This is more of a family video but I just had to share my daughter, Katie (5 months now) enjoying a balloon left over from the holiday.

No punch line here, just too sweet for words. These are the moments...

We have a great new tutorial in the hopper for this week but the rain kept us from filming for today. Tomorrow looks better so hopefully I'll have time to get the shots we need. We want Tutorial number 60 to be a good one, as I'm sure you do :)

Here is a shot of me shooting Sam before he shoots me.

To answer a few questions about what video gear we use...

As I said we are using a JVC-HD200 with a Brevis Adapter and Reckrock hardwars and follow focus. Between the Video Copilot team, we have the 2 adapters but the Brevis is about 1 stop brighter and we planned on a shooting a dark alley so we needed the extra stop.

The JVC shoots HDV on tape and we capture with Premiere using a special HD codec. After Effects just isn't great when working with native HDV even though premiere handles it pretty well.

The Brevis has a reversed image which is a problem for some camera but the JVC HD200 and HD 250 both have the flip function built-in to the camera, which automatically inverses the picture before recording the tape. There are also a lot of DOF adapters that flip the image internally as well.

I'd like to get one of those fancy recorders that record to disc uncompressed from HD component output but they're a little expensive at the moment. Here is a new product that may show up at NAB and hopefully bring the prices down:
Convergent Design

Camera Lenses:

We have a few lenses but here are some of my favorites. A 100m Canon PL @ F2, a 50mm Canon PL @ F1.5 and the glorious 20mm PL @ 2.8. Now these aren't at fancy as those Cooke lenses or some of those other nice ones but I got a great deal on these and they are pretty sweet.

We are using a Marshal external HD video monitor which is essential to seeing things in focus with these DOF adapters. The tripod is a Miller Arrow 25, a little expensive but definitely smooth as butter and great head adjustments. I really like the Bogen/Manfrotto tripods as well.

This is not the perfect workflow or setup, but I'm not sure there are any 'perfect' ones at the moment. HDV could be better quality and hard drive recorders could have better input options. There are many great cameras out there, some are more affordable then others each with different contrasting features. Just DON'T think you need everything at once buy and learn as you go. Concentrate on a GOOD setup and focus on a GREAT story or concept. We all love gear and specifications but don't get too hung up, or you'll never get anything done.

We'll spend more time explaining other production details on the Advanced Training DVD with the additional on-set video.

Before you watch this, here is what you need to know:

We were in downtown Riverside and needed a rugged place to shoot our sequence. We were kicked out of a parking garage but then we found this cool alley area. Now it was somewhat open to the public and we were a little nervous about pulling a gun out with so many cars passing. Nobody wants to get arrested by the police... So Sam put it in his coat as we were finally ready to shoot.

Now the gag was for him to shoot the lid of a large dumpster and the lid would close shut. Simple enough right? We lifted the lid up and while waiting to shoot the scene some wind came and knocked it down:

Now watch the video

SPOILER :::: BE SURE TO WATCH VIDEO FIRST!

Perhaps you had to be there to appreciate how funny this is. What is more hilarious is that everyone was startled by the sound but only Sam's face is on camera being spooked! Obviously this is the take I used because there was so much excitement going through his veins.

We filmed with a JVC HD-200 with one of those fancy DOF converter and a 50mm lens.

Just thought I would let you know that this month we have been working on a new advanced training DVD. We want to focus on large scale visual effects that can not be demonstrated in a short 20-30 minute tutorial. Should be a lot of fun. We are still figuring out the ideas, but here is a quick sneak preview of the content from the first DVD in the new series. It takes place in front of Sam's new residence :)

Watch Video:

High Definition

Still Images:
First
Second

In Other News:
Twitch is almost ready to be released we are finalizing the features and extra content. The Video Copilot Series One Tutorial DVD is also now completed but we want to release it with Twitch. I should have another new tutorial online this week as well. I'll also blog about it some more ground-breaking techniques used for the video above. (No 3D motion tracking required!)

Shameless Plug:
Remember this website is made possible by our dedicated customers who buy our great DVDs so be sure to check them out today!

PS, this clip was inspired by the trailer for the film Wanted.