Griffin Hammond, Filmmaker

Griffin Hammond is a documentary filmmaker covering political narratives at Bloomberg TV in New York City. Director of the award-winning documentary "Sriracha."

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25 Cyber Monday Deals for Filmmakers Full list (and more) on B&H: http://griffinhammond.com/cyber16bh And on Amazon: http://griffinhammond.com/cyber16az

To make sure you’re getting good deals on the internet, I recommend this free browser plug-in: http://www.getinvisiblehand.com

Deal #1 My camera—the Panasonic GH4—is $500 off, if you add the $300 discount on B&H, included $150 gift card, and 4% reward ($47.92): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1028453-REG/panasonic_dmc_gh4kbody_lumix_dmc_gh4_mirrorless_micro.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #2 My favorite Panasonic lenses—12–35mm ($300 off), 35–100mm ($400 off), 42.5mm ($200 off): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/865111-REG/Panasonic_H_HS12035_Lumix_G_X_Vario.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892457-REG/Panasonic_h_hs35100_35_100mm_f_2_8_Lumix_G.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1023336-REG/panasonic_leica_dg_nocticron_42_5mm.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #3 Popular audio recorder—Zoom H4n—is $40 off, but I actually prefer the newer H5 ($20 off): H4n: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1116977-REG/zoom_zh4nsp_h4nsp_handy_recorder.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 H5 on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fqmjj4 or B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1026852-REG/zoom_h5_handy_recorder.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #4 Tiny lights—Lume Cube 2-pack is $30 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1192933-REG/lume_cube_lc_22b_lc_11b_2_x_pack.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #5 360-degree camera—Ricoh Theta S—includes $50 gift card, soft case & 4% reward ($13.88): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1183083-REG/ricoh_910720_theta_s_spherical_digital.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #6 Motorized Slider—Cinetics Axis 360—$300 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1046460-REG/cinetics_apr_axis360_pro_motorized_slider.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #7 The Pixelstick is $50 off ($299), free shipping in the US: http://www.thepixelstick.com/?src=bfe

Deal #8 Big camera bags—Lowepro Fastpack 250 & Fastpack 350, each $80 off https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/531361-REG/Lowepro_LP35194_PEU_Fastpack_250_Backpack_Black.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/531365-REG/Lowepro_LP35197_PEU_Fastpack_350_Backpack_Black.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #9 Cheap camera bags—Lowepro StreamLine—two versions: $15 or $20 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/971433-REG/lowepro_lp36591_pww_streamline_sling_bag.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/971437-REG/lowepro_lp36590_pww_streamline_250_shoulder_bag.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #10 Rugged External Thunderbolt Hard Drive—Lacie 1TB—$40 off: (2TB is $30 off) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1058374-REG/lacie_9000488_rugged_v2_1tb_thunderbolt_u3.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #11 128GB Micro SD card is $53 off // 200GB Micro SD card is $50 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1181369-REG/samsung_mb_mc128da_am_128gb_evo_micosdxc_class.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1132692-REG/sandisk_sdsdquan_200g_a4a_200gb_ultra_uhs_i_microsdxc.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #12 Quadcopter—DJI Phantom 3 Standard, which was released last year (August 2015), shoots 2.7K video, is $100 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1175626-REG/dji_cp_pt_000168_phantom_3_standard_with.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #13 Studio Microphones—Blue Baby Bottle $160 off // Bluebird Microphone $120 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/352839-REG/Blue_BABY_BOTTLE_Baby_Bottle_Condenser.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/352842-REG/Blue_BLUEBIRD_BlueBird_Cardioid_Condenser.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #14 Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro is $50 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839897-REG/Rode_STEREO_VIDEOMIC_PRO_Sterei_VideoMic_Pro.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #15 Cheap HD camcorder—Canon VIXIA—$130 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1210611-REG/canon_1238c001_vixia_hf_r700_full.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #16 4K Camcorders—JVC is $800 off // Panasonic is $200 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1194106-REG/jvc_gy_hm170ua_4kcam_compact_professional.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1211806-REG/panasonic_hc_vx981k_4k_camcorder.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #17 Canon C100 cinema camera is $2200 off (only $1800) // C100 Mark II is $1500 off https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/889545-REG/Canon_EOS_C100_EF_Cinema.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1086125-REG/canon_eos_c100_cinema_eos.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #18 Canon DSLRs Canon T5i (with 18-55mm lens, mic, SD card) is $250 off on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2gAFYKt

Or $200 off (with 18-55mm lens) on B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/945054-REG/canon_8595b003_eos_dig_rebel_t5i.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 Canon T6i is $250 off on B&H (includes bag, card, 4% reward): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1116101-REG/canon_0591c003_eos_rebel_t6i_dslr.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 Canon 70D is $300 off: http://amzn.to/2fDhvlC Canon 80D with 18-135mm lens is $400 off: http://amzn.to/2g8TWox https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1225877-REG/canon_1263c006_eos_80d_dslr_camera.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #19 Nikon D3400 with two lenses (18-55mm & 70-300mm) is $500 off on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2g8DrZD But on B&H, you also get 2% back on a B&H gift card ($9.94): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275034-REG/nikon_1573_d3400_dslr_camera_with.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #20 Tripods Benro Travel Angel carbon fiber is $101 off (Use promo code SHOPBH16100) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1157843-REG/benro_fta18cc_travel_angel_9x_carbon.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 Manfrotto BeFree carbon fiber $60 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1194062-REG/manfrotto_mkbfrc4_bhz_befree_compact_travel_carbon.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 Manfrotto BeFree aluminum $50 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1197142-REG/manfrotto_mkbfr1a4b_bhus_befree_one_aluminum_tripod.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 Manfrotto Xtra $40 off https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1175943-REG/manfrotto_mt290xtc3us_290_xtra_3_section_carbon.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #21 Monitors—Marshall 7” LCD is $80 off // GeChic 11.6” $120 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/837493-REG/Marshall_Electronics_M_CT7_CE6_7_CAMERA_TOP_MONITOR.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219821-REG/gechic_1101p_11_6_hdmi_hd_ips.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #22 HDMI recorder—Atomos Ninja Star is $180 off: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1285811-REG/atomos_atomnjs001_64_ninja_star_recorder_with.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229

Deal #23 Roku 4 is $45 off // Roku Streaming Stick is $15 off https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1189744-REG/roku_4400r_roku_4_streaming_playe.html/BI/19987/KBID/13229 http://amzn.to/2frxuYB

Deal #24 My documentary filmmaking class on CreativeLive is 50% ($40 off) until noon PT: http://griffinhammond.com/class

Deal #25 For new customers, Vimeo Plus or Vimeo Pro 25% off: http://vimeo.extole.com/s/6gi2o?share_id=6254153971042556429

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The folks at MicroJib sent me their $120 tricked-out GoPro pole. But is it really just an expensive selfie stick?  Watch me destroy my $10 selfie stick, and find out which is a better value.

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20 Cyber Monday Deals for Filmmakers

Deal #1 Amazon offering unlimited online storage for $5 for one year, or 3 months free, normally $60/year.

Deal #2 Adobe Creative Cloud annual plans are 20% off ($40/month instead of $50 (says it expires Nov 27, but the prices appear to still be available)

Deal #3 FilmConvert plug-ins 33% off

Deal #4 Cheap DSLR bag: Tamrac Jazz 76 is $20 off ($29) And the Tamrac 5546 Adventure 6 Backpack is $30 off ($45)

Deal #5 Have you heard of light-field cameras? The Lytro is only $59 ($40 off)

Deal #6 Hero Session is $237 on Amazon GoPro Hero4 Black is $380 on Amazon Or buy it full price ($499) at GoPro, get a free chest strap, head strap and 32GB card

Deal #7 The MicroJib for GoPro is $25 off ($99)

Deal #8 Quadcopter: DJI Inspire 1 is $400 off ($2499)

Deal #9 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer: DJI Ronin is $500 off ($1949)

Deal #10 Heavy-duty tripod head: Manfrotto MVH500AH is $138—down from $200—on Amazon More expensive Manfrotto kits are $125 off with mail-in rebate

Deal #11 Cinetics 20% off, code: THANKS15  But Axis360 is even cheaper ($699) on B&H

Deal #12 SanDisk 32GB Extreme 32GB for $14.99

Deal #13 Cheap 1080p60 Sony handycam—only $218 after $80 discount Or here’s one for $129, plus another 15% off with Target discount

Deal #14 Zoom Q4 video recorder is half price ($149)

Deal #15 The lens that shot my documentary—Panasonic 12–35mm f/2.8—is $200 off ($798)

Deal #16 The camera that shot my documentary—the Panasonic GH3—is $100 off ($698)

Deal #17 Watch my documentary Sriracha for free with a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime

Deal #18 Another micro 4/3 camera is the Olympus OM-D E-M5—half price ($419)

Deal #19 Canon 5DmIII $300 discount, plus free bag, monopod, battery, SD card Or get it with free SD card and 3TB hard drive

Deal #20 My documentary filmmaking class—and every class on CreativeLive—is 30% off!

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Yep, I love clamps and made a video about it!

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I unbox a new 360-degree camera, so of course I do it in a 360-degree video! (Best viewed in the YouTube mobile app.)

And here’s a video shot on the Ricoh Theta S, from my trip to New Orleans:

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At $300, the Olympus Air A01 is a tiny, relatively inexpensive micro four-thirds camera. Without a body, it’s controlled via wi-fi by a smartphone app. Decent for photos, but lacks the manual control I’d like for video. Watch my review above.

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How did Back to the Future splice together two takes from the same actor, when the camera’s moving? The visual effects solution earned Industrial Light & Magic an Oscar nomination! Watch me try out this technique!

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I love my battle-damaged Lowepro camera bag, but I’ve been in the market for something more stylish, maybe larger—but I need functionality. Can the Think Tank Perception Pro do the job?

Videos from my travels with this bag this week:

Los Angeles: “I Cosplayed Newt Gingrich”

Las Vegas: “Come to Vegas, Joe Biden!”

Henderson, Nevada: “Donald Trump’s tweets, read by Republicans”

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 Today in history:

1789 (Paris)—Revolutionaries stormed the Bastille royal fortress. 1984 (Atlanta)—Griffin Hammond was born. 1997 (Las Vegas)—Nicolas Cage saved the f---ing day.

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The future of cat videos is here.

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When we watched Scott Walker's new campaign ad, everyone in my office agreed it feels Batman-esque.

Sure enough, when I merged it with "The Dark Knight" trailer audio, they're an uncanny match. (Note: there’s only one edit—I cut out the middle 25 seconds of the Batman trailer, because it’s longer.)

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Now that you’re running for president, Gov. Christie, I edited a commercial to help you sell your greatest hits!

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5 Lessons Learned from my Profitable Indie Documentary

It’s been 18 months since I released Sriracha, a 33-minute documentary about the iconic hot sauce. This was a passion pr…

After 18 months of selling my indie documentary online, I've learned some lessons for next time. Here's an honest look at the revenue/expenses to demystify the process.

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DIY Bluetooth headphones:

Sony MDR-V6 headphones $90

Jumbo Bluetooth receiver $25

RadioShack 1/8” stereo jack and 1/8" stereo plug

Senal leather replacement earpads $30

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Here's a quick look inside the studio where I work, and the latest videos I've produced at Bloomberg Politics.

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We challenged uber-talented filmmaker Griffin Hammond to teach the definition of one of our favorite words, retroactive, in a one minute video shot only on iPhones. In the process, we invented time travel (sort of)!

This video is shot entirely on two iPhones. To see how Griffin was able to...

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I got a new camera—the Panasonic GH4, so I tested it against my GH3 on everything from crop factor to rolling shutter, moire and high ISO performance. The GH4 is great, but it doesn't beat the GH3 on everything!