Archive for Books
FMC TV – The Only Book On Blu-Ray You Will Ever Need
Posted by: | CommentsI had the pleasure of reading a new book by "The Digital Guy" Bruce Nazarian called "Fast Path To Blu-Ray". The title is absolutely misleading. It should be called "The Ultimate Guide To Blu-Ray". Inside the pdf formatted book (hey save a tree right?) is a plethora of information including workflows in Final Cut Pro 7, Apple Compressor, Adobe Encore CS4, and Roxio Toast. The book also explains Blu-Ray licensing, which anyone doing commercial Blu-Ray needs to know. Check out my video review now!
[podcast format="video"]http://filmmakingcentral.com/FMCTV_EP_001.m4v[/podcast]
FMC Book Review – Greenscreen Made Easy
Posted by: | CommentsI recently was offered a job to shoot some greenscreen interviews for one of my clients. My palms began to sweat as this was one of my top "feed my family" clients. What if the lighting wasn't right? What if I did it wrong? What if???
Sure I had done work like this before but mostly for my own content. There was no stress involved. No one hovering over my shoulder.
Luckily for me I had my copy of Greenscreen Made Easy: Keying and Compositing Techniques for Indie Filmmakers. Written by Jeremy Hanke and Michele Yamazaki, two consummate pros on the subject, I felt a wave of confidence roll over me. As I perused the book I knew this was a book to keep by my side on all shoots.
The 155 page book is fill with meat and no fat on the subject of shooting green screen. I was impressed at how much they jammed in there. Many times I would catch myself saying "Wow I dodnt know that".
The book starts off explaining what greenscreen or chromakeying is. It takes you on a journey of how to build your own kit or stage, and where to buy what you need. Next it discusses back ground environments, lighting, and camera techniques. It finishes up with ways to do your keying in post. Want to know how to make your composite look believeable? Get this book!
I give Greenscreen Made Easy: Keying and Compositing Techniques for Indie Filmmakers a solid 5/5 stars for its vast knowledge and best of all price! Its super inexpensive! Do yourself a favor and add this book to your arsenal!
The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers
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Adobe After Effects CS4 Visual Effects and Compositing Studio Techniques
Posted by: | Comments[ReviewAZON asin="0321592018" display="fullpost"]
Ballistic Inspiration
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Ballistic Publishing : Printed Inspiration
As the host of the Digital Media Artists \ Los Angeles, I have the opportunity to see some of the best video productions and artistic motion graphics that our industry has to offer when speakers come to our meetings each month. The latest book from Ballistic Publishing is a collection of remarkable and inspirational art - not just from Hollywood, but around the world. Alone, the book is a piece of art that you can keep on your desk to inspire you daily.
I should note, by way of a disclaimer, that ballistic publishing has been a sponsor of our meeting, offering discounts to members and more. However, the prize books that pass through my hands are always incentive for me to go out and personally purchase their latest release.
This month, Exposé 7 came to me for a book review, not a group prize -- which meant that I could actually open it and thumb through It before this month's DMALA meeting.
If you're a filmmaker and want to be inspired for what kind of matte painting, character design, or other digital potential is out there - you will find artists with amazing skills from cover to cover. (Of course, you could look at the illustrations on the pages to find inspiration for your next script)
The images in this most current release are phenomenal. With each publication, the team at Ballistic Publishing continues to challenge digital artists, and this series of images from nearly 300 different artists in 51 countries will no doubt both inspire and motivate all who opened its cover.
http://www.ballisticpublishing.com
Ballistic continues to make these books which are not just visual stimulation, a gallery of the top artists around the world, or just an amazing coffee-table art book, but the publication of the Exposé series is an invaluable reference catalog which art directors, production designers, and other digital creatives rely on.
Broken down into several categories throughout the book, you will find images that are both painted traditionally and digitally.
The subject matters range from architecture through wildlife. There are categories of science fiction, abstract design, fantasy, matte painting, storytelling, and product design to name a few. It's important to have a library of inspiration like this -- something you can take in drafting room, a pitch meeting, or just read on the patio while you're waiting for renders to finish.
Whether you're already a professional digital artist, or a student, you should visit their website: http://www.ballisticpublishing.com/ for more information, and a glimpse at some of the photos in their latest book.
For instant gratification, the book is carried in bookstores around the world. Check the locations on the Ballistic site,
FMC Review – Are You Ready For The New Now? You Should Be!
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When I saw all the buzz on my email lists about a new ebook (and soon to be paperback) called The New Now, I have to say I was quite curious. Not only were all the sentiments extremely positive, there wasnt one the was negative at all. So I clicked the link and say The New Now was written by none other than the all knowing Phillip Hodgetts!
Knowing Phillip for a few years and reading his sound advice on different email lists and forums, I knew whatever was inside The New Now would be a worthwhile learning adventure. So I clicked on the buy button, downloaded it and dove right in.
The New Now is so timely and so well done it was a breeze to go through its 160 pages. Inside it is packed with valuable information on "growing your production and post production business in a changed and changing world". That subtitle speaks volumes. We are in a world that changes in the blink of an eye and we must be prepared for it to survive in the content arena. Phillip really guides you through what would seem rough waters given the current economy. Instead of doom and gloom he concentrates on the positives like having more time to learn new tools or work flows to enhance your business. He discusses methods on retaining and gaining new clients. there are great links to many different resources. And he makes you think. This was key for me.
One chapter that discusses methods on dealing with clients came in handy to me this very day. A good longtime client of mine gave extra notes on a finished project because the higher ups really needed it done this way. Using the advice in the book I did the fixes and didnt complain, charge more, or stomped on the ground. Not 45 min later, I recieved a call from a colleague of this client who said the client recommended me for a job. He said the client loved working with me and that I delivered. Now I dont know if I had acted differently on the notes issue like charging for what really took me 20 min to do, if i wouldnt have gotten the recommendation BUT....who knows? The good news was I was in my own NEW NOW!
The bottom line is this is a solid reference on what to do NOW. How to market yourself, work with clients, and find your Unique Selling Proposal. Was it with $9.95? No it was worth 10 times that to me.
For more information visit Phillip's site ProAppTips.com and pick up a copy for $9.95 before he realizes its worth more! Thanks Phillip Hodgetts for taking the time to create such a solid learning experience!
FMC Book Review – The Art and Science of Digital Compositing
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At first glance Ron Brinkmann’s book The Art and Science of Digital Compositing might resemble a bible. Its sheer size is a bit daunting. However, just as the Bible was written to inspire and produce a solid foundation for followers of the faith, this book does the same for those interested in the world of compositing.
In all I have ever been involved in, be it football or filmmaking, without a solid foundation under my belt I would have never have been remotely successful. As I ventured into learning more about compositing for my own films I really wanted to create that foundation.
I just completed reading such a tremendous book: The Art of the Documentary: Ten Conversations with Leading Directors, Cinematographers, Editors, and Producers by Megan Cunningham. If you have ever had a desire to make a documentary film this book is a must have. Megan Cunningham rounds up the top industry folks and really gets into it. From Barbara Kopple's Foreward to the last page of the appendix this was a page turner for me.
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