WOW, AARON DID SPECIAL EFFECTS FOR A MOVIE!?

[Kitsunexus]

I SHIT YOU NOT. I was reading PlanetFargo archives (because I love that strip) and I came across this article. It's fairly ho-hum, and it's basically Fargo interviewing a dude who made a movie out of one of his funniest Daily Victims called "The Glove". Basically it was about an evil Saitek (Technology of Satan) Power Glove becoming possessed and killing people. I'd link it, but the Gamespy redesign has obliterated DailyVictim.

But then the article jumps to this paragraph, and noticing I had no drink, I ran to the fridge to get a Vault so I could do a spit take. And I quote:

My FX guy plays more console games that I thought possible. Every time I see him he has some strange new game from Japan. In fact he runs the largest PCEngineFX site in the world, remember the PCEngineFX?. Check out pcengine-fx.com and see for yourself, it's like a cult and he is their leader, scary.

I haven't watched it yet, but I will, you can get it here!
http://www.fileplanet.com/130220/130000/fileinfo/The-Glove-Short-Film

If you don't have a FilePlanet account, use mine:
login: zackpc2001
password: zsm

I hope he comes online and confrims this, this will be cool!

[Joe Redifer]

That's cool and all, but you had me thinking this was a "real" movie.

[Kitsunexus]

Yeah, my bad. I'm sorry, like I said, I'm drinking Vault. Sugar makes me exaggerate a bit. ._.

BUT IT'S STILL COOL! ^___________^

[TurboXray]

 He's not the only one who's done work. I know Joe does work( camera and editing at the least - directing?) and I did some compositing effects for an Indie movie (which is taking for ever to come out!). I wonder if anyone else here has done work in the Indie or just small budget film industry.

[Joe Redifer]

I do camera, editing and directing.  Sometimes I act as well, but I suck at that.  Often I have to edit and shoot projects that aren't my own.  I hate that.  I always feel best and do my best work when I have full creative control.  It's hard for me to put in a ton of effort into one thing when the person who has the final say comes in and wants to make one teensie-tiny change, requiring everything be redone from scratch.  Then they get mad because they have to pay me for all the new hours of work and wonder why I didn't do it exactly how they envisioned it in their mind the first time.

[Kitsunexus]

I do camera, editing and directing.  Sometimes I act as well, but I suck at that.  Often I have to edit and shoot projects that aren't my own.  I hate that.  I always feel best and do my best work when I have full creative control.  It's hard for me to put in a ton of effort into one thing when the person who has the final say comes in and wants to make one teensie-tiny change, requiring everything be redone from scratch.  Then they get mad because they have to pay me for all the new hours of work and wonder why I didn't do it exactly how they envisioned it in their mind the first time.

I hear you. That's why whenever I do something, I do it by my lonesome.

[Keranu]

Yeah Aaron linked to this before, it was pretty rad!

[Cleria]

I do camera, editing and directing.  Sometimes I act as well, but I suck at that.  Often I have to edit and shoot projects that aren't my own.  I hate that.  I always feel best and do my best work when I have full creative control.  It's hard for me to put in a ton of effort into one thing when the person who has the final say comes in and wants to make one teensie-tiny change, requiring everything be redone from scratch.  Then they get mad because they have to pay me for all the new hours of work and wonder why I didn't do it exactly how they envisioned it in their mind the first time.

I hear you. That's why whenever I do something, I do it by my lonesome.

Dude as soon as I read that last line and saw that winking emotion that gave me very disturbing thoughts. Not right man. Not right at all. 

[PCEngineFX]

Yah, no feature films as of yet...but thanks for the thread.  That indie film was sooo long ago!

And Joe - didn't know you were into video stuff...we should talk.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I've done a few videos myself - running the camera, directing, and doing anything else that's needed.  My lady costars never even know that they're being taped.  It works out great, and I rarely pay anything other than cab fare. 

[Cleria]

ROFLMFAO!

Why do I have such a mind like this?

 

[Joe Redifer]

And Joe - didn't know you were into video stuff...we should talk.

Definitely.  I also like experimenting with stuff, like this picture of your cat I made a bit 3D-ish.  I didn't spend a whole lotta time on that so it's a bit rough, I just wanted to show you what I've been wrapping my mind around lately.

[Turbo D]

nice, but a bit creepy, haha.

[PCEngineFX]

And Joe - didn't know you were into video stuff...we should talk.

Definitely.  I also like experimenting with stuff, like this picture of your cat I made a bit 3D-ish.  I didn't spend a whole lotta time on that so it's a bit rough, I just wanted to show you what I've been wrapping my mind around lately.

Nice effect there! (her name is Momo).  I've done this effect with stills in some of my recent event productions, but recently I've been trying to get more out of my HDV video camera, lighting and steadycam rig....got some cool stuff to show soon.

[Turbo D]

after wondermomo?

[Joe Redifer]

Real Steadicam or Steadicam JR?  Well I guess the JR is a real one since it is made by the same people.  ;)  Steadicams are awesome, but they do take a while to fully learn how to use properly.  My main cameras are too big for the JR, though.

[PCEngineFX]

after wondermomo?

LOL....no...it means "cat cat" in Chinese or something (my wife named her).

Real Steadicam or Steadicam JR?  Well I guess the JR is a real one since it is made by the same people.  ;)  Steadicams are awesome, but they do take a while to fully learn how to use properly.  My main cameras are too big for the JR, though.

Well, when I say steadycam I mean the Glidecam Smooth Shooter.  This is my exact rig & camera:

[Keranu]

Does that cam include the chick too?

[Joe Redifer]

Does that thing have a gimbal?   Probably not since that might infringe on Steadicam's patents.

[PCEngineFX]

Does that cam include the chick too?

Yep sure does...but my wife doesn't like it when I play with my equipment so I keep her stored in my camera case for special occasions.

Does that thing have a gimbal?   Probably not since that might infringe on Steadicam's patents.

Yes there is a gimbal (right above the chick's left hand).  Guess it is different enough from Steadicam's as they have never had any issues with them that I know of.

[Ceti Alpha]

That's a pretty sweet rig. 

[Joe Redifer]

That's a gimbal?  From the picture it looks as if it only rocks back and forth and you use washers to adjust the balance.  By gimbal I mean an actual ball of some kind.

Anyway how much camera weight can it handle and how much $$$?

[PCEngineFX]

That's a gimbal?  From the picture it looks as if it only rocks back and forth and you use washers to adjust the balance.  By gimbal I mean an actual ball of some kind.

Anyway how much camera weight can it handle and how much $$$?

Well a gimbal is a pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object around it's axis...so in this case, yes it is.  The section that is actually holding the camera with the washers at the bottom is called the Glidecam, and the vest+arm section is the Smooth Shooter.  Put them both together and you get a "steadycam" (my definition of steadycam is a vest+arm unit, not just a hand-heled one). 

Glidecam website: http://www.glidecam.com/

Smooth Shooter (no monitor or Glidecam unit-$1,500): http://www.glidecam.com/product-smooth-shooter.php

Glidecam 2000 (can hold up to 6lb camera-$369): http://www.glidecam.com/product-2000-pro.php
or
Glidecam 4000 (can hold up to 10lb camera-$499): http://www.glidecam.com/product-4000-pro.php

[Joe Redifer]

Steadicam is an actual brand name.  I'm surprised it doesn't hold more with the vest involved.  Usually those are to offer support for really heavy cameras.  I need something that can hold at least 25 pounds.  Even with the smaller units and wimpy "consumer" camcorders the things get heavy after too long.  I am afraid of the real Steadicam SR unit... might throw out my back with the Canon XLH1 (which I don't really like).

Can you do smooth up/down motions with them as well?

[PCEngineFX]

The smooth shooter was made to provide a vest/arm solution for the camera market of up to 10lbs.  If you need to go heavier, then you are getting into the "big" bucks:

V-25 (for cams up to 25lbs - $9,995.00)
http://www.glidecam.com/product-v-25-system.php

V-20 (for cams up to 30lbs but older model - $4,500)
http://www.glidecam.com/product-v-16.php

You can do smooth up/down motions with the smooth shooter, but because it only has one section of the support arm that is movable it is every limited.  The Glidecam X-10 is the big brother of the smooth shooter and it has both arm sections movable (http://www.glidecam.com/product-x-10.php)

[Joe Redifer]

I think the V20 would definitely do it since you can mount a 35mm camera on that thing.  I can't believe the newer model (which holds less) is twice the price!  Oh well.  Buy it for me?

The problem I had the one time I used a Steadicam is that the camera is always pointed forward.  This is cool for up and down motions (makes it look like you're gliding on an elevator) but it was extremely hard to tilt up or down if I needed to, and it looked bad when I did.

[PCEngineFX]

I'll be making a steadycam trailer here soon for my video production DVD so I'll show you some stuff I shot with the smooth shooter setup.  I'm by no means an expert using a steadycam but the footage turned out pretty cool.

Tilting up or down pretty much sucks with the smooth shooter.  I can shoot with the camera turned to the front or the side (even shooting behind me as well) but tilting and up & down motions are the suck.

[Joe Redifer]

Here's a trailer of a lame flick I did where I used a Steadicam.  The whole thing is a major balancing act.  Many shots in this trailer were using the Steadicam, others were not. 

Click to download (killertrailer.wmv) - 4.28 MB

[TurboXray]

Heh, my friend bought a glidecam back in 2003(or was it 2004). They paid $4000 and it never gets used. Of the three directors, one loves hand held shots, other is in love with dollie and boom shots, and my third friend... not sure, but I do know no one wants to put that heavy contraption on (only for really short periods of time). It got used in just one shot of the whole end chase scene -

[Joe Redifer]

Man, there is something about camcorders that just screams "originated on video!"

[Kitsunexus]

Man, there is something about camcorders that just screams "originated on video!"

Film grain... use Magic Bullet.

[Joe Redifer]

No, I think it has more to do with the frame rate and color.

I come from the school where you should do your best to get it looking good during the shoot rather than rely on post-processing which does not work as well.  The video Bonknuts linked to looks very good, but something about it just screams "video".  Also, there's no way grain could be transferred to Youtube.

[Kitsunexus]

Also, there's no way grain could be transferred to Youtube.

ARE YOU KIDDING!? Youtube video is the BEST! So good in fact, Peter Jackson is remastering The Lord Of The Rings to take full advantage of the Youtube codec.



And Duke Nukem Forever came out.

[Joe Redifer]

To hell with Duke Nuke 'Em Forever, I'm waiting for Shenmue 3!

[Kitsunexus]

Shenmue 3!

/1812726891_53890e73fa_o.png

[Joe Redifer]

That's like a pun that is so bad that it physically hurts!

[TurboXray]

No, I think it has more to do with the frame rate and color.

I come from the school where you should do your best to get it looking good during the shoot rather than rely on post-processing which does not work as well.  The video Bonknuts linked to looks very good, but something about it just screams "video".  Also, there's no way grain could be transferred to Youtube.

Haha, yeah it was shot on an older Panasonic DVCPRO25 (AJ 250 model) in 30p mode. It looks less video-y on a TV or projection room, but yeah - magic bullet or film grain isn't going to fix the video look. Funny thing is that older Panasonic is an upgrade based on the Canon XL-1, which National Geographic had been using couple of years before (lot of there stuff looks like film). We've since upgraded to a AJ-SDX900 and it's true 24p looks amazing. It's not just the frame rate or DVCPRO50 format, or larger CCD, but the exposure for 24p mode combined with the luminance/color temp of that mode.

 I never used Magic Bullet, but I have used CineLook and the RE plug ins (great for taking 60i footage and converting into 30p without having the vertical res).

[Joe Redifer]

24p does rock.  I've used it with the Panasonic DVX100 (which I don't care for... that's what the trailer I posted above was shot with) and the Canon XL2 (which I use these days mostly).  The XL2 is capable of a fantastic picture.  I have also used the Canon XLH1 (HDV format) but despite its awesome lens, the picture just wasn't very good.  HDV only shoots in a 4:3 resolution and stretches it to 16:9 (1440x1080 instead of 1920x1080 for example).  Also HDV is based on MPEG, and MPEG sucks ass since it needs to be converted for frame-accurate editing.  That's a generation loss right there.  Then there's another generation loss when you encode it for the final destination, such as HD-DVD.  DV and DV50 both compress each frame individually which is MUCH preferred.  To my knowledge almost all consumer HD stuff is MPEG-based.  I'll wait until it's not and also until I can get my full resolution.

[PCEngineFX]

Man, there is something about camcorders that just screams "originated on video!"

Film grain... use Magic Bullet.

I use 35mm camera adapters (the "SGpro") on my Sony FX1 (raw still from the 1080i HDV source, no CC,):

/SGpro/wedding_800pix.jpg

[Joe Redifer]

Looks good, but need to see it in motion. 

I used to do wedding videos.  Couldn't stand it.  I need to be involved in projects I care about.  I do not recommend myself for wedding videos.