Keying In After Effects

Posted on March 3, 2011 by traviswhitty

I recently stumbled across a great 8-minute tutorial in Adobe After Effects for keying green/blue screen footage:

http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/video_workshop/?id=vid0229

I would also like to encourage all students interested in post-production work to try a subscription to Lynda.com at some point in the future. There are a great many things to learn from your professor in the classroom, but the tutorials offered for a mere $35 a month subscription at Lynda.com could help further your skill set and keep you exercised in your editing abilities over long breaks.

http://www.lynda.com

Enjoy!

Video By Way Of Photo: HDSLRs

Posted on February 14, 2011 by traviswhitty

Canon Rebel T2i

By now you’ve probably seen or heard a bit of fuss about the marriage between the video shoot and the DSLR camera. Some production studios are trading in their video cameras for HDSLRs, which typically function best for static imagery. In the past two or three years, however, the video technology integrated into these still cameras has begun to rival many high definition video cameras in image quality and physical flexibility. (One of the more recent episodes of FOX’s House was shot entirely on the Canon 5D Mark-II HDSLR!)

Like the birth of any new format, the quality and output remain a point of debate. Although the image quality may prove fierce competition, there are still specific hindrances if using a DSLR for your video shoot… and as you’ll see, the transition from your old video camera to a DSLR may depend on what you’re trying to achieve.

B & H Photo/Video created a wonderful online introduction guide to the video-capable HDSLR, tackling everything from green screen shoots to microphone considerations:

http://hdslr.bhphoto.com/Home.php?cm_sp=HDSLR-_-HDSLR%60Guide-_-HDSLR%60Go2Guide

Enjoy!

Time-Based Media Mixer: Friday, December 2nd

Posted on November 23, 2010 by traviswhitty

Professor Jamal Currie and I would like to invite all TBM students, faculty, staff and alumni to a special get-together on Friday, December 2nd. We will use the second floor animation hub and screening room (235B) from 3pm-6pm as a platform to showcase and discuss things such as:

-Equipment in the checkout: Items you might not know we have/special items and their potential for your next project.

-DLSR video shoots: Digital still cameras are becoming a more prevalent tool for video production. Learn why here.

-16mm film: Our newest section in the department with the oldest methods of kinetic technology.

-Motion graphics: The design side of animation.

-Video compression: Vimeo vs. Youtube/HDV vs. DV/imports, exports, codecs, bitrates, and other video data language.

-Much more!

We will also be showing the Criterion film “House” , a Japanese psychedelic comedy/horror in the vein of Evil Dead, in 235B, as a basis for criticism and discussion on narrative, old methods for special effects, and its relevance to cinema today. View the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_Yo06kIIA

Invite your TBM professors and fellow graduates to attend!

If you have any more questions regarding this event, please feel free to talk to Jamal or me at any time. We look forward to spending the afternoon with all of you!

MIAD Green/Blue Screen Room: Overview & Tips

Posted on June 23, 2010 by traviswhitty

Many students may be unaware that the MIAD academic building houses a wonderfully crafted green and blue screen studio on the 3rd floor (380A, to be exact). While the room has been utilized on a somewhat frequent basis over the past year and a half since its completion, we hope to see more of the MIAD community use the space to create and complete their own composite-based projects…

At the moment, 380A is only available to those students in TBM-related courses who are also on the access list located at the security desk. The list is updated every semester by the TBM Tech on a per-course/professor-requested basis. Those who are not on the list each semester but would like to use the room are encouraged to contact the TBM Tech with a typed proposal via e-mail to: “tbmtech@miad.edu” with the course instructor’s e-mail address CC’d so they are also aware of the proposal and can verify the project with a return e-mail to the TBM Tech. Read the proposal requirements along with some great green screen tips on the next page!

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Online Source for Tripod Mounting Plate Info

Posted on December 7, 2009 by

From time to time I run into equipment returned with a Tripod Quick Release Mounting Plate still attached that doesn’t belong to our Smith Victor tripods. Sometimes I’ll come across a strange, legacy tripod without a mounting plate.

I usually just hold on to both and hope they would start matching up. For the most part, they haven’t, but now I found an online resource that can help me identify what belongs Where, and on What. After the jump. Continue reading →

Advanced Math and Physics Programming Improving CG Modeling

Posted on November 25, 2009 by

Here’s an interesting interview with a Visual Effects Director who worked with programmers to develop software that realistically models automobile movement. This software was used in the new film, 2012.

Driving Auto-Realism over Rough Terrain for 2012 | Studio Daily.

Extended or Advanced TBM Equipment Checkout Policy

Posted on September 30, 2009 by

The MIAD TBM Checkout System uses a tiered structure to determine access to TBM Equipment. Users belong to different “Access Classes”. The Access Classes you belong to determine which Equipment you can checkout.

From time to time, a student will want to use Equipment currently outside of their access range. This post will explain how to properly request such a checkout.

Continue reading →

Sesame Street Goes CG?!

Posted on September 30, 2009 by

From Studio Daily Direct we have the story behind the Producers of Sesame Street creating a new series of Shorts featuring currently existing and new muppet characters… made in CG!

Seasame Street goes CG! From studiodaily.com

Abby Cadabby and a cast of new characters make the move to CG! From studiodaily.com

Continue reading →

“Expired Film” videos on Vimeo

Posted on September 28, 2009 by

Remember shooting with film?

Odds are, you don’t.

I’ve shot a good deal of 35mm film-based still photography, but I have never recorded motion with film. However, MIAD Instructor Jamal Currie has worked extensively with film, especially during Graduate School.

Jamal probably remembers one of the more challenging aspects of working with film; it is an “unstable” medium. And when working with it, you have to jump through a few hoops to keep it “happy”.

Continue reading →

Job Listings in TimeBased Media

Posted on September 28, 2009 by

After the jump you’ll find links to a few of the leading online job boards in the areas of film production, animation and visual effects.

These listings can be utilized by TBM Alumni to scout potential hires, but should also be reviewed regularly by active students in the TBM majors. Reading the listings will provide students with specific examples of what the industry is seeking and which fields currently show the greatest demand. Enjoy!

Continue reading →