Posts in “videography”
The 8-Foot Ceiling Mounted DIY Camera Slider
We shoot Motorz with a limited crew, and sometimes I’m even flying solo. Filming a 22-minute (half hour format) television series on a budget has its challenges, but they are so much fun to work around it’s part of the game. Take for example my recent challenge. I wanted to be able to ceiling-mount one of our three Canon 60D DSLRs so I could position a camera anywhere overhead (within reason).
I knew that I wanted to span about an 8-foot range between the two sides of my two car garage-turned studio. I didn’t need a slider for movement shots (I have a Kessler PocketDolly that I love for doing that), rather I needed a slider so that I could quickly position the camera left and right. Then, using some other method–be able to position the camera wherever I wanted. Quite the challenge.
TV Show Production on a Budget
It’s amazing what you can do these days with a limited production budget and some knowledge… including producing a national TV show.
Technology, within regard to video production, is an amazing thing. It’s constantly improving on a weekly basis on all fronts, including hardware and software. If you don’t stay in touch with the changes you are not doing yourself any favors. I can vouch for this with my own personal experiences in producing a car show called “Motorz” which I also host. It’s available on DIRECTV and DISH Network every week, as well as many cable networks.
Canon 1D X DSLR Reveals Continuous Video Recording
If a 61-point autofocus and an ISO range up to 204,800 doesn’t make you giddy, how about the fact that videographers can now record up to 30 minutes (actually 29 minutes and 59 seconds) in one 4GB file–and when that fills up, it automatically starts a new one?
Yes, continuous recording is now here with the introduction of the new Canon 1D X ($6800), Canon’s new top-of-the-line DSLR. What? You say you can’t afford it? Well, neither can I–however what this probably means is that all new Canon DSLRs from here on out will have continuous recording. There’s a Canon event in Hollywood, CA on November 3rd. We should find out what they’ve got cooking then!
In the meantime, read the full press release at Canon’s website:
Final Cut Pro X: iPad as a Second Display
While editing another episode of Motorz tonight for Season 5 using Apple Final Cut Pro X, I wondered how well the support for a second display was. Not having one hooked up to my Mac Pro, I decided to try using my iPad. I already had the Air Display app installed, but I never tried it with FCPX.
Final Cut Pro X: Retiming Tutorial
This is an excellent Final Cut Pro X retiming tutorial that shows you how to:
- Reverse a clip
- Rewind a clip (instant replay)
- Speed ramp a clip
- Slow motion
It’s amazing what “X” can do and how easy it is!
Interesting new way to do a green or blue screen
ReflecMedia LiteRing and Chomatte
Here’s some cool new tech for DSLR videographers. ReflecMedia’s LiteRing paired with their Chromatte glass-beaded backdrop is a portable green (or blue) screen solution. Separate lighting for the backdrop is not needed as standard chromakey setups require. Only downsides are that you cannot use a teleprompter, and you cannot use it in daylight.
How-To Lower a Mustang With Coilovers
Chris Duke from Motorz TV http://www.motorz.tv shows you how to lower a 2008 Ford Mustang GT (S197) with an Eibach lowering kit, and how to install Hella LED tail lights on a Toyota Tundra and a Chevy 1500.
How-To Caption Your Videos For Broadcast
Making videos for online is simple enough, but at some point you might want to take your content to television like I have with Motorz. Making a commitment to going from a variable length video series to a half-hour (22 minute) episode series is quite an undertaking. As you explore your options for broadcast, you will quickly find that each channel/network has different requirements. And, depending on their age and method of broadcast you may be required to send in your video content with closed captioning (CC).
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You won’t be able to watch this video here, as it doesn’t allow embedding, however I highly recommend going to YouTube and watching it. At the time of this post the video has 13,963,304 views and is 1 hour, 33 minutes in length.
It has some of the most incredible photography I’ve ever seen, with some impossible camera angles.
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DIY Spider Trax Dolly
Seems simple enough. I just need to find a cheese plate “lying around”! You can buy one for $140 (if they ever get them back in stock), but this seems cheap and easy to build.
To save you some time, here’s what he bought to make it:
Glidecam Camera Weight Plate: $15 from B&H
Skateboard: $20 from Target
Wheel upgrade kit: $10 from Target
Then just use any old tripod head, grab 2 carriage bolts with some washers and wingnuts to hold the skateboard wheels on. You can buy them elsewhere, or even cheaper by going to Target and building your own cheese plate. But even with this basic setup you can build one for around $50. Not bad!
