Mike Ritchie

Film & video director. Just trying out Tumblr.

[makingfilms]

So this happened on shoot today #superchihuahua

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After nearly 10 years of doing this professionally, I've only just realised you can mount stuff sideways in a hotshoe. #ohdear

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This is what we'll be shooting on today. Looks messy, but it's light, fast and awesome! #GH3

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No longer shall my office walls be bare!

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There was a time I considered this the greatest of all the #mug #artwork.

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Loving this quote at the moment...

If you really want to communicate something, even if it’s just an emotion or an attitude, let alone an idea, the least effective and least enjoyable way is directly. It only goes in about an inch. But if you can get people to the point where they have to think a moment what it is you’re getting at, and then discover it, the thrill of discovery goes right through the heart.

~ Stanley Kubrick

[makingfilms]

Adobe Creative Cloud - The Future of Creative Software?

Adobe have announced that all future software will be distributed online through a subscription 'pay-per-month' model. No boxed software. And if you stop paying for it, you can't use it anymore.

This is a bold move from Adobe but ultimately I can see it making sense.

A lot of people are upset by the cost. Unless you bought the latest Adobe Creative Suite update every year, Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) will probably cost you more money. It's a clever move from Adobe. You're forced to using the very latest software and pay top dollar for the privilege. For the average user Adobe CC will cost more money, although the payments will be spread out over monthly costs, rather than everything up front, which takes the sting out of the tail a little bit.

It will cost more money, but for that you're also getting a huge benefit: no more version numbers and instant updates. Ok, so that's two benefits but they do go hand in hand.

Whenever new software comes out, or a new operating system, there are undoubtably bugs in it. Things come up that are impossible to spot unless the software is rolled out on a massive scale. In time, those bugs get patched and problems go away, but it prevents people using the latest software because they can't rely on it. It's fine for a freelancer to try out some updated edit software, struggle with the initial bugs, and quickly switch back to an older version. But when you're looking at companies with even a few edit suites, it's time consuming and impractical to upgrade all the software unless you're confident it will work.

By removing the need for yearly upgrades, Adobe can focus on a suite of software and continually improving it, rather than 'rebuilding from the ground up'. It doesn't limit them trying something new, they can simply release a new product as part of the line up, it offers a way to combine the latest in software technology with rock solid reliability. That could be something very special indeed.

There is one huge caveat however. What if something does go wrong with an update and people aren't able to use the software anymore? Maybe an outdated graphics card will no longer be supported. Or perhaps some features are removed that you relied on for a particular piece of work. How will it be possible to recover that?

Only time will tell. I applaud Adobe for boldly stepping into the future of software. It's got the potential to be awesome, but it's all on them to make it work.

[makingfilms]

Apple updates Final Cut Pro X

The speed of updates for FCPX is very impressive and suggests that Apple are paying attention to user feedback and are committed to delivering a new approach to video editing.

Plus the new codec support shows they are serious about professional edit environments. 

Real-time compatibility with Sony XDCAM HD422 720p24/p25/p30.

Log and Transfer compatibility with Sony NXCAM SD.

Control-G not closing the correct gap in the Timeline under the playhead. 

Closed captioning data is now preserved when outputting to AJA Io HD with Print to Tape/Video.

Performance issue when importing AVCHD with LPCM audio.

AVCHD thumbnail images in SD are now the correct 4:3 aspect ratio.

XML export now retains the carriage return when working with text and third-party applications.

Several memory fragmentation issues have been resolved.

Localized versions of Final Cut Pro now recognize HDV devices that use the 1080i60/1080i50 FireWire Basic Easy Setups.

Log and Transfer supports ingesting more than one format recorded to the same SD card.

The last big stumbling block for me is how to effectively store and share projects on a remote drive, to be worked on by multiple editors. 

There are ineloquent solutions at the moment, but they feel more like workarounds. But surely this can't be too far away if Apple are actively chasing the pro edit market again?

It feels like FCPX is something new, trying to innovate. Whereas Premiere is refining an established way of working. 

Further reading: http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/whats-new/

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Whilst looking back through some footage I noticed that, despite only using a camera and a tripod, there were a few shots that felt like they had jib or tracking moves in them.

By using a wide angle lens that allows you to focus on close objects, maybe even a macro lens, and putting the camera right up against your subject, a simple pan or tilt can be made to look like a sexy jib move!

[makingfilms]

Stockholm based studio Humans since 1982 will present their kinetic work "A million times"  at Design Days Dubai / Victor Hunt Gallery from 18. - 21. March 2013.

Further reading: http://humanssince1982.com/

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I've been trying out some test grading and title design for a short film that I directed last year.

Needs work.

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Not entirely sure what to make of the Bolex D16. It's a unique blend of modern and retro styling. Looks-wise, I don't think it quite comes off.

This is the finished camera body in the correct materials with the correct surfaces! Still a few cosmetic changes we want to update -- lighter color screws to blend better with the siding -- but you're looking at the first built camera!

Still, it will be extremely interesting to see how this camera performs when it is released. Some of the sample footage posted online has been excellent.

They hype about the Bolex D16 is huge and the team behind it seem to be putting in a huge effort to make this camera awesome. 

Further reading: http://www.digitalbolex.com/100-changes/

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Canon 5D Mk III or Panasonic GH3?

I was asked this question today.

I'd always go with the GH3. It has much higher bitrates for video recording and you can use pretty much any lens you like on the Micro Four Thirds mount.

That means you can take full advantage of great quality, older lenses that don't fit 'modern' cameras. These are a fraction of the price of new lenses. Sure you don't get auto focus or auto iris, but when you're shooting video you don't want those things anyway.

The GH3 has the ability to record onto a cropped 1920x1080 portion of the sensor (rather than downsampling from the full sensor) to give you 2.6X zoom with no loss of quality. This means your prime lenses double up and offer two focal lengths. Very useful when you need to punch in for a quick close-up.

The GH3 has an articulated touch screen, (although everything can be controlled by hardware buttons if you like), you can control the camera over wifi and you can use your iPhone or iPad as a remote monitor. 

Most importantly though, the image on the GH3 is gorgeous. Technical stuff aside the footage looks amazing. Crisp and detailed. Some people don't feel it's a significant leap from its predecessor, the GH2, but I think it's a huge improvement.

The 5D Mk III is full frame. That's it's trump card and the only reason you'd choose it over the GH3. If you want to shoot full frame video, your best bet is the 5D Mk III.

This may well change however. The recently released Metabones Speed Booster adapter has essentially enabled full frame recording on cameras with Sony's lens mounts. It's been getting rave reviews and will be available for Micro Four Thirds cameras (i.e. the GH3) in the next month or so.

The GH3 is currently available for around £1200. The 5D Mk III costs £2000.

So why bother with the 5D Mk III?

Further reading: http://www.metabones.com/buy-speed-booster

[makingfilms]

Getting distracted from learning FCP X by beautiful things like this.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=563556910323351&set=a.563552350323807.135411.563544420324600&type=1

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Oscar nominated short Paperman by Disney has been released online, and it looks pretty stunning.

Paperman‘s seemingly seamless way of blending the personality of hand-drawn animation with CGI in the physical space of the story is the result of new in-house software called Meander, a vector-based drawing program that allows for manipulation of the line after the fact — something that Kahrs described as “just like painting on the surface of the CG.”

For years Disney have been putting out animated shorts that experiment and push the boundaries of the medium. 

A feature length film in this style would be special indeed.

Further reading: http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/01/disney-paperman-online/

[makingfilms]

What are you playing at?

The internet is crowded with blogs. Literally bulging at the seams with information on anything and everything.

So why add one more?

I want a public forum to jot down some ideas, ask some questions, and share some knowledge and cool films.

This is mostly a place for me. But if you find something useful here too, that's even better.