• Philip Hodgetts: Media Tracking in FCP

• Autodesk's "Smoke on Mac OS X" finishing system

• "Dolby Demystified" from veteran mixer Peter Levin

• MoPictive Shorts Monthly Selection: (2) short films by filmmaker Bat-Sheva Guez.

• Monthly Door Prize Raffle

Media Tracking in Final Cut Pro

Philip Hodgetts will reveal the first public viewing of his new super-secret software tool from Intelligent Assistance. It will revolutionize media tracking in Final Cut Pro.

More details on the product will be updated when the embargo is lifted, so stay tuned!

• Philip Hodgetts is an expert and consultant in digital production and post-production workflows, encoding, web applications, digital delivery and technology innovation. He is the President and CEO of Open Television Network, a company dedicated to making "podcasting" a professional service.

Smoke on a Mac Demo

Previously unavailable at under $80,000, Autodesk has released a “roll your own” version of its non-linear finishing platform Smoke for Mac OS X.

• Join Scott Malkie (blogger, post production supervisor, Smoke / Flame artist) as he takes us through the unique toolset of Smoke and helps us understand how Smoke can be used in a Final Cut Studio workflow as the ‘Hero Room’. And why a Final Cut Studio production might want to finish their projects on Smoke.
• Special thanks to Brett Yager and VCA Fusion for configuring and providing the hardware/software for the demo!

Demystifying Dolby Deliverables

Dolby 5.1 Surround, Dolby E, RtLt, Split Stems – There are a multitude of ways to produce and deliver Dolby Surround Sound for DVD, BluRay, or any of the professional tape stocks.

• Veteran Mixer Peter Levin (Splash Studios) helps us navigate the waters of Dolby deliverables. The next time a client (or your mixer) asks if you should get an LtRt with the Dolby E fold-down, you’ll be able to answer intelligently and with authority.

MoPictive Shorts March Selection

This month we’ve selected two shorts by filmmaker Bat-Sheva Guez.

• morning is a musical piece starring two dancers from everything smaller.
• whorl was shot in a single day while Bat-Sheva was on vacation in Barcelona, Spain. It is a tale about a traveler who is lost forever in the labyrinth of the old Bari Goti.

Door Prize Raffle

As always, we continue our monthly door prize raffle of a basket of goodies donated to us from a variety of our favorite vendors. You can find them under "Raffle Donations" on the left side of our website.

MoPictive Monthly Meetings continues in our new venue: the Helen Mills Screening room - featuring 120 stadium-style seats, with a projection booth, 5.1 surround system, free food and soda, and an opportunity to meet and network with a wide range of New York City's best and brightest filmmakers.

Doors open: 6:00pm
Meeting starts: 6:30pm
Cover Charge: $5
Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 AM

New York, NY 10001

The Independent Filmmakers Project (IFP) offers our members an annual membership valued at $100. for only $65.00! Use the code SHOOTER when joining online. For more information and to see their website and to join: http://www.ifp.org/

Filmmaker Membership   $100 (we pay only $65.00)

Includes all the above plus exclusive access to IFP Member Events & Screenings like Industry Connect panels and workshops, IFP Festival Bureaus, quarterly Member Mixers, a print subscription to Filmmaker Magazine, free Canon camera training a rental, 12 annual Preview Screenings (many with the directors present), voting privleges for the Independent Spirit Awards, Ability to attend 30+ NYC Independent Spirit Award nomination Screenings (and receive the DVD screeners at home);  job listings and classified, and industry discounts and services from our dozens of partner.

In just two short years, the wildly popular HD-DSLR craze has put HD video-shooting still Cameras in the hands of thousands of filmmakers.

Manhattan Edit Workshop’s Video DSLR Fundamentals Class is a two-day, hands-on workshop covering the shooting techniques, helpful tricks, infinite accessories, and known workflow solutions for this amazing new filmmaking tool.

Through hands-on exercise and demonstration, instructors Josh Apter and Jem Schofield will lead you through camera set-up, shooting and editing with the most popular HD-DSLR models on the market.

Among the topics covered:

• HD-DSLR overviews and popular models.
• Best shooting practices, shortcomings and workarounds.
• Shooting video like film.
• Double-System audio.
• Camera support systems and “tricking out” your DSLR.
• Lenses, adapters and how to use them.
• Transcoding and ingesting.
• Editing and output.
• EZ setups and proven workflow techniques.

Class runs Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm.

Course Cost: $399
Class size is limited to 15 students.

For info & registration info: http://www.mewshop.com/courses/course_detail/Video%20DSLR%20Fundamentals%20Workshop/

The show ran a little long. We'll program a bit differently going forward. Interest in Compression for the Web was very strong. We clearly didn't give Craig enough time to get through this complex topic. As a result, we'll be doing a 1-day seminar allowing us to cover this material much more methodically - as well as get to actual "recipes" for creating great-looking video. We're working feverishly to bring this to our members in the next 6 weeks.

Below are a list of links featured at the meeting, listed by segment:

AJA, Software Updates

Latest Updates have enabled some key new features.

• v1.1 of KiPro software enables ProRes422(LT) and ProRes422(Proxy), plus variable frame rates
• v7.5 for the entire Kona family enables multiple Kona cards in one MacPro tower, plus an array of board-specific features.

Ned's Toy Box

MoPictive Shorts, February Selection: Open Air

• Executive Producer / Writer: David L. Paterson
• Director of Photography: Jendra Jarnagin

BluRay DeMystified

• NetBlender.com: Creators of DoStudio
• DoStudio: Full featured BluRay Authoring running (and supported) on BootCamp. Trail Software available for download off of this page.
• BD-Touch: BD Touch is BD-J technology that enables communication between a Blu-ray disc and a Wi-Fi mobile device like the iPhone and iPod Touch.
• AACS (copy-protection) licensing cost sheet: AACS_Summary (note: These costs only apply to factory replicated BluRays, not BD-Rs burned with a PC or Mac using storebought media. Current as of early Feb 2010.)

Compressing for the Web

Craig Seeman, speaker

• Video Spec, free app to analyze and compare compressed video
• Levels of h.264, Wikipedia chart featured in the presentation
• Stay tuned for 1 day seminar on Compressing for the Web. Eventbrite, Facebook, our Newsletter, and this website will let you know once tickets go on sale.

If you enter the date of your Event, Screening, User Group Meeting, Film Festival, or Seminar into our Event Calendar - it'll show up on the right side of our homepage under "Upcoming Events".

To view the calendar from the homepage click on the link under the MoPictive Community Calendar heading. If your event is taking place in NY, NJ, Conn - we hope this will become a great resource for all digital filmmakers. How does it work?

First - Register at this website via the Registration link in the footer.

Second - Use the "Contact Us" link to send an email to activate your posting rights.

Third - Post away!

Restrictions: Events must take place in the New York City Tri-State area. Events must be related to Digital Filmmaking. Use responsibly. For instance, don't post daily schedules for your school's entire semester. Do post registration deadlines. If you're not sure you're violating this policy... then you probably are!

Enjoy!

- The MoPictive, BoD

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Speakers: Don Peebles , Jem Schofield
Event Type: Photography, Software
Join Don Peebles of Apple and Jem Schofield of theC47.com for an in depth workshop on shooting techniques, editing workflows and distribution options when working with HD DSLR cameras like the Canon 5DMKII & 7D along with Final Cut Studio.

The event will include live demos of lighting, audio and shooting techniques with HD DSLR cameras. Post topics will include demos of transcoding with Compressor, syncing double-system sound and editing in Final Cut Pro. Distribution topics will cover web, mobile & DVD delivery using Final Cut Studio.

Event details here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/eventDetails.jsp/id/605

After editorial is finished, your picture is color corrected, and the mix is laid back you've got to get your film to your audience. Almost always this means some form of compression. There are 1,001 ways to compress video badly. There are only a few ways to do it well. This month's meeting focuses on two different approaches - via the web and via optical disc. We are also continuing MoPictive Shorts; a monthly event showcasing some of NYC's best storytellers in a 15 minute or less short film format, including a Q & A after the screening. Also returning, Audio for Editors, Part 3 and Ned's Toy Box.

Doors open: 6:00pm
Meeting starts: 6:30pm
Cover Charge: $5

(this is our latest itinerary, which is guaranteed to change - frequently)

Grand Prize Raffle: Telestream Episode EncoderPro ($995 value)

• Details on Telestream's Episode EncoderPro. Here's a glowing video review.
• $5 per ticket if purchased online.
• Only 50 Early Bird tickets are available to purchase online, 1 ticket per person.
• 25 tickets additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door: $10 each (1 per person).
• The official rules are on the EventBrite Registration Site.

Compression In-Depth

The Art of Compressing for the Web

Craig Seeman returns to MoPictive to explore compressing for the web. Craig will cover:

• 'Best practices' with an emphasis on how to create professional web-based video for the web’s most popular video-sharing sites. He will be working with Telestream's excellent compression softwareEpisode EncoderPro.
• h.265: Understanding this pervasive new codec
• HTML 5's new 'video' tag: How it promises to impact the landscape for web video delivery.

The State of BluRay and BluRay on the Mac

We are extremely pleased to host NetBlender at this meeting. They are the creators of DoStudio, a professional BluRay authoring app with WYSIWYG Java menu creation - perfect for us non-programmer types. Topics covered in this presentation:

• Industry Transition: DVD to Blu-ray
• AACS Licensing Fees: How it works, who pays what fees (you or your client?)
• Blu-ray on the Mac (why waiting for Apple might cost you)
• Bootcamp set-up
• AVC BD encoding with Compressor
• NetBlender DoStudio Authoring
• Blu-ray Menu Design with Photoshop: Time to Think Different (again)
• Advanced Interactivity: Your iPhone is part of the Blu-ray experience

With our great new screening room at Helen Mills, MoPictive is bringing back one of its early signature segments, Show & Tell. This time around, we're calling it MoPictive Shorts - showcasing the tri-state's best storytellers in the 15 minute and under short film art form.

MoPictive Shorts February Selection: Not yet announced...

Jamie Hitchings returns for a more in-depth look at how editors can use SoundtrackPro to improve the overall quality of their sound.

Join us as MoPictive’s own Ned Soltz demos his favorite of the latest gear that has floated across his product reviewer’s desk. We never know what Ned’s going to pull out of his Toy Box!

• Patrick Inhofer,  President (returning)
• Ned Soltz: Vice President (new)
• Josh Apter: Director of Education (returning)
• Jim Moore: Member-At-Large (returning, new role)

MoPictive Board Member Jim Moore has a full lineup of donated products to be raffled away! Everyone who attends will get at least 3 raffle ticket with their entry. Additional tickets can be purchased during the meeting.

After editorial is finished, your picture is color corrected, and the mix is laid back you've got to get your film to your audience. Almost always this means some form of compression. There are 1,001 ways to compress video badly. There are only a few ways to do it well. This month's meeting focuses on two different approaches - via the web and via optical disc. We are also continuing MoPictive Shorts; a monthly event showcasing some of NYC's best storytellers in a 15 minute or less short film format, including a Q & A after the screening. Also returning, Audio for Editors, Part 3 and Ned's Toy Box.

Doors open: 6:00pm
Meeting starts: 6:30pm
Cover Charge: $5

(this is our latest itinerary, which is guaranteed to change - frequently)

Grand Prize Raffle: Telestream Episode EncoderPro ($995 value) + iPod Touch preloaded with NetBlender's BD Touch app, MetaMenu Smart Remote app, and the BD Touch enabled BluRay title, Gamer

• Details on Telestream's Episode EncoderPro. Here's a glowing video review.
• NetBlender is generously donating the iPod Touch bundle. The bundle is a single raffle item and includes: iPod Touch; preloaded with two apps, BD Touch & MetaMenu Smart Remote; the BD Touch-enabled BluRay disc, Gamer.
• $5 per ticket if purchased online.
• Only 50 Early Bird tickets are available to purchase online, 1 ticket per person.
• 25 tickets additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door: $10 each (1 per person).
• The official rules are on the EventBrite Registration Site.

Compression In-Depth

The Art of Compressing for the Web

Craig Seeman returns to MoPictive to explore compressing for the web. Craig will cover:

• 'Best practices' with an emphasis on how to create professional web-based video for the web’s most popular video-sharing sites. He will be working with Telestream's excellent compression softwareEpisode EncoderPro.
• h.265: Understanding this pervasive new codec
• HTML 5's new 'video' tag: How it promises to impact the landscape for web video delivery.

The State of BluRay and BluRay on the Mac

We are extremely pleased to host NetBlender at this meeting. They are the creators of DoStudio, a professional BluRay authoring app with WYSIWYG Java menu creation - perfect for us non-programmer types. Topics covered in this presentation:

• Industry Transition: DVD to Blu-ray
• AACS Licensing Fees: How it works, who pays what fees (you or your client?)
• Blu-ray on the Mac (why waiting for Apple might cost you)
• Bootcamp set-up
• AVC BD encoding with Compressor
• NetBlender DoStudio Authoring
• Blu-ray Menu Design with Photoshop: Time to Think Different (again)
• Advanced Interactivity: Your iPhone is part of the Blu-ray experience

With our great new screening room at Helen Mills, MoPictive is bringing back one of its early signature segments, Show & Tell. This time around, we're calling it MoPictive Shorts - showcasing the tri-state's best storytellers in the 15 minute and under short film art form.

DSLR Filmmaking

Event Fee: $5

Raffle: More than $5,000 in raffle items - including the $3995 AJA KiPro

Join MoPictive as we raffle off a $3995 AJA KiPro and move into a new decade with a new venue: the Helen Mills Screening room - featuring 140 stadium-style seats, a projection booth, 5.1 surround system, free food and soda, and an opportunity to meet and network with a wide range of New York City's best and brightest filmmakers.

January's theme is DSLR Filmmaking. We are also introducing The MoPictive Shorts Series; a monthly event showcasing some of NYC's best storytellers in the 15 minute or less short film format, including a Q & A after the screening.

• Grand Prize Raffle: AJA KiPro ($3995 value)
  • AJA has joined MoPictive for the second year in a row as a Platinum Sponsor! We thank AJA for their continued support of our group. To help celebrate our new venue, AJA has donated a $3995 AJA KiPro to raffle at this meeting.
  • Details on the KiPro can be found on AJA's website. A recent review of the KiPro and its capabilities can be found at Studio Monthly.
  • The first 50 people to select and buy an Early Bird ticket will get a free KiPro raffle ticket.
  • An additional 25 KiPro Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the door for $35 each (1 ticket per person).
  • See the Eventbrite Sign-up Page for contest rules

• DSLR Filmmaking:
  • DSLR Compare and Contrast: Josh Apter (Manhattan Edit Workshop) and Jem Schofield (theC47) will present an overview of Video DSLR cameras and their real-world application. They will discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of HD DSLRs and where these game changers could and should be used. Topics will include camera features, double-system sound, lenses and post workflows. The presentation will also include sample footage shot by both Josh and Jem and will discuss the possibilities of shooting with these large sensor, small format cameras.

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  • TheFoundry's RollingShutter plug-in: Mike Bailey from TheFoundry will demonstrate their RollingShutter After Effects plug-in. This amazing plug-in analyzes distortions caused by the 'rolling shutter' effect of CMOS DSLR / video cameras and corrects these distortions

• MoPictive Shorts: With our great new screening room at Helen Mills, MoPictive is bringing back one of its early signature segments, Show & Tell. This time around, we're calling it MoPictive Shorts - showcasing the tri-state's best storytellers in the 15 minute and under short film art form.
  • Shorts January Selection: L’Accordatore - The Tuner is written, directed, and self-produced by NYC's Tomax Aponte. Completed just last month, it's a richly lensed short film that is both intimate and loving, though sometimes in a perverse sense. After the screening we will have a Q&A with the director and a few members of his team.
    

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• Audio For Editors, Part 2: Jamie Hitchings returns for a more in-depth look at how editors can use SoundtrackPro to improve the overall quality of their sound.
  

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• Writing the Short Film: This is a tentative presentation - awaiting final confirmation later this month.
  

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• Monthly Raffle: MoPictive Board Member Jim Moore has a full lineup of donated products to be raffled away and help keep MoPictive running! Everyone who attends will get at least 1 raffle ticket with their entry. Additional tickets can be purchased at the door. This month's raffle donors include:
  • Automatic Duck: Swag
  • Boris FX: Training
  • GenArts: Training
  • IFP Membership: One Year Membership
  • Imagineer Systems: Mocha
  • Intelligent Assistance: Book
  • Movie Maker Magazine: One Year Subscription
  • O'Reilly: Books
  • Peachpit: Books
  • Pond 5: Stock Footge
  • Ripple Training: Training
  • Telestream: Training
  • theFoundry: RollingShutter After Effects Plug-in

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• February Meeting: MoPictive Board of Directors Election - In February we will be electing the slate for MoPictive's Board of Directors. Up for re-election: Patrick Inhofer, President; Josh Apter, Director of Education; Jim Moore, Director of Scholarships & Director of Raffles. New to MoPictive: Ned Soltz, Vice President

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One of my favorite FCP utilities of all-time is Digital Rebellion's Preference Manager. It's a FREE download off their website and lets you manage your preferences for each of the Final Cut Studio apps individually or collectively. The kids over at Digital Rebellion are at it again, this time with 15% off their paid FCS utilities.

Until Christmas, Digital Rebellion is offering a 15% discount on their products. FCP Versioner = $59, FCS Maintence Pack = $89, and Preference Manager is still 100% off, FREE. Check them out, send them some of your love in the color of green.

FCP Versioner is a $59 utility that works in the background. Every time you tell FCP to Save, Versioner exports out an XML along with a change log. Very nifty. Much less prone to corruption than an FCP Project file.

They also have put together a $99 bundle of utilities, FCS Maintenance Pack, that are too long to list but designed to fix or help avoid many problems that plague "tempermental" installs of Final Cut Studio.

- pi