HD EXPO eNewsletter - issue 31
In this issue:
OUTLANDER: A Real Adventure In Independent Filmmaking
The Little Epic That Could
by Christine Purse
Dirk Blackman joins a panel of seasoned and successful independent filmmakers at HD EXPO on March 5th for “Creativity, Cash & Tools: The Making Of An Independent Film.” His movie OUTLANDER, starring Jim Caveziel, Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Jack Huston & Sophia Myles, and directed by his writing partner Howard McCain, opens in select cities January 23.
In 1996, screenwriter Dirk Blackman and his writing partner director Howard McCain were inspired to write a no-holds-barred sci-fi retelling of the granddaddy of all monster tales, Beowulf, as their next project. Well before the more recent interest in the classic, the duo was enthralled and inspired by the story. They had no idea how adventurous getting the movie to the screen would be. While there is a (mostly) happy ending to their story, there have been enough twists and turns to keep even jaundiced insiders in their seats.
HDE: How did you and Howard begin to work together?
BLACKMAN: We’re both transplanted easterners. I had moved here in 1988 to go to AFI and Howard was moving here after graduating from the grad school at NYU. A mutual friend thought that our tastes, which she found weird and off-beat, were amazingly similar. As it turns out, she was right! After a spirited and I'm sure somewhat embarrassingly heated discussion over which movie is better – "Seven Samurai" or "Lawrence of Arabia," we decided to write together. Our first assignment was at RKO, retelling the old Val Lewton classic, "I Walked With A Zombie." We've worked on twenty projects since then for a variety of studios and production companies.
HDE: OUTLANDER tells the story of a space traveler whose ship crashes to earth during the time of the Vikings. As you might guess, they don’t roll out the welcome mat to a suspicious foreigner who shows up during a time of bloody tribal warfare. Once there, his loyalties and heart are put to the test as he helps the village battle a terrifying monster.
HDE: What was the inspiration for this redux storyline of Beowulf?
Read the rest of the story...
HD EXPO’s Kristin Petrovich and Adobe’s Dennis Radeke Announced For The Chicago Convergence at The Motion Graphics Festival
in Chicago - January 22
Content, Creativity, Community, and the Tools that Power Them.
Beginning on January 19th and running through January 25th, the 2009 Chicago Motion Graphics Festival and The Chicago Convergence present seven days of amazing events which focus on the merger of technology, entertainment, advertising, media, and more. Earlier this year, The Chicago Convergence began its effort to pioneer Chicago as the New Media Capital, presenting the 2016 Olympics as the New Media Olympics, and Chicago as the best home for it. Kristin and Dennis are participating in The Chicago Convergence day of expert and artist illumination during the Technology portion of the Chicago Motion Graphics Festival in 2009.
For more than a decade, Kristin has built a vibrant community of events and networks where professionals stay ahead of the rapidly morphing information curve and plug into critical connections. Backed with a fast-growing and a resource-rich website and an international community, HD EXPO is becoming Createasphere -- a dynamic organization where video content, networking, and events power lively exchange with content creators and an eye on creative technologies as they emerge: 3D, mobile, new acquisition and post production technologies, and anytime-anyplace content. Createasphere consistently aligns with powerful collaborators and experts, including creative companies like Adobe. Adobe's Dennis Radeke brings an artistic background along with a deep understanding and passion for motion graphics and the tools and technologies that content creators and artists rely upon. At the Chicago Convergence event at the Motion Graphics Festival, Kristin and Dennis will be exploring the creative toolset; what Adobe has coming up, and how creators can use the evolving tools to monitize and distribute their content.
Register to Attend MGFest
$7 gets you entry to all events.
March 5, 2009 | Universal Hilton | Universal City, CA
Find Inspiration & Execution: The artists, the experts, the tools that every content creator seeks are all at HD EXPO March.
HD EXPO gives you the tools you need to stay ahead of the curve during these competitive and changing times. Build and grow relationships at HD EXPO while learning about the latest trends and technologies from the most knowledgeable people in our community. Register for FREE now!
Agenda Highlights:
- CREATIVITY, CASH & TOOLS: The Making of an Indie Film
- THE HD EXPO FILMMAKER'S SPOTLIGHT
- Adobe Intensive Workshop
- Macprofessionals Intensive Workshop
- EVENING RECEPTION with Peer Networking Opportunities
Sponsor News
IDX System Technology, Inc.
X5-Lite—New-generation LED-based ENG/EFP On-board Camera Light—Now Shipping - Produces more light output than previous model, ultra-low power consumption, 10,000 hours of life
Designed for television news and ENG/EFP shooters, event videographers and similar customers, the X5-Lite camera light uses robust, cool LEDs to provide high-intensity illumination with low power consumption in even the most rugged ENG/EFP video production situations. It provides heat-resistant, long-lasting illumination for approximately 10,000 hours before replacement. Requiring only 12W of power, its LEDs produce 900 lux @ 1m output of daylight color temperature lighting (5600K) while providing significant ultra-low power consumption for any production situation requiring extensive battery use. Please click here for more information about the X5-Lite.
Facilis Technology
Since 2004, Facilis Technology has manufactured the TerraBlock®; a dedicated post-production and digital intermediate shared storage system that outperforms the competition and undercuts traditional high-performance SAN pricing. TerraBlock offers 8Gbit optical fibre channel connectivity, cross-platform virtual volumes, intelligent disk management and a simple user interface. See how TerraBlock was used in 2008 election ads: http://www.facilis2.com/Politics.pdf and visit our home page at http://www.facilis.com.
23rd Annual Society of Camera Operators (SOC) Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Society of Camera Operators celebrates the nominees for their annual Camera Operator of the Year award for outstanding merits of the “A” Camera Operator on a feature film. The 2009 nominees are: Will Arnot, SOC (Milk), Stephen Campanelli, SOC (The Changeling), Robert Gorelick, SOC (The Dark Knight), Kim Marks, SOC (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) and Martin Schaer, SOC (Eagle Eye).
February 21, 2009 - 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Leonard Goldenson Theater of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Ticket prices: $100; $75 for SOC members - For tickets please go online to https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/48399 or call (818) 382-7070
New HDCAMERAGUIDE.com Launches
Production professionals now have a new online resource for all their camera-related needs. The site contains exclusive videos in the Learning Center, an Interactive Lens Selector that lets you chose the right HD lens for your camera and application, and many other features. The site is designed to help users decide which HD camera, lens, tripod, microphone, and even TelePrompTer is best for their requirements. Visitors can rate camera performance and past experience. There's also a section on historic cameras that made their mark on the industry. The first edition will also include an exclusive video debut of Canon's DIGISUPER 27 HD Studio lens. Visit http://www.hdcameraguide.com/ and see what all the excitement is about.
FILMCAST LIVE! is a webcast and video blog dedicated to the craft of cinematography and camera operation. FILMCAST LIVE! is videos ON-DEMAND, live webcast, reviews, tutorials, and specs of state of the art equipment and creative services related to the motion picture industry. FILMCAST LIVE! bridges under one banner the gap between high definition video and traditional cinematography bringing you the best of both technologies. We cover it all, from film to digital, from production to post. www.filmcastentertainment.blogspot.com
Video Symphony - The Hollywood Institute Open House February 7th
February 7th Open House, tours start at 10 AM and 12 PM at 266 E. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502 (parking in adjacent structure). Come learn first-hand from our award-winning instructors about career programs in Film and Video Editing, Pro Tools Audio Engineering, and Graphics Animation & Effects. Plus, learn how you can afford to pursue your dreams in our financial aid info session. Friends and family are welcome. Lunch is provided. Space is limited so call or email today to reserve your spot: 818-557-7200 RSVP@vs.edu www.videosymphony.com
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