arctic. Her work with Project North is very inspiring."



Shot with the Canon 7d 10-22mm 3.5/4.5f & 5d Mark II 70-200mm 2.8f & 50mm 1.4f.
Videographer & Editor: Sylvain Renaud - Reno Video Productions
Edited on a Macrosystem S-4100



 

New MacroSystem US Intro Video Produced by Reno Video Productions

MacroSystem US has a brand new video on their home page -- this contemporary, stylish video serves as a quick introduction to the today's line of Casablanca digital video editors. You'll note the high-end Canon XF300 camcorder and the Canon HD-DSLR, demonstrating the current capacity to use flash based video files in the current version of the Casablanca. 

It is a very hip intro video produced by our colleague Syl Renaud of Reno Video Productions. 

"Reno Video Productions was honoured to be commissioned to produce 2 promo videos for this amazing MacroSystem US product. I use this HD video editor every day & it is a huge part of our success. The learning curve is very easy so all the focus is on your creativity" said Syl Renaud.

Bobbie Evoy's Creative 'Justin Philpott' & the Tokens Music Video Clip

While at the March Get Together - MGT 2011, Justin Philpott from MacroSystem US made a creative entrance before his first presentation to the group. Our colleague Bobbie Evoy from Memories On Tape captured his grammy winning performance and embellished it with creative Casablanca effects.  Bobbie posted this short video on her Vimeo channel (click clip below to view it) and then beneath that you will see Bobbie was kind enough to share how she made the sequence! 

I have pasted Bobbie's steps below for your convenience... thanks Bobbie for sharing your creativity!

 

And now "the making of"

 

The steps used on this video clip:

*Scene One:
Color Filter: BRIGHT
Magic Lights, Control Image 2:
for cartoon-like look
Bright 20,16 Middle 22,70 Dark 80, 116
Newspaper: COLOR to the MAX strength 25
for cartoon-like moving background

*Scene Two:
Color Filter: BRIGHT
Cut dance section for later use (15:27)

**Add Scene One and Scene Two to the storyboard
Add PIP STUDIO 2, put true scene exactly over top
of cartoon scene with CIRCLE with BORDER at
0% frame, 42% color strength and 60% on white color
Make scene
Cut out dance section (15:27)
DYE this dance section with 6 different colors
Use SPLIT SCREEN over and over to make squares
Make scene and copy this scene
Put both multi-color dance scenes on storyboard
Add transtion: WHIRL and extend to FULL LENGTH
Make a scene of this, replace in storyboard
Make scene of entire clip
Add JITTER to 2 degrees
Add BLACK BORDER

The background used in this display is:
PIP STUDIO 2, with background from
MAGIC LIGHTS MASK named 'SKIN' re-colored

'Spilled Soup' - The MGT 2011 Film is Now Available for Screening!

The following comments are copied from Roger Schutter's Vimeo Channel:

"For the past three years Jim Meeker's March get together, a gathering of event/wedding and corporate video shooters and editors, all using a Macrosystem Editor have included a fun training event called "Making a Movie".

A short script or scene is written and jobs are filled and the entire process is done in three-hours from first lights to wrap. This year is part three in a series of scenes around the life of Billy and his wife Ginger... the other two are also on this site (Roger Schutter Vimeo Channel). It is all about doing something different with the skills they use everyday and is is a lot of fun, although not quit ready for "Sundance"

This year's was shot on a Canon 7D as part of the training. Part of process is to do a on day edit of the short and play it at the banquette"

Roger A. Schutter
RSVPS and Consulting
Morning Mist Pictures

 

 

Kudos to Roger, his cast and crew for pulling off (and pulling together) to create a short film in such a short time!

'Deconstructed' video: Blue Angels-Fleet Week 2010

This weekend marks the annual 'Fleet Week', a tradition where elements of the U.S. Navy pay a visit to the city by the bay (San Francisco).  The ships enter under the Golden Gate Bridge and then there is an airshow, the highlight of which is a show by the Blue Angels.

I was able to take an hour out of the office yesterday and catch the Blue Angels in their flight/show practice. I ended up capturing some 14-minutes of video on my Sony HDV camcorder and edited it on my Casablanca. Here is the short (1:58) video I produced:

I thought it would be fun to share some about the process of producing this video. I mentioned I shot about 14-minutes of video, which were split into 17 different scenes.

I ended up using 11 of these scenes in the final edit - 1 of them I trimmed out the back end and used it for the opening title sequence.  I used Wild Effects Small for the opening title effect.  And used only Crossfades - mostly 2-second but a couple of 1-second transitions between scenes.

I wanted to keep the Nat. Sound (Natural Sound/Ambient audio/camera track) for this piece as I felt the roaring of the jet engines was so important for the viewer experience.  But I also wanted to embellish that audio with appropriate music. I was looking for a piece of music and clicked on the official Blue Angels website and when you click the enter link (at bottom of front page) there is this really cool recording of the pilots and the control tower.  I loved it so much I decided to incorporate that into the video. 

To get this audio into my Casablanca - I connected a 1/8" mini plug to RCA/Phono pair cable from the headphone output on my computer to the front audio input on my Casablanca then simply recorded the audio and trimmed it down to the portion I desired.  I also ended up selecting the Navy theme song (Anchors Aweigh) which I found on a website, and downloaded via the same cable.  This is a quick & easy method to move audio from computer to Casablanca.

And here is a look at my Audio Mix menu for the start of this video...

You can see the 'tx Takeoff' is the audio from the pilot/control tower and the m Anchors Away is the theme music. I started the music at the end of the Takeoff sound with a 2-second fade-in.  And if you're wondering (those of you with keen eyesight) the 'fx' icon on the two added tracks is the 'mono' effect. I added this as the audio I recorded was heavy on the right channel and I wanted to even it out.

When I was complete, I took the video - made a Scene of the entire storyboard; ran it through the 'Black Border' effect (to mask the effect black aberration) and then ran that through the 'Movie Mode' (to de-interlace for online video websites).  Then I put that finished scene into another project (empty storyboard) and used the 'Storyboard Archives' (found in Project Settings menu) and burned onto DVD.  Popped that DVD into my computer and uploaded to my websites.

Production Crew Shoots First Wedding in 3D

On the Videomaker Video News Blog, there was an interesting article about the first Wedding to be shot in 3D: "Recently, an Australian production company decided the world was ready by shooting the first everwedding made entirely in 3D using Panasonic’s new A1 camcorder (pictured at left).

There is a brief discussion of the successes and limitations the production crew encountered in this shoot -- among them "The most unexpected one being that shooting in 3D required their crew to have a “sterographer” who would make sure that each camera’s point of convergence was accurate. For those of you who have not yet filmed in 3D (which is probably just about all of us) the point of convergence is the point in which both eyes (or both lenses) can focus on an object without doubling up the background behind it... As a result of this phenomenon, the cinematographers who were filming the wedding were not able to get closer than 5 feet to their subjects. If they did, their lines of convergence would be off and the image would end up looking doubled to the viewer. Also, really fast camera movements also became a problem as viewers’ eyes quickly fatigued with the constant change in focus when objects at different depths showed up on the screen.

You can read more on the Videomaker Blog here: Production Crew Shoots First Wedding in 3D

Here is a short video showing some 'behind the scenes' clips from the 3D wedding

3D Wedding Shoot - Sydney Australia from Abraham Joffe on Vimeo.

You may have heard that your Casablanca video editor will be able to edit 3D video projects! This was previewed by Macrosystem AG CEO Jorg Sprave at the NAB 2010 in April. From folks who saw it, their comments indicated it could be one of the easiest to use 3D editing applications on the market. More news on that topic as it becomes available.

Online Video for Casablanca March Get Together 2010

I have produced a short online video to highlight the upcoming March Get Together (MGT 2010). You can view this short video here:

For those considering attending this annual convocation of the Casablanca community - remember that your early-bird registration is only $150. for the 3-1/2 event, as long as you register by February 15th, 2010. Details, program/agenda and online registration on Jim's website here: http://www.MarchGetTogether.com

Casablanca Groups on Video Sharing Websites YouTube and Vimeo

I wanted to ensure that all members of our Casablanca Community are aware that I have started a Group on both the YouTube and Vimeo websites.  These groups were developed for folks who use the Casablanca video editor to produce their video projects, whether they are for profit, for passion and pleasure.

There is no requirement or obligation to join any of these groups (other than you use a Casablanca video editor)... this is just an informal gathering of our Casablanca Colleagues who also use YouTube and/or Vimeo.

Even if you don't already have video uploaded to either of these websites, you can check out our group/s and view your colleagues work.  Plus, it is easy to sign-up for a free membership/channel at either or both of these websites. 

If you are a member of my website, CasablancaExpert.com, check out the many resources available for you to learn more about these video hosting websites, their features and benefits and how to utilize your Casablanca in conjunction with them. Article link:  Getting Your Video Work Online

Please click on the appropriate link below to join (if you are already a member of these sites) and feel free to invite/share this invite with any other Casablanca users you know of.

YouTube Casablanca Group

http://www.youtube.com/group/CasablancaColleagues

Vimeo Casablanca Group

http://vimeo.com/groups/casablanca

And if you are on MotionBox - 'look me up'.  We don't have the ability to create a group, but I can add you as one of my contacts so we can see who is on that service as well. My MotionBox Channel is http://www.motionbox.com/profiles/CasablancaExpert

Bobbie Evoy shares some of her creative magic

Bobbie Evoy - whose company is Memories on Tape in Michigan (USA) - is one of the most creative video editors I have met. 

I have had the good fortune to not only see her work but also to have learned some of her techniques, some of her magic.  Although I believe I have a solid command of the capabilities of the Casablanca video editor, Bobbie really pushes the envelope on what can be done.

She has the knack for coming up with a desired sequence or effect and then working to create that with a combination of software operations.  You may know that, in addition to her own clientele (who I would be quick to add, are darned lucky to have her on the job), Bobbie also edits in a partnership with Don Simmons - Travel Jet Productions in Georgia (USA). 

On a recent editing job, Bobbie took the skilled videography provided by Don and crafted a unique effects window to highlight the First Dance for a wedding package.  Bobbie was kind enough to produce a short video outlining the steps she used to take a nice border and using her Casablanca skills, turned it into just the right mask she wanted for this video.  You can see (and learn) from Bobbie in this 5:27 video uploaded on her Vimeo channel here  http://vimeo.com/7102178

Sony announced two new Pro Camcroders

Sony Announced today two new 'Pro Camcorders' the PMW-EX1R and PMW-350

The PMW-EX1R, is an upgrade to a previous XDCAM model, the PMW-EX1. The new EX1R features a DVCAM recording capability (for standard definition recording), an HDMI output, a higher-resolution viewfinder, and a number of design alterations to improve comfort and control.  The PMW-EX1R is expected to release December 2009 with an list price of $7,790.

The other new Sony camera announced today is the PMW-350.  This is an entirely new camcorder from Sony and is the company's first memory-based camcorder to include a 2/3-inch CMOS chip.  The shoulder-mounted PMW-350 offers full 1920 x 1080 HD recording, includes professional connectivity options (including Timecode-in/out, Genlock-in/out, HD-SDI, and HDMI-output). The PMW-350 is expected to be available in January 2010 with a sticker price of $20.500 (without lens).

You can read more info on these camcorders at CamcorderInfo.com 

This news made me think about a member of the Casablanca community who has been using the Sony EX1 recently, Joel Brooks in Texas, USA.  Joel has a video online that you can view (featuring his camera work with the Sony EX1).  Joel presently uses a Casablanca Renommee Plus for his video editing. I believe this is yet another sample of beautiful video... both videography and editing, well done.

If you prefer - you can go straight to Joel's post of this video on his Motionbox Channel here

Or you can view the embedded video here (his MotionBox Channel provides the HD version at better quality)