lower thirds

Moving Day

 

It's moving day. For Lower Thirds.

For years I've been blogging here; about my job, my clients, everything production and post production related. And I'm going to keep blogging...just not here. As of today, I'm officially moving my Lower Thirds blog over to Tumblr.

So please join me over there, by following me here.

So it's not goodbye, it's just, see you over there.

Thanks guys.

 

KMB

Review and Approval in the Cloud: It's Time

 

Collaborative review and approval apps aren’t necessarily a new concept. In fact, my first experience working with them was back in 2006 when I began working with a startup called syncVUE. It was a great product - it was ahead of its time in so many ways. And that was the problem. It was ahead of its time.

 

Facebook was 2 years old; Twitter was an infant that people didn’t quite understand (“why would anyone care that I’m eating a cheeseburger right now, and who wants to read my 140 character blathering?”). Social Media Gurus didn’t exist (thankfully) and clouds were something that just ruined your summer day.

 

And along came syncVUE - a "collaborative review and approval" application for post production artists who were sick of traveling, sitting in traffic, just to have to their client or team look over their shoulders as they reviewed a clip. It was novel. It was innovative. It was based on Skype. What the hell is Skype?

 

Oddly, that was one of the biggest barriers to adoption. No one wanted to embrace a web-based communication tool that they either never heard of, didn’t understand, or weren’t comfortable with implementing. Some enterprise clients refused to install it for security reasons - they weren’t allowed to bring it inside the firewall. So the big clients and the studios weren’t allowed to use it,  they would never experience syncVUE.

 

It was ahead of its time.

 

Fast forward to today. The Cloud - especially in post production - is everywhere. Thank you Adobe. Artists are sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram among others. They’re avidly using Dropbox, Google Docs, Vimeo, YouTube and email to collaborate on their work. They’re not only working in the Cloud, they live their lives in the Cloud. Sharing - not only amongst different people, but between multiple mobile and desktop devices - is the new norm. It’s ubiquitous.

 

So what does that mean for collaborative review and approval? We’re ready.

 

 

Enter Wipster.

 

Founded by filmmaker/videographer Rollo Wenlock, Wipster was born from an age-old need, but based on today’s realities. Meaning, the realities in which we live and work today. As a filmmaker working with colleagues and clients spread around the world; and using myriad disparate tools that, by themselves work great, but when stitched together to attempt a meaningful workflow, get very messy.

 

The status quo kind of worked. It was a painful process. It was ugly. Rollo knew there had to be a better way. Then one morning, he was inspired.

 

"In November 2012, at 7am in the morning, I was looking out the window holding my newborn child. The sun was coming up and it hit the dust on the window. I could see the dust as a layer on top of the sun behind it. I suddenly thought ‘why don’t we make comments right on top of the video?’ I found a great team and we started the build the product.” 

 

And thus, Wipster was born.

 

The Wipster launch press release describes it well. Here’s an excerpt:

 

Wipster is a beautifully designed, intuitive digital media review and approval platform designed for content creators, filmmakers, in-house corporate media teams, or anyone creating short-form video projects. Wipster helps bring together creative media teams, their colleagues and clients from wherever they may be to collaborate on digital media projects; simply, elegantly and quickly.

Wipster combines a breadth of collaborative features with powerful video review features, such as the ability to create content rich emails and share secure folders with anyone with a simple invite. Wipster also offers frame accurate video playback, contextual commenting and version stacking - all in a simple interface that eliminates the tedium of connecting regionally disparate creative teams. Plus, Wipster allows users to deliver unlimited videos in their original formats - ideal for any post production workflow. The team at Wipster has invested significant time and resources to ensure the user experience is as simple, elegant and fun as possible.

Wipster is available as a cloud-based, subscription service with options to meet any teams’ collaboration requirements. Wipster also provides users with a “Free Forever” plan that gives teams access to core Wipster features, and 15 minutes of video uploads per month.

 

But the Wipster brand video describes it even better:

Wipster launches new cloud based video collaboration platform from Wipster on Vimeo.

 

 

 

If you create video, and you work with more than one person to do it, you need to check out Wipster. Sign up here for a free trial. You’ll be hooked!

What's The Buzz? The BuZZ!

 

Larry Jordan has been working hard. Very hard. And so has his team at Larry Jordan & Associates and the Digital Production BuZZ. For the past 7 years, the Digital Production BuZZ has teamed up with the NAB Show as an offical media partner, and year after year, Larry and his team simply raise the bar.

Every year.

And I know personally, because every year I've worked with his entire crew - booking interviews, pitching them on interview ideas and potential guests. And I know first-hand the work that goes into producing this show.

So I was very happy for them to learn the results of their latests endeavors at NAB 2014. Congratualtions guys! Now get some rest (although I know you won't)!

Check out the news from their latest press release:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

Larry Jordan’s Digital Production BuZZ Coverage of the 2014 NAB Show Drives Record Growth, Expanded Listenership

 

The BuZZ Reports 230% Increase in Listeners during the 2014 NAB Show, 

and 35% Year-Over-Year Growth; Draws Listeners from 182 Countries Worldwide

 

 

Burbank, CA (May 6 , 2014) – Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc. and the Digital Production BuZZ (www.digitalproductionbuzz.com) are reporting record growth in its worldwide audience, and its most successful year as an Official Media Partner of the 2014 NAB Show. During the month of April 2014, which includes its 2014 NAB Show coverage, the Digital Production BuZZ experienced a 230% jump in listeners, drawing an expanded audience from 182 countries worldwide.

 

The Digital Production BuZZ is also reporting an overall 35% year-over-year growth in its audience. This significant growth is attributed to the caliber of influential and engaging guests and content presented throughout the year, and during major industry conferences such as NAB, BVE, DV Expo and Creatasphere. Additionally, the Digital Production BuZZ has garnered the support of some of the industry’s biggest players, such as Blackmagic Design, Adobe Systems, Moviola, G-Technology, Promise Technology, and Shutterstock.

 

During NAB 2014, the Digital Production BuZZ successfully delivered over 80 live and recorded interviews with the production and post production industry’s most influential players. In addition to its audio broadcasts, the BuZZ delivered video broadcasts of its interviews as a result of its partnership with Moviola.

 

"The 2014 NAB Show was our most ambitious effort to date;" said Larry Jordan, executive producer and host of the Digital Production BuZZ. "We set some lofty goals to showcase the best of NAB to the world, and I’m delighted to say we succeeded. Our team of 30 incredibly talented people worked around the clock to deliver the news from the show. I also need to thank our amazing sponsors; they are the backbone that makes the BuZZ possible. Without their support we would not be able to produce the kind of show that draws thousands of people into our global community week after week."

 

The Digital Production BuZZ has been an Official Media Partner of the NAB Show since 2008 and has brought listeners the hottest news, insights and perspectives from the production and post production community’s most influential players.

 

About the Digital Production BuZZ

Heard in over 182 countries around the world, the Digital Production BuZZ is the industry’s longest-running podcast covering creative content producers and tech news for media production, post-production, marketing and distribution. 

 

New episodes of the weekly Digital Production BuZZ air every Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm PDT. Listen live here or download the program later on iTunes. Listeners can also sign up for the free, weekly BuZZ Newsletter and get a sneak peak of each week’s show by visiting www.digitalproductionbuzz.com.

 

Larry Jordan is the executive producer and host of the Digital Production BuZZ. Larry is a renowned media expert, Apple-certified trainer specializing in Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere training, author, and member of the Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America. Co-host Michael Horton is also an influential, experienced member of the creative community, and is well known as an actor, film editor and is the co-founder and co-producer of the world-renowned CPUG SuperMeet. Cirina Catania, supervising producer of the BuZZ, is a writer/director/journalist and member of the Producers Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America. To schedule an interview on the Digital Production BuZZ, contact Cirina at [email protected]. 

Debbie Price is the Special Events Producer of all the 2014 NAB Show coverage for the Digital Production BuZZ.  She also produces the 2 Reel Guys video webisodes, all live seminars and events, and directs operations at Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc.  

BuZZ.Worthy: The Digital Production BuZZ Last Night

 

As we head full steam into NAB 2014, Larry Jordan, executive producer and host of the Digital Production BuZZ, is keeping the industry discussion lively with some of the most interesting and influential players in our community. And last night was no exception.

 

Check out last night’s interviews on the Digital Production BuZZ here: http://www.digitalproductionbuzz.com

 

If you missed the live webcast last night, here's what you'll hear about when you tune in:

 

 

John Swanbeck, Writer/Director/Producer,BlueSwan Films 
Continuing our look at the craft of acting, John Swanbeck, Writer/Director/Producer of "The Big Kahuna,” talks about O "How to Steal the Scene and End Up Playing the Lead". (It's his new book now available on Amazon.)

Visit Website

Johnny Brower, Writer/Producer, The POP 69 Movie

Johnny Brower is the writer and producer of "The POP 69 Movie." This is based upon the historical events that prompted John Lennon and Yoko Ono to travel across the world to perform for the first time as the Plastic Ono Band. Johnny shares his inside story with Larry.

Visit Website

LaToya Morgan, Writer/Producer, 

LaToya Morgan is an award-winning screenwriter, a 2013 Producer's Guild of America Diversity Workshop Fellow and a member of the WGA-West Non-Fiction Caucus. LaToya talks with Larry about what it takes to be a successful Hollywood writer.  She also talks to Larry about the PGA Power of Diversity Workshop Call for Entries. Out of hundreds of entries, only 10 will be selected to attend this prestigious yearly workshop at the PGA headquarters in Los Angeles, taught by some of the industry's most prestigious producers. For more information, visit pgadiversity.org  

 

LaToya was also one of nine WGAW screenwriters who made the cut for this year’s Feature Access Project, the org’s program designed to promote diversity and raise the profile of minority writers within the entertainment industry. 

 

 

The Digital Production BuZZ is available for download by visiting DigitalProductionBuZZ.com. The BuZZ is also available on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-production-buzz-aac/id73329533.  

iOgrapher Teams up with University of Arizona's Project FOCUS

 

When iOgrapher's inventor/founder Dave Basulto first approached me last spring about his new invention, I knew he had something special. My gut told me that consumers would love it; and I knew the professional production crowd would love it too (the best camera is the one you have with you, right!?).

But what I wasn't expecting was the outpouring from the educational community - not only from filmschools, but from high schools and the university leve as well. So I was really excited - and proud - when the University of Arizona reached out and told us about the amazing things they're doing with special needs students.

And I was especially proud to be involved with this announcement:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

 iOgrapher® LLC and the University of Arizona Project FOCUS to Help Students with Disabilities Learn Filmmaking Techniques on the iPad Mini

 

  iOgrapher Filmmaking Case for the Apple iPad Mini Incorporates Design Ideal for Students with Disabilities; Handles Make it Easier to Hold, Shoot Video

 

San Marino, CA (October, 23 2013) – The creators of the patent-pending iOgrapher® filmmaking support case for the iPad Mini (www.iographer.com) today announced that it has been chosen by the University of Arizona’s Project FOCUS to help students with disabilities learn filmmaking and editing techniques using the Apple iPad Mini and the new iOgrapher filmmaking support case.

 

The University of Arizona’s Project FOCUS is dedicated to supporting students with intellectual and physical disabilities, and has designed innovative curricula for its students, built on technologies such as the Apple iPad, to help them overcome challenges and ultimately thrive. While Project FOCUS provides iPads to each of its students, many students struggle with grasping and balancing the iPad while shooting video. The iOgrapher, with its built-in handles and tripod mounts has been selected by the University’s Project FOCUS as the ideal solution to enhance the mobile filmmaking experience for their students.

 

Phyllis Brodsky is project coordinator for Project FOCUS, University of Arizona. While searching for tools and technologies to enhance the curriculum and overall university experience for her students with disabilities, she discovered iOgrapher.

 

“When I found the iOgrapher, my first thought was how this product could have an unexpected, yet significant impact on people with disabilities,” said Phyllis. “Project FOCUS’ primary aim is helping students with intellectual and physical disabilities better experience the University life, attend courses and just experience campus life at the University of Arizona to the fullest. A one-to-one iPad program is a big part of our program, and videography and photography are often a big part of what our students do. Some use photos or videos to communicate while others like making short video productions that they post on YouTube. We are excited to have the opportunity to use the iOgrapher with our group of students. I believe it will offer them greater physical stability, visual focus and fine motor dexterity then they've had in the past. It will also step it up a notch for them as they think about using it to record interviews and create more professional-style videos.”

 

About the iOgrapher for the iPad

The iOgrapher for the Apple iPad is the first all purpose film making case for the iPad and iPad Mini and is designed and manufactured in the United States. The iOgrapher is constructed from high quality, extremely tough polycarbonate, and its patent-pending design is for everyone from families with kids, to students, to Indies and professional filmmakers and videographers. 

 

The iOgrapher’s unique design features two handles on each side of the case, transforming the iPad mini into a hand-held ‘steadicam rig’ which eliminates shaky footage common when shooting video with mobile devices. The iOgrapher is also designed to enable consumers and filmmakers alike to easily add 37mm lenses to its lens mount area for wide angles, fisheye looks, or to capture macro or close up shots. Users can attach lighting and audio gear to its three accessory shoes on the top of the case. The bottom of the case is designed to enable mounting to any standard tripod, monopod, or portable dolly. 

 

Created by high-school media arts teacher and filmmaker, Dave Basulto, the iOgrapher was inspired by Dave’s students, who he wanted to empower with the ability to shoot and edit video, take stills and stream video live - all from an inexpensive, accessible device. 

 

Pricing and Availability

The iOgrapher for the iPad Mini is available immediately. Priced at $65.00 USD, the iOgrapher can be purchased by visiting www.iographer.com. The Company is also now accepting pre-orders for the iOgrapher for the iPad 3 and 4. Pre-orders can also be placed by visiting www.iographer.com.

 

About iOgrapher 

The iOgrapher for the Apple iPad is the first all purpose film making case for the iPad. Constructed from high grade, extremely tough moulded plastic, the iOgrapher is designed for everyone from families with kids, to students, to Indies to professional filmmakers and videographers. For more information, please visit www.iographer.com, follow us on Twitter at @iographer, or ‘Like’ us in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Iographer. 

 

iOgrapher is a Registered Trademark of iOgrapher LLC. All iOgrapher product designs are patent-pending.

 

Rampant Design Tools: En Fuego!

Simply stated, these guys are hot. If you're an editor, compositor, VFX artist on a budget and deadline - I've just described all of you - then you should check these guys out.

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

Rampant Design Tools Launches Massive New Libraries of Optical Light Transition and FX Elements for Filmmakers, Editors

 

 Stage Light Transitions, Speed Lights, Light Impacts and Gradient Overlays Deliver Nearly 1,000 Visually Stunning Quicktime Based Drag and Drop Elements; Rampant Adds New Online Training Resource for Customers 

 

 

Orlando, FL (September 26, 2013) – Rampant Design Tools (www.rampantdesigntools.com) today announced it has launched four massive new libraries of its signature Quicktime-based Drag-and-Drop VFX elements for filmmakers, VFX artists and video editors, delivering nearly 1,000 new high definition, visually stunning themed optical transitions and overlays. 

 

Rampant Design Tools also announced today it has developed a comprehensive resource for customers to help make the most of their workflow using Rampant’s elements. RDT Training (http://tuts.rampantdesigntools.com) offers completely free training in Adobe After Effects, Premiere, Apple Final Cut Pro X, Motion, Avid and more. In addition to singular tutorials, Rampant has started two training series; Practical Effects for Editors, hosted by Rampant founder and renowned VFX artist, Sean Mullen, shows editors how to add complex visual effects techniques to their workflow with the software they already have. Learning Final Cut Pro X, hosted by Apple Certified Expert Stefanie Mullen, brings customers up to speed quickly on Apple's latest editing apps.

 

New Elements from Rampant

Available immediately from www.rampantdesigntools.com, Rampant Design Tools new libraries include Rampant Stage Light Transitions, Rampant Speed Lights, Rampant Light Impacts and Rampant Gradient Overlays. Each library is priced at $99.00 USD.

 

• Rampant Stage Light Transitions is a library of over 200 high definition (1080P, 1920x1080), Quicktime based drag-and-drop light element transitions that use multiple stage light, optical light, and lighting effects and flares to add an instant, stylized look to customers’ video. Elements within the library can be mixed and matched for infinite combinations of ‘looks’ and enabling unique sequences every time. 

 

• Rampant Speed Lights is a library of over 400 high defnition (1080P, 1920x1080) optical light element transitions ideally suited for energized, high action and sporting event video content and are ideal for creating stylized transitions, bumpers and lower thirds.

 

• Rampant Light Impacts is a library of 160 light effects and edge lighting for aggressive, in-your-face, exciting high energy video. These high definition (1080P, 1920x1080) light elements are ideal for editors, VFX artists and compositors looking to quickly add punch to their video projects.

 

• Rampant Gradient Overlays delivers 200 high definition (1080P, 1920x1080), beautiful color and light effect elements for video editors and VFX artists, offering drag-and-drop, Quicktime-based Film Flash, Light Effects and Edge Lighting to add instant beauty and softness to any video.

 

Rampant Design Tools offers a unique, time-saving approach for budget- and time-crunched editors who need to quickly add quality VFX or design elements to their projects. Rampant Design Tools solutions are compatible with all editing platforms and compositing applications that are able to read Quicktime files, including Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects and Premiere), Sony Vegas, Media 100, Apple Motion, NUKE, Apple Final Cut Pro, FCP X and Avid Media Composer. They are also designed to complement filmmakers and VFX artists existing workflows and integrate well with pipelines comprised of industry-leading VFX and color correction solutions.

 

All of Rampant Design Tools newly launched solutions are available immediately and are priced at $99.00 USD each. For more information or to purchase any of Rampant Design Tools solutions, please visit www.rampantdesigntools.com. 

 

About Rampant Design

Rampant was founded by Visual Effects Artist Sean Mullen. With over 60 credits in feature film and television, Sean has shot and created VFX elements for network shows, feature films, private hollywood libraries and has created content for many of the major stock companies His work has touched such acclaimed Hollywood and television productions as Charmed, Ally McBeal, NCIS, Felicity, Nip/Tuck, Idle Hands, Lake Placid and Any Given Sunday. Sean was inspired by his editor friends to create the first Rampant Design Tools - elements for his friends to mix and match and drop on their timelines that would instantly add a unique look / flavor to their videos. This inspiration essentially gave birth to many of the product lines you see at Rampant today. For more information, please visit www.rampantdesigntools.com. 

 

Red Giant BulletProof v1.0 Has Arrived

Today is a big day for Red Giant. After two years of development, months of beta testing and community involvement, Red Giant BulletProof v1.0 is shipping!

Since Red Giant first debuted BulletProof at NAB 2013, the reaction from the community has been amazing. From the beginning, it's resonated with users - everyone from filmmakers and cinematographers to shooter/editors. Anyone who knows the tedium (and anxiety) of moving footage on set from the camera and getting those files over to an editor is taking a close look at BulletProof. That gap - between the camera and the editor - is a stressful one.

Red Giant's president and co-founder, Andrew Little, talks about the Company, it's journey over the past 12 years, and the events that have brought them to this point. Read it here. It's an honest, refreshing and interesting look into what goes on at a place like Red Giant.

New Products, New Suites

Red Giant also announced it's shipping some new suites: the Red Giant Shooter Suite (which includes BulletProof) and the Red Giant Color Suite, which is essentially replaces the Magic Bullet Suite. They're streamlining their product lines, organizing them more around their customers, how they work and what they look for to solve real problems every day. In talking about the new suites and why they did it, Andrew Little says: 

"We got serious about refocusing our company around what's important to our customers, and delivering suites of products thoughtfully designed and paired together to solve real problems. Shooters have different needs than editors, and motion graphics artists have different needs from shooters. But they all have one thing in common - they all need suites of tools in which every product in there is useful, valuable and meaningful to their daily workflow."

The team behind Red Giant Films, led by director of communities, Aharon Rabinowitz, has also put together an incredible trove of videos, providing great clarity around what these new products and suites are, what they do and who they're for. He and his team (people like Harry Frank, Simon Walker and Seth Worley) have put together some incredible tutorials as well - thoughtfully developed to help step users through each product.

You can find them all at Red Giant Films, or here are some useful links as well:

Red Giant BulletProof
•https://vimeo.com/70938591

Red Giant Shooter Suite 12
•https://vimeo.com/70970783

Red Giant Color Suite
•https://vimeo.com/71280738

Red Giant Trapcode Suite 12
•https://vimeo.com/70970784

Red Giant Keying Suite
•https://vimeo.com/70971014

Red Giant Effects Suite 11
•https://vimeo.com/70970781

It's a pretty huge day for Red Giant, and I'd say, for the industry as well. Congratulations guys!

Short Film Friday: Spy vs Guy

It's Friday. I love Fridays.

It's been a busy week for all of you, I'm sure. So take a quick break, and if you haven't seen it already, watch Seth Worley's latest short film Spy vs Guy. And if you have seen it, watch it again. It's worth it. It's Friday afterall!

Enjoy!

Red Giant BulletProof: It's Close

With the news of Red Giant BulletProof v1.0 shipping imminently, I wanted to share a link to a video that sums up BulletProof quite nicely. Positioned as a tool for filmmakers that fills the gap between the camera and the editor, BulletProof is as powerful and compelling as it is simple and elegantly designed. Personally, I am no pro shooter, but I use BulletProof to manage all my GoPro footage. It's changed the way I shoot GoPro, let alone how I manage my footage.

But take a look at the About BulletProof video here. If you haven't tried it, you should... It's still in free public beta. v1.0 will be shipping soon, and for $199, it's kind of a no-brainer. But I'd love to hear what you think once you've tried it.

Red Giant BulletProof: Final Beta Release

 

I wanted to keep you in the loop on BulletProof development, and how it’s progressing through beta as we prepare to ship version 1.0 later this summer. Last week, we released the Final Public Beta Release of BulletProof. We are making this new update available to our beta testers, as well as to any new customers who haven’t yet participated in the free public beta.

To date, several thousand people have downloaded BulletProof and have been helping us shape it, refine it and make it even more of what filmmakers want in a footage prep and delivery tool. This new beta release includes many feature updates and fixes in response to all of the feedback we’ve received through our forums, including:

• Metadata export - Send metadata intact to FCP 7, FCP X and Premiere Pro as XML or XMP. Include color adjustments, In/Out points, and an option to trim the original clip or leave it as non-destructive metadata.
• Metadata presets - Save your color adjustments, keywords and other metadata as presets. Use them with playlists or apply on import.
• Color settings - An option to export color values as LUTs, a new Saturation slider, and more accurate color processing make BulletProof a no-brainer for color adjustments on set.
• Macbook Air - Playback now works beautifully on your Macbook Air or any computer using the Intel HD 4000 graphics card.
• PluralEyes Integration – It’s started! A new Metadata option lets you mark and send your imported clips in a bin setup that PluralEyes can read. We have great plans for BulletProof and PluralEyes…
• Better Checksum status - Checksum info is now displayed in the Metadata options, and you have direct access to Import, Backup and Export logs from there.
• New UI - The user interface has been locked down! This includes tooltips, keyboard shortcuts, preferences, context menus, and badges on thumbnails.
• Logic updates - We've added support for Undo/Redo, and Copy/Paste. You'll wonder how you lived without it.

Red Giant’s director of communities, Aharon Rabinowitz, has also written a helpful blog post with more details; check it out here.

For more information on Red Giant and BulletProof, please visit www.redgiant.com.