Hocus Pocus Mocha Magic, Part 2

The next generation of tracking is planar tracking, and Mocha Pro 2019 by Boris FX will help new users get started tracking more quickly

Michael Guncheon

Last time, I talked about where we have come from in terms of tracking. More than a history lesson, I wanted to show where some old habits have come from regarding shooting for tracking in post. The next generation of tracking is planar tracking. As you might guess, “planar” comes from “plane”—a flat surface. Instead of the software tracking... Read more

Tracking From The Beginning

What once seemed like magic still is—but easier to do

Michael Guncheon

Just recently, Dan Brockett wrote about automation in edit and motion graphics. He talked about scripts, intelligent software and plug-ins. One piece of software mentioned was Mocha Pro by Boris FX. Mocha Pro is a tracking tool popular among visual effects specialists, motion graphic artists and editors. Boris FX recently released Mocha Pro 2019, so... Read more

Why Log? Part 4

Dealing with log in post

Michael Guncheon

In the past few posts I have covered raw vs. log, why shoot log, and how log works. As an editor, I need to bring this discussion back into post: How to deal with log in the edit. First, you need to determine if log was used. A quick glance at the footage may give you some hints. Log footage usually looks washed out with reduced saturation. But since... Read more

Shooting Video While Roaming The World

When traveling, there are plenty of challenges to face, especially when shooting video. Moving between 60Hz and 50Hz regions, flickering lights can wreak havoc on your shots.

PhotoJoseph

I recently traveled from home (the United States) where we have a 60Hz power system, to India, where they have a 50Hz power system. Artificial lighting in any shot will flicker annoyingly unless you set the shutter speed or shutter angle appropriately. It’s an easy thing to miss when it’s a small light in the corner of a scene, but once... Read more

Why Log? Part 3

How log works

Michael Guncheon

Previously, I provided an illustration showing how people can more easily see changes in light levels in the bright areas of a scene as opposed to the dark areas. We can take advantage of that attribute of human vision by storing that information in a non-linear way: log. Here’s a rudimentary example. Let’s say we store video using a digital file... Read more

VFX, Motion Graphics And Automation

Does a reliance on intelligent software make editors, visual effects and motion graphics artists better or just lazier?

Dan Brockett

As a cinematographer, but also an occasional editor who either hires talented motion graphics artists or, in the cases where there isn’t enough budget to do so, does it himself, it recently occurred to me we’re living in a brave new world of automation. For a variety of reasons, such as I shoot a lot of small crew and even some one-man band... Read more

Evolving Roles

Taking on additional roles can help make you a more competent production person in any position

Dan Brockett

No, not those kinds of rolls. We’re talking job roles. For those of you who have been in the production business for more than a few years, you probably came up through your career primarily focused on one or two disciplines. You found a role that appealed to you, honed your skills, made connections, perhaps obtained some education or even a degree... Read more

Why Log? Part 2

Seeing is believing

Michael Guncheon

The image above may look like a mistake, but it’s not. Instead, it will help me explain what “shooting log” is all about. Last time, I talked about how differently a still photographer and a cinematographer may deal with image capture. The photographer usually tries to capture what he sees, but a cinematographer tries to capture as much image... Read more

The Lens Dilemma

No matter the camera you shoot with, you have never had as many choices in high-quality glass to mount to it

Dan Brockett

2018 has been the Golden Era of lenses for digital cinema, mirrorless and DSLR cameras. High-quality glass used to be something that basically Hollywood used for cinema and television and the rest of us got by with high quality yet different class lenses. For me back in the day, it was a Leica Super 16 zoom lens for my Arri SR2 and B4 mount servo zoom... Read more

Why Log? Part 1

Why not just shoot raw?

Michael Guncheon

In a previous post, I quoted someone who dropped off a drive and said, “We shot log.” The term “log” gets used a lot. For some, it means a lot, and for others, it’s just another term they need to use if they want to be considered a professional. As someone with both still and motion backgrounds, I think it’s interesting how different still... Read more

Metadata Tool To Uncover The Facts?

Editing blind, until now

Michael Guncheon

Last time I mentioned there are times when I don’t know how the footage I’m editing was captured. Specifically, I want to know if there was a particular LUT (Look Up Table) that was used while monitoring on location or one suggested by the Director of Photography (DP) for use in post. Sometimes the edit software automatically pulls up the right... Read more

Editing Blind?

Sometimes you don’t know what you have

Michael Guncheon

It’s surprising how often I don’t know what I’m looking at. Sometimes a hard drive lands on my console and I need to start cutting. My questions about where the content came from often go unanswered or maybe the answer is just an equally unhelpful “we shot log.” I don’t really think it’s laziness. People are just so busy, or have... Read more