Using Formatt 4×4 filters on a Panasonic AF-101
Should be a fairly quick post this one.
I was shooting some footage to compare scene files, and I was out in full sun shooting a bunch of flowers in the garden. Now these large sensor cameras are fantastic in low light, but shooting shallow depth of field with a 50mm f1.4 lens was impossible in the bright sun of a spring afternoon.
The anatomy of a Trailer
You know the score. X-Factor have them, Movies have loads of them and even if you have a dancing competition on ice, you most certainly have them. What am I talking about? Trailers of course. Those ‘Wham Bam Thank You Mam’ pieces that advertise what’s coming up. A selection of typically ambiguous statements set against some huge orchestral music with a building finale. All glitz, graphics, transitions and effects.
But what if the film you’ve made is rather more considerate – thought provoking, intelligent even? And what if the trailer for it needs to convey the major story thread and lead people to invest in such a film?
Read more 
What the BVE was that all about?!
So, I’m sat in Starbucks taking a short break from driving home from what appears to have been another very successful BVE Expo at Earls Court.
I need coffee because I’ve been busy shooting for Sony around and about the show. More interestingly, I’ve been privileged enough to have had a chance to speak to some senior management about the Sony product philosophy and ideas they are having for the next few years. And I’m pleased to say that Sony are really listening and want to listen to people like myself. Very refreshing.
Shooting ‘News’
Just a quick post to let you see a little piece I shot and cut in the same day.
I was shooting news against a deadline. So I had to shoot and edit an A-Roll finished piece as well as D-Roll to syndicate to various news agencies across the world. I decided to use the Panasonic AF-101 for versatility as well as for the SD card workflow.
Aside from the powered zoom feature of a broadcast 2/3rd inch camera, the AF-101 handled everything just fine.
On a technical note, I made the decision to shoot it slightly stopped down so that focus was less of an issue. Some of the shots are at f2.8 and less, but mostly I shot it around f8. Better safe than sorry!
Logo removal using Mocha AE and After Effects
The other day, I was asked to remove some logos that were attached to the side of a piece of machinery that I shot for a recent film. This was a bit irksome as they were very prominent in the shot and the shot was a pan and tilt shot. Some of the logos started in shot and moved out of shot. Others started out of shot and moved in shot. Argh!
Not easy to remove. If the shot had been largely stationary, then it wouldn’t be a problem. Read more
