Orlando Post Pros Meeting - Tuesday, April 7th

Our next Orlando Post Professionals Meeting:

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Adrenaline Film Productions
6:30pm - Networking
7:00pm - Meeting

Topic: Get more out of Final Cut Studio

Final Cut Studio is more than simply Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro. If you haven't integrated LiveType, Soundtrack Pro, Motion or Color into your Final Cut editing workflow, then you aren't getting all the bang for your buck. Oliver Peters will walk you through Final Cut Studio's round-tripping processes and show you how to use each of these applications to improve your Final Cut Pro projects.

Plenty of door prizes to be raffled off at the end of the meeting. Orlando Post Pro meetings are open and free to all interested in production and post.

For directions to Adrenaline Films, please visit our web site at www.OrlandoEdits.com

Brunch with Panasonic

Bruce Reynolds, Neil Ugo (Panasonic), Brian Bazala and Bobby Fishbough

Bobby, Bruce and Brian sat down for brunch with Bill Edwards (Panasonic North America) and Neil Ugo (Panasonic Osaka Factory) to discuss Panasonic's new AVCCAM professional recording format. Neil is on the team that developed the AVCCAM format and designed the new HMC-150. It was a great opportunity for us to get more detailed information about the technology, as well as to offer input and ideas for future implementation. They are both very enthusiastic about the direction that Panasonic is heading with both the broadcast and event markets and predicted that we will see even more exciting products in the near future as many companies convert to both HD and tapeless recording formats, and as support for the AVCHD/AVCCAM format grows.

Couples say "I Do" for less

Here's an story that recently appeared on CNN. But don't despair!
Even though many clients are looking for ways to cut wedding costs, many businesses see amazing growth during a recession. Now's the time to rethink your business strategy and capitalize on new opportunities.

Why not seize the moment and diversify your services by expanding your offerings? Increase your marketing efforts by expanding your networking, targeting your referral base and engaging in creative brand building. And, if you find your bookings are down because potential clients find you too expensive, create special promotional packages that cater to couples on a budget, rather than slashing prices. That way you'll bring in some extra business without devaluing the premium services you offer.

Here's some ideas:

• Reduced rates for off-peak days
  
• Create simple 1-camera packages, with fewer coverage hours
  
• Offer Raw footage, in-camera edits (that can later be upgraded full edits)
  

And keep this in mind when talking to potential clients -- they only have ONE chance to capture their day on video. And while well shot raw footage can later be edited more artistically, poorly shot video with bad audio will never get better no matter how many filters you put on it!

PVCF Members invited to meet with Panasonic

Wes Carr of Panasonic, who spoke with us in January about the new HMC-150 using the AVCHD format has offered us a unique opportunity to provide input input into the future development of the AVCCAM format.

Next Tuesday, March 24th at 10 AM, Neil Ugo, Panasonic Factory Strategic Planning for AVCCAM Products, from the Osaka factory in Japan, will be in Central Florida. His mission is to get feedback from the marketplace about what people like/don’t like about AVCCAM and what features are important for the various markets. All of this helps shape future products and market approaches.

Panasonic would like our input on this great new format. If you are interested in attending, please express your interest by adding a COMMENT to this post below.  Additionally, you should notify Brian at pvcfadmin@gmail.com and let him know you would like to come no later than Friday. There will be a limited amount of openings for this opportunity, but it would be valuable to have our members who are considering this format in attendance.

• When: Tuesday, March 24th at 10AM
  
• Where: Panera Bread on the corner of 436 and Maitland Ave, just East of Altamonte Mall
  

• 696 E Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, 32701

  (407) 332-7600 | phone Catering Contact: Christine

Canon 5D Wedding Shoot

Shot entirely with the Canon 5D

New PVCF Video Player

PVCF now has a new video player that we will be using to host various video clips including the soon to be released PVCF demo and PVCF related items as well as a variety of work produced by our members. The new player can be found on the CINEMA page at pvcf.org

Featured videos produced by Bobby Fishbough

SFPVA Meeting Video

The South Florida Professional Videoartist Association has posted a video of their meeting online. You can watch the video by clicking here.

February Meeting Minutes

We had an amazing turnout for February's meeting.  We had over 30 attendees with several new faces in the crowd.

We started with some announcements regarding upcoming events in the works, including a possible presence at upcoming bridal shows, as well as our own bridal showcase (more details on this later).  We are also working hard on upcoming presentations including:  Orlando Film Commission, Color Correction workshop, Audio workshop and a special guest who is a superstar in the wedding industry (mums the word until we finalize all the details).

Following the announcements, featured guest Matrox made a very informative presentation about their new editing plug in, the Matrox RT.X2, as well as a new option for Mac users.  Visit their website for more details on these and other products.

Of course, we wrapped up the evening with a very successful raffle.  Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to all who participated.  All profits from the raffle contribute to bringing you great presentations and items that will further your success in the video industry.

Pierre-Martin Dion (Matrox), Grand Prize winner Cornell Young and Erwin Daley of Matrox 

Schuyler Osbourne and Doug Howard, Focal Press Book winners

Jeremy Dean and Bryan Zerfas of Profile East

Matrox featured presenter at February Meeting

Matrox Video Products Group will be the featured presenter at the February PVCF meeting. They will be showcasing the Matrox RT.X2 Realtime Editing Engine for Adobe CS4 Production Premium and I/O Devices for Apple Final Cut Studio. In addition, Profile East of Orlando will also be in attendance to participate in the presentation.

Matrox RT.X2 lets you get the most from Adobe CS4 Production Premium. Experience REAL realtime mixed-format editing. Enjoy end-to-end tapeless workflows with P2HD and XDCAM EX. Spend your time creating, not rendering.
The Matrox MXO and MXO2 input/output devices streamline editing with Final Cut Studio on the Mac. We’ll walk you through the steps of the most popular workflows with Apple Final Cut Studio. You’ll discover the benefits of broadcast-quality input/output, monitoring, and up/down/cross conversion in a small, portable box, then walk away understanding how the Matrox MXO family of products can give you new-found freedom — edit anywhere!
Whichever platform or application you use, you’ll learn how Matrox products will help you quickly create your best work and let you focus on building your business.

There will also be an outstanding raffle at this month's meeting featuring 2 awesome books from Focal Press, Audio Postproduction for Film and Video and The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide. And as if that wasn't enough, the grand prize will be a Matrox RT.X2 LE (a value of $1095), generously donated by the awesome folks at Matrox. Tickets are only $1 at the door.

This is a meeting you won't want to miss!

Orlando Post Pros Meeting February 18th

Get the new year off to a great start with your fellow post-production pros!

 

Join your friends and colleagues for a social night of networking beginning at 6:30pm 

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at Red Star Tavern at the Fashion Square Mall, Orlando.

 

Hang out and have a beer with us!

 

Red Star Tavern

3461 E. Colonial Drive #F13

Orlando, FL 32803

407-895-2755

VISIT the ORLANDO POST PROS WEBSITE at www.orlandoedits.com 

A Valentine for Videographers

We wanted to share with you an excerpt from a love letter of sorts, written by videographer Laura Moses of Vantage Point Productions in San Dimas, CA. You can link to the complete article at EventDV.com.

The lack of a perfect wedding never stops us from pursuing the creation of a perfect film. Neurotically, we obsess over thrilling our clients. Our goal: to prove—once and for all—that a wedding film is priceless.

As unsung specialists in extreme guerilla filmmaking where each successful production can be compared to a minor miracle, we’re lucky to receive a fraction of the respect and earnings most photographers command. The mainstream has yet to get the memo that this vocation requires us to be expert cinematographers, documentarians, and storytellers, as well as gaffers and audio acquisition and engineering virtuosos.

Though sensitive to a fault, we’re tougher than nails. We have to be. We deliver—despite rain, sleet, snow, or suffocating sauna heat—and we do it while starving. Circumstances rarely allow us the time to eat our stale little “banquet-in-a-box.” Sometimes we’re lucky enough to be provided with an actual vendor’s buffet. But if the band gets there first—which it always does—we go back to work, starving.

Moreover, we work without the luxury of a script, our cast usually shows up late, and our shooting locations can change due to a drop of rain—or the drop of a hat. Under similar conditions, most cinematographers in the motion picture industry would never be able to accomplish what we pull off every weekend. Still, the public and more than a few relatives think our job is easy because we spend it at a party.

We work with music, hearts, and dreams. We’re the keepers of the flame for future generations. After we’re gone there will be pieces of us—little bits of our hearts—scattered across the globe, telling stories about love.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY from PVCF!

January Meeting Minutes and Notes

Bobby Fishbough opened the meeting up with comments regarding Matrox being February’s guest vendor and Canon being the one for March.

A new board position of “Promotions Director” was brought to the floor, voted for and approved. Brian will take on these duties (he’s actually been performing these duties unofficially, and we thank him so much for doing sign-in and a fun raffle where cool prizes were given out at the meeting.)

Our featured vendor guest was Wes Carr of Panasonic. He showed a power point presentation on AVC CAM (AVC HD) format which is delivered in the H264/MPEG4-AVC container. It was a great overview of the tapeless workflow that Panasonic has developed. Then he showed us 2 cameras, the AG-HMC70 ($2495), and the AG-HMC 150 ($3995.) We viewed footage on an HD monitor and it looked great.

Brian spoke briefly about two events which the PVCF Board is developing for this year: 1) A bridal show hosted by PVCF, exclusively featuring video and held at a local venue. And, 2) A trade show where local and national vendors could come in and pitch their products to members as well as other interested videographers. The Board needs a few volunteers to help plan and organize each event. Please contact Brian or Bobby if interested.

Bobby spoke briefly about DG FastChannel; a video commercial server service which allows content providers (you and me) to upload commerical spots which the nation’s broadcasters can find and download.

Finally, Mike Konstan, president of the local editors group Orlando Post Pros invited us to meet with or attend their informal monthly meetings. Please find more info on their website at www.OrlandoEdits.com.

Minutes provided by: John Perez, PVCF Secretary