Regards Haris

We are delighted to offer tickets to our Showfilmfirst Film Day:

SATURDAY, JULY 21ST AT THE EMPIRE LEICESTER SQUARE

Have you ever thought about writing a script? Do you wonder how you can get a film made? Whether you are thinking about making your own film, just interested in the process or would like to find out more...

SFF have put together a day for film lovers! Starting with a script writing workshop, you will get a chance to to hear from industry professionals covering the art of script writing, how to get your first feature made.

Surprise Film Screening:

As ever, we will have a preview of a forthcoming film followed by a Q&A with the film maker.

There will be a panel discussion with Writers and Directors sharing their experiences of film making.

Finally, we will also be announcing an exciting SFF competition for all budding script writers.

We only have the venue from 9am to 3pm so breaks will be short as we want to fit in as much as we can!

50% Discount for Showfilmfirst Member - £12.50

Tickets are £25 to the general public, but we have an allocation for Showfilmfirst members for just £12.50 (fine for Showfilmfirst members to buy at this price for friends!) Book now!:

http://showfilmfirst-com.ticketbud.com/showfilmfirst-film-day

Through the link you can pay on paypal or credit card. Tickets are then emailed directly to you.

Any queries: help@showfilmfirst.com

As it is stated there: "Planet of Babel" is a story of the Greatest Recession told by ordinary people (not talking heads or experts) from various countries. We explore the impact of the global economic collapse on families and individuals who are totally unfamiliar yet very connected to each other. The world of global economy might have been flat as T. Friedman once proclaimed, but now people's lives are flattened by the Recession.

"Planet of Babel" provides a panoramic view of the catastrophe from Greece, Italy, Spain in Europe to Argentina and Mexico in Latin America, Pakistan and China in Asia, Ethiopia in Africa and many more countries all the way to the United States of America as the home-place of the new Tower of Babel."

So after some extensive discussions we are getting closer to the production stage. Me and my assistant (Nikon d800 and hacked gh2) will be traveling around Europe (and hopefully Asia and America too) starting next week. I wonder if broader masses of the personal-view inhabitants might want to take part in the project? It can either be your own story or your footage/ideas/contacts that you contribute to the project (we have a budget to compensate for the good stuff. not enough to make a living, but still). Meanwhile with Vitaly's help I'm trying to start a new discussion board based on the wiki engine so that those who are interested can communicate more easily and productively.

The researchers believe that within five years, as the electronic components of the cameras become miniaturised and more efficient, the next generation of gigapixel cameras should be available to the general public.

"The camera is so large now because of the electronic control boards and the need to add components to keep it from overheating," Mr Brady said.

"As more efficient and compact electronics are developed, the age of hand-held gigapixel photography should follow."

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18536170

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/zacuto-announces-release-of-revenge-of-great-camera-shootout-2012-04-10

The cameras involved are:

1. Sony F65 -- Sony Representatives
2. ARRI Alexa -- Rodney Charters, ASC
3. RED Epic -- Ryan Walters
4. Sony FS100 -- Den Lennie & Mick Jones
5. Sony F3 w/slog -- Nancy Schreiber, ASC
6. Canon C300 -- Polly Morgan
7. Canon 7D with Technicolor settings -- Michael Negrin, ASC
8. Panasonic GH2 (hacked and non-hacked) -- Jonny Zeller & Colt Seman

"'Revenge' is unlike any other camera test that I've ever been involved with," says Zacuto producer, Scott Lynch. "I believe that the tools available to us are all capable of creating great looking images, but only if you know how to use them. The big challenge for us was creating a test that would bring out the real world differences between these cameras. You can shoot charts which will give you scientific results, but that environment is not the real world. What we wanted to know was how cinematographers creatively solve the limitations of their camera. There are going to be some great discussions when this test gets released. People are going to be blown away."

According to a report by Kyodo News on Wednesday which cited unnamed sources, the deal between Panasonic and Olympus was valued at 30 billion yen (US$382 million) to 50 billion yen (US$637 million), which will make the former the biggest shareholder in the latter company.

A separate Reuters report stated that Panasonic, which has been hampered by its loss-making TV business, have been exploring the idea of entering the healthcare business as it offers more stable revenues. Olympus would benefit as it would have access to funds for its restructuring and marketing efforts, it added.

Last week, Olympus was reported to be in talks with Sony and Panasonic to decide which company could become its capital partner, with the investment figures said to be in the "tens of billions of yen" for a more than 10 percent stake in the endoscope maker. The report also noted the plan calls for 2,500 employees to be laid off.

http://www.zdnetasia.com/report-panasonic-to-invest-up-to-637m-in-olympus-62305032.htm

Update procedure on GoPro Support site http://gopro.com/support/wi-fi-bacpac-wi-fi-remote-with-hd-hero2-product-update/

Video tutorial update procedure.

No reports yet of any successful updates or even anyone using the new hardware, so probably best to wait a few days to see if any bugs appear.

This only enables Wifi remote function, the streaming and controlling by smartphone and iPhone is still pending Apps being released. As is the ProTune Technicolor 35mbps mode.

I guess i'm not the only one waiting for the new Panasonic Gh3, it's rumored to be announced somewhere in Aug/Sept. this year. What i was wondering was, Since PV (Vitaliy) is now working for Panasonic, we thought why would Panasonic make the Gh3 hackable, or will it be needed to hack it at all?

We thought you would have to sign a confidentiality contract(?) in terms of what you can or cannot do with the information provided at your (new) work. In our taste it would not make sense if the upcoming succesor of the GH2 would be hackable.

for example: - If the gh3 is hackable, what would happen to the AF100 line? It would destroy this higher end model, something that is already happening now. - Why would a Engineer such as Vitaly be hired, and after 'some' time it would be hackable, while he is providing for panasonic. - Maybe it will ship with 100mbit+ AVC Ultra? And we don't need a hack, but why would panasonic do this? - Diffrent models, pricing for diffrent bitrates? it would not make sense since it is a consumer camera, people that do vacational photography would not care.
- Can we expect higher priced models, with mayb a new(ish) sensor, higher rates, no new features?

Let's ramble up the discussion! Cheers.

I went yesterday and had a pretty good time! Hung out with the Panasonic guys and shot the shit for a bit about some lens concerns we were having with the GH2 and they invited me over to their facility next week to do some real tests with it. Should be great info for us here. Also, they were amazed at what Vitaliy has done with the GH2 and one of the head sales guys is trying to get the developers of the AF100 to open up the software so it can be hacked the same way! Cool news but it might be old to some of you.

Also, I believe I was the only one walking around with a GH2. The SLR 12mm was attached as well as a Vari ND and I got more than a few strange looks as people were trying to figure out what the hell I was shooting with. On a few occasions, I had someone walk past me and say,"Best damn DSLR in the world!" Yes, I know, it's not a DSLR but still pretty cool regardless. A few of em had 5D's so that made me laugh.

Anyways, as soon as I talk to the Pany guys, I'll report our findings. Thanks and have a kick ass weekend!

Vic

http://docchallenge.org/News/2012-finalists-announced.html

The news from www.theverge.com:

Ultra High Definition TV draft recommendation includes both 4K and 8K resolutions

The International Telecommunication Union has agreed on a new draft recommendation for the Ultra High Definition TV (UHDTV) specifications, including technical details for both 4K (3840 x 2160) and 8K (7680 x 4320) displays. While this is subject to approval from the union's administration, the move would seem to confirm that both resolutions will be labeled as UHDTV, similar to how "HD" 720p sets were sold before "full HD" 1080p became the norm. It's a little disappointing that the ITU didn't take the opportunity to go for a less potentially confusing system this time around, but hey — at least you won't have to wait for NHK and Panasonic's 145-inch 8K Super Hi-Vision set to get your hands on a UHDTV.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/28/3047597/ultra-high-definition-tv-uhdtv-4k-8k-itu

Spectral Instruments makes camera that has a dynamic range so incredibly big that it can photograph both the sun and the stars in broad daylight. It's their 1110 series, a device with a 112 megapixel CCD, black and white, with no Bayer mask or filter of any type, "nothing to detract from the overall image sharpness." Their sensors are extremely light sensitive and can take exposures that last for hours without any noise at all. That's why you can do something like taking a picture of a starry sky in the middle of the day. The sensor measures 95 x 95 millimeters.

Via: http://gizmodo.com/5911315/this-amazing-camera-can-capture-both-the-sun-and-the-stars-in-broad-daylight

Thank you

Google Research: .. starting from May 4, 2012, Google implemented rolling shutter removal .... The before and after videos below show the effectiveness of the new Youtube algorithms:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=627MqC6E5Yo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ATOrwKoREuQ

From

http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/image-stabilization-and-rolling-shutter.html

Will you upgrade your eyeball? :)

BTW this seems like a good book.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Filmmakers-Eye-Cinematic-Composition/dp/0240812174/

We started collecting donations for NAB coverage.
All money will go directly to the guys who'll be making it for us.
Remember to leave "NAB" in the donation notes (button is above :-) ).

Read more: http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-lens-price-increase-2012.html