Equip Task Force Agenda and links

Discussion of Programing requirements and budget vis a vis equipment needs

Cameras
a) HV30 (review at camcorder reviews) replaces PD 100 and GS200 (and why we are staying with mini dv for smaller camcorders for now)
b) Major camera  - When to buy - now, this fall, next year
- what to buy  Sony Z7U, PMW EX1, other alternatives (Some other camera coparisons thanks to Chris Ruffell for the link)
c) intermediate camera HVRHD 1000U, HVRA1U, FX1
d) other alternatives

Computer requirments
a) lease of 5 iMac
b) lease or buy new tower/station  - (matrox card info) and  matrox unit and monitor for colour correction
c) other equipment - hdv walkmans, other

Software requirements and upgrades
a) AfterEffects - Adobe production suite for mac
b) other software

Grip/lighting equipment
a) lighting - is our current stock adequate
b) grip equipment - needs and desires

Other Equipment
a) projector and/or screen
b) wide screen hd tv
c) Blue Ray read/write burner

MediaNet equipment discussion

The discussion of  equipment selection priorities, strategies and what are MediaNet’s most current needs, is in full swing (and thanks to MediaNet member Chris Ruffell for jumpstarting the debate).

There are a couple of things to bear in mind as we progress through these issues.

1) the debate has 2 edges - equipment purchasing strategy: eg. when in MediaNet’s operating cycle do we most need a new camera and who does it serve and how does it further our aims; secondly, when we get to the aquisition point, what is the best piece of equipment to fulfill our needs

2) As an organization funded by the Canada Council our decisions and discussion must be shaped by the CC’s funding of MediaNet and we must do our best to work realistically within those boundaries.

3) We have a responsibility to serve all MediaNet members and equipment discussions must take into account the full range of member needs as well as the needs of the programing MediaNet put on for it’s members.

Now, with that in mind, let me share a couple of general observations about Equipment pressure and needs. The HD cameras, whether the higher end Sony Z1U and FX1 or the Canon HV20, are in heavy demand. We are experienceing increased pressure for the less expensive outreach cameras for youth and colaborative programs with organizations like the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and some schools. As well, program initiatives at MediaNet must be taken into account - including Dance for the Camera, the Engaged Body and the “Eco-doc” project we are working on for the fall.

so, with all that in mind, lets start talking. I will post some of the comments here and all of the comments somewhere.

thanks

K.

A few useful links

I’ve been promising for a while to copy out some of the more useful links I know about - so here they are. It’s not a comprehensive list, just a starter list but if you have a couple of favourite really useful links please let me know and I will post them on the MediaNet home site

Apple tutorials online

Final Cut Studio 2 suite
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/tutorials/
Apple’s own site with some basic video tutorials about the entire FCP Studio Suite

http://digitalcommons.psu.edu/some useful tutorials from the Penn State University on all aspects of Digital Film making
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html
A “Must Visit” site for anyone using FCP and creating digital film

Final Cut Pro users Groups
are extreamly useful for getting your questions answered and  for tutorial material  and articles about all aspects of FCP

Vancouver   -   http://www.vfcpug.org/
LA final Cut users Group  -  http://www.lafcpug.org/

DVCafe - part of the dvshop site is  full of useful info and articles and also useful for checking out Canadian  prices for a variety of equipment http://www.dvshop.ca/dvcafe.html

DVD burning and DVD Studio Pro - lots of the user groups have articles about DVD burning as well but here are a couple to get you started http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html#dvd
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/dvdstudiopro/

DV production and resources - some great sites for learing about and coming to understand digital filmmanking

http://www.adamwilt.com/
http://www.dvuser.co.uk/index.php
http://www.dvshop.ca/dvcafe/canada/canfilm.html
filmmaking.com (article links are at the bottom of the page) http://www.filmmaking.com/

camcorder links
-great site for consumer level camcorders http://www.camcorderinfo.com/
http://www.sony.ca/view/homepage.htm

Mac links
http://www.themacattack.us/

http://guides.macrumors.com/

Podcasts - are a great new resource. Just open up iTunes on your computer and go to the iTunes store and do a search for a term like “Final Cut Pro” or “Soundtrack” or “photoshop” and you will be surprised by the number of free podcasts available.

update and mini-doc workshop details 19 Nov 2007

Upcoming workshops update

Mon 19 - composition for digital stills with MediaNet member and award winning photographer Passia Pandora
Sat 24  - 9 am to 6 pm One day Mini Doc workshop (see below for details)
sun 25 - 7 to 9 PM Doc interest group - presentation by Chris Gower Rees
Tues 27 - 7 - 9pm personalizing your video with Z1U settings with Alejandro Valbuena

Sun 21 - MediaNet closes for Christmas - be sure to make your bookings for equipment well in advance

Final Cut Pro Lab - intro or project consultations
may be booked on Thursday mornings or Saturday mornings with Kirk. Priority will be given to members who have not had a recent booking.

Member Rick Searle is looking for someone to log and transcribe taped interviews for Ekostv.com. This is a paid position requiring strong keyboarding skills. Contact Rick at Rick.Searle@ekostv.com

Mini-doc workshop Details and outline

The purpose of the mini-doc workshop is to create a short news style documentary in one day.

This means shooting and editing in a very limited time period. In order to make sure that you come out of the day with a doc you can be proud of (even if you want to work on it more later) Rick and Kirk believe you must plan your doc. Please answer the following questions and send them to kirk at technical@media-net.bc.ca - Cost for the workshop is $25 members (CineVic members get the MediaNet member rate)  or $60 non members.  MediaNet members may use Volbucks to cover the cost of the workshop.

Examples of videos produced at the last mini-doc workshop can be viewed on the MediaNet Edgecasting site http://www.edgesfestival.com/edgecastvids/minidoc/minidocworkshop.htm

Please answer the following questions and return them before the workshop

Subject - what is your doc about?
(if you don’t have a subject in mind check out a local newspaper and find something that interests you - it needs to have a local angle - look at Jacob Zehrs minidoc asking if music downloading in hurting local music stores - international subject with a local angle)

Focus -
in one sentence, what is your story about (this may be harder than it looks and we will help you with it if need be)

Who will you interview - will you interview an “expert” - what questions will  you ask ?

How will you tell your story if you can’t get the interviews you want the most ?

What actuality will you need?
what street shots/ cutaways/ action shots will help the progress of your story (ie. if you are doing a construction doc will you need shots of constrution - Where can you get them on a Saturday?)

Do you plan on doing a a “standup”  or voiceover for continuity and linking the parts of your doc together? (for an example please look at the Michael Korican or Jacob Zehr docs)

Do you need to use “stock” or previously recorded footage?
we strongly discourage the use of previously recorded footage in this workshop but some “B” roll or otherwise obtained footage may be allowed

For some other examples take a look at these videos on the Ekos TV site
Robert Bateman
Solar powered Car  http://www.ekostv.com/node/352
Geothermal heating http://www.ekostv.com/node/344

or visit MediaNet’s Documentary Interest Group page for more links  http://www.media-net.bc.ca/docinterestgroup/docinterestgroup.html

see you at the workshop and good shooting

K.

MediaNet workshop and tech update Nov 7 2007

IMPORTANT NOTEs:

Cyrus Blocks’ workshop on Imaging Techniques will be on Saturday 17 NOVEMBER, one week after the long weekend

Mark Your Calendar - the MediaNet 25 Anniversary screening on Thursday 15 November - be there for the great videos but DON’T MISS the Soundscape creation demo with Pamela Millar AND the live VJ/Video compositing Demo with Orion Eastland

Workshop Updates

Sat 17 - 10 am to 3 pm Image Manipulation  with Cyrus Block- filters, lighting and location techniques:
This unique workshop with Cyrus will concentrate on manipulating your image to the best effect on location using tried and true cinema techniques. Don’t miss your chance to share in the knowledge Cyrus has accumulated working as Camera and DOP for major motion pictures and series.

Mon 19 - composition for digital stills with Passia Pandora - benefit from MN member and award winning Photographer Passia Pandora’s insights into composing for digital still photography. Her experience will be an invaluable aid to your use of our new Canon Rebel Still camera as well as giving you an advantage when composing your video frame

Sat 24 - 9 am to 6 pm One day Mini Doc workshop (note change in date) with Rick Searle and Kirk Schwartz. In this one day course you will plan, shoot and edit a newsroom style mini doc. Learn how to plan and create a mini doc in a day - meeting deadlines and overcoming obstacles

sun 25 - 7 to 9 PM Doc interest group

Tues 27 - 7 - 9pm personalizing your video with Z1U settings with Alejandro Valbuena.
Beyond  the basic settings, the Z1U and FX1 allow you to personalize the look of your video using colour settings, frame rates, gamma and many other settings that will set your shootig style apart from the crowd.

Documentary interest group now active

The Documentary Interest Group is up and rolling with it’s own page on the MediaNet Site. The DIG meets every second Sunday. Members are encouraged to present their own work or docs of interest to them for critical discusssion. Last Sunday we screened  Member Richard Boyce’s award winning film The Street which he shot and coproduced (with Daniel Cross) in Montreal. More Doc activities are in the works and we look forward to your involvment. Below are some links of Documentary sites on the web put together by member Chris Gower Rees. Enjoy.

DOC Sites on the Net
(thanks to MediaNet member Chris Gower-Rees)
Nomadsland.com
TED.com
quantumshift.tv
Youtube.com
ekostv.com
tv.oneworld.net
australianscreen.com.au
bbc.co.uk
blip.tv
best.online.docus.googlepages.com
greencine.com
boxofficemojo.com
Babelgum.com
video.on.nytimes.com
d-word.com
siegelproductions.ca/filmfanatics/resources.htm
themanifest-station.com

K.

tech and workshop updates 23 Oct

Please Note:

Passia Pandora’s workshop about digital still composition and her tips for you all has been moved to Monday NOVEMBER 19. If you are interested in getting the best out of  your still camera or using our new Canon Rebel XT!  or learning to frame your video better this is the seminar for  you !

Cyrus Block’s MediaNet workshop is all about manipulating your image using lights, filters and other techniques only Cyrus, with his long experience in film, can explain to you. His workshop is on Saturday 10 November. If you  are serious about getting the best image and most compelling composition on your video or film you won’t want to miss this class.

Richard Boyce will be here on Sunday for an activist video workshop. Richard has been involved in the environmental movement and concerned with homelessness and poverty issues for many  years. He will use his work with  homelessnation.org and his work with a variety of environmental organizations to illustrate his workshop about using your video to the best effect in political and environmental advocacy. Members of MediaNet can use volbucks for the workshop fee and we are committed to ensuring accessibility for advocacy filmmakers so if you are short on cash, give Kirk or Cat a call and we can make some other arrangements!

Also for Documentary makers is Tom Shandel’s talk on Thursday. Tom has been a socially commited filmmaker since the sixties. He has worked on docs for the CBC, the NFB, NPR, BBC and lots of other broadcasters. Don’t miss a fascinating conversation with a filmmaker who has been involved with and seen most of the major social and political issues that have shaped our society in the last thirty years.

Don’t miss the MediaNet 25th anniversary screening on 15 November - great films and there will be some really special presentations - a soundscape demo/performance from the Soundscape interest group with Pamela Millar and ( hopefully, we are trying to book it) a VJ demo with Orion Eastland

and finally, starting in November we will be open Saturday mornings from 9 to noon for equipment booking and pickup.

INTEREST GROUP NOTES
The documentary Interest Group meets bi-weekly on Sunday evenings. Contact
Kirk at MediaNet for more info or respond on the blog
The Soundscape interest group meets monthly and is co-ordinated by Pamela Millar. Contact Pamela or call the office for more information
A Photoshop interest group is in formation - if you would like to be part of the group email technincal@media-net.bc.ca or call the office

OCTOBER
Thursday 25 - Tom Shandel in Conversation
]Sunday 28 - 1 to 5 - Activist Video Workshop
Sunday 28 - 7 - 9 pm - Doc interest group - screening “The Street” by Richard Boyce

NOVEMBER
Sat 3 - 9 to noon Final Cut lab booking
Sat 10 - 10 am to 3 pm Video imaging - filters and techniques
Sun 11 - 7 to 9 pm Doc interest group
Sat 24 - 9 am to 6 pm One day Mini Doc workshop (note change in date)
Mon 19 - composition for digital stills
Tues 20 - 7 - 9 pm personalizing your video with Z1U settings
sun 25 - 7 to 9 PM Doc interest group

MediaNet workshop and tech update Oct 16

OCT
Wed 17 - 7 to 9 pm intro to Garage Band
Sunday 21 - 1 to 4 pm - MediaNet audio equip and basic sound gathering techniques
Monday 22 - 7 to 9 pm Digital Still composition and basics
Monthly meeting and artist talk with documentary filmmaker Tom Shandel   Wed 25 Oct 7PM (Producer of ” The Corporation” and many other films)
Activist Video Workshop with Richard Boyce   Sunday 28 Oct 07 - 1 to 5 PM

Intro to Garage Band with Ryan Bresser  Learn how to create music and dialogue in garage band as well as finding your way around thi suprisingly  powerful audio features in Garage Band. Musician, composer and teacher Ryan Bresser will guide you through Garage Band and answer your questions.  - for all levels

MediaNet audio and basic sound gathering techniques with Kirk Schwartz
Let MediaNet technical director Kirk Schwartz tour you through the array of microphones, mixing and audio recording possibilities from our medianet audio closet as well as giving you some tips for getting better sound on your project.

Digital Still Composition and still Photography Basics with Passia Pandora Learn the basics of composing award winning photographs  with your digital still (or using MediaNet’s new Cannon Rebel XT!) as Passia shares her knowledge and expertise to help you compose and understand your pictures.

Artist Talk with Tom Shandel
Come and meet MediaNet member Tom Shandel, producer of “The Corporation” and other award winning films  as he illustrates his passion for filmmaking with selections from his works.

Activist Video Workshop with Richard Boyce (Sunday 28 Oct 07 - 1 to 5 PM)
Environmentalist and advocacy filmmaker Richard Boyce  leads this workshop about using video as a tool for social change and communication. Boyce will illustrate the value of video documentation in media, government and even courtroom settings with scenes and examples from his work as an environmentalist and advocate (will be followed by a screening of Boyce’s Documentary “The Street” at 7 PM)

Oct 9 updates

Please note that from time to time workshop dates must be changed due to scheduling conflicts or other circumstances. If you have registered for a workshop and there is a change, the office will contact you.
October workshop updates
Wed 10 - 7 to 9 pm - Introduction to Music composition for film and Video - postponed
Sunday 14 - 1 to 4 pm MediaNet lights and lighting - Kirk Schwartz
Sunday 14 - 7 to 9 pm Doc interest group - Restaurant Makeover - lessons in manufacturing narrative and storytelling
Wed 17 - 7 to 9 pm intro to Garage Band with Ryan Bresser
Sunday 21 - 1 to 4 pm - MediaNet audio equip and basic sound gathering techniques - Kirk Schwartz
Monday 22 - 7 to 9 pm Digital Still composition and basics - Passia Pandora

Sunday 28 - 1 to 5 - Activist Video Workshop with Richard Boyce -
Sunday 28 - 7 - 9 pm - Doc interest group - screening “The Street” by Richard Boyce

November Workshop updates

Sat 3 - 9 to noon Final Cut lab booking
Sat 10 - 10 am to 3 pm Video imaging - filters and techniques - Cyrus Block
Sun 11 - 7 to 9 pm Doc interest group - Topic and video TBA
Sat 24 - 9 am to 6 pm One day Mini Doc workshop (note change in date) Rick Searle (ekostv.com)and Kirk Schwartz
Tues 20 - 7 - 9pm personalizing your video with Z1U settings - Alejandro Valbuena
sun 25 - 7 to 9 PM Doc interest group- Topic and screener TBA

December Workshop updates

Sat 1 - 9 to noon - FCP lab
tues 4 - 6 to 10 pm - FCP tips and tricks
Sun 9 - 6 to 10 pm Doc interest Group

Are you interested in participating in a Photoshop imaging interest group? E-mail kirk at technical@media-net.bc.ca to become part of the mailing list.

The Documentary Interest group meets bi-weekly and is open to all MediaNet members and guests (CineVic members are welcome).

just some of this year’s workshops

Here is a preliminary list - watch for more workshops and scheduling for some exciting new workshops like Music Composition for fim and The art of the VJ

Bi weekly Sunday Documentary Interest and Discussion Group 7 PM
Featured Docs with discussion - contact Kirk for more info - Starts 16 Sept

Sunday 9 Sept, 1 PM
Burning your DVDs with Tiger and iDVD
Learn some of the ins and outs of making video and data DVDs from your projects in iDVD and Tiger

Tues 11 Sept 7 PM
intro to photoshop for the Video Artist
an introduction to the basic tools and methods in Photoshop with an eye towards video
Wed Sept 12
New Members orientation

Sunday 16 Sept, 1 - 4 PM
Final Cut Pro lab - max 3 people - members only

Monday 17 Sept 7 - 9 pm
Grant writing workshop
how to prepare a proposal to give the greatest chance of success along with an overview of the granting agencies like Canda Council and BC Arts

Sat & Sun 29/30 Sept
Soundscape Challenge with Pamela Millar
Pamela hosts another of her weekend Audio Art Production challenges - listen to some previous works at the soundscape challeng page on the edgecasting site
Sunday 7 October 1 - 4 pm
MediaNet cameras- making the most of the MN cameras

Sunday 14 October 1-4
MediaNet lights and lighting tools - Basic lighting techniques

Sunday 21 October 1 - 4
MediaNet microphones and mixers - basic audio techniques

Sunday 28 October 1 - 5
Activist Video workshop with Richard Boyce

Saturday 17 November - 9 to 5
Mini Doc in a Day workshop with
Rick Searle and Kirk Schwartz

Watch here for more announcements and check our MediaNet workshop page for info and updates

K.