News
Barry Ackroyd, BSC – Angenieux Tribute at Cannes
May 26, 2023. Interview with Barry Ackroyd, BSC. He will be honored with the Pierre Angénieux Tribute this evening at the Cannes Film Festival. Above: Barry Ackroyd, BSC handheld with Aaton Penelope on Captain Phillips. Right handgrip is a gear shift from a car. Barry said, “The single handle leaves the left hand free to steady the camera but more importantly free to zoom.” Olly Driscoll, Focus Puller, at right. Photo © Jonathan Olley. read more…
Claudio Miranda, ASC on DJI Inspire 3
The new DJI Inspire 3 can work like a hovering dolly with repeatable waypoints and 1 cm accuracy.
That’s Claudio Miranda, ASC out of focus on the cover. He shot a 2 1/2 minute launch film for the new Inspire 3. It is a spirited sand-and-sandals epic chase through an ancient Roman marketplace.
EXT. Imperium Romanum Market – DAY.
Wide crane shot moves into CU of a pickpocket snatching the purse from a vintage vegetable vendor. Wait, wait—this cannot be a crane shot because the camera keeps moving along a narrow alleyway. Centurions pursue pickpocket, jumping over carts, skirting columns and obstacles, under beams, through a torch-lit interior, culminating in a fun anachronism of an ending as the camera soars from extremely close to very, very wide. read more…
FDTimes at NAB 2023
Film and Digital Times is back at NAB 2023.
We’re in Central Hall, booth C5151.
Get your free Exhibit Pass by using our FREE code LV39733 when registering:
https://invt.io/1exbtt34vio
Exhibit Hall Hours:
Sunday, April 16 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, April 17 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. read more…
Naomi Kawase, Director of TOKYO 2020
Here’s an interview with the Official “Tokyo 2020″ Olympic Film director, Naomi Kawase. The film was produced in two parts: one showing the Games from the point of view of the athletes (Side A), and the other of the staff and volunteers (Side B). Side A premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2022.
Naomi Kawase was the youngest filmmaker to win the Caméra d’Or award for best debut director at the Festival de Cannes with her first feature, “Suzaku,” released in 1997. She is the first Japanese woman to be appointed a UNESCO goodwill ambassador in recognition of her film work, which focuses on the stories of women across generations.
“Tokyo 2020” was produced by the Kinoshita Group and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Yas Mitsuwa of NAC, Inc. arranged this interview and did simultaneous translation during our video conference. read more…
Cooke Varotal Zoom Lens History
Cooke introduced new Varotal/i FF Full Frame zoom lenses in 2021 and 2022: 30-95 mm T2.9, 85-215 mm T2.9, and 19-40 mm T2.9. Here’s a brief history of earlier Cooke Varotal Zooms from Arthur Warmisham’s first commercially manufactured variable focal (zoom) lens for cinematography (Cooke Varo 40-120mm cine lens for 35mm format), assembled and sold by Bell & Howell. In 1971, Cooke introduced their Varotal 20-100mm, f2.8 / T3.1 Zoom. read more…
Mike Prickett, 100 Foot Wave, 50-1000 Zooms
Michael Prickett, DP on the HBO documentary series “100 Foot Wave”, won a 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography. The 6-part series centers on big wave surfer Garrett McNamara and giant waves at Nazaré, Portugal. Equipment included Canon EOS C500 MkII, RED MONSTRO 8K, V-RAPTOR, Phantom 4K Flex and Canon Cine-Servo 50-1000mm zooms, among other things. read more…
Fujifilm X-H2S with Frame.io
Fujifilm announced new firmware for their X-H2S digital camera with Fujifilm FT-XH file transmitter battery grip “that will provide the world’s first native Camera- to-Cloud (C2C) integration capability for digital still cameras,” in partnership with Frame.io. The firmware, expected in spring 2023, will enable users to send still or video files directly from the camera to Frame.io cloud servers. read more…
Tags: C2C, frame.io, Fujifilm FT-XH, Fujifilm X-H2S, Zoom Lens
Michael Cioni on Frame.io C2C and Partners
Michael Cioni was like an orchestra conductor in a candy store at Cine Gear LA this past June. With BSC Expo coming up, I expect to see cameras, audio recorders and post production apps festooned again with Adobe Frame.io Camera to Cloud and Adobe’s Creative Cloud services.
Michael Cioni called with interesting comments a few months ago. Ask Michael one question and that will elicit a wordflow —WORDFLOW! — that requires no additional prompting.
He began, “What’s fun is that this has actually been a long time coming. Even though we’ve had great success with Camera to Cloud thus far, adding the RED V-RAPTOR and the Fujifilm X-H2S took quite some time. There’s an old phrase that I love: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.” read more…
Suggested SIGMA fp L Settings
SIGMA fp L and fp are amazing DP/Director’s Finders.
Paired with the HENRI finder system from Leitz, you get a beautiful birchbark handle, L to LPL mount (optional LPL to PL adapter), carbon fiber rods, a lens support, Arca Swiss baseplate, and start/stop switch.
Here are some suggested SIGMA fp L Settings: read more…
CVP at BSC Expo 2023
2/24/23 – 2/25/23
CVP at BSC Expo 2023: CVP will be back on the mezzanine area of BSC Expo 2023 on February 24-25.
CVP will be back on the mezzanine area of BSC Expo 2023 on February 24-25. The latest cameras, lenses, accessories and production equipment will be on display, curated by CVP’s technical consultants, product specialists and engineers.
A Virtual Production stage will demonstrate a range of applications, budgets and specifications.
The ever-popular, non-alcoholic Lens Bar is back with a more extensive collection of new and vintage glass for evaluation and comparison for combinations of lenses and filters on a variety of cameras.
I assume there will be a real, high-octane Bar opposite the Lens Bar. read more…
Tags: CVP at BSC Expo 2023
Mandy Walker, AM, ASC, ACS at ARRI Rental NY
1/31/23
Mandy Walker, AM, ASC, ACS at ARRI Rental NYC: Mandy Walker will discuss her work. Q&A. Refreshments
Mandy Walker, AM, ASC, ACS will discuss her work at an ARRI Close-Up event in New York on Tuesday, Jan 31 at ARRI Rental from 6:30 – 9:30 pm.
Ms. Walker has been nominated for an Oscar in Best Cinematography 2023 for her work on ELVIS. (AM, by the way, is Member of the Order of Australia, for service in a particular field of activity.)
There will be time for Q&A and refreshments. read more…
Tags: ACS at ARRI Rental NY, AM, ARRI Rental NY, ASC, ELVIS, Mandy Walker
FDTimes January 2023 Issue Updated
There’s a new page 33. Dan Sasaki, Senior Vice President of Optical Engineering and Lens Strategy at Panavision goes into detail about lenses used by Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Typos and errors were corrected, with thanks to readers and reps. And yes, the sun is 93 million miles away, not 239 thousand. read more…
ZEISS Cine Service Center in Korea
If you have been binging on beautifully photographed Korean movies and series lately, you may have been guessing which lenses were at work. To support one of the most vibrant film industries in the world, ZEISS and Saeki P&C announced the opening of a new ZEISS Authorized Cine Service Center in Seoul, Korea.
This is the fourth facility in the world equipped with genuine ZEISS measurement instruments and test equipment. Lenses brought to the Service Center will undergo the same level of care as if they were at the ZEISS Headquarters’ service department.
Band Pro Open House 2022
Thursday December 8, 2022. On a crisp afternoon and evening in Burbank, more than 500 industry colleagues gathered inside a large tent for the annual Band Pro Expo and Open House. Amnon Band honored Otto Nemenz for his years of friendship and service to the industry. There was an A to Z list of exhibitors. The band played Stevie Nicks… read more…
Tags: Band Pro Open House 2022
FDTimes 117 November 2022 Latest Edition
Late, Later, Latest Edition. Here is the proofed, debugged, no-longer beta release of Film and Digital Times November 2022 Issue 117.
Cooke Varotal/i FF 19-40, 30-95, 80-215 Details
Cooke is back with more zoom lenses.
Two new Cooke Varotal/i FF Full Frame zoom lenses were introduced in November 2021 and released earlier this year: 30-95 mm T2.9 and 85-215 mm T2.9. And now, the duo becomes a trio. Please welcome the Cooke Varotal/i FF 19-40 mm T2.9. read more…
Cooke Varotal/i FF in Industry City Video
Took a Look at Cooke Varotal/i FF Zooms
FDTimes looked at Cooke Varotal/i FF Zooms on VENICE 2 at Industry City, in Brooklyn, NY. You can see the 4K video on YouTube at: youtu.be/zF-5mThr0j0
and on Vimeo: vimeo.com/766754992 read more…
“Top Gun: Maverick,” Miranda, Lenses, Cameras
The camera and lens list on TOP GUN: MAVERICK is long. As Admiral Cain, played by Ed Harris, asked, “Why is that?”
Claudio Miranda, ASC replied, “It’s one of life’s mysteries.” Seriously, Joe Kosinski, our Director, wanted to shoot Full Frame. SIGMA covered the wide end, and the Master Primes covered the long end. We were using the SIGMAs from 14mm to 50mm. The Master Primes in those focal lengths don’t cover Full Frame. But the 50, 75, 100 and 150mm Master Primes do cover Full Frame. In terms of sharpness and resolution, they’re pretty close. In grading, even if things are just a little bit off, you can kind of blend them all in.
September FDTimes Supply Chain
I thought supply chain delays involved semiconductors and electronics. Who expected paper to also be in short supply. So, the latest September edition of FDTimes hopefully ships next week. If you were at IBC, you may have picked up a copy of the EU edition printed in Amsterdam.
Please download the online PDF edition while waiting for printed copies. Sorry for the delay. read more…
How Hugo Looks – Wide Open, No Excuses
Sept 5 – 8, 2022. The nice folks at Leitz invited a coterie of cinematographers and camera assistants to visit Wetzlar for eyes-on time with Hugo, Elsie and Henri, along with factory tours, fine food and flowing refreshments.
Hugo is the new Leitz series of Leica Format (Full Frame) cine prime lenses: 21, 24, 28, 35, 50, 75, 90 mm — all T1.5. There is an additional 50mm T1.0 lens and an 18mm and 135 are in the works.
Leica optical designer Peter Karbe was there. “Shoot wide open, no excuses,” he said. And so I did, all wide open “with a wrench” at T1.5. To see how Hugo looks, here are some ungraded 4K portraits taken with the 90mm and 75mm Hugo primes. read more…
