Category Archives: Video Production

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New Conan, Arnold clone found

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roland kickingerThe new Conan has finally found a lead. You might find it hard to believe but the new lead shares a LOT of similarities with Arnold.

Roland Kickinger

  • is born in Austria (check)
  • has been a pro bodybuilder (check)
  • probably sports a thick Austrian accent (check)

I guess the list could go on and on. I could imagine someone from Nu Image is having a DUH moment right now. They’ve looked everywhere but the one place where Arnolds are born and bred. They gotta be careful though, so that photos of him in skinny jeans don’t surface anytime soon.

Review: How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

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lose friends alienate peopleDon’t worry! How to Win Friends and Influence People is not essential reading in order to enjoy this movie.

The movie is based on a memoir by British writer Toby Young. So you could say, this is a TRUE story. Or rather, it would’ve been, if the the script writer didn’t change the memoirs almost completely… which is an irony itself.

The plot is straight-forward: Sidney Young, a small time journalist, goes to New York City. His task is to cover the world of celebrities. In order to keep his job, he has to do a favorable article about Sophie Maes (sexy Megan Fox even without makeup).

Sidney is attracted to Sophie and all the glitz. However, when Sophie is high and he has a shot, he … well, misses.

The movie has a few funny moments but it goes too many times from romantic comedy to satire and back again. The only redeeming feature is that we get to see Megan Fox wet and almost nude.

Review: The Girlfriend Experience

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the girlfriend experienceThe Girlfriend Experience is the new Soderbergh movie which premiered at Sundance.

The movie is definitely low-budget (rumor puts it at less than two million) and some of the scenes can be improved with better lighting or better camera locations.

One of the most talked about “features” is the lead character, a high-end escort by the nickname Chelsea, who is played by real-life pornstar Sasha Grey.

Now, I can understand the attraction of a A-star shooting a hot, sex scene. But I don’t think it works the other way around. Sasha’s face is flat, her tone is monotonous… and frankly, she’s not even sexy.

Shockingly, Sascha is the only professional actress in the movie … the others could be people from the street (or Soderbergh’s less-known friends).

The majority of the scenes deal with Sasha Grey listening to a confession from a “boyfriend” paying for the girlfriend experience. It’s incredibly boring and doing it over and over again doesn’t make it better.

In short, the movie could only be viewed as a sort of an exercise for Soderbergh. If you’re interested in Sasha, there are better “titles” out there. If you’re interested in a coherent movie with at least one professional actor, same thing applies.

Sony HC3 for $500

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Sony HDR-HC3Sony HC3 is an amazing little HD camera for any aspiring filmmaker on a budget.

B&H have a used one (in excellent condition) for around $500. You can get it here.

While in B&H used equipment department, check out the other HD camcorders too. They’ve got discounted Canon H1, Sony FX1, and even Panasonic HVX200 but you’ll need more than $500 for these babies.

Review: Personal Effects

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personal_effectsPersonal Effects starts with much confusion (e.g. who’s the narrator/protagonist) and ends with a simplistic happy end.

So is there a meaty middle part?

Here’s the plot: Ashton’s character has lost his twin sister in a violent crime and he’s having a tough time recovering from it.

Michelle’s character is similarly struck by her husband’s being shot to death.

Being a MILF (in the parlance of our times), requires her to be a mother (of a a deaf/mute teenager). Michelle’s son becomes the link between the two. This guy makes an unlikely Cupid and I couldn’t find anything likable about him.

In short, Michelle and Ashton fall in love… and the only twist is that the son (Cupid) ends up in jail.

I hope I’m not ruining the surprise factor (there is none), since both Michelle and Ashton are type-cast and regardless of the context (recovery from losing a loved one), the movie does play like an extra long version of MILF hunter.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

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Monty Python are one of the prime examples of indie cinema. Look at this episode and tell me it cannot be shot on shoestring budget.

No fancy lighting, the camera is static (no dolly)… the list goes one but you don’t think about production values. You think about how a “farcical aquatic ceremony” cannot be the basis of a government system. Hilarious!

Review: Arn: The Knight Templar

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arn knight templarThe Knight Templar has such a descriptive title it’s really difficult to mistake the movie for something it is not.

Yet, I find it amazing that the forum at imdb is full of people whose expectations were not met. Some expected more battles, others expected more love scenes…

Part of the reason is that the movie is based on the books by Jan Guillou – the so called Crusader trilogy.

The movie tries to stay close to the book but with a meager budget of just over $30 million, it falls a lot shorter than say … Kingdom of Heaven. At the same time, it’s the highest budget for a Swedish movie, so the expectations are high.

In short, the plot follows a familiar arc. Arn is a nobleman’s son. He falls from a watchtower and his parents make a vow that if he survives, they’ll send him to do God’s work. When he does recover, he is sent to a monastery where he meets a monk who has returned from the Holy Land. He gets his martial training at the monastery (duh).

When he falls in love with a fair maiden (not sure if she was virgin though), he is excommunicated for impregnating her (true) and sleeping with her sister (false). On he goes to Jerusalem to join the Knights Templar.

While thus serving God, he meets Saladin (incredible stuff) and by getting to know the enemy, he is able to predict Saladin’s next attack. So he leads a crusader party and stages an ambush in a narrow pass. THE END.

If you’re into medieval fantasy, this isn’t a movie for you. Same advice goes for people with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), there’s a single battle scene at the end of the movie. So the core audience for the movie remain those who have read the Crusader trilogy.

Discovery’s excellent videography

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I just saw a new show on Discovery (well, new for me) called Chris Ryan’s Elite Police. The reason I post a snippet here is the amazing videography in the episode about MAGAV, Israeli police.

I’d love to learn more about the type of cameras (and other equipment) they’re using. The effect is similar to Black Hawk Down … only it comes off very natural and I bet it cost only a fraction of what a big movie would cost.

Review: August

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review augustI tried to enjoy August – it’s really the only portrayal of the dot com bubble I can think of.

I’ve read quite a few (good) books about it and I have been a part of it in a minor way, so I expected to empathize with the protagonists. It proved to be rather difficult as right from the start, Josh Hartnett is tough pill to swallow. He’s too good looking (too sexy for our lady viewers too) to picture him as a real CEO. Don’t get me wrong, there are good-looking CEOs but that happens only AFTER the VCs take over the company and put their own puppet to run the show.

Now, despite Josh’s appearance, you can tell she’s trying hard to pull off a convincing portrayal. My problem with the support cast is that as out of place as Josh is, there’s no one else that steals scenes. I recently saw Charlie Wilson’s War and I watched in awe how Philip Seymour Hoffman steals EVERY scene he’s in.

I guess the moral of the story is: no matter how sexy you make a business guy, he always falls short of keeping the interest in the cinema. If only I didn’t have Wallstreet as a perfectly good example of a business movie!

None: The movie looks good and has been shot digitally with a Sony CineAlta rig!

Dr. Uwe Boll’s Postal

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Postal is finally out in the USA! Unfortunately, it seems that no one cares much…

According to Los Angeles Times:

Boll, who said even his German investors were “80% upset with him when they saw it,” claimed “Postal” was too much of a political hot potato for AMC or Regal to touch (its opening sequence has two 9/11 hijackers arguing about the virgins coming their way and a simulated explosion on impact).

The IMDB forums are quite active, with some real doctors (MDs not Dr like Uwe) prescribing Venlafaxine so that Uwe can get over his most recent flop. They warn that the possible side effects could be: muscle twitching, weight gain, and finally, problems with orgasms.

I say No way!. This could very well affect Boll’s performance in the upcoming box match between him and Michael Bay.

Review: Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls

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I have just seen it and I must say I’m not impressed. The two previous movies (with Richard Chamberlain as Allan) were not perfect but at least they have stuck to the original books.

If you have any doubt that this is exploitation film, supposed to ride on the back of Indy 4 – just check out the trailer. Even the title letters at the end copy Indiana Jones.

Back to the movie. Shot on location in South Africa with (mostly) local actors, Sean Michael is Allan. The cast could be redeemed if only they had thrown in Megan Fox as an object of desire. female The sound mix doesn’t cut it – background noises often obscure speech because they are too loud.

The camera’s panning movement takes forever (the opening sequence and elsewhere). There are multiple repetitive shots, e.g. first guy riding, second guy riding after him, rinse and repeat 5 times.

The villain is ridiculous – and you know he’s the bad guy immediately because he’s showcasing a nasty grin and an ugly set of teeth. We’re 50 minutes into the movie before we see natives – and they remain on screen, singing and dancing, for at least 15.

Finally, at the end, when Allan finally finds the Temple of Skulls – guess what – it’s simply a cave with lighting that’s worse that most of tourist caves I’ve been too. A stalagmite and a skull next to it = Temple of the Skull.

Bad guy is there already – holding the girls as a hostage. Boom boom and the girl is reclaimed but the temple crumbles to pieces. Cue more native songs and dances.

THE END

Canon HV20 Camcorder

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Although I’m not a big fan of “consumer” camcorders like Canon HV20, I’m always tempted to try them and see if they compare well to my preferred segment (that’s $3,000 to $8,000).

Canon HV20 CamcorderFirst off, the good news. It’s a small camera that you can fit virtually anywhere. It weighs less than a kilo (with battery), so you can CARRY it anywhere.


The sensor is a single CMOS sensor with over 2 million active pixels. That means a native support for 1080i format (1920×1080 pixels).

The bad news is its light sensitivity, mic inputs, and the battery life. Battery life can be extended by purchasing a better battery (BP-2L14) and you should definitely consider it if you’re shooting anything longer than an hour (which is most stuff).

DV.com‘s Chuck Gloman has a more detailed review of the camera. Overall, he was impressed by the outdoors footage and the form factor. I’m still not convinced I’ll trade a small-factor Sony (like Sony HC3).

I’m considering switching from my web cam to this baby. Here’s a short guide on how to select a web cam.

RED camera price and schedule

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There’s been quite a stir every time someone mentions the RED camera.

RED cameraFor one, its support for 4K video (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) made quite an impact last year when RED camera stole NAB 2006.

Another point is the price … point. The body will cost “only” 17,500. If you consider the average indie producer’s budget this seems quite high but at the same time, a good zoom lens could cost that much (and more). So considering the 4K capability, you’re getting an excellent deal.


So let’s go to the schedule part. The first batch of RED cameras (50 or so) will ship in August. From then on, it’s about 100 cameras per month. About 2000 have been pre-ordered already which means that if you order today, you’ll get yours in February 2008!

Which definitely is a long wait. Fear not, some of the guys who are buying it are OK to rent it for a week or two.

Full HD projector

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Now, this isn’t the first HD projector capable of doing 1080p. At the time of this writing, it’s arguably the smallest. It packs quite a punch when it comes to features. Check it out (courtesy of EngadgetHD)

Full HD projector

Touting an almost unbelievable assortment of niceties, this 3.7- x 9.2- x 10.8-inch DLP machine is reportedly the “world’s smallest” Full HD projector to date, and if that wasn’t inspiring enough, it also uses TI’s 0.95-inch 1080p DMD, the firm’s proprietary RealColor technology, and plays nice with home automation systems with RS-232 and IP interfaces. Additionally, it sports a 10-bit video processing engine, HDMI 1.3 compatibility, 1,000 lumens, and a even-segment, 5x color wheel.

I’ve tried my old (office) projector once or twice as a means to get a “movie theater” experience. Didn’t work. I’m willing to give projectiondesign’s new baby a try though.

300 Soundtrack

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I was very surprised when near the end of 300, I heard a very familiar tune.

In the 300 original soundtrack, the song is called Message for the Queen (number 24 out of 25). In fact, it’s a popular Bulgarian folk song from the Macedonian region called “Zaidi, Zaidi Iasno Slance”. I can definitely distinguish the words when I sampled it at Amazon.

Tyler Bates (the composer behind the soundtrack) has been accused of indiscrimate copying of the Titus soundtrack. Now, I can add Bulgarian folk music to the list as well.

NAB: Final Cut supports RED camera

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Final CutThe Apple Gazette announced a number of key features for Final Cut Studio 2.

One key upgrade is its support for 4K video (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) and in effect support footage that originated from the RED camera (the RED camera stole NAB in 2006).

More info: FCS2 will cost $1,299, or $499 for an upgrade from FCS. FCP users can upgrade to FCS2 for only $699. Final Cut Studio 2 will be available next month.

Sony V1

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Adam Wilt at DV Magazine, is taking a first look at Sony V1.

Sony V1

In a typical SAT fashion: with V1 Sony has upgraded the Z1 “prosumer” camcorder the same way it upgraded the revolutionary Sony FX1 to Sony FX7. If you’re already familiar with the FX7 or you’ve already read the comparison between FX1 and FX7, you’ll find relatively few bits of new info.


At the same time, Sony V1 is significant because it confirms Sony’s dedication to putting CMOS sensors on its prosumer line of camcorders instead of CCDs. This is an important change of direction as it affects light sensitivity, vertical resolution, and more importantly the “full 1080 HD” of FX7 and V1.

Let’s go quickly through Adam’s points:

  • Design and form factor: Sony V1 is smaller than the other HDV camcorders and its form factor is close to Sony’s smaller DV models like the PD150/170. It’s also lighter than all previous prosumer models. The top handle has been moved a bit to the front which balances the camera perfectly. The LCD is on the side and has changed very little in practical terms.
  • Controls: Here Adam seems to be enthralled by the new Sony: “This tight grouping of shooting controls puts them readily within reach of your focusing hand… In my opinion, this is the best Handycam control layout Sony has done.
  • Audio: There’s little difference from Z1 and PD150 when it comes to audio. The camera features two professional XLRs.
  • Video: The 1/4″ CMOS sensor is less sensitive to light but offers increased resolution (full 1080 HD). It also offers true 24 frame progressive mode – highly sought after by wannabe filmmakers who strive to shoot filmlike video.

Again, it’s a “sideways upgrade” because you lose some, you gain some. Here’s Adam’s conclusion:

Sony squeezed out some features in the quest to put HDV into a PD170-sized package: analog-in recording, 50 Hz/60 Hz switchability, low-light capability, and standard video connectors on the camera body. But the result is a compact, lightweight Handycam that shoots sharp, clean HDV while offering the best laid-out controls found on a small Sony, and true progressive capture to boot. Rolling shutter will be an issue for some, but overall, the V1 looks like a worthy addition to the choices available to HDV shooters.

I’m considering switching from my web cam to this baby. Here’s a short guide on how to select a web cam.