Learn the Benefits of Buying the Sony DCR RS68 Digital Video Camera

Choosing a handy-cam to buy for you is a tough job. There are so many models available in the market that it is easy to get confused and end up making the wrong choice. After all, every brand out there promises to provide quality at the best price. If that was the case, you could walk into a shop and buy the first camcorder that lay on the display. In this indecisive situation, you cannot do better than go for a reliable and proven brand. Sony is considered to be a world leader in appliances and their digital video cameras have earned the praise of users all over the globe. The Sony DCR RS68 handy-cam is one of the best cameras for a beginner. Here are some reasons why this camera proves to be a good buy.

Economy

The Sony DCR RS68 costs $329 if you purchase it online. Considering the usual pricing of digital video cameras, you might have to spend over $500 on a modern high-end camera. This makes this model an exceptionally inexpensive purchase. This is a great job on the part of Sony to bring the camera to the common man's reach.

Quality

Despite being moderately priced, the camera offers exceptional picture quality. The professional level Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens allows you to capture high-resolution visuals without any blurs or other noise. The picture quality available at this price means that you get more than you pay for.

Zoom

Perhaps the best thing about the Sony DCR RS68 is the zoom option. Providing up to 2000X digital zoom, the camera offers outstanding clarity and crispness even if you are shooting from a distance. You can easily take close up shots without having to stand close to the person.

Sound

The camera has Dolby Digital sound quality. Every sound in the video is captured clearly without any distortion. There is a built-in zoom microphone that captures every sound made in the shooting radius. The Sony DCR RS68 gives great sound to the memories you capture on video.

Memory Space

The RS68 has an 80GB built-in disk drive which gives you the luxury of storing up to 61 hours of recorded footage in the long play format. You can always transfer the files to your computer to free up space in the camera or get an additional memory stick to increase the space at your disposal.

Ease of Use

The Sony DCR RS68 is an entry-level camera which is designed for people not adept at handling digital cameras. The features are easy to use and the menus can be accessed through the touch screen. The user manual provides a detailed guide as to how to use the camera properly.

Reliability

Sony is a household name. When you buy a Sony product, you can be sure that it is reliable and durable. You can say that there is a feel good factor about purchasing from a renowned brand. This reliability isn't duplicated by any of the newer brands in the market. These are some great reasons to buy the Sony DCR RS68.

Stan Roderbel loves to write about the latest electronic gadgets, gismos and anything related to cutting edge technology. Stan ventures into the fields of cameras, video and cell phones to find out the newest product and bring that product to his readers. You will enjoy this article about the Sony DCR-SR68 Video Camera even more if you go to the Sony DCR-SR68 website. While there read the article about the Sony DCRSX85 Handy-Cam Video camera and it's many fine features.


Original article

Is Being a Film Director Right for You?

To many cinephiles, nothing is more thrilling than the idea of directing a film. From choosing a team for a project, to developing a vision for the movie, to working with actors to realize that vision - it's simply tops when it comes to excitement. If this sounds like you, then maybe you've considered becoming a director... but how can you know if it's the right choice for you? Here are 5 steps to help you with the decision.

Step 1 - Think about who you are.

Film director schools prepare students for the world of cinema. It's an exhilarating world to be sure, but also a tough one which demands perseverance. So take a moment to think about your personality. Are you truly passionate about film? Are you the type of person who is discouraged easily? Try and be as honest as you can in your self-assessment.

Step 2 - Read up about the career of less famous film directors.

It's easy to read about the Steven Spielbergs and the Roman Polanskis of the world, but the truth is most film directors don't command eight-figure salaries. Do some research online about the "less famous" directors working today. What is their lifestyle like? How did they find success early in their careers? Which film schools did they go to? By researching the answers to these questions, you'll develop a greater understanding of the reality of typical film director's career.

Step 3 - Visit a film director school.

Many film schools in Canada offer open houses, where prospective students can visit the campus and talk with teachers. Find some schools in your area, visit them, and take a moment to talk with the instructors who work there. Many film schools employ working directors in their programs. Chat with these director/teachers to get first-hand knowledge of the position, and the industry.

Step 4 - Shadow a film director.

Call your local film director school and ask to talk with an instructor who is a director. Ask that director if they'd mind if you shadow them the next time they're directing a movie. "Shadowing" means you literally watch the director work, and in that way, develop a greater understanding of the person's role.

Step 5 - Enrol in a film director school.

If you've done steps 1 to 4, and you're convinced that being a director is right for you, then the last thing to do is to take a look at some film schools in Canada, and enrol. As a student, you'll spend all day learning about the field, and this total immersion in film director school is the last step to help you decide if being a director is the career you'd like to pursue.

Contact the Trebas Institute for more information on their film director school.

Percey Evans is a freelance writer who works for Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.


Original article

The Canon 5D MK2 Video Revolution

On 17/9/2008 Canon unveiled the Canon 5D MK2, this camera has swiftly proved to be very significant for filmmakers all across the globe - at last Canon released an HD full frame DSLR that was ideal for stunning video image recording.

This attribute was put in by Canon, mainly because journalists have been demanding it and also the convergence between stills photography and video within the same camera system was rapidly becoming practicable.

No-one was more surprised than Canon when film maker Vincent Laforet was let loose on the brand new digital camera. His first attempt Nocturne didn't disappoint, the fact is that it's no exaggeration to state that it set the field of film-making on fire.

The reason for this is the way the very large full frame sensor within the camera allows the operator to produce a truly spectacular depth of field that normal small sensor video cameras just cannot replicate.

The standard film cinema look is quiet difficult to outline but one of the major factors is the depth of field that the 35mm film aperture generates. The Sensor (or film gate) in the Canon 5D is a great deal larger than the gate present in a 35mm movie camera, the fact is that it's closer to shooting on 65mm.

Despite this amazing depth of field property and it's very swift adoption within the film making culture, the canon 5D MK2 camera has it's issues when filming video.

One of the major complications is line skipping or moire. The canon is required to get rid of information from the thousands of pixels that make up it's sensor so that it can create a 1920 X 1080 HD file. It does this by losing every 3rd line of information - line skipping. This could certainly prove catastrophic if you are recording a subject that has quite a few horizontal or vertical lines - as the picture steps across the dumped lines of information it can look horrendous. Normally I try to keep away from check shirts!

Another hassle is picture 'skew', this is recognisable when panning left to right quickly - vertical lines bend and twist noticeably - this is a issue on all CMOS video sensors but notably poor on the Canon simply because it's scan rate from the top to the bottom of the sensor is very slow and there is no internal compensation. A way around this is to simply stay away from any quick pans!

Another issue could be the 'form factor'. A DSLR is a very uneasy shape to film with, there is no professional eyepiece so just two points of contact - both hands. In a perfect world three points of contact are necessary to get a steady image whilst filming hand-held video. In the past two years a large number of proprietary camera support systems have been created by a broad array of suppliers but they all generally speaking do the same thing - provide an additional point of contact by means of a shoulder or chest support technique.

The rear LCD monitor can be very difficult to look at in vivid sunlight and there are many 3rd party solutions to deal with this, from inexpensive hoods to really expensive lensed eyepieces and additional displays working off the integral mini HDMI port. There are many issues with the HDMI feed, most significantly, it is really fragile but there's additionally a holdup when feeding the picture from the digital camera to a monitor after initiating record, this means waiting eight or nine seconds ahead of receiving a monitor picture. This can be nerve-racking in a documentary situation.

The camera records data in 8 bit quicktime H264 and while this creates lovely video it isn't really deemed to be a commercial recording format due to the H264 compression setting. That being said the camera has been used for several TV dramas, documentaries and features. It's aesthetic image apparently outranking it's technological restrictions.

Despite the afore mentioned complications, many filmmakers (including myself) put up with these troubles because Canon have produced a seriously great creative film-making dslr resource. When they can correct the grievances with the MK3 then they're going to have made a truly unbelievable camera at a sensational selling price.

The Author, Michael Barnes runs a video production cardiff company and the main website can be found here.


Original article

The Sony AX2000 Camcorder Delivers Film Quality Without Tapes

The Sony AX2000 Camcorder Delivers Film Quality without Tapes The reviews are in and the Sony AX2000 Digital Camcorder is finally able to deliver film quality movies in HD without using tapes. This tape-less camcorder is an incredible addition to the Sony line as it allows one to capture the quality of footage that is seen from a professional tape based machine but in the digital format. This breakthrough is amazing as it makes many things like editing much easier and the management of footage easy too.

Here are some of the best features of the Sony AX2000:

Built in lens that does the work of many. The lens is built to give the user the ability to shoot both wide angle and close up, and never need to change a lens. The lens can go wide angle at 29.5 mm and then go as close as 590 mm with the lens in telephoto. There is a stop between the 29.5 mm and 590 mm for any shot the average user would need. There is also a 20x optical zoom/30x digital zoom feature as well.

Combines both built in filters and manual controls for maximum utility. This camcorder hands the basics as far as the filters one would use to get the best quality of footage without taking away too much of the operator's image control.

The combination of built in filters and adjustable rings allows for a wider range of options and uses. Look and feel of a professional camera. While the design of the Sony AX2000 is more user friendly than many professional series cameras, it is designed to look and work as a professional camera. This camera stands out and makes a statement whether this is new hobby or used for work. While this camera has the look of a high end pro camera, the price makes it very affordable.

Broadcast quality without the hassle of film. For many years digital cameras did not cross over into the professional field because they were great for home use but did not match the image quality of a tape based machine. This in no longer the case and the Sony AX2000 is a great example of a digital camera that produces images that are of broadcast quality without tapes.

The Sony AX2000 is a great digital camcorder for a full range of users. It works for the new to film making or someone looking to take their digital work to the next level. It is also a great camera for more veteran users who are looking for a quality image with the convenience of going tape-less. In the past a digital camcorder would stick out in a crowd of professional camera operators, but the Sony AX2000 Camcorder is made to fit right in.

Stan Roderbel loves to write about the latest electronic gadgets, gismos and anything related to cutting edge technology. Stan ventures into the fields of cameras, video and cell phones to find out the newest product and bring that product to his readers. I think you will enjoy this article about the Sony ax2000 video camcorder. If you would like to read more the camera and find where you can purchase one, then go to this website: http://www.sonyax2000.com/


Original article

You Will Love The Great Features Of The Sony CX150 Camcorder

The Sony cx150 Handy Cam Video camera is a very compact and small camera, and has many great features that the owner will enjoy. The body of the camera is made out of a very sturdy, heavy-duty plastic which will be able to withstand a lot of use. In addition, its compact frame allows you to easily hold and manipulate it. The body of it has an overall size of just 50 x 56 x 114 mm.

Additionally, the Sony cx150's video and picture controls are strategically placed for the most comfortable reach possible, and the battery at the back of the camera also doubles as a thumb rest. This is a great improvement with respect to how you are able to grip the camcorder while you are using it. It is 260g in weight and has an optical zoom of 25x.

So as not to deprive the Sony cx150 user of recording space, albeit it only carries a SD card slot, it is however also fitted with a built-in flash memory of 16 GB. This camcorder also records in High Definition and can record in all of 4 different modes; the HD HQ (3.8 hrs), the HD FH (1.9 hrs), the HD LP (6.5 hrs) as well as the HD FX (1.4 hrs). All these modes can record in the AVCHD format and can be played on any PlayStation 3 or Blu-ray player that is compatible with the Sony cx150.

Even with the high-definition feature, the Sony cx150 still comes with a standard record format. This standard record format allows for the playing of video on any playback device, no matter how ordinary. It also comprises of eight different scene modes, which include Snow, Fireworks, twilight, Landscape, Portrait, Sunrise and Sunset, Spotlight and Beach.

The Sony cx150, like all camcorders, has a swivel and tilt screen that comes with a functioning touch panel. Its 2.7 inch LCD has very good clarity; being both bright as it is clear. It also comes with the much-needed intelligent Auto function. What the Auto function does, is to decide the mode that is most appropriate for video-taking; whether in the middle of the day or in the night-time.

It also comes with a screen that is resistant to scratches, a feature for burning discs that affords you the opportunity to record DVDS as well as videos straight from the cam. You will need to install the bundled software for this feature however.

Stan Roderbel loves to write about the latest electronic gadgets, gismos and anything related to cutting edge technology. Stan ventures into the fields of cameras, video and cell phones to find out the newest product and bring that product to his readers. You will enjoy this article about the Sony CX150 Camcorder even more if you go to the Sony CX150 website. While there read the article about the Sony HDRXR160 Video recorder and it's many fine features.


Original article

Federico Fellini - Influence and Legacy

Federico Fellini is truly one of the most influential film directors to have ever walked on this planet. His vision and experience for film reflected on all of his observations of his life experiences. He has influenced some of the greatest directors of today's generation of great filmmakers. Fellini is a world-renowned film director who was born on January 20th, 1920 right after the First World War in Rimini, Italy. He was the oldest child out of three. When he was 18, he went to Rome to study. This allowed him to avoid being drafted as the Second World War broke out.

Federico Fellini was a tremendously talented artist. He began his work experience as a cartoonist. Shortly thereafter, he changed artistic direction and moved into becoming a writer and actor in various comedy productions around Italy. He also did some work in radio programs with his lifetime friend Aldo Fabrizi. Some say that due to his friendship with Fabrizi, his career catapulted into the limelight. A famous and highly talented Italian director at the time, Roberto Rossellini, was looking to cast Fabrizi in one of his films. Fellini politely obliged to setting up the meeting and from there, Fellini actually became an assistant scriptwriter.

This new position as assistant scriptwriter opened the eyes of Federico Fellini. He was able to see and understand from firsthand experience how films were created, produced and edited. From here on out is how Fellini became the influential person he is known as today.Most people mark a successful career by the number of years that they have experience in their field. Over 5 decades, 50 years, Fellini had been in the business. Another mark of fame, he had gained several awards with critical acclaim. Just a modest selection of the awards he achieved included four Oscars for Best Foreign Language film.

So why was Federico Fellini influential and a legacy? He brought a new genre to the public. His films are characterized by a series of interwoven dreams, memories, fantasies and desire reflected on reality. One loses his boundaries throughout these films. When it comes to any type of hallucinatory imagery in a film, it is referred to as "Felliniesque" named after the great Italian director, Federico Fellini. Some of his greatest movies include "8 ½," "Amacord," "I Vitellone," "La Dolce Vida," "La Strada," "Juliet of the Spirits" and "Le Notti di Cabiria."

Fellini inspired some of the greatest filmmakers of today who display many "Felliniesque" scenes in their movies including the infamous Woody Allen, Pedro Almodovar, Terry Gilliam and David Lynch. Federico Fellini lived a magnificent life. He attributed most of his inspiration to his wife, Giuletta Masina who was an Italian actress who he met shortly before becoming an assistant scriptwriter. He was married to the love of his life for 50 years. He passed away the day after his 50th anniversary with his wife of a heart attack on October 31, 1993 in Rome. He will never be forgotten with a lifetime achievement of excellent and influential films.

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Original article

The Sony CX150 Is A Great Handy Cam Video Camera

The Sony CX150 is a Sony Handy Cam video camera. It comes with the best HD technology that any ordinary or even the most technical person will more than appreciate. This is a camera that any traveller would love to have, as not only do they take marvellous stills and extremely clear videos, they are also quite compact and light.

These great handy Cam video cameras come full of features, which makes it extremely easy to shoot your 1920x1080 Full HD video2 and 3.0 mega pixel images. It also comes with an Exmor R CMOS sensor that gives it the ability to take great videos and still even in low-light conditions. It features a 25x optical zoom lens as well as 16GB embedded flash memory. This flash memory has the recording and storage capacity of six hours with respect to video footage, as well as up to four hours of standard definition footage.

In addition to the foregoing, it has a 1080/60p playback capacity via HDMI. What this offers you, is the ability to go over your memories either via your high-definition compatible television set or your computer monitor with remarkable clarity and brilliant colors. Getting to view all this in full HD is nothing less than awesome. This camera is also very sensitive to low-light conditions, and as such, it is able to capture and produce stunningly clear images even in very poor lighting condition.

Video transferring and storage is also extremely easy with the Sony CX150. This you will be able to do directly from the camcorder to an external hard disk drive without having to get to a computer. It comes with playback features that allow you to see the videos right from the camcorder as well as from a computer and/or a HDTV that is compatible.

The Sony CX150 also comprises of the features known as the Face Detection technology and the Smile Shutter. What this unique technology does, is to allow the photographer to prioritize the faces of the persons they are recording and photographing. It then focuses its attention on exposure and color to make sure that what is captured is at its optimum. The Smile Shutter technology focuses on capturing smiles as they happen, as well as taking still pictures even while videos are being shot.

Another amazing feature of the Sony CX150 is the Intelligent Auto mode. What this does is to analyze your shot and then it does an automatic selection of the setting that is most fitting. It does this via its nine distinctive modes, from which you can get sixty different location combinations. These scene modes are inclusive of Backlight Control, Portrait, Smile Shutter, Scenery, Macro, Tripod, Baby, Night Scenery and low light.

The zooming mechanism on this camcorder is also great. It has a 25X optical zoom which helps you to take wonderful shots even from afar. It has what is known as extreme digital zooming as it can zoom up to 300X with not much distortion.

Stan Roderbel loves to write about the latest electronic gadgets, gismos and anything related to cutting edge technology. Stan ventures into the fields of cameras, video and cell phones to find out the newest product and bring that product to his readers. I think you will enjoy this article about the Sony cx150 handy Cam Video camera. If you would more about his camera and even purchase one, then go to this website:
http://www.sonycx150.com/


Original article

Difference Between Regular 8mm Film and Super 8mm Film

The Regular 8mm and Super 8mm Film are the most used film format of all time. The Super 8mm is regarded as an easy but high quality alternative to the Regular 8mm. Frequently, Super 8 and 8mm are terms used interchangeably. However, there are key points that differentiate one from the other.

Eastman Kodak introduced the Regular 8mm in 1932 to the market as a cheaper alternative to the 16mm. Not long after, it became a popular format for home movies and low-cost film productions. More than three decades later, Kodak released the Super 8mm, which, as the name suggests is a hybrid of the Regular 8mm. It was able to record sound and provided improvements both for image quality and ease of use and thus, became the preferred low-cost format. In the 1980's, with the advent of VHS and VCR tapes, both Super and Regular 8mm suffered significant reductions in terms of consumer preference.

Super 8mm have sprocket holes that only cover fifty percent of the width required by Regular 8mm films. Consequently, this allows Super 8mm film area to be larger than the Regular 8mm. This enables Super 8mm to capture more details. Physically, Regular 8 mm can be differentiated from Super 8mm films through the size of its sprocket holes. The sprocket holes of Regular 8mm are larger and run the top and bottom of each frame while Super 8mm have smaller sprocket holes that are aligned at center of each frame.

In terms of usage, Regular 8mm films are shot on 16mm films and run through the camera twice. It involves running the film through the camera once and exposing half of it, and then, the film is flipped and run through the camera again to expose the second half. Upon processing, the film is split at the center and attached at the ends which make a single roll of 8mm film that's twice the length of the original 16mm roll. Using Super 8mm films is less tedious as they load easily into a camera and are sold in ready-to-use cartridges instead of reels which require threading. Super 8mm films only run through the camera once since it is originally an 8 millimeter film.

Transferring Regular or Super 8mm to DVD requires that you inspect them for scratches and lines as well as other defects. Some of these are repairable but others are not. Films stored in humid environments are more likely to have mold, mildew or fungus on them. Usually starting at the edges, it gradually works its way to the emulsion, damaging the film in the process. The damage can be stopped with chemicals especially if is contained in the outer edges. Damage in the emulsion can also be removed but it usually ruins the film irreversibly.

Another problem that arises with decades of time is shirnkage. You can manually test for it by comparing 100 strips of the film you want to test and 100 frames of a new film or a new white leader. A Shrinkage Gauge can be loaned from the Association of Moving Image Archivists but you need to be a member. Shrinkage of over 0.8% may damage the film if loaded on a projector. 2% shrinkage means that the film cannot be salvaged even by the most skilled professionals.

Most people transfer their Regular and Super 88mm films to DVD for better and more convenient viewing. If you are still hanging on to these decades-old media, don't wait any longer. Memories are precious so it's best to ensure that these once-in-a lifetime events are saved on a digital format that enables you to enjoy them to the fullest and will not degrade.

Play it Again Video, an on-site film transfer lab located in Newton, MA has been transferring 8mm film to DVD since 1986.

Not sure what's on your old 8mm, Super8 or 16mm film reels? Bring them in here and watch your film on our film viewer. There is no charge, no obligation, but you do need to call (617) 332-3300 to reserve the film viewer.


Original article

Selecting a Pre-Owned Camcorder

An aspiring videographer or filmmaker will want access to a camcorder that can help record professional quality videos. Most such camcorders are priced very high, out of the reach of someone yet to make a name for themselves in this field. One way out of this situation is to purchase a pre-owned camcorder.

Before you purchase a pre-owned camcorder you need to ensure that the piece is undamaged, especially the lens and other vital parts. A high definition pre-owned camcorder produced by a well-known company is more likely to be the tool you require to impress potential customers. If you are unsure about the camcorder, better rent it out for some time, use it in every way possible and then decide which one to buy.

Image Quality

If you are in the market for a pre-owned camcorder then consider a XH-A1 Professional HD camcorder from Canon. This model can deliver high quality images and a 20x optical zoom. With it you can shoot using 60i, 30, or 24 progressive frame rates. Its output video is true 1080 HD resolution. By purchasing a fully-tested pre-owned camcorder that delivers crystal clear test footage, you will be able to obtain a great bargain.

Lens

The XH-A1 is lightweight ensuring ease of shooting under a variety of conditions. It comes with a Canon 20x Professional Series Fluorite genuine lens that ensures great color reproduction, resolution, and contrast. This lens also makes sure that images are clear and pristine.

With the XH-A1 you can be sure that your pictures are enhanced by sharp color reproduction even when you are shooting scenes with special lighting or trying to capture skin tones. It has a noise reduction system that uses two types of technology that can be independently set at three different settings.

Display

The camcorder has a widescreen liquid crystal display of 2.8" and a.57" electronic view finder to ensure high resolution views. As both can be used simultaneously, with this camcorder the director and the videographer are both able to view the scene being captured.

The XH-A1 has other features that make it a good buy. For instance, it has a Super-Range Optical Image Stabilizer to ensure that the shot is steady even if the videographer is on a moving vehicle or sways inadvertently. The Instant Auto Focus feature enables quick focus to deliver quality pictures.

Flexibility

This camcorder offers multiple levels of flexibility-one can use it in the automatic exposure mode or use manual adjustments. The controls for manual adjustment are in two locations, so that shooting under different conditions is a breeze.

At 4.7 pounds this lightweight camcorder packs a punch. It comes with a high performance stereo electronic condenser microphone, HDV 2-channel audio MPEG1 Audio Layer II system for audio recording, and a HDV/DV special six-pin connector.

While there are reasons why you might want to spend on a pre-owned camcorder, there are other options like opting for a video camera rental which will offer you a better choice of avant-garde products at budget friendly rates.

Before you finalize your purchase of a pre-owned camcorder consider video camera rental options from Mr Video or AA-Rental.com
703 913 1900


Original article

South Africa's Flourishing Film Industry

International film productions flocking to Cape Town for the summer shooting season are often amazed by the amount of local talent available in South Africa. What many people are only just starting to realise is that as well as playing the ideal destination location for big budget movies and commercials from overseas, South Africa also has a flourishing local film industry of its own, which is finally starting to gain international recognition.

District 6
Most people cite District 6 as the first home-grown South African movie to become an international blockbuster and indeed, with its previously unknown actors and entirely South African production it surprised the world by taking on Hollywood and doing stormingly.

Law and Order in Cape Town
The latest news is that the major international TV series Law and Order will be filming a twelve part series in Cape Town in 2012. This will be a South African franchise of the series, entirely set in Cape Town and with a South African cast, local crew, produced by Africa HD in collaboration with a local production company. While Cape Town has featured in innumerable films and commercials over the years, it isn't often that the city stars as itself in international screens, so this is an exciting prospect for the film industry and for the city itself.

Cape Town Film Studios
With the new Cape Town Film Studios having been completed and in full production mode for the last year, the local film industry has international grade, state of the art facilities at its disposal, including 3D animation facilities which have recently completed the production of Judge Dredd. In support of the animation facilities there is a vibrant world-class animation industry in Cape Town, and university animation degrees producing fresh new talent every year.

Emerging talent
Another boost to the local pool of talent is a new short film competition, the Jamieson First Shot, where screenwriters and directors from The US, South Africa and Russia have the chance of working with Kevin Spacey and being mentored by big Hollywood names. The fact that South Africa has been included in this initiative to boost emerging talent is a great opportunity to showcase local talent in the international arena and develop the local film industry even more.

The success of the local film industry is boosting the attraction of South Africa for international production companies too. With so many skilled crew and excellent post-production facilities available on the spot, they can reduce the costs of their film productions by hiring locally instead of bringing in crew from outside.

Prinz Productions offers premier stills and film production services based in Cape Town, South Africa. Specialising in South Africa, Portugal and Mauritius, they also offer production services worldwide. Find out more about their film production service in South Africa.


Original article

How to Choose a Film School in 5 Easy Steps

1. What Kind of Filmmaker Are You?

Filmmaking is a uniquely individual career. Some directors isolate themselves on set and communicate with the crew only through their assistant director. Others may walk through the set each morning and shake the hands of crewmembers while asking about their personal lives. Some cinematographers work with the same camera crew for their entire career and others love to mix it up.

The point is, that your vision for your film career needs to play an important role in your choice of film school. No one else can tell you where to get your film education; no one else understands what you want.

2. What Do You Want to Learn?

Make a list of your top 10 favorite films. Now take that list and write down what, specifically, you liked about each film. Was it the lighting, the cinematography, the writing, the directing, the variety of locations, the special effects, the editing? Once you have that list look over the list and see if there are any trends. If you notice that you have a wide range of interests in film you will be most happy in a school that has a broad-based curriculum which allows you to experience a variety of filmmaking roles. If you find your interestes are very narrow and include only one discipline, such as writing, you may want to consider a school that asks you to choose a specific focus for educational experience.

3. Where Do You Want to Be?

Sometimes the lure of a particular school clouds your judgment. If you love the outdoors and need to clear your head with an occasional hike through nature, you will most definitely not be happy in a big city film school program. It may sound exciting to move to New York or California and ply your craft in the hustle and bustle of the urban environment, but if solitude and time in nature feed your soul you will quickly become disenchanted.

Think about what you do to relax. Think about the last time you felt happy and satisfied. Now I realize that most creative-types rarely feel satisfied...but just try to picture yourself learning in an environment that matches your personality.

If you enjoy large groups of people, corridors flooded with bodies racing to and fro and hours of theory--then you know you want to be in a large university setting. In this kind of environment you will spend two to three years studying the history and theory of filmmaking and then, if your project is chosen, you will get to make your movie during you final year.

If you feel at home in smaller groups and want to get to know all of your classmates by name as you help each other create truly amazing films--you may want to consider a smaller film school that focuses on hands on collaboration and low student to instructor ratios. This type of program will put gear in your hands immediately and you will be making movies your first month.

4. What Can You (or Your Parents) Afford?

If you are a trust fund baby you can skip this section. No matter how much money you have saved or how much money your parents can contribute--ALWAYS apply for scholarships and financial aid.

If you come from a low-income family or are supporting yourself on a near-poverty level income you may qualify for some wonderful grants. The advantage of grants is that the money does not have to be re-paid.

If you qualify for student loans be sure to accept only the bare minimum of funds needed to pay for your education, housing and books. It is very easy to take all the loan money offered and buy things you really don't need...after you graduate you will be kicking yourself when the grace period ends and your monthly payments start up. That awesome flat screen TV won't seem so great as you pay that loan interest over the next 20 years.

If you can comfortably afford a "big" university education, running in the $50,000 to $200,000 dollar range--and you can repay those hefty student loans--then you may want to consider the four-year (or more) option.

If you are like most Americans, you would much rather pay pennies on the dollar for an education that prepares you for the film industry workforce in one to two years. If this sounds more palatable to you and your wallet then you want to consider the many wonderful certificate and AA film programs available.

5. Where Do Your See Yourself in Five Years?

If you see yourself wiping rehearsed tears from your eyes while you quip about how heavy the Oscar statuette feels...don't go to film school! Successful filmmakers make movies because they love the craft-not because they seek fame and fortune. The reality is that hard work, dedication and a spirit of collaboration are the only tools that create success in the film industry. No one makes a film alone...not even Michael Moore. Someone has to hold the camera while he eviscerates his interview subjects.

If you see yourself working for a traditional Hollywood production company then you need to choose a school that focuses on internship/apprenticeship positions that lead to that career path. If you see yourself wearing a variety of "hats" and having hands-on involvement with every aspect of your film projects then you need to choose a school that prepares you to handle any facet of the filmmaking process.

Smaller film schools with hands-on curriculum and mentorship teaching styles will allow you to experience every part of the filmmaking process. If you want to have a meaningful role in an independent production company then this is the type of school that will prepare you for that journey.

Make Your Choice

In the end you are the "decider." If you commit yourself to following your dream of becoming a filmmaker, you will succeed. The school you choose will help you on your journey, but no school can promise success. So be honest with yourself about your goals, your skills, and your true level of determination. Choose your school and never look back-success includes enjoying the journey, not just the destination.

Rue, filmmaker and Director of the Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking, is dedicated to mentoring the new generation of filmmakers. Leveling the playing field and enabling all future filmmakers to get the information they need to become the award winners of tomorrow is her full-time job. Copyright of the article belongs to Rue. All Rights Reserved.


Original article

Learn About the Benefits and Features of the Sony HDR-XR150 Video Camera

With the Sony HDR-XR150, you have the ability to capture excellent high definition videos (1920 x 1080), in addition to still images of 3 megapixels. Additionally, this high definition video camera features an internal hard drive of 120GB, as well as Exmor R CMOS Sensor that is used for low light performance. Use the Active Mode in addition to the SteadyShot Image Stabilization, and you will be able to record captivating smooth video even as you are moving.

Some of the primary features of the Sony HDR-XR150 are inclusive of:

HD Video Recording (1920 x 1080) - With the HD video recording, you will be able to capture all your favorite moments in life using the Sony Full HD Quality. This digital camcorder is compatible with HDTV4, and it is also able to playback with HDMI (1080/60p). As such, you will be able to enjoy crisper images while you are watching your playbacks.

Still Image Capture (3 Megapixels) - You will be able to take stunning high resolution digital pictures using the Still Image Capture (3 Megapixels).

Internal Hard Drive of 120GB - The 120GB internal hard drive of the Sony HDR-XR150 allows you to store and record approximately 30 hours of video when done in SD HQ mode (standard definition), and approximately 50 hours of video when done in HD LP mode (high-definition). Additionally, the feature known as HDD Smart Protection helps to keep your recorded images and videos safe, if the video camera is somehow dropped.

Back Illuminated Exmor-R-CMOS Sensor - With the reduction in grain and the improved clarity of the image, you will be able to experience excellent sensitivity in low light with the Back Illuminated Exmor-R-CMOS Sensor. This particular sensor was designed especially for compact camcorders and cameras, and it helps to deliver detailed, vivid and bright still images and video recordings.

Compatibility with HDTV4 and Playback with HDMI (1080/60p) - The Sony HDR-XR150 is compatible with HDTV4 and also features a playback using HDMI (1080/60p), which helps to provide detailed and clear playback of all your video recordings.

Quick AF (2x Faster) - One of the advanced features of the Sony HDR-XR150 is the improved AF (autofocus) system known as Quick AF, which has a focusing speed that is approximately two times faster than previous models of the Sony camcorder.

High Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens - These lens have been designed for compact video cameras, and has features that help to control the contrast and sharpness of bigger lenses; in addition to SteadyShot Image Stabilization, which helps to reduce the amount of blur shown in images and videos.

Stan Roderbel loves to write about the latest electronic gadgets, gismos and anything related to cutting edge technology. Stan ventures into the fields of cameras, video and cell phones to find out the newest product and bring that product to his readers. You will enjoy this article about the Sony HDR-XR150 Video Camera even more if you go to the Sony HDR-XR150 website. While there read the article about the Sony HDR-XR500V Video Camera and it's many fine features.


Original article

Security Tips for Filmmakers

You have a great script, with cast and crew ready to film. What else could you be forgetting as a filmmaker? Protecting your production! With all the expensive equipment and props on a typical movie set, one would think security is forethought for filmmakers; surprisingly this is not always the case. Some filmmakers are so wrapped up in the creative and technical aspects of a movie, they forget about basic things like film set security.

Companies that special in film set security help filmmakers reduce risks and liabilities that come with production. The biggest risk is theft. On small movie sets, the cost of film equipment alone ranges into thousands of dollars. On big budget films, that price tag could be millions! Stolen equipment also means lost time in production. Imagine a director preparing for a big action scene, only there are no cameras to film it! The crew must now go out and buy more equipment. Meanwhile, the film goes over budget to pay for extra permits, location costs, wages for cast and crew, etc.

Why did all this happen? Because the filmmakers and location managers neglected to hire a reliable security company! "Reliable" is the keyword here, not all companies are equal. Film equipment and trailers must be watched 24/7 during a movie production. It's important to have guards who can stay focused and alert at all times. Filmmaker should have someone periodically check on security guards, especially during the night, to make sure they aren't sleeping or goofing around.

Filmmakers should also beware of shady security companies who are guilty of "ghost payrolling." What is ghost payrolling? Use the following scenario as an example: five security guards are ordered to watch film trailers overnight. Instead of supplying five security guards, the company only sends two, but still charges for five! This illegal activity may go on during the whole production; however the filmmakers would be clueless because no one is around at night, except the security guards. The owners of rogue security companies do this at the expensive of unassuming filmmakers, who normally don't raise concerns until something is stolen.

Filmmakers can avoid these risks by choosing a reputable security company. The film industry is a small community, if a company has dubious management or lazy employees, word usually gets around. Filmmakers should consider consulting with location managers who are familiar with local film set security companies. A good location manager will always recommend the best company, because their reputation depends on it. With the right security in place, filmmakers can concentrate on their craft and leave the worries to someone else!

The source in this article is the Owner of Aunpoint Security. The Company has recently expanded and is now called Aunpoint National. They are considered the #1 Film Set Security Company in Chicago and Indiana. Aunpoint National recently completed the movie "Man of Steel" a Superman remake by Warner Bros. Pictures, to be released in 2013. Visit their website at: http://aunpointnational.com/


Original article

8 Reasons Aspiring Film Makers Fail to Ever Make Any Money!

Ever since I began teaching this stuff, I have had the opportunity to observe many careers. Interestingly, those who had the most "talent" were not necessarily the ones who became the most successful. A career that looked promising could crash and burn before it even got started. In taking a closer look at this occurrence, I noticed that there were factors that surfaced again and again. They are:

1. Lack of training
2. Attempting to do everything yourself
3. Poor website
4. Poor attitude
5. Unrealistic expectations
6. Poor organisational skills
7. Giving up too soon
8. Lack of professionalism

Let's take a closer look at each of these:

1. Lack of training

Successful athletes, singers and actors all have coaches, even (and especially) when they're at the peak of their career. It's no different for you, though sometimes a beginner with a certain degree of natural talent might believe they can go it alone. It is very difficult to see yourself as others see you, and it's very hard to film and direct and edit and light and do sound and do graphics yourself, all at the same time. A good coach will help you turn your raw talent into bankable skills, they will teach you how to move beyond simply having the right kit and help you realise your own niche. To succeed in film making and video production, you need much more than raw talent and desire, you need good training, a reliable film making approach, marketing skills and the self-discipline to stop beating yourself up when the going gets tough. A good coach can shorten the learning curve by years and give you the support you need to pursue your professional video/film making career.

2. Focus on one aspect of production

Traditionally, there are well defined roles in film or video production. Producer, Director, Cinematographer or DoP, Camera Operator, Make Up, Sound, and so on. And that is so that productions run efficiently with clear lines of command. However, modern production is changing and increasingly you will find yourself adopting many, if not all of these roles, in order to bring the production in on budget. But the biggest mistake you can make is believing that you can do each role simultaneously and with equal skill. You wouldn't believe the amount of film makers that do this and it really annoys clients. It's one of their biggest complaints.

You cannot make films/video alone with any real commercial viability. It's a collaborative process. Sure, you can have a small crew. Find a good team of professionals to help. Find a good editor. If you are not confident in hiring an unknown, speak to others, ask for references and have a look at their previous work, then try them out on a small project. Remember, any crew you hire are an extension of you and your brand. Finding a good support team will allow you to focus solely on shooting.

3.Poor website

A website is an important marketing tool for a film maker, and it must be good. Having a bad website is worse than having no website. Have a website with short clips of your work, it doesn't have to be elaborate. Sadly, this is the one place where many beginners cut corners and fail. Your website should contain good quality footage filmed by you and edited well (see above re: the importance of finding a good editor). But a word of warning, make sure that you're ready to take this step. A website that is homemade, badly designed or lacking quality content that is relevant to your target market will get clicked off within seconds and you won't get another chance. You can set up a WordPress blog within 15 minutes, but that's what everyone is doing. To get a decent designed website can be expensive - anywhere from $1000 to $5000 - so don't do it until you're ready and have trained properly, otherwise you'll be wasting your money.

4. Poor attitude

In the Film & TV business, or any business today, good social competence - the ability to work well with others - is a must. There is no place for prima-donnas or film makers with attitudes. You have to be able to take direction graciously, put up with fickle clients and directors and take rejection. I have been to too many shoots where the film maker is sat at lunch moaning about the business and they're only doing this 'gig' for the money because they're only a stepping stone away from making their 'feature film'. Such negativity has a way of catching up with you and is the fastest way to undermine a career.

5. Unrealistic expectations

People often ask me how long it will take before they'll start to make money in digital film making. That depends on many factors: the quality of your work, your talent and training, the amount of time you spend on marketing yourself and your persistence. You must be willing to market yourself and that means finding clients, agencies and Directors that are willing to look at your work and showreel, and consider you for future jobs. This can take months or even a year or more to do. But it can be done. I did it and you can too.

6. Poor organisational skills

This is the part where the artistic side of being a film maker dovetails with the business side. Film makers tend to be, and indeed must be, creative and artistic individuals. This means that thinking and running themselves as a business can be tricky. However, it's a must if you want to work professionally. Think of yourself as a product that has to be marketed. You will need a computer, a printer and a database of businesses and agencies who you will need to form relationships with. You will also need a system to constantly keep you in contact with the people who can give you work. Film making is a people business, and people buy people.

7. Giving up too soon

There have been occasions in my career - when I was working as DoP - where I have called the same Director or production company every month for years! Some may be resistant to that, others won't, but one thing is for certain - they will know who you are. Many people give up too soon or don't like doing this. However, if you really want it, you must make yourself do it and thankfully it gets easier the more you do it. Don't sabotage your career before it gets started.

8. Lack of professionalism

You name it!

Turning up late for meetings and shoots. Arguing with the Director. Not being prepared. Turning up drunk or under the influence. Letting a bad mood show. Spreading gossip. Bad mouthing other film makers at every opportunity. Not caring for personal hygiene. Not following up on opportunities and leads.

Need I say more?

I hope you've enjoyed my report and I look forward to providing you with more important film making information in the future.

Den Lennie is an award winning veteran of a 17 year career in television production with credits as Lighting Cameraman, DOP, Producer and Director. He's worked with broadcasters, production companies and top film-makers from all over the world, filming in nearly 50 countries.The list of people Den has personally lit and filmed reads like a Who's Who of celebrities from the world of cinema and music:Ewan McGregor, U2, Bon Jovi, Liam Neeson, Kylie Minogue, Mel Gibson, Noel Gallagher, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Tom Cruise and Naomi Campbell are just a few of the names Den has captured on film or video.He's worked at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, the MTV and Mobo awards ceremonies and at London Fashion Week. Den's career has also taken him into the field of news and documentaries, of property and travel programmes - winning Royal 2 x Television Society awards in the UK.

He now dedicates all of his time when not filming to http://www.fstopacademy.com/ an alternative film making education resource offering Online Film Making Courses, Practical Training, Mentoring and Hands on Workshops for Aspiring Film Makers Who Don't have the time or desire to go to film school.


Original article

Film Locations in South Africa: The Film Industry's Favorite Stand-In

Filming a movie that spans a huge number of different countries might seem to be a huge logistical challenge, especially when those countries cover war-torn or inhospitable areas such as Afghanistan and the Middle East. The producers of international thriller Lord Of War solved that problem in one simple move. They filmed on location in South Africa.

This vast and beautiful country has such a huge variety of terrains, ranging from desert to lush forest, mountain, ocean, rolling hills, expansive plains and so on, that it can double as almost any other country if you find just the right spot. For Lord of War the film production managed to re create scenes from Sierra Leone, Bolivia and Afghanistan to name but a few, as the backdrop to the thrilling chase of Interpol agents tracking arms dealer Nicholas cage around the globe.

The advantages of using film locations in South Africa to double as the actual places, rather than travelling to each and every actual country featured in the movie, are numerous. By keeping the location filming within one geographical area, costs are kept right down, the same crew can be used for continuity, logistics are much simpler and much time and travel is saved. Above all the film production benefits from the well-established infrastructure already existing here, instead of struggling in countries that have little or no established support for the movie industry.

Because South Africa has a long history as a favoured location for film and commercial production, it offers excellent facilities, whether it be the experienced local crew available, the post-production facilities, the local production companies facilitating every aspect, to world-class hotels and transport to keep A-list actors happy!

South Africa has doubled up as many other countries over the years: in Oscar-nominated Blood Diamond, the 2006 thriller starring Leonardo diCaprio, South African locations doubled for the civil war torn landscapes of Sierra Leone. Hotel Rwanda was shot in Gauteng and Johannesburg in 2004 instead of enduring the rigors of filming in the actual country featured.

A very different side of the country is used in children's movie Racing Stripes, where the green hills and fields around Pietermaritzburg set the stage for a charming tale about a zebra who thinks he's a racehorse, and double up as the sort of generic rich horse-racing countryside found in several parts of the world. In Dredd, recently filmed in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa's main cities show their gritty side by standing in for the futuristic Mega-City One of the fantasy comic strip.

The recent major movies filmed on location in South Africa have shown that it is now really on the map as far as big production goes, whether doubling for somewhere else or featuring as itself, in all its glorious scenery and variety.

Prinz Productions offers premier stills and film production services based in Cape Town, South Africa. Specialising in South Africa, Portugal and Mauritius, they also offer production services worldwide. Find out more about their film production service in South Africa.


Original article

How To Shoot A Guaranteed Viral Video

These days we are all craving the fifteen minutes of fame Andy Warhol promised us back in the Sixties. At least he promised our parents that but now we want it. Reality Shows certainly help to fulfill this promise but it is the Internet that really holds the greatest possibility that everyday slobs like us can achieve our dreams of glory. A simple home video shot on equipment no more expensive than a cell phone can now be seen by millions of people worldwide. Our clips can even make it onto network television on shows like Tosh.0 or even used as TV commercials. Although it is ridiculously simple to produce a potential viral video there are some basic dos and don'ts. First the don'ts;

* Don't use alcohol. Although alcohol seems to be involved in a lot of the crazy stunt videos seen on Youtube and using it as a lube almost always results in hilarious antics from your crazy friends, it also introduces a wild card element into what should be a somewhat controlled situation. Out of control may be what you're hoping for but for your subject, not for your equipment. Unleashing the God of Mayhem may result in the funniest clip ever when your friend, drunk on both booze and the spotlight of the camera, does things no sober person would ever do, but if he turns on you and your expensive camera gear, you're in big trouble.

* Don't use drugs. This is actually for the opposite reason than not using alcohol as having your subject nodding off may open up opportunity for funny pranks on him but any hilarious things he may say while under the influence may be unintelligible and his lethargic demeanor just doesn't generate the kind of comedic energy to make for a really great viral video. There is also the danger with combustibles that the camera crew can suffer a contact high and blow the entire shooting schedule and budget on pizza rolls.

* Don't involve children. Although kids in videos can be adorable and make for very popular clips, it is a fine line between adorable and exploitive and abusive.

* Don't shoot clips that will embarrass your mother. Showing the world your mother tripping down stairs and revealing her lack of underwear my seem like the funniest thing you've ever seen, when you're fourteen. You will grow to regret this and the kind of fame you will receive for both yourself and your family will not be the kind you so crave. Besides, your father is always fair game.

The things you should do to create a guaranteed million viewed viral video are;

* Promise sex. Don't actually show anything that will guarantee your clip will never be shown on America's Funniest Viral Video Show but make the viewer think the clip is building to something sexy enough to keep them viewing to the ultimately disappointing end. The huge let down can be hilarious in itself and once your clip has been seen it has achieved its goal. If done right it may even be passed on as a cruel joke to other perverts as misery loves company and no one likes to think they were the only one fooled.

* Use some imagination. Take a mundane, everyday occurrence that may seem appropriate to have videotaped and imagine the most amazing, unexpected freak ending you can. The setup needs to be something that looks natural, not staged, such as a birthday party, then spring the big surprise. With video effects, costumes and some simple in-camera tricks, any number of improbable scenarios can be acted out to look completely natural and spontaneous. Otherwise you just have to film everything, all the time and pray that lightening strikes. Good luck with that.

* Film cats. Cat lovers are fanatics. There is a parasite that cats carry that gets spread in their stool. If a mouse comes into contact with it and becomes infected the parasite affects the mouse in a very strange way. The mouse will lose its natural fear of cats. This essentially cripples the mouse as it will not even attempt to escape from the cat which will then eat the mouse thus returning the parasite to its own system where the parasite needs to be to complete its life cycle. Isn't nature wonderful? What happens if humans get infected with this parasite? Perhaps living in an apartment with twenty cats is the human response to the parasite. At any rate, cat lovers are the easiest audience in the world, just show them cats. You can start an only cats all the time Youtube channel and make a million overnight. Why hasn't anyone done this, if someone hasn't already done this? It will only make your cat famous and only a real cat lover would want that.

Follow this helpful, insightful advice and you will be guaranteed to produce a million viewed Internet viral video.

Neal Warner is an artist, writer, filmmaker, member of the multimedia band The Tooners and founder of Director's Clip, The Internet and Music Video Sponsorship Site (http://www.directorsclip.com/)


Original article

What Makes a Great Digital Camera?

So you've decided to buy a digital camera but you seem to be more confused as to what to buy. There are a lot of people telling you what matters most in a digital camera. Buy this... Buy that... Choose this and choose that... You might be going crazy with all of this so-called "advices." So let's try to narrow things down. What exactly makes a good digital camera? Is it resolution? Zoom? Maybe some other technical stuff? I will make it easier for you. I will list the things that make a digital camera worth your time (or not!). Some of these things may be a little too technical so I will try to make it less complicated for you simple folk out there. For this article, I will tackle resolution, lens and power supply. Take note that there are more things to consider but these are the main ones that you need to look for.

Resolution

Resolution can easily be understood as "image detailing". You see, pictures are made of pixels. The more pixels, the more detailed a picture becomes. But wait, albeit common belief more pixels does not equate to better photo quality. If you get a camera with very high resolution, you might get frustrated with slower shooting. If you choose a camera with very poor resolution, your pictures might come up as crap. So if you think that a 14-megapixel camera is light years away from a 12-megapixel camera, think again. They might even give the same quality of images under certain conditions.

Lens

In the digital camera world, there are a number of different kinds of lenses. Some have aesthetic purposes but most of them offer some form of technical advantage over the other. They can be broken down into 4 different kinds of lenses as mentioned below.

- Folded optic lenses- Usually present in ultra compact cameras, this kind of lens folds sideways maintaining the slim design of the camera.

- Fixed focal-length lenses - These lenses have no optical zooming capabilities at all. This has the lowest optical quality of the 4 types of lenses.

- Retractable zoom lenses -Currently the most common type of lens in the digital camera market. These lenses retract inside the body of the camera when not in use. The retraction/extension makes start-up and power-down times longer. Also, the design limits manual-focus through switches and/or buttons.

- Fixed zoom lenses -These lenses are fixed to the body and do not retract inside when the camera is powered off. Magnifications using these kinds of lenses can go to as high as 26x. Advanced controls allow the user to create adjustments if needed. The only thing about fixed zoom lenses is that it tends to make the cameras bulkier and operation of the camera may be more complicated.

Batterytypes

For power supply, it's always best if your camera can use interchangeable power supply simply because there may be times when it will be impractical to use one type of power supply. For everyday use, you can opt for rechargeable batteries because they tend to become cheaper on the long run. But if you are in the woods for a long time, it would be better to bring a pack of disposable batteries rather than bring a rechargeable battery.

For more great tips and ideas on digital cameras come and visit our website at http://www.radmustangs.com/, you will be pleasantly surprised.


Original article

Sony HandyCam HVR-FX7

Now a day's handycam has become the most demanding utilities for the people. Today people are looking for their own handycam to capture images and videos according to their own requirements and leisure. Sony HandyCam HDR is one of the most important components that help anyone to capture the most enjoyable moments of the life. Sony HandyCam HVR-FX7 is a great tool to make one's life happy and worthwhile it helps people to take the photos and snapshots of various celebrations and festivals.

This handycam has various enhanced features that enable the customers to enjoy its great features and service. It is one of the best tools that help people to use digital technology to get clear images. This product is much better than the analog cameras which were expensive and inefficient which provides the low quality images. It is one of the most important factors that have upgraded its features to a great extent. There are different types of sensors that are responsible for converting the light rays received from the lenses in to the pixel format that enables the camera to position them on the LCD panel and capture the clear images. Sony HandyCam HVR-FX7 has different facilities for the people who want to edit their photos for further customizations as per their requirement. One can also use the memory stick of the camera to record the videos on secondary storage. Once above process is completed then one can use them to download on the personal computer and the laptop. It is a great mechanism because once the photograph is in the system then one can easily manipulate according to their requirements.

There are various photos editing software available that would help you to enhance the quality of the image which can be related to resolution. One can magnify the image of camera without losing on resolution which is one of the best features of it. There are many other factors that have made this camera as the dominating forces in its category.There are different options that Sony HandyCam HVR-FX7uses to provide quality output. It has a viewfinder that helps the people to focus on a particular object without the problem of location. There are many instances when zooming has led to parallax error in lenses. Sony has rectified this problem and one can enlarge the picture without any issues or difficulties. One can find this product on amazon.com where they offer this product with a discounted price. one can go through the site can purchase the best one.

Now from the above features it can be said that Sony HandyCam HVR-FX7 is a great device which is based on futuristic technology and would continue to provide services to the customers in the years to come. And it will boom in the electronic technology in near future.

If anyone want more information regarding the product and the prices with latest features, one can go through the website ( http://www.hvrfx7.org/ ) where one will get the entire information regarding the product, features, models etc.

The hand-cam is becoming very popular nowadays. I believe that one of the best is the Sony HandyCam HVR-FX7 which has many features. You can get one at low price through the top link.


Original article

11 Ways to Create a Great Corporate Video

1 - Do you really want a 'Corporate' Video? Who wants to watch a corporate video? 'Corporate' sounds dry and boring to me. What you want to tell is a compelling story. Long or short, simple or complicated, telling great stories is how you make something mundane into something watchable and entertaining. In the end what people remember is a good story and something that's not a cookie cutter production. How do you get that production? You work with a production team that takes the time to get to know you and your culture, and then tells some compelling stories about your organization.

2 - Survey the landscape. What kind of videos are your competitors making? How are they telling their stories? Get a grasp of what (if anything) your competitors are doing, and make a list with outlining their messaging points.

3 - Bigger than life. How do you make a your story shine? Make it bigger than life. Make it filmic with great music and graphics, good 'casting' of people in your organization and a then tell a great story. You may not need all those elements, but you need to think big, bigger than life - bigger than average, because average doesn't cut it. With so much good video out there, you have to stand above the pack. So just how do you do that? Keep reading.

4 - What do you like? What are the videos you do like? How long are they? What resonates? The music, the images, the voices or the editing? Save links.

5 - What don't you like? Sometimes I think this is more important than what you do like because it helps you understand the things that don't work for you and your organization. Get a good understanding of why you don't like what you see. Remember many elements of taste are subjective. Bad is as important as good to a filmmaker because that's how we can better understand your tastes.

6 - Borrow from the Best. An old advertising saying says 'steal from the best.' Everything is derivative or borrows from something else we have seen, heard or read. There are no original ideas so don't be shy about taking a great idea and adapting for your purposes. That doesn't mean copying an idea line for line, but it does mean a good concept in an existing video might work for you too.

7 - What can you really afford? I can't tell you how many times people have come to me asking for the moon with a tiny budget. Sure there are cool tricks and short cuts but you can only cut so many corners before you start shooting yourself in the foot. Be realistic. If you start chipping away at the budget around the edges you may prune the concept right out of the video. And remember, the low cost provider may not give you the best final product. Using an inexperienced young kid a year out of film school may seem like a brilliant 'can't lose idea' until you have invested days of your time and you realize she doesn't really know how to talk to people in a large organization, you have bad sound recordings and she has pissed off three tiers of management making them wait until she's ready.

8. Prepare for Take-off. Understand the process. If you haven't made a video before, make sure you know how it works - all the steps from Pre-Production through Post Production and DVD duplication or web delivery and best practices web site design for video, plus how to best facilitate the entire process. Assign a capable, knowledgeable and will-liked project manager from your company, because your going to need a lot of good will to get a project like this done.

9. Business Unusual. Making a video is not normal business for an organization - and a production is likely to slow things down. Employees like to watch and things take longer to film than they do in real life. Real fuses (in the electrical boards) blow, and people arrive late and often get nervous on camera. These are all parts of a normal production day. Relax, make it into a fun day of work and expect the unexpected.

10. Short is Better. Please, REMEMBER THIS. You can't tell it all. You can't tell it all. You can't tell it all. Once you conclude that there's no way to tell it all you can hone in on what story (or stories) you should tell. Your video is normally an introduction, a story, an overview, a profile, a case study or an explanation of a few complicated ideas.

11. Enjoy the Ride. Once you realize how easy video is to make, you can see new opportunities it provides. From new product introductions, to HR training, to company/organization overviews, to internal communications with your employees to external communications with customers. There are many ways to speak to your audiences, and maybe some don't need video, but as our constituencies become increasingly video savvy, why not make life easier for them by giving them user friendly communications tools.


Original article

How To Beef Up Your Camcorder To Get Professional Results

You might own a camcorder, and started dabbling with home movies or perhaps your own short movies. If you are at that point, you might have started to notice your camcorder has some limitations. This is normal, since most people don't have a lot of experience with camcorders as much as say, digital cameras. You want to keep making video, but you don't want to spend thousands on a professional camcorder.

Some common improvements you can make with most off the shelf consumer camcorders are:

1. Improve Bad Audio- This is a number one complaint, probably because most camcorders just have a built-in microphone, this is a problem because people viewing your video expect good audio. They might tolerate bad video, but most people cannot stand poor audio quality.

This is tricky to improve, unless you have a camcorder with an external microphone input. The problem is most camcorders you buy (at a reasonable cost) do not have this feature anymore. If your camcorder does have a microphone input, you can simply plug in a microphone to do a better job of capturing the audio.

Most camcorder microphone inputs are 1/8 inch jacks. If you want to beef your audio up even more, you can add an adapter that plugs into the jack, to allow the use of 2 or more XLR microphones. These microphones are higher quality and offer a broad range of choices to use. You could capture more sound from two sources- or more.

If your camcorder does not have a microphone input jack, make sure your video is recorded with a minimum of background noise, and try to avoid capturing voice audio from a distance if you are using the zoom feature on your camcorder.

2. Improve Stability- A true sign of an amateur video is a shaky picture. Luckily, there are a great number of options you can use to improve this problem. A good tripod is the obvious choice. My recommendation is if you know you are going to use a tripod a lot, purchase a quality one. This can eliminate jerky, even shaky panning on your video. You want smooth, even motion.

A favorite of mine is the monopod. You can hold a monopod in many positions, and hold it very steady, you can also pan easily and smoothly.

If you are on the move and cannot use either the tripod or the monopod, you can attach hand brackets to your camcorder to stabilize your videos as well as use the bracket to mount audio and lighting.

3. Improve Lighting- This is another area you can beef up easily, there are a good number of low cost lights you can mount on your camcorder shoe, or below the camera, or on a hand bracket I described above. When you light up your subject matter, you can improve the quality of your videos very easily. You could also purchase some inexpensive back lights to eliminate shadows or create a different atmosphere to your video.

These are a few ideas you can use with your existing camcorder or a low cost camcorder. You don't have to spend a fortune to get quality video results.

For our low cost camcorder recommendation as well as more information on improving your videos, visit our site at: Camcorder With External Mic Jack


Original article

How To Direct Actors

So the word is it can be very difficult working with actors, and that can be true at times. In this article I will explain a few steps that will make the daunting task as fun as it should be. To be a director you need to be very confident in yourself, you will constantly be criticized and you will need to expect this. A few things you will need are a good script and also a hard working and dedicated cast. Once you have your script get feedback from some individuals who work in the same business you can't produce a good movie without a decent script.

Ok so you find a legitimate script now you need to fill your characters roles. A huge role is finding actors that are going to take you and your film serious. Everyone will jump at the chance to be in a movie so you need to search for the right candidates. You want someone dedicated to you and your film and you must feel that you can count on them to deliver. Now we can't produce anything without our entire team on the same page so it's your job to bring your crew together and just meet and familiarize everyone with each other. Explain to your team your dreams for this film try to have them envision their roles and how they need to perform to perfect these demands.

You will hold weeks of rehearsal and in this time you will need to make your ideas for each scene very clear for each of your actors. They need to know what you expect from there roles as to how there emotions and characters actions unfold, If your actors aren't on the same page as you this can come out negatively in your scene. Also if you feel a negative vibe or can just tell from the beginning an actor is going to be difficult to work with don't hesitate to replace them. They may bring a crowd by their popularity but there are many more who are jumping for the chance to fill those shoes.

One big issue you will face is time. Directing films doesn't happen over night and you need to make it clear that you expect everyone participating in this film to give everything they have. This will include getting to the studio on time also you need to explain the importance of all your actors remembering their lines in the scripts. Your success as a director lies in the hands of this team you hired so you need to be tough but you must show respect to gain it. One of the most important rules is to just have fun and be the best you can be.

Hello my name is Steve Bean. I work with Octo Interactive. We are an Orlando FL Video Production Company that specializes in Web Video Production (321) 338 - 2962.


Original article

What Is the Best Video Editing Software

It's already common for video editors to ask if what is the best video editing software. I've been asking the same question also before but I already stopped doing so when I already found the best one for me.

If you ask professional video editors if what is the best video editing software, chances are they have different answers. This is because each one has his or her own preferences. This means that this question has no definite answer. It really depends upon your opinion.

Rather than telling you directly if what is the best video editing software, let me just help you choose the one that works for you by giving you the following different situations.

1. Are you a professional video editor?

If you are a professional video editor then I really recommend having a professional software as well. When we say professional software, it must have the capability of doing the task that a professional video editing can accomplish. To mention a few, it must be able to import different kinds of video formats (specially the latest ones). It must also have the effects that you wanted to achieve. There are really many features of a professional video editing software and I'm sure you know them. If you think a software can have almost everything that you need, then that might be the right one for you.

2. Are you a home video editor?

If you are still a home video editor, then you don't have to acquire a luxurious software for now. This is because you might not need yet those features that an expensive one has anyway. You can just choose a simpler program that you can use so long as it has the basic features that you need.

3. Are you an online video editor?

There might be situations where in you just wanted to edit your videos online. If this is the case, you don't have to grab a program really. You can just go to any online editing sites out there and edit your videos through their tools.

In knowing what is the best video editing software, you check your self if where are you in the situations I mentioned above. My advice is that, you really don't have to spend so much time in knowing what is the best video editing software. Just check out on anything and learn how to use it. Once you mastered one, then that's already the best for you. At the end of the day, viewers don't really care if what software you used to edit your video. They just care about the video you made.

Chamberlane Altatis

Choose your software for video editing


Original article

Storyboard Software Explained

Recently, I was required to create lots of storyboards and previs, so carried out a bit of investigating into the available packages -

Storyboards are sometimes called previsualization or previs and can be any process that tries to visualize scenes within a movie before filming kicks off.

The benefit of previsualization is that it facilitates directors to realize distinctive staging and art direction options with no need to bear the fees of day to day production.

Storyboards might include music, sound files and dialogue to thoroughly previs the feel of edited sequences, and so are often useful for complicated or tricky scenes that involve stunts and special effects.

My investigation revealed that Previs software is roughly split between 3 areas:

2D, 3D and character/environment style and design.

The 2D products can be considered like a digital version of old fashioned storyboarding -they don't offer up camera passes or character motions inside the time line.

All of the 3D selections have the 2D traditional storyboard choice but also allow manipulation of characters in time and space: camera passes can be designed and changed.

Many of the 3D applications are meant to operate in real time (just about) to ensure that a director/operator could make changes on the fly with very small rendering lag time. These packages come up with characters and environments that typically lack intricate detail and textures, nevertheless this is rapidly improving.

The 3rd group is focused on environment and character style and design. Even with their capability to render time-line animation and camera movement, it is very unlikely these particular programs would eventually be utilized for on-set storyboard previs due to their render engines actually being intended for high quality output, on the other hand they may be very, very useful for complete detail figure development, costumes, and environments due to extremely high resolution renders.

I'm going to make an effort to categorize a handful of of the most renowned programs that you can buy at the time of writing.

Storyboard Quick

'Storyboard Quick can be considered a regular storyboard system, as it doesn't take advantage of 3d images. Due to this it's easy to understand and the interface is not difficult. You could import any location photos, which often might possibly be better than the rather 'childlike' clip art work provided.

Google SketchUp

'Google SketchUp' doesn't possess timeline animation although the pro choice does feature dynamic properties or limited animation within a scene, in spite of this it is an impressive piece of free software that has a large service community and absolutely free models. It's great, entertaining and fun plus the user interface is fairly simple to negotiate.

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro

'Story Board Pro' from Toon Boom is a very different program from the other 2D storyboard software listed in this doc. Instead of utilising clip art plus imported textures Storyboard Pro is an amazing illustrating application well suited for using a pen tablet program - so for those who can't draw it is better to stay clear. If you can draw then the program is outstanding, encouraging extremely quick paint and brush options,

Storyboard Artist

I believe the name of this particular software is a touch inaccurate as it is allot more than a 2D, old fashioned, storyboard interface. This program will allow for 3-d animatics, oral sync animation and seems to have excellent 3D clip art and models currently built in.

Frameforge previs studio

'FrameForge Previz' studio has fairly quickly, become the main industry standard, on-set produce,t for directors to shape 3D storyboards in (practically) real time it will output accurate timeline animation and mix several camera moves.

E frontier poser

'Poser' is a really unique program that enables fast and simple character development employing a vast number of three dimensional templates and open source contributions. It makes it possible for a developer to quickly integrate three dimensional characters into any kind of animation, animatic or still frame.

Vue

Vue is an extremely significant, niche piece of software that employs templates to create environments which can be used for full-res matte paintings. It's been recently used on Avatar and Indiana Jones 4 to create jungle panoramas.

Hitchcock Storyboard Composer for iPhone/iPod touch platform

Just creeping in on the end of my previs exploration is Cinemeks 'Hitchcock storyboard composer' for iPhone/iPod touch (needs camera).

You simply collect scene images within the camera and make use of the technology to control the framing, order and timing of the shots in your storyboard.

Despite the small interface the reviews are favorable, however, if I was paying actors to aid me with a photographic storyboard I would almost certainly employ a more effective stills camera which would enable depth of field and lighting options. Never the less, I'm sure a lot of people will find it a particularly useful tool.

The Previsualization Society

Last but not least it is worth taking a look at the newly formed Previsualization Society for much more in-depth info. They endorse the utilization of previs in numerous groups around the world by promoting effective applications and a knowledge of the abilities of previsualization as a collaborative tool and interaction method.

The Author, Michael Barnes runs a video production Cardiff company and the main website can be found here.


Original article

AE Projects - Solutions for Filmmakers

Adobe After Effects projects are becoming increasingly popular for filmmakers. Because of the competitive nature of the film industry, businesses, broadcasters and entertainment companies will go to great lengths to achieve an advantage in the marketplace. This competition only intensifies over time as companies fight for the awareness of consumers. Because of this drive, business has boomed whether it is on the big screen, independent movies and productions, broadcasting and news channels or on the internet and even the marketing programs of businesses, everything has become more interactive using highly developed multimedia formats.

There are many benefits that AE projects provide filmmakers and broadcasters. They can produce the best results right through the spectrum from multimedia giants to small businesses that are trying to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace via interactive marketing programmes. After Effects software is in fact rather complex and it usually needs the expertise of a skilled motion graphics designer who understands the software completely.

However, After Effects templates make this process significantly easier for big and small filmmakers alike. They are pre-formatted visual presentations, intros, teasers and motion graphic displays which are incredibly easy to use for experts and beginners alike. Some productions are available in high definition format and simply need the addition of images, videos and brand messages to finish the production. After Effects projects allow anybody to make visually amazing productions that can be communicated in a multitude of ways, especially in the film and broadcast industries.

You can very easily customise AE project title sequence packages to your specifications. When purchasing After Effects title sequence packages for films the project animations generally have sound included. They are very simple to use and you can alter the text on the file by yourself as well as adding your own graphic or logo. What you decide to purchase is normally priced in terms of the requirements such as the length of the music, the bit-rate and the dimensions for the video.

If you buy an AE project for film or broadcast you can look forward to receiving a very flexible promo package in which you can alter to your wishes. The colour and font choices are unlimited so you will not be held back. Each package will contain an amount of animations such as title cards, intros, transitions, wipes, baseline graphics, lower thirds, end credits, and bumpers through to effects and full backgrounds. Video tutorials often accompany the packages so you will have no trouble finding a solution. If you purchase a title sequence package through After Effects projects you can be sure your project will stand out from the rest.

Template Digital is a community driven motion graphics marketplace which allows buying and selling of fully customizable, royalty-free stock motion graphics for production, film, and television network professionals. This provides post-production developers a new way to reach hundreds, if not thousands of potential motion graphics customers and get their work into video productions, and saves time and money for video productions. It also includes a developing community of post-production professionals for discussing the latest techniques with After Effects and other motion graphics software programs.
View our customizable AE projects and motion graphic packages for broadcast, film and general production.


Original article

How To Pitch Your Documentary Idea and Write an Effective Documentary Proposal To Get Funding

So you have a wonderful documentary idea and you just need some cash to get it going. Where do you go? How do you find funds?

One of the first things you'll need to do is write a Documentary Proposal. A proposal not only helps explain the project to potential funders and supporters, it's a great exercise to get YOU the filmmaker thinking through all the details. Basically, a Documentary Proposal is your film's business plan.

Here are the key elements you'll need to include in a documentary proposal: synopsis, project overview, treatment, style/tone of project, production schedule, interview subjects, crew bios, advisors/experts, partnerships, target audience, budget, fundraising plan and distribution strategy.

There is often a lot of overlap when describing the synopsis, project description and treatment. There is no right or wrong answer. One way to think about it is to say that the synopsis is a short 1-2 paragraph summary of your project. The overview is a longer synopsis that goes into more detail about the project, perhaps 1-2 pages in length. And the treatment is more like a script, describing specific scenes and quotes. A treatment is often difficult to write at the beginning of a project since the nature of a documentary is that it can't be "written" until after it's been shot, so I would say including a treatment in your proposal is optional unless specifically requested.

An effective documentary proposal will answer the following questions:
Why this documentary, why now?Why is this documentary different from any other film ever made?Why are YOU the one to make this documentary?What gives you and your team the credibility to be trusted with donated money (experience, partnerships, advisory board, fiscal sponsor, letters of support, etc)What unique access or connections do you have for making the film?

The big picture goal for a documentary pitch or documentary proposal is to build CREDIBILITY. You do that by putting together a well-written proposal, having an experienced team (if not you, that can be crew, advisors or partners), having a compelling film concept, a well-thought out plan and a realistic budget.

Once you have your proposal together, now it's time to start making your pitch. If you are a new filmmaker, my best advice is to avoid the big foundations and grants and go after the "low hanging fruit." Find people who are already passionate about the subject matter of your film and see what connections they have. Basically, you want to go through the "back door" to find your funding. Maybe a friend's uncle is the CEO of a local million dollar company. Or perhaps your favorite college professor is friends with the executor of a small family foundation. Leave no rock left unturned.

The last thing you want to do is say, hey, who's the richest guy in town and let's go after him. Does the guy already have a proven interest in the subject of your film or in art/film projects? Do you know someone with a personal connection to the guy who can pitch the project on your behalf? If no, then don't waste your time or theirs.

Find natural connections to people who are already pre-sold on the theme of your documentary project and send them your proposal. They already know the subject matter of the film is important, now all you have to do is convince them that YOU know how to get the job done.

Faith Fuller is an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and founder of Desktop-Documentaries.com, an online resource guide for documentary filmmakers. To learn more about putting together Documentary Treatments, Proposals and Budgets, visit  http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/documentary-treatment.html.


Original article

How to Make a Movie

In this article I will be talking about the many roles and challenges you face in making your own movie. We will talk about everything from how to write your own script and directing your film, to producing and finding the cost to finance your video. Each of these are all important roles when it comes to making your own movie.

First I would like to talk about writing your script. I feel this is your foundation; everything is built around your story. You want to brainstorm lots of ideas create the purpose of your story. What is the goal or plot of my story, how are your main characters involved in this. It helps to create an outline and lay out how your events will unfold on paper. You want to include details like your setting, the time of day, and your characters actions. Don't be afraid to show your work to someone who's had writing experience let them critique it and remember it's just their opinion.

Before we can talk about producing and directing your film you need to figure out how you will finance it. Now if you have an unlimited budget then you have little to worry about but if you're like the rest of us this could and can be a huge factor in creating your own movie. There are typically four methods for financing the production of a film, I will discuss two of them; government grants and tax schemes. Many governments run programs to subsidize the cost of production. Some states provide a tax credit that can cover part or all of the film cost that are filmed in the state. Governments provide these in hope it will attract individuals into their area and raise employment levels. Many countries introduced legislation that enhanced tax deductions for owners or producers of films. Governments are realizing these tax deductions are an inefficient way of supporting the film industry.

Now we can get into your production. You already have your script so your next step is hiring your cast and crew. So once you have your casting call you decide your actors and give out their roles. You may negotiate salary but most will work for scale (actor's minimum wage). Sit back and let your crew begin shooting your film. You will have tons of footage to go through as you begin your post-production editing, but this is mostly done by your editor. Once you have your final cut your best chance is distributing your movie to a prestigious film festival. Studios send there reps to seek new films.

There are many roles and responsibilities a director has and it can be very difficult. There's tons of behind the scenes work involved with directing a film. You need to be on top of everything as everyone is looking up to you. You will be creating all the aspects of the movie as you draw out each scene and break down the script into sections. Track your characters emotions and express each of these elements with your actors, tell them what you expect from them. You're there to observe and give notes on every scene give direction to your actors keep there characters on role. Spend time on rehearsal and preproduction and just keep a main over view on your team of actors. Now after reading this it won't guide you to creating your own blockbuster hit but I hope it helps you to understand the roles in making your own video.

Hello my name is Steve Bean. I work with Octo Interactive. We are an Orlando Fl Video Production Company that specializes in Web Video Production (321) 338 - 2962


Original article