Video News

Well… we SORT OF went to the Oscars… we actually were honored with an invite by the IDA (International Documentary Association) to cover the pre-show reception for the Documentary awards.

This reception was to give attention and honor to the producers and directors of this year’s Academy Awards documentary nominations.

Meeting and “talking shop” with the producers of these movies was a blast. We shared common stories of the gear I was using and the gear they used, and they told me about their trials and tribulations of shooting their movies. (You can see our feature Special Report in this week’s Videomaker Presents, episode 55, or to see  extended version interviews, go to www.livevideo.com/videomaker.)

It was cool to hear about the drive and passion these docu-makers have for the subject they chose to showcase and the long tedious process they had to maneuver to get that story told. One thing that they all agreed on was the fact that documentarians are beginning to really get attention from the press and the public, due in part to some documentary box office draws like Davis Guggenheim’s “An Inconvenient Truth”, and earlier “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “March of the Penguins”. And it didn’t hurt to have all the press attention due to a former Vice President as the subject of the movie that won!
Another thing that all of the documentarians we spoke with praised was the affordability and availability of good-quality reasonably-priced video equipment. James Longley, who spent more than a year in Iraq shooting “Iraq in Fragments” had to deal with a lot of sand … and was able to take three camcorders with him, in what he called a “redundancy” plan just in case a camcorder went down.

Laura Poitras shot “My Country My Country” using no lights at all, as she never knew when she’d be needing to run-and-gun it, and Leslie Iwerks, was literally meandering through tons of trash every day for a year shooting “Recycled Life“, and lugging big production equipment around would have hindered rather than help the story. Nathaniel Kahn produced “Two Hands” using a home made dolly system to circle the pianist at his instrument.

Although only one documentary won for Best Feature Documentary: “An Inconvenient Truth” and one for Best Short Documentary: Rudy Yang and Thomas Lennon’s “The Blood of Yingzhou District”, all of the 9 movies nominated are worthy of attention for anyone who wants to see how a movie can affect social change, or anyone who has the passion to tell THEIR story, and wants inspiration on how others made theirs.

At the reception, the same four words were being tossed around a lot: Perseverance and Passion, and Revolution and Renaissance. Docu-making isn’t easy, and you have to have a passion for your subject and the perserverance to deal with the long hours, roadblocks, and pitfalls you will encounter in the making.

Everyone acknowledged that it’s a good time for a new revolution in docu-making, and this new renaissance will bring untold stories out of the darkness and into the limelight more easily.

I was truly inspired watching these movies and talking to the documentarians, I hope they will inspire you, too.

Want to win a prize for sleeping? Keep dreaming.
The popular video sharing site iMeem has teamed up with Michel Gondry  to create the Science of Sleep video contest. To enter, you must
1. Make a video depicting a dream you have ( A good one, hopefully!)
2. Follow this link:  http://thescienceofsleep.imeem.com/

3. Post your video to their Dream Data Console.

4. Dream about winning the free passes to RES Fest Global, and all the other prizes.

Good Luck!

A few of you wrote in to note that you were experiencing trouble with the sound on Vidcast episode 54. This probably means that your aggregator pulled down the first version of the low-res (iPod/PSP) feed. If you re-download that version now, the audio will come with it this time. Sorry for the inconvenience. Enjoy the show!

reprinted from an Artbeats press release:

For Immediate Release                        Feb. 27, 2007

 

 

Artbeats Takes Flight with Three New Aerial Collections

Striking New Royalty-free Footage of Famous City Landmarks, Picturesque Countryside and Dramatic Cliffs; Available in High Definition

 

Myrtle Creek, Ore. –— Feb. 27, 2006 –— Artbeats takes to the skies once more to offer three new royalty-free stock footage collections: New York City Aerials 2, New England Aerials and Southwest Cliffs Aerials. Featuring striking footage of the Big Apple, the Northeast’s picturesque countryside and capital cities, and dramatic cliffs of the desert Southwest, these new titles were captured using the renowned Gyron Eagle Camera system and include the same pristine, hard-to-obtain footage that has made Artbeats a favorite among industry professionals.

 

Artbeats’ new aerial titles include:

New York City Aerials 2 – adds 36 new royalty-free clips to this popular collection. Circling above famous New York City landmarks such Madison Square Garden, Central Park and Time Square, and gliding above the streets of New York City and in-between skyscrapers, this new collection captures the immense grandeur of the Big Apple.

 

New England Aerials – offers 33 royalty-free clips of slow, steady flights through the countryside, coastal banks and capital cities of Maine, New Hampshire and more. This new collection contains an array of footage ranging from serene imagery of quaint villages, beautiful lighthouses, covered bridges and meandering rivers to stunning imagery of rocky cliffs, skylines and the state capitals of Concord, N.H and Portland, Maine.

 

Southwest Cliffs Aerials – this heart racing footage takes you three feet off the ground at 110mph and right off the edge of the canyon. Containing 31 dramatic clips of Echo Cliffs, Marble Canyon, Little Colorado Gorge and more, this new collection is sure to get your heart pounding, and is the most dramatic series of aerials ever produced by Artbeats.

 

These three new collections can be found in the company’s award-winning library of 454 titles, 174 of which are HD, and feature superior technical and visual quality footage that can be used for broadcast, feature films, commercial, multimedia design, game development, independent production and more.

 

Pricing and Availability

The New York City Aerials 2, New England Aerials and Southwest Cliffs Aerials collections are available now on the Artbeats website at www.artbeats.com. Artbeats’ footage is available in HD-1920×1080, D1 NTSC-720 x 486 or D1 PAL-720 x 576 resolutions. Pricing for Artbeats’ HD collections range from USD $799-$899; standard definition collections range from USD $399-$699. To learn more about these collections or view clips please visit www.artbeats.com/prod/new_releases.php.

reprinted from a PRNewswire press release: 

Wind-up Records and YouTube Enter Into Strategic Marketing Partnership

Leading Independent Record Label Partners to Offer Music Videos as Well as Pre-Cleared Tracks for User Generated Videos on YouTube

NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ — Wind-up Records announced today a marketing partnership with YouTube making many of its music videos available for streaming on the popular site. In addition, the label will enable fans to use pre-cleared tracks in their own video creations. YouTube and Wind-up will share revenue from advertising to be sold around Wind-up content.
Wind-up Records President Ed Vetri commented, “YouTube stands for user empowerment and what better way to engage fans of our music than to embrace their own creativity. When a user selects our artists’ music as the soundtrack to their personal creation, it only builds a deeper and more meaningful relationship between artist and fan.”
“We are thrilled to work with Wind-up because they’re a cutting-edge label with a fantastic roster of musicians,” said Chad Hurley, CEO and Co-Founder of YouTube. “Wind-up sees value in uniting its artists with their video creator fans and we’re pleased to be the platform that allows these audiences to come together.”
Wind-up Records is able to execute this initiative through the support of the five publishing arms of its parent company Wind-up Entertainment. COO Jim Cooperman stated, “Our companies see the validity in supporting the changing landscape of how individuals are introduced to music, and we are pleased to be in a position to be among the first independent labels to formally allow users to choose our songs as the soundtrack to their lives.”
This move validates YouTube’s commitment to the independent sector of the record business to ensure its platform can continue to offer the breadth and quality of content that its users have come to expect.
Wind-up Records is home to a diverse group of artists which includes Evanescence, Seether, Finger Eleven as well as buzz bands such as People in Planes, Pilot Speed, Stars of Track and Field, Strata, and many others.

reprinted from a Voxant press release:

The Associated Press Joins the Viral Syndication Network to Boost Online News Distribution to ‘Long Tail’ of the Web

Fully Licensed Video, Articles and Photos Available in TheNewsRoom for Viral Mashing By Web Publishers and Bloggers

RESTON, Va., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ — Voxant, the Viral Syndication Network(TM), today announced an agreement with AP Digital, a commercial division of The Associated Press (AP), that will make a selection of AP news video, articles and photos available to thousands of Web sites and blogs through TheNewsRoom (http://www.thenewsroom.com/).
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from AP.
“The ‘long tail’ of the Web has become a cliche, but Voxant really does offer a convenient way to reach the millions of people who are only interested in a fraction of AP’s content,” said Jane Seagrave, vice president and director of AP Digital. “Voxant provides a vehicle for AP to allow non- traditional customers to post individual stories, photos and video clips while maintaining control over its intellectual property.”
The Viral Syndication Network makes it easy for news publishers to distribute fully licensed video, print, audio and still photo content on thousands of Web sites and blogs. The content may be obtained from TheNewsRoom and redistributed through viral mashing(TM), Voxant’s unique process of embedding news content and advertising on an infinite number of sites. Voxant’s advertising-supported network is free to Web publishers and provides a new revenue stream to originating content providers and distributors.
“The importance of having Associated Press content for TheNewsRoom cannot be overstated,” Voxant CEO Jeff Crigler said. “The AP is one of the world’s premiere news-gathering organizations and its content provides a rich resource for Web publishers and bloggers who join the Viral Syndication Network.”

reprinted from an AT&T press release:

AT&T Launches Mash-Up Madness Video Contest for Hoops Fans

College Basketball Fans Invited to AT&T Blue Room to Customize Videos Featuring 15 College Teams, Vote for Favorite Mash-Ups, Enter for a Chance to Win Prizes

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — It’s almost March, so let the madness begin. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced Mash-Up Madness, a program inviting fans to create college basketball videos of their favorite teams and enter for a chance to win school-specific merchandise, a laptop computer, a Samsung BlackJack phone or other prizes.
Now through March 31, 2007, fans can visit http://attblueroom.com/sports to view mash-ups and enter for a chance to win prizes. While at the site, fans can share their passion for one of 15 college teams by creating a customized video using exclusive team footage, school fight songs, team graphics and photographs. Users become producers by dragging and dropping elements to create their mash-up videos. Fans also can upload their own photos to personalize their videos.
Winning mash-ups will be determined in two rounds of online voting at attblueroom.com/sports. From March 18 through March 24, 2007, voters will select the “Sweet 15″ videos by choosing the top mash-ups supporting each school. From March 25 through March 31, online voters will select the grand prize-winning video. The producer of the winning mash-up will receive $1,500 in prizes, including $500 in school-specific merchandise and a laptop computer. Finalists representing the 15 schools will each receive a Samsung BlackJack phone.
“We’re thrilled to develop a program that coincides with the most exciting time of the college basketball season,” said Eric Fernandez, executive director, AT&T sponsorships and events. “Mash-Up Madness and the AT&T blue room provide fans with a fun way to support their favorite college teams while showcasing AT&T’s comprehensive set of entertainment products and services.”

Athletic programs participating in AT&T Mash-Up Madness include:

-- Arkansas                   -- Michigan
-- UC Berkeley                -- Ohio State
-- UC Davis                   -- Oklahoma
-- UCLA                       -- Oklahoma State
-- Connecticut                -- Southern California (USC)
-- Fresno State               -- Texas
-- Indiana                    -- Texas Tech
-- Kansas

In addition to the online program at http://attblueroom.com/sports , AT&T will provide on-site product demonstrations, co-branded merchandise and e- photo opportunities in arena concourses and during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Tournament, March 8 -11, in Oklahoma City.
Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss .

Corel Announces Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus

Newest Release of Award-winning Consumer DVD Authoring and Burning Application offers Studio-quality Results for Standard and High-definition Video

Ottawa ? February 27, 2007 — Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL; TSX:CRE), today announced the release of Ulead DVD MovieFactory? 6 Plus, available in English, with German and French versions to follow next month. This latest release of the award-winning consumer DVD authoring package is the first consumer entry-level product to offer HD DVD burning capability and is also the first new product to be launched since Corel completed its acquisition of InterVideo and Ulead last December.

“This new release builds on the advanced technology behind Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5; and with its new features and increased flexibility, this version will be irresistible to anyone that wants a fast and simple way to create, author and burn discs,” comments Blaine Mathieu, General Manager of Digital Media at Corel. “This version brings every video enthusiast up to date, allowing them to work with the newest and most exciting video formats.”

New features in Corel Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus Version
Among the range of exciting new features, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus introduces the Edit Room, allowing users to edit captured video on an intuitive timeline with overlays, titles and music tracks. For video editors that demand more from a DVD authoring application, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus includes comprehensive menu templates, and the facility to work with HDV, DivX or AVCHD, and output in HD DVD, Blu-ray, DVD-Video or legacy VCD.

· Exciting Theme Templates ? Users can select a suitable theme which will add opening, titling and transition effects to enhance video clips.

· Storyboard Mode ? The easy way to get an overview, rearrange, and include transitions between all the scenes or video clips in any production

· Timeline Mode ? Edit captured video on an intuitive timeline with overlays, titles and music tracks.

· Fade-in and Fade-out Video ? Video clips can be edited to fade in or out at the click of a button.

· Overlay Tracks ? Users can add interest to movies with overlay frames and objects.

· Transition Effects Between Videos ? An extensive range of transition effects for a professional look.

· Insert Images to Video ? Editors can create mixed-media ?clipshows? by combining video clips and photos on the timeline.

· Capture and Edit HDV ? Editing and exporting HDV is now just as easy as working with standard DV video.

· Auto Subtitle Track ? Select to display video file name, date, time, and EXIF (photo) data as a subtitle track.

· Button Moving Paths ? Menus come to life with templates that contain animated menus, titles, navigation buttons, or other decorative objects.

· Distort Menu Objects ? Users can rotate, stretch and angle menu motion buttons to fit into frames or other background elements.

· Extend Background Video and Image ? Allowing editors to change from 4:3 to 16:9 widescreen.

· Customize Slideshow Pan and Zoom ? This advanced tool offers customizable curved paths, transparency and zoom ratios.

· AVCHD Camcorder Support ? Now users can import and edit high-definition footage from AVCHD camcorder discs, and convert to standard definition formats.

· DivX Support ? Users of all levels can now combine downloaded DivX movies with subtitle .srt files, and burn to DVDs.

· Auto Detect Disc Type ? The correct program for the disc type will automatically open for authoring, editing or burning.

· Support 16:9 Widescreen PC Monitor ? DVD MovieFactory?s user interface and layout will automatically adjust to fit widescreen monitors.

· Blu-ray Movie Discs ? The software now includes the option to capture high-definition video from a camcorder or HDTV and burn to Blu-ray discs

· Dolby? Digital 5.1 Support

· Supports 16:9 Widescreen PC Monitors ? DVD MovieFactory?s user interface and layout automatically adjusts to fit widescreen monitors.

· Burn HD DVD folders to HD DVD Disc ? Now users can easily open and import HD DVD folders and burn them to disc for viewing on set-top players.

· CD Extra - adds data files to music discs

· Secure Burning on Data Discs ? Now users can password-protect videos, photos, documents, and any other data from unauthorized access and viewing.

· Output to HD DVD-R/RW and Blue-ray BD-R/RE Discs

Pricing and Availability
The English version of Corel? Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Standard and Plus editions is available to buy from all major resellers or direct from www.ulead.com. Suggested retail pricing is $49.99 USD SRP for the standard version, $79.99 USD SRP for the Plus version. An upgrade version is available for users of previous versions. German and French versions of both Standard and Plus editions of Corel Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 will be available in March 2007. For more information about Corel Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6, please visit www.ulead.com.

Ahoy, loyal viewers! We’ve changed our shooting schedule to get the Vidcast out to you sooner–for the most part, this means Fridays. So we present to you our notes for Episode 54. Enjoy the show!

Video Bits & Bytes (an all video sharing edition):
Babelgum offers a channel-based service for sharing and distributing video.
A Kansas State ethnographer helps explain the concept of Web 2.0 with this YouTube video.
Vidipedia aims to be the first video-based encyclopedia.
Gotuit is an iTunes Store-like sharing site that also allows tagging of clips.

Tips & Tricks:
Jennifer, Mark and Andrew demonstrate several different shot types.

Take 20:
John and I take a look at Creation, our Third Place winner for the 2006 Videomaker/Sony Short Video Contest, produced by Stephen Strosin of Los Angeles, CA.

Hands On:
John shows some of the features of one of JVC’s latest PROHD HDV camcorders, the GY-HD200.

reprinted from a DivX press release:

DivX(R) Announces First Ever Online Video Film Festival on Stage6

Contest Invites Both Veteran Pros and Aspiring Independent Filmmakers to Make Their Mark on the Next Generation of Filmmaking

SAN DIEGO –(Business Wire)– Feb. 22, 2007 DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ:DIVX) today announced the first ever DivX Film Festival, an online video festival devoted to creativity, storytelling and improving digital media. Hosted on DivX Stage6(TM) — an online video sharing community site — the contest invites veteran professionals and aspiring independent filmmakers to make their mark on the next generation of filmmaking. The DivX Film Festival is currently accepting video submissions that contain the advanced features of DivX — including interactive menus, chapters, subtitles and multiple audio tracks. Content creators can use these features to offer audiences compelling digital content, complete with bonus commentary cut or subtitles to make it meaningful to a global audience.

Filmmakers may submit their DivX video entries in an array of genres, including animation, comedy, documentary, fiction and music. The final deadline for submissions is April 30, 2007. Prizes range from DivX Certified(R) hardware and software bundles to US $5,000 cash, including a top of the line DivX Ultra Certified(R) DVD player and digital camera that records DivX video.

DivX gives filmmakers the tools to create a high-quality digital film for viewers to download, watch on their computers or transfer to a wide range of certified DivX devices. Stage6 offers them a valuable platform for distributing and building a brand around their content. And DivX Ultra Certified devices support playback of their DivX videos with advanced features for a richer digital media experience.

“The DivX Film Festival empowers filmmakers to share their work in the highest level of visual quality — with the advanced features of the DivX file format — with other movie aficionados from all over the world,” said Darrius Thompson, CXO, Community and Internet, DivX, Inc. “We are excited to host this festival on Stage6, as we continue our mission to help content creators grow communities around their own unique brands.”

Learn more about the contest by visiting the official film festival page at http://www.divx.com/DivXFilmFestival.