NI’s Biggest Curve Studio Unveiled

Posted: December 13, 2010 in Cameras, Film, media
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As per IFTN website

UTV Facilities has launched a new curve studio, the largest of its type in Northern Ireland. The new space provides the ability to record a 180 degree viewing angle with the capability to add in any backdrop in post production.
The state of the art facility is 4 metres high with a 7.3m by 6.1m cyclorama whilst the backdrop and the floor of the studio comprises 44.86 sq m of active filming space. The studio can furthmore be adapted from green to any chroma key colour including blue and white. Managing Director of UTV Television, Michael Wilson spoke about the new facility, saying: “This new Green Screen facility at UTV is fantastic news for the creative industry in Northern Ireland. UTV has invested significantly to bring this technology to Belfast and we are looking forward to working with the media and creative industries to experiment with the studio to see just how far we can push its creative boundaries.”

The studio is equipped with full connectivity to an outside broadcast unit or high definition Kachuna 64 input mixer and has direct access to the props department and double door loading bay area. For more information about the studio, which is available to hire, visit www.utvfacilities.com

Www.IFTN.ie

Christmas Shopping

Posted: December 4, 2010 in Cameras, Editing, media
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This is the time of year that all Camera Ops and Editors look forward to… the possibility that they may get a bargain on accessories and equipment. A lot of Irish suppliers tend to do great deals at this time of year as well as in the January Sales.

Here are some of the websites that I currently shop with. These you may know but its always worth checking them out weekly for deals.

D&P Products   http://www.camerakit.ie/

Tyrell     http://www.tyrell.ie/

Eurotek   http://www.eurotek.ie/

Pixmania  http://www.pixmania.ie

Creative Video   http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/index.php

Hague camera Supports  http://www.b-hague.co.uk/camera%20supports%20systems.htm

 

Happy Shopping

Finally from myself and the Company……….

Happy Christmas

Simon.

Lightworks for FREE

Posted: December 1, 2010 in Editing, Film, media
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Hi All

Here is an early christmas present. Free yes I said FREE!!!!! Lightworks software!

Check out the following

http://www.editshare.com/email/lightworks-nov10-online.html

For those who are not in the know… lightworks has been around since the dawn of Digital NLEs in the early 1990s along side Avid.

Heres hoping for more of the same from this great company.

Peter Jackson uses 35 RED Epic Cameras for the Hobbit

Posted: November 29, 2010 in Film, media
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PRESS RELEASE

Hobbits on Red Epics.

Peter Jackson’s two film adaptation of The Hobbit will be shot in 3D using RED DIGITAL CINEMA’S soon to be released EPIC Digital Cameras.

The successor to RED’s industry changing RED ONE, the EPIC has 5K resolution, can shoot up to 120 frames per second and has a new HDRx™ mode for the highest dynamic range of any digital cinema camera ever made. Taking everything they had learned from building their first camera, RED designed the EPIC from scratch and have produced a smaller, lighter camera that is an order of magnitude more powerful.

The Hobbit will be amongst the first productions in the world to use the EPIC and at least thirty cameras will be required by the 3-D production. The EPIC’S small size and relatively low weight, makes it perfect for 3-D – where two cameras have to be mounted on each 3D rig.

Jackson has a long history with RED, dating back to when he directed the short film ‘Crossing the Line’ as a very early test of prototype RED ONE cameras. “I have always liked the look of Red footage.” he says, “I’m not a scientist or mathematician, but the image Red produces has a much more filmic feel than most of the other digital formats. I find the picture quality appealing and attractive, and with the Epic, Jim and his team have gone even further. It is a fantastic tool, the Epic not only has cutting edge technology, incredible resolution and visual quality, but it is also a very practical tool for film makers. Many competing digital systems require the cameras to be tethered to large cumbersome VTR machines. The Epic gives us back the ability to be totally cable free, even when working in stereo.”

Jim Jannard the owner and founder of RED flew to New Zealand earlier this year with members of his team so that Jackson could test the EPIC and assess its suitability. “Everybody at RED is incredibly proud that Peter has chosen the Epic” says Jannard, “The Hobbit is a major production, and could have chosen any camera system that they wanted. The fact that they went with us is extremely gratifying.”

The Hobbit will start shooting in New Zealand early next year.

Jim

See web link for more

Sony Professional announced that it is developing a new type of E-mount 35mm camcorder.

Posted: November 23, 2010 in Film, media
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Aimed at professional cinematographers utilising a Super-35mm large format CMOS sensor, this new camcorder will become one of the new models in the “NXCAM” line-up. Available early summer of 2011, it targets the expanding entry-level digital cinematography market.

Sony Professional is already a key player in the 35mm digital cinematography market with the highly acclaimed “Cinealta” F35 and SRW-9000PL for high-end digital cinema production. Sony has also just strengthened its line-up in this category with the recent PMW-F3 camera, combining performance and price in a powerful and affordable production tool. With this latest “NXCAM” HD camcorder, Sony looks to further strengthen its position in the entry-level segment. The new model provides an affordable yet highly capable professional solution for many applications, including independent film, pop promotions and corporate communications all looking for a cinematic look to their content.

The “NXCAM” HD camcorder under development will be equipped with a Super-35mm sensor, a widely used stock size in the film industry, perfectly designed for capturing motion pictures. This new sensor will have extraordinary performance in terms of picture quality and sensitivity, and is able to offer depth of field control and flexibility with a wide range of lens options available.

The adoption of the E-mount interchangeable lens system means that it is identical to the “α” series lens system used on the NEX-5, 3 and NEX-VG10, current and future E-mount lenses will be compatible with this new camcorder. In addition, a very short flange back distance (the distance between lens mount surface and sensor surface) allows various A-mount lenses be mounted via a lens adaptor (LA-EA1). Furthermore, it is also possible to attach a range of other lenses using third-party lens adaptors. With such flexibility, users will be able to experiment with various creative expressions by exploiting the characteristics of different optics.

The recording format for this new HD camcorder will be AVCHD, widely supported by many NLE software vendors and the same format as the HXR-NX5E NXCAM camcorder. There is also a plan to implement 1080p ( 50p / 25p) recording modes. (MPEG4-AVC/H.264 compression will be used for these modes.)

TAKEN FROM THE IOV WEBSITE

 

 

Sony Professional continue to sponsor the LIT Film Festival

Posted: November 20, 2010 in Film, media
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LIT Film Festival 2011


Last years main sponsor,Sony Professional Europe, have expressed their interest in again sponsoring the now annual LIT Film Festival.
The 2011 event will be held over two days with the first day consisting of an industry exhibition featuring such companies as Sony to name but a few.
The competition is, this year, open to not just third level colleges but the general public and there have been entries submitted already from counties Limerick, Cork and Louth.
For more information on the festival as well as details on the exhibition and how to become a sponsor, please email simon@appleboxmedia.ie

More soon!!!

LIT Film Festival 2011

LIT Film Festival 2011

FLiC Projects – Film Limerick in the Community

Posted: November 9, 2010 in Film, media
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FLiC’s community film projects involve the development of a series of community based participatory film projects with community groups in Limerick and the surrounding mid west areas. In conjunction with Limerick Institute of Technology, the Arts council, and Limerick City and County Councils the flic projects will create a series of high quality films, working with community groups to develop technical, practical, and personal skills in the area of documentary film making.

FLiC’s Vision

FLiC’s vision is the development of highly creative and technically excellent film productions. To achieve these standards a panel of experienced filmmakers will be created and a suitable filmmaker assigned to each community group. In the project’s initiators Nora Ni Fhlatharta and Michael Mann, themselves broadcast filmmakers with over six years experience in community based film work, standards will be rigorous maintained, with the selection of the filmmaker’s panel decided on by their creative and technical experience in the filmmaking process and co-agreed by the local authorities involved.

Film in the Community

Film is a highly collaborative medium, and in its inception, participatory film brings creative artists directly into the community in an imaginative exploration of the range of cultures and histories of these communities. By working with a diverse range of community groups and filmmakers the FLiC projects will demonstrate the wide diversity of cultural experiences in modern Ireland, specifically of the mid west region. By combining the skills of the artistic film making community with the support of local authorities the FLiC projects will work with a wide range of inter cultural community groups such as Doras Lumimní, Southhill Garda Diversion Initiative, Northside Learning Hub and the Paul Partnership.

As with any film production, organization, scheduling and budgeting are of the upmost importance. Each of the projects will adhere to strict scheduling in production and post- production. In Limerick institute of Technology, FLiC has a valuable collaborator in the provision of high end HD cameras, professional audio equipment and post production houses as well as the technical support it offers to the project leaders and film editors ensuring a polished finish to the films worthy of festival screening. The overall schedule for production will run throughout the summer months, post-production running during the month of September and local screenings in November. The finished films will them be available for festival screening the following year.

The FLiC series of short films (15 -20 minutes) aim to document a broad range of issues and subjects relevant to the local community, by facilitating and empowering groups to tell their own stories. This will be achieved by offering the participants basic foundation training in the areas of scripting, directing, camera and sound operation, and basic editing skills. The participating group is then encouraged to tell their own stories based on the common theme of identity.

For more information on the FLiC Project please contact:

Michael Mann

Tel: 087 6324069

Email: info@fmmedia.ie

Nora Ni Fhlatharta

Tel: 086 1901127

Email: nora.nifhlatharta@lit.ie

 

Integrated Twin-lens 3D Camera Recorder AG-3DA1

Posted: November 7, 2010 in Film, media
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Hi All

Have a look at the latest offering from Panasonic in 3D Camera technology…

Am drooling!!!!

Panasonic Pro Website

The Panasonic AG-AF101

Posted: October 31, 2010 in Film, media
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The Panasonic AG-AF101 – the first professional micro 4/3” video camcorder optimised for high-definition video recording was revealed at the Wildscreen Festival 2010. Available in December, the AG-AF101 will set a new benchmark for digital cinematography.

Targeted at the video and film production communities, the AF101 delivers the shallow depth of field and wider field of view of a large imager, with the flexibility and cost advantages of use with a growing line of professional quality, industry standard micro 4/3-inch lenses, filters, and adapters. The full 1080 and 720 production camera offers superior video handling, native 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates, professional audio capabilities, and compatibility with SDHC and SDXC media.

The design of the AF101’s micro 4/3-inch sensor affords depth of field and field of view similar to that of 35mm movie cameras in a less expensive, ergonomically built camera body. The AG-AF101 offers a mobile, field solution for industry professionals to capture entrancing, crisp foreground images in front of a soft blur background. Equipped with an interchangeable lens mount, the AG-AF101 is also free to use an array of cost-diverse, widely-available still camera lenses as well as film-style lenses with fixed focal lengths and primes.

The AF101 incorporates a 4/3-inch, 16:9 MOS imager. The camcorder records 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) in AVCHD’s highest-quality PH mode (maximum 24Mbps). Ready for global production standards, the camcorder is 60Hz and 50Hz switchable.

The AF101 maximises the potential of its high-resolution imager with built-in ND filtering and dramatically reduced video aliasing. Standard professional interfaces include HD-SDI out, HDMI, time code recording, built-in stereo microphone and USB 2.0. The AF101 features two XLR inputs with +48V Phantom Power capability, 48-kHz/16-bit two-channel digital audio recording and supports LPCM/Dolby-AC3.

This newest Panasonic AVCCAM camcorder is the first to enjoy the benefits of advanced SDXC media card compatibility in addition to existing SDHC card support. (SDXC is the newest SD memory card specification that supports memory capacities above 32GB up to 2TB). With two SD slots, the AF101 can record up to 12 hours on two 64GB SDXC cards in PH mode.

The AG-AF101 is now available with a three-year limited warranty (one year with an additional two extra years upon registration).

 

 

 

Panasonic Website

IOV Article

 

Japanese Film Festival 2010 Arrives in Town

Posted: October 28, 2010 in Film, media
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The Japanese Film Festival will launch in Cork City, on Friday October 29th before touring Limerick, Galway and Dublin throughout November. As with the festival’s two previous installments, the event is co-organised by the Embassy of Japan, access>CINEMA and the Ireland Japan Association.

Highlights in this year’s programme include the genre-bending ‘Fish Story’, which is set in five different time periods and incorporates such disparate subjects as punk music, plagiarism, and impending Armageddon; the classroom drama ‘Confessions’, which explores the dire consequence of unchecked bullying, and ‘The Sky Crawlers’ (directed by Mamoru Oshii, whose ‘Ghost in The Shell’ featured in last year’s Festival) which depicts a world where war has become a company sponsored reality game. The 2010 festival will also offer a rare opportunity to see the invigorating ‘Ping Pong’, a modern classic of Japanese cinema, back on the big screen where it belongs. 

The Japanese Film Festival will be based in the cinemobile in UCC, Cork from the 29th to the 31st of October, after which it will be based in the Campus screening room of UL, Limerick on November 1st and 2nd. Following this the Cinemobile will move to Galway’s Waterside area from the 5th to the 7th of November whereby it will reach its final destination of Dublin’s Cineworld from the 12th to the 14th of November.

The Japanese Film Festival aims to foster a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and society among Irish citizens and to strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries. As such there will be a number of special cultural events at certain venues, for more information about these visit www.accesscinema.ie.

Taken from the ITFN.ie website

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