Cory Davidson's Lounge Discussions

Thanks for the advice!! 4k is definitely an eye catcher...I'm not real familiar with Blackmagic cameras, functionalities and the specifics if their components. So the Super 16mm sensor of the BMPCC is German to me lol. But the 2.5k and the 4k are full frame? Or is that irrelevant?

irrelevant for cinema, though none are full frame. In motion picture there are two primary sensor sizes (or actually film gagues) which were in common use until the 5D. And those were 35mm (which is just about APS-C for S35mm 3 Perf), which is found on the 4K Camera (and the red, and the alexa, and the amira etc etc and your T3i) and S16mm which is the size of the film they use for say The Walking Dead. These are the cinema formats, and cinema lenses are designed around them. So when, say, on a 5D you may reach for a 50mm lens, as a standard "all around" lens, if you were making a movie on a movie camera, you'd be looking at a 35mm lens (on 35mm film) or a 16mm lens on S16mm Film (see how that works for us DoPs? Pretty simple!). the 2.5K BM has a wierd sensor size. On the two features i did with it it was a slight problem-- but it's kinda like a Panasonic GH series... though not really... where it's an oddball sensor, smaller than APS-C but bigger than S16mm, so finding wide angle lenses for it, especially with cinema ergonomics and design and optical quality can be mildly problematic. Normally remedied by renting, say a set of Compact Primes or the like.

Think of it kinda like this-- The larger the imager, like Full Frame, the "longer" a lens you can use and still see most of the room. So if you keep on going, if you were on a Medium Format camera, let's say double the size of a 5D's sensor, you'd be reaching for a 100mm lens as your all around lens. It's mostly just about knowing what lenses for your particular imager produce which Fields of Views. Thats where crop factor can come in helpful-- for the math to know the equivalent lens between two systems, but often it just adds more confusion than it solves.

That is really cool, I never knew the most common differences lol. So really the T3i that I currently have, uses the same sensor as the BM 4k, probably where Magic Lantern comes in handy for my T3i. Also, I'm glad you brought that to my attention about the S16mm for BMPCC! I'm anxious to use it and see what This thing can do!

It's not the same sensor, far from it; but the same sensor size. its like you have a chocolate chip and an oatmeal cookie-- they may be the same size cookies, but they are probably different prices, and certainly different flavors.

Any feedback is appreciated

I would invest it in a new project currently in development that I and two of my associates are working on right now!

I'd go with a mix of profit and message. There are important things to say, but they can be said within stories that sell. And selling pays the bills. :)

My partners and I presently own the original February 11, 1964 film/tape of the Beatles historical first visit to the United States where they performed their first concert at the Washington Coliseum in Washington DC. We are doing a documentary regarding this epic event and we are also doing trilogy for the entire decade of the 1960. Our focus and direction is to tell the complete truth about the decade that transformed the 60's into one of the most powerful periods of the 20th century. Production to begin soon with proper financing. If you are interested please let me know.

Definitely would be a message!! We all want longevity and look for profit, but I'm a huge fan of watching a movie that has a purpose or something true behind it.

Good day, John! I'd use the income to invest in helping to close the $250,000 gap in the $3M budget needed to begin production on the indie feature film titled TUCHT. As a survivor of multiple child abuse incidences, I can tell you that TUCHT shines a light on the deep, destructive, chain-effect ‪PTSD‬ cycle; and how the powers of love and forgiveness have helped me and is helping survivors to BREAK the vicious cycle. Also, I'd use some of it to help pay the legal fees for setting up my own company to produce a slate of film & TV projects, and to review and negotiate the the various deal memos looming this month! As an Aries, my ego does play a role in creation, but it's not the lead player. Profit is a part because the more I have, the more I can give and fund more! The message is always there for hearts, minds, and souls that are open and ready to receive it. Cheers!

Thanks! I'll look at it once i have a chance to.

http://www.magiclantern.fm/

Good luck and share links with me of your work!!

Well I'm still kind of "fresh out of the box" I'm getting everything together, but feel free to check out what music i have on http://itazzmaineyak.bandcamp.com/

http://vimeo.com/m/98822191 here is another video I just finished editing

I've crowdfunded a short film, written a book on Crowdfunding for Filmmakers (that's what it's called, too :-) and now work full-time at Indiegogo helping film campaigners launch and run successful campaigns. That said, a lot of your questions can be answered by reading my very popular blog post "Three Ps for a Successful Indie Film Campaign" (http://bit.ly/TaoCF) The best avenues to explore aside from Twitter and Facebook are blogs that cover your genre/niche and getting in good with them before you launch your campaign. Basically, you want to build yourself into the fabric of those communities; then those blogs and websites will be more willing to write about your project. Facebook ads don't really work all that much to convert people into full-fledged funders, though boosting a Facebook post here and there can definitely help you reach more of the fan base you rightfully earned (which Facebook is trying to find new ways to monetize on, like "Boosted Posts." Give a read to my blog post, and if you decide Indiegogo's the platform for you, you'll have some help from yours truly, and that's something you can't say about Kickstarter ;-)

I appreciate the advice!! I have read your blog post and it was extremely informative!! I am definitely going to assemble a campaign, but need to lay some ground work down. I am finishing up the writing of this project currently. I wanted to start planning this portion out because I plan on casting by the beginning if summer and starting on the project by late fall early winter. Which would give me time to lay some groundwork down, and attempt some kind if funding. I am currently doing some music videos, and have never took on a filming project. However, the material I am working on has pushed me to want to get involved with this realm of work. I mean, who doesn't love movies, and really any type of visual entertainment?

I am a cross grading audio engineer, sound is very important to me, and I am not new to try and try again, but I want to make well educated decisions instead of the hard ways I chose in music lol

http://vimeo.com/m/98822191 Here is a video I just finished editing

We're doing indiegogo right now. I'm not 100% sure how it's going to turn out but it did help to have a plan before launch ... I mean months and months before launch. We also did a soft launch which means we are running a long campaign with the first part allowing us time to work our plan for creating buzz and getting donations from family and friends. One thing is for sure, raising funds for your project brings you closer to it. You learn to appreciate it more. :)

Head over to ClassonDemand.com and buy a year subscription to the classes. Best deal out there. See when you get to 301 Final Project. About 800 lessons and a solid year of 5 - 7 hours a day! Then you should be ready to 'dig in' and start editing. Just about anything you can think of. Then when you realize AE is 2.5D unless you Pop for Cinema 4D for another 2 grand! Head over to Blender (free) and learn their program. Really cool. you can create anything in Blender and top it off with AE. See my Photos for an idea of Blender. I just started with Blender this year. Cameras- Buy a camera that imports the info onto preferably 3 sensors, at a min of 4:2:2 A changeable lens would be nice too. 18-22mm a 35 and a 50mm. You will be set! Many cameras have a 24mm to 40mm non digital zoom which means it does not break up or get noisy. Digital Zoom is electronically doubled / Tripled to get you the 'effect' of 200mm. Like a camera that shoots in HD on CMOS at 4:2:0. Fake marketing. Get a camera that can bring in two mics and syncs them, in my opinion. OR Get a handheld MP3 / Wav recorder at 20-20K with 3 mics in for a nice miz out. As 5.1 is done in editing.

To comment on the tutorials that Simon mentioned - spot on. I have been a member of Lynda.com and wow, I honestly could not have done most of the work we are doing in post without these fantastic tutorials. There are lots of free tutorials on YouTube as well - kind of hit or miss, but free is good. Also - the Video CoPilot site is pretty incredible for their free tutorials as well. Andrew is fantastic in his presentations of what he is doing, mostly in After Effects. Many of them WAY above my head, but he goes through them at a pace I can pretty easily follow and the effects are impressive. While he does push his products, for the most part you don't absolutely need their plugins which I think is pretty cool. We do have Red Giant plugins (for us, Red Giant Warp has been fantastic) and decided that for composting work (we have LOTS), we needed to spring for Mocha Pro instead of the built-in Mocha AE that comes with AE... Really impressive tracking and much faster/more accurate than AEs tracker. Hope that helps! Matt

@ Matt Cramer is a gas... I like his how to's in the beginnings. Too funny! Like a pull away from a parking lot into outerspace. First thing you need is a balloon and some fishing line. Oh don't forget to turn the camera on first. LOL!

I agree Matt Cramer offers excellent, helpful and fun how-to tutorials... I can't recommend them enough.

Here is a music video I shot and edited. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3eIbTKJOH7w&feature=youtu.be