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Thursday, January 26
LaCie d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Thu 26 Jan 2006 01:16 AM PST
 I saw a Lacie external DVD drive that I thought would be perfect to burn reels on. Besides the fact that it's extremely fast (16X) and double layer (8.5GB) you flip the DVD over and the burner prints your label design on the other side. It uses the same laser that it uses to burn the data on the DVD to burn the image you want on the other side. This makes for a professional looking presentation of your material. It also comes with Toast & for the Mac. Monday, January 23
On-line Sun Position Calculator - Isitinthecan.com
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Mon 23 Jan 2006 02:39 PM PST
 I've discovered an on-line sun position calculator that is a great alternative to SunPath if you don't already own that program. It can be found at Isitinthecan.com.  I corresponded with Mike Brackenridge, the designer of the site. He's obviously worked hard to create a well designed tool. The displays are both thorough and clear. The site is fast with a clean user interface. The printouts (below) are as good as anything else on the market.  There are lots of locations available whose calculations are absolutely free. However, for $18.00 For A Year subscription, you get full use of the site. That fee gets you the printer friendly output you see above as well as an extensive database of locations. I consider this an extremely reasonable price. For a professional cinematographer, this is nothing less than a service to the industry.
Google Earth
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Mon 23 Jan 2006 11:47 AM PST
 Google Earth is an invaluable tool for location scouting. It is now available both for the Mac  as well as the PC.  I've been playing with it for a while now on the PC. It just dawned on me what a great way to look at potential locations. In addition to the obvious, which is getting direction to locations, (it will actually drive the route for you), you can get an idea of possible conflicts with traffic noise from freeways. You can look at elevations that might effect sun times as well as possible problems and solutions for lighting night exteriors. The amazing thing to me is that it's all free of charge. Download a copy today and see if it might be useful to you. If you've been waiting for Google to take over the world, they already have. Sunday, January 22
Soderbergh's Release Schedule of Bubble
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Sun 22 Jan 2006 10:38 PM PST
I read an interesting article in the LA Times about the simultaneous release of his new film Bubble theatrically, on cable and on DVD all at the same time. This is an interesting and important development for young filmmakers in general and cinematographers specifically. What will we concider to be medium of highest impact in the future? Will it continue to be the theatrical release of our films?
New Version of FrameForge 3D
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Sun 22 Jan 2006 01:55 PM PST
 FrameForge 3D Studio Version 2 has been released. I consider FrameForge the finest previsualization software I've ever seen. The new version has some remarkable new features. The interface has been substantially improved. It seems a lot clearer, more intuitive.  A major new feature is a simulation of depth of field which they call TrueOptix™.  They say "This is not a Parallax simulation, but is true Depth of Field based on the optical properties of the frame, its circle of confusion, the f/stop and point of focus." I'm not so sure about the value or accuracy of the DOF tool because I don't know how it could take the powerful influence of psychology into consideration. However,  I consider the new distance measuring tool a major improvement for the cinematographer. Unfortunately the new Room Builder feature is not yet available to the Mac OS version. They say they will provide this feature as a free update as soon as it is finished for the Mac.  I haven't had a chance to look at it yet but as soon as I do I'll do a review of it here. Sunday, January 15
Eastman Kodak's Cinematographer's Field Guide
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Sun 15 Jan 2006 02:32 PM PST
 The Cinematographer's Field Guide in its printed form has been a wonderful source of information for years. It's available as a PDF from the Eastman Kodak website. Friday, January 13
Terrific Article On Color Space
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Fri 13 Jan 2006 12:37 PM PST
 The ASC web site has a terrific article on color space which was posted in its January 2005 issue. It's full of great graphics and lays out the subject in an extremely clear matter and in real depth. There is also a part two that was published in the April 2005 issue. Wednesday, January 11
MacWorld 2006 -- Strange Days
by
Bill Dill, ASC
on Wed 11 Jan 2006 01:59 AM PST
 Steve Jobs' keynote speech at Macworld 2006 had lots of surprises for the Mac faithful. It seems, though, that the speech had plenty for rest of the computing world too. Both Apple (in the form of Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing) and Microsoft (in the form of Scott Erickson, director of product management and marketing for Microsoft’s Mac business unit) have been quoted by MSNBC as accepting the possibility that the Microsoft Windows operating system will be running on the new Intel based Macintosh hardware. Anyone who has hung around this story for a few years should have his/her head spinning at what happened this morning. Microsoft, Intel, Apple -- all nicy nice and cozy together. The one nice reminder of the old days was the new knife edged commercial Apple will be running to promote the new machines. PC's -- "Dull little boxes, performing dull little tasks." Now that's the old Apple we used to know and love. Let's hope the Mac doesn't become just another of those dull little boxes. |
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