Vincent LaForet recently announced an exiting video contest where he is collaborating with Canon and Vimeo. I watched the initial video the Vincent put together and it is fantastic! Plus, he’s got a LOT of the folks that have interviewed on LensFlare35 involved as judges! Judges for the contest include: Philip Bloom - Director/DP, Russell Carpenter - DP – “Titanic”, Rodney Charters – Director/DP – “24”, Nick Childs – Director/Producer /VP Grey Advertising, Shane Hurlbut – DP – “Terminator Salvation”, Stu Maschwitz – Senior Visual FX Supervisor – “The Spirit”, Rick McCallum – Producer – “Star Wars”, Blake Whitman – Director/Editor – Mr. Vimeo himself.
Here is an excerpt from Vincent:
“Introducing the first user-generated HD Video Contest where photographers become filmmakers, and we all see beyond the still. To kick off the contest, Canon asked me to interpret what story I saw beyond the still, and to tell that story with the new Canon EOS 7D. My short film will be the first chapter of seven, each ending with a still photograph for the next aspiring filmmaker to interpret. Posing the question to everyone, what do you see beyond the still?”
“Watch my short film (below) and the contest will begin January 15th. I look forward to seeing what everyone creates! More info coming soon!”
This video was Directed, Shot and Edited by Blake Whitman. Additional cameras by Brian King and Sean O’Brien.
So watch the video below and get involved in the project. If you do, let us know and we may publish what you put together right here!
Well, film maker Philip Bloom seems to have done it again. He starts out by telling you how he missed an email from Rick McCallum, producer of the Star Wars prequels and many other films and TV shows at Lucasfilm. In his blog post, he details what it was like to be invited out to Skywalker Ranch in California. Seems like the Lucasfilm folks wanted to know more about the capability of the video DSLR’s, and in particular the Canon 5D and 7D. So, Philip was excited and jumped on a plane to head out there. But what he does next, is the amazing part of the story.
He gets to the ranch and starts shooting. In his mind he has a plan of how he is going to shoot several different kinds of footage, in different lighting and weather conditions to show the power of these cameras. I don’t know if he storyboarded the whole film ahead of time, or just shot tons of footage and then figured it all out when he got back to his room. This film has all kinds of cool things going on, from the use of focus, a glidetrack, time lapse photography, etc. Philip gets it all downloaded to his computer, converts it to 24P (the 5D Mark II footage - 7D footage shot in native 24P), then puts the production together and has it shown on a 40′ screen with George Lucas, Quentin Tarantino and others in the audience. All this in 24 hours! They were blown away with the final product and so am I.
I don’t believe that I’ve seen a better example to date of what these video DSLR’s can do. On top of that, I’m amazed that one person can have the vision, shooting experience, editing ability AND the capability to put together a final product to music that synced as beautifully as Philip did. This is another reason why he’s becoming the defacto expert on these cameras. Each time he makes a film with them, he breaks new ground.
Watch the video, visit his blog, buy his DVD’s if you haven’t figured this stuff out yet, or follow him on Vimeo or F-Stop Academy. If you have an interest in using the video capability of your camera, he’s the one to watch.
This is a Quick Hit Podcast short. Today we’re going to talk to Josh Gooden, an 18-year-old filmmaker. Josh has filmed, directed and edited short films, commercials, music videos, weddings and more from London to Virginia. In 2007 he won an international award from The Technology Student Association for his short film, “Life,” and in 2008, made an award winning PSA about alcohol awareness. His recent work includes films for Panera Bread, Where To Get Engaged Inc, Charles Green, Christopher William Jewelers, Crosskeys Vineyards, Bravo Italian Restaurant, Rocky’s Gold and Silver, Throne Magazine, and the Pure Water Forum.
To listen to the full podcast interview, click on the player’s forward arrow below. You can also play the Podcast in a popup window, download it OR subscribe to it via iTunes.
OK, so I wasn’t able to find ONE place that told me just what I’d have to have in order to shoot video with these new DSLR’s. How about just a simple list, with the gear, where to get it and the price! How about some kind of order to what you should get first (my opinion, so you MAY not agree) and what about software? What the heck do you need? I figured this would be a good thing to do in case anyone (or my wife) was looking to buy something for me for Christmas. Well, here’s my list:
Z-Finder from Zacuto - just a MUST have to see the back of the screen better and to help focus. It also helps stabilize the camera for video - $395.00
Manfroto BHDV 561 Monopod with a fluid head - this works great for stills too, but you can sure get some more stable video for not so much money - $274.95 OR
Miller 1643 Tripod with DS20 Fluid Head - this is one of those EXPENSIVE video tripods that they say you MUST have because a stills tripod will just not work - $1,324.95
Rode Videomic - camera mounted shotgun mic - $149.00 OR
Zoom H4N Handy Mobile 4-Track Recorder - this would go on top of your DSLR to record a separate audio track - $299.00
HOWEVER, you need to mount this to your camera, so you also need the next item if you get the Zoom
Zound Hotshoe from Zacuto - this mounts to the top of your camera hot shoe and allows you to then attach the Zoom H4N - $183.00
Of course, if you then have the Zoom H4N AND the Zound Hotshoe, you need lavaliere mics to hook people up
Sony UWP-V1 Wireless Lavaliere ENG Microphone Package - $525.00 - but then, if you mic TWO people double this! AND - if you have a separate audio track, then you MUST be able to sync the audio and video up
Zacuto DSLR Rapid Fire - $551 - this is for run & gun filming, but it will help stabilize the camera as well
Vari Neutral Density Filters - $390.00 - to control the amount of light coming in and still let you keep the depth of field that you want (make sure you get the correct size for the lenses you are going to use them on)
Canon TC80N3 for Time Lapse Film making - $136.95 - if you want to put together a series of still images, taken over a period of time, this is the device to do it.
Final Cut Studio 3 (for Mac) - $819.00 - you’ve got to have software to edit this stuff - iMovie can work, but this is the pro deal
Sony Vegas Pro 9 (for PC’s) - $499.95 - I’ve tested the 30 day demo a bit - a LOT to learn, but once again, you need SOMETHING to edit the video with!
F-Stop Academy Training DVD’s for the 5D and 7D - $135 or $120 depending on which one you get!
OK, so I could keep going because there are MORE things on my list (or they should be on yours if you are serious about becoming a film maker), but it’s really starting to get up in price. Matte boxes, follow focus devices, monitors that connect into the HDMI port, it can go on and on. So, for me (I have PC’s AND I already have a Z-Finder) I’ll want these minimum things: Manfroto BHDV 561 Monopod, Rode Videomic, Vari ND Filters, Canon TC80N3 for Time Lapse AND I need the license for the Sony Vegas Pro 9 software.
Well, what’s all of this come to? $1,460.85 - what are the odds?
The Converstation
Honey, you don’t understand all the things I’ll be able to do with my 5D Mark II and this additional gear…honey?
(insert long pause)
Honey, can I get a clapper board for Christmas? ($37.99)
(insert LONG moment of silence)
Of course you can dear, just make sure you play with it outside.
Final Notes
And, in the interest of full disclosure - OF COURSE I’ll make some money if you buy from the links above! How do you think I’m going to buy the rest of the gear I want?
Merry Christmas everyone… Hope you get everything on YOUR list.
This is a Quick Hit Podcast short and we’re going to talk to Tom Guilmette. Tom works in the television and film arena. A major turning point in his television life occurred when Sony released an inexpensive High Definition camera that used the newly developed HDV format. For the first time, Tom was able to shoot in 1080i and edit video at full 1440 × 1080 resolution.
Tom says: This is my first film shot with the Canon 5DmkII digital SLR. This camera is simply amazing and it is really changing the “film-look for video” game.
The idea for this film came to me a few days ago. I wanted to shoot in an old, abandoned house with no electricity. My goal was to light the entire film with available light and light from a single oil lamp. The low light capability of this camera is unlike anything I have ever used before. This camera is amazing when shooting with the light from a single flame.
I called my friend, Adam, and asked him if he would meet me at on old vacant farm house in Attleboro, Massachusetts so that we could shoot a film. We brought a few props, like the old tin, oil lamp and photograph for the film and shot non-stop from 11am to 5pm. We started outside in the rain and then moved into the dank dirt-floor basement. Later in the afternoon, we shot upstairs in the decaying house.
All sound was recorded separately with the Zoom h4 stereo recorder with the built in microphones. I used Vinten tripods, and especially loved my new Vinten baby legs when shooting with the Vision 3 (spring#1) to get the low angles.
I edited this project with very little grading to the final film with Final Cut Pro and Magic Bullet Looks. If you have any questions about the Canon 5DmkII or the making of this film, please visit my website and post your comments there. Link: tomguilmette.com
I have also posted the untreated rough cut of the 1960 farm house flashback. This rough cut includes reference audio directly from the 5Dmk2 microphone. I figured this might be helpful to those who want to hear how the built in mic sounds. Link: vimeo.com/5302278
Special Thanks to:
Matt Johnson
Chris Nicini
Joe Francazio
Equipment, Software and sites mentioned in this podcast: Zacuto hardware, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 1D Mark IV, Glidecam 4000, Zoom H4n Audio Recorder, Sony EX1, Letus35 Ultimate Adapter.
To listen to the full podcast interview, click on the player’s forward arrow below. You can also play the Podcast in a popup window, download it OR subscribe to it via iTunes.
Gorgeous detailed effects look organic and natural. Over 1000 presets that adapt to image size make Eye Candy easy to use. Professional features support production environments, such as CMYK color mode, 16-bit/channel images, and acceleration for multi-core computers.
Raleigh, North Carolina – December 1, 2025 – Alien Skin Software today announces the immediate availability [...]
This is a Quick Hit Podcast short and we’re going to talk to Kevin Shahinian. Kevin is an award-winning filmmaker, graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts and founder of Pacific Pictures, a boutique film production company based in Los Angeles, CA that produces live event, corporate and original concept productions for clients around [...]
LensFlareLive - 01/19/10 2:00 p.m. EST - Social Media, New Media and Marketing with Jack Hollingsworth, Rosh Sillars and Lindsay Adler. We'll have live chat, live Twitter, and YOU can call in and talk to the panel by calling 646-721-9811 during the show!
LensFlareLive - 01/26/10 2:00 p.m. EST - HD DSLR’s, Fusion, Convergence, Video & Film with Zacuto's Steve Weiss, Philip Bloom and one surprise guest. We'll have live chat, live Twitter, and YOU can call in and talk to the panel by calling 646-721-9811 during the show!
Also coming up: Noel Carboni, Syl Arena, Lindsay Adler, David Carlson, Michael Yon, Charlie Borland, Vincent Laforet and Martin Bailey.
Whose name would you like to see here and what would you ask them?
RT @zacuto: RT @lj_director DP's of the round table, film vs. digital, very fun episode to watch. FilmFellas http://bit.ly/6zzvrYabout 9 hours agofrom TweetDeck
Just finished a great interview with Noel Carboni, who has some cool astro-photography tools for Photoshop. Interview up Friday.about 11 hours agofrom web
What questions do you have for the social media 'dream team' & their first live show 01/19 2:00 p.m EST? http://bit.ly/6llzGT #LF35-socialabout 17 hours agofrom TweetDeck
Don't forget to check out the @vincentlaforet and Canon film making contest. Pretty cool! http://bit.ly/89MV8babout 20 hours agofrom bit.ly
@markbmp A broadcast host box intercepts the landline calls, Alesis Mixer, Sure Microphone and SoundForge, then Audacity to mix.about 20 hours agofrom TweetDeckin reply to markbmp
@RomanMF No problem Roman! Glad to have you onboard...about 20 hours agofrom TweetDeckin reply to RomanMF
RT @zacuto: Zacuto's January FanFare: giving back 2 our fans! FilmFellas + [ critics ] + Zacuto Z-hats. Details here ~ http://bit.ly/4H12Wf06:13:54 PM January 12, 2026from TweetDeck
@PhilipBloom Thank you Philip! Going to do a film from the top of the world's tallest building? :-)06:05:13 PM January 12, 2026from TweetDeckin reply to PhilipBloom
@Lensflared They make the big ones for sure! I have a 4x5 ArcaSwiss just sitting in the closet - sad...it's lonely!05:17:03 PM January 12, 2026from TweetDeckin reply to Lensflared
RT @CoreyLuke: So for 2010 can we drop the "D" from DSLR and just call them what they are?05:08:04 PM January 12, 2026from TweetDeck
