In 1985, Marty McFly [Michael J. Fox] and Doc Brown [Christopher Lloyd] went back in time to 1955 then forward in time to 2015 and then farther back in time to 1885 through the 3-part Back to the Future trilogy. I’m a great fan of the trilogy,  and I love to watch the entire series with the director’s  commentary that explains how a lot of shots were done. But a Back to the Future 4? What do you think? Should they make a sequel?

Rumors? Or Fact?

Rumors of a Back to the Future 4 have been flying around for years, but as we approach Marty and Doc’s 2015 ‘future’, people are resurrecting a Back to the Future 4 idea. A couple years ago, on the 25th anniversary of the first BTTF movie, a Blu-ray edition of the trilogy was  released, causing a new flurry. And no wonder, the original Back to the Future stood 8 weeks in the number one spot in 1985 and was the highest grossing film of that year. Plus, the sequels did equally well – a rarity in sequel-dom.

This being 2012, the year of the end of the Mayan calendar that has triggered apocalyptic predictions of the end of the world, might also be triggering some Back to the Future 4 ideas.

Personally, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Michael J. Fox is clearly no teenager anymore and has chosen not to continue an acting career, and although some rumors have stated that the BTTF4 movies would have Doc Brown with a new side-kick, I think it’s a bad idea; you just don’t touch a classic. To make a sequel this late in the game will bomb at the box office, I’m sure. Remember The Sting 2? What about Staying Alive, the sequel to Saturday Night Fever? Or one of the biggest sequel jokes: Scarlett a 6-hourTV mini-series about Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler following the events after Gone With The Wind. That was downright embarrassing. Help me with this – what other Sequel Flops do you recall?

Re-Makes: Love ‘em or Hate ‘em?

Most classics should be left alone, but technological advances in the movie industry have allowed movie creators to make some amazing realistic scenes using special effects that weren’t even a concept way back when. Sometimes a remake of a classic can introduce a new generation to the story, or make the story so much more realistic.  Planet of the Apes is one such re-makes that come to mind. Not only did Rise of the Planet of the Apes explain how apes really could take over the world in a few generations better than the first series; the reality of the chimpanzee – Caesar - played magnificently by the amazing Andy Serkis of Gollum [Lord of the Rings] fame, was unmatched compared to humans in monkey suits of the original 1968-’70s-era series. But these well-produced remakes and sequels are rare successes. the 2001 attempt at a Planet of the Apes remake bombed. Usually a remake or late-hour sequel seems to be someone’s attempt at making a few bucks on the unsuspecting public. [Pirates of the Caribbean 4, anyone?]

What sequels do you recall that were good, not just in how they were made but in how they continue the story, maybe merging storyline seamlessly?

Just for Fun Editing

What i DO like, though, is watching some of the “Mash Up” trailers that many people have been making, just for fun, about what they envision Back to the Future 4 might involve. From well-produced trailers showing Marty and Doc in prehistoric times and messing with the “Time Continuum” to cheesy low-quality trailers that have mixed BTTF footage with that from The Terminator, Juristic Park or other futuristic or prehistoric movies, these “Fake Movie Trailer” editors are having fun doing what we all love – editing.

So what do you think – Back to the Future 4? While we have the technology to make some awesome effects now, it would have to be one heck of a cast and the producing and directing needs to be spot-on, or else it’ll get subjected to the same criticism of the prequels of Star Wars – The Phantom Menace, which is now being re-released in 3D – anyone going?  I know I will – I am, after all, a Star Wars fan, even though I didn’t like how the prequels were presented – the joviality and spark just weren’t the same.

I say: Leave the Classics alone! Tell me, what do YOU think? And tell us, what’s on your “Worst Sequel List“?

Chalk this one up to the “we’ll believe it when we see it” category but according to IBM researchers, controlling computers with your mind is only 5 years away. To be fair, there are already many tests that have confirmed the ability to control simple computer functions with one’s mind but a fully functional mind-controlled operating system still seems a long way off – not to mention a bit scary. One of the most innovative companies in this field called emotiv, already has a non-invasive headset that can be worn over one’s head with several sensors. This headset allows users to control a computers, toys, and other electronics based off of the electrical thought patterns in their brain. The video below from TED.com shows how this amazing technology works. What’s interesting is that emotiv is able to achieve this without having to cut any hair, applying any gels, or more importantly, drilling into one’s skull. Given the advanced state of this technology already, it’s easy to see how it could become mainstream in gaming and to overcome disabilities.

What’s equally as exciting is what this technology could hold for video editors. If an editor were able to color correct, drop a track’s volume, select a clip, insert graphics, change editing tools, and organize files all with a simple thought, then the complexity barrier of editing software would be effectively gone. How great would it be to never  have to remember pesky keyboard shortcuts or dig through countless folders to find an effect?

That being said, there are some obvious challenges for this technology. For starters, every editor would have to have full concentration when cutting a project together. One stray thought about what you’re having for lunch and your entire project could end up as a tribute to a bowl of soup and a fresh salad. This also brings up an interesting point…how would one multitask when using this technology? Would it be possible to listen to music while making a cut or to talk to a client while color correcting footage? No technology will ever be adopted in the video editing world unless it makes your project look better or get done faster. These are all questions that will need to be answered before this technology ever becomes useful to video editors. Even so, I’m sure my fingers will thank me some day when I no longer need to do mash the Control, Alt, Shift, and Y buttons in order to “quickly” insert a null object into an After Effects Composition.

Ever since the iPad came out back in April 2010, tablets have been popping up faster than weeds in an untended garden. Companies from Motorola to HP quickly jumped into the fray hoping that consumers would pick their inexpensive devices over the already popular Apple offering. Though these tablets had a lot of welcome features such as a much bigger screen, longer battery life, and faster processors there was still something about them that made a good majority of the tech market think twice before buying. Namely, that the tablets were close to the size, cost, and functionality of laptops (or netbooks) but didn’t have the memory and processing power, a real drawback for conducting processor-heavy business applications and complex gaming.

This is exactly what ASUS was intent on approaching with their Transformer tablet. The tablet, which will now be available on December 8th, is the first to have a quad core processor powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra chip technology. The tablet also sports a 10.1 inch 1280×720 display made of Gorilla Glass, 1 GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, a microSD slot, and a mini-HDMI port. The battery is supposed to last for a crowd pleasing 12 hours and will have WiFi capabilities. In addition, it can be easily mounted to an optional keyboard with a trackpad making it easier to write e-mails and play certain kinds of games.

With all of the interesting features that this tablet includes, the question that invariably surfaces is why not make a tablet that is as powerful as most laptops? Though the specs on this device are top notch for tablets, they’re actually quite slow compared to laptops. Considering laptops can be bought for as little as $300, it seems only a matter of time before tablet makers like ASUS not only make a device that has a processor as fast as the Intel i series with enough RAM to keep multiple programs open at a time, while having an operating system that not only works well for touch and gestures but for a mouse and keyboard as well. This way, it would be possible to use the laptop for touch-based or keyboard-based control of all sorts of complex applications such as simple editing in Final Cut Pro or Premiere. It would also place the tablet in a great buying position as many consumers could use the device as a laptop replacement with the added weight and size benefits that a tablet has.

Either way, it’s good to see companies like ASUS release better and faster hardware. With the pace the tablet upgrades seem to be happening it could be just a few short years before we see something that can truly be a laptop replacement.

How have other videographers made use of green screens for special effects? 

What one “trick” in pre-production planning do others find most important? 

What’s the coolest music video ever made and what lighting techniques can be gleaned from it? 

You have questions and Videomaker.com has answers. Well, Videomaker.com and Videomaker readers. The editors and experts at Videomaker field questions every day on shooting, lighting, special effects, gear, editing, and every aspect of video production. And we always do our best to answer these questions either on-line or through high-value content in our magazine. And here at Videomaker we have the luxury of working day in and day out with our peers, fellow video enthusiasts just like our readers. But what if you’re working independently or are just starting out or otherwise need the help of your peers in the field in addition to your peers here at Videomaker? 

Sometimes direct, peer-to-peer interaction is the only way to go. That’s where Videomaker Forums come into play. Have a technical question and just haven’t found the answer yet? Think you have a question but aren’t even sure how to ask it? Join the Videomaker Forums. It’s a friendly, robust community of fellow videographers, from the beginners choosing their first cameras to the pros who discuss technical setup and who know the business side of video. 

Recent forum conversations have included a thread on the “Aesthetic side of video production” in which one of our moderators (the famous “birdcat”) suggested reading the excellent “In the Blink of an Eye” by Walter Murch. Another very recent thread centered on an extensive discussion of the best songs to use in wedding videos. And nearly every day a forum member offers their latest video project up for review by fellow members. And the replies are consistently professional, constructive, and encouraging. Clearly this is a community of video producers, from experts to hobbyists, who care equally about their craft and their fellow craftspeople. 

If you are a member of Videomaker forums but haven’t visited in a while, come on back, the water’s fine! And if you are not yet a forum participant, you NEED to become one. There’s nearly no better way to connect with other video enthusiasts.

Videomaker has been publishing video production tips and techniques for 25 years and on June 2, Matt York and Videomaker celebrated our Silver Anniversary with a party for family and friends. During the event, Matt sent a live-streaming message to our readers, contributors and a host of others who helped make Videomaker the success it is today. The following is the text from Matt’s live streaming speech.

Welcome to our humble abode and thank you for coming.
As you look around you will find the people most responsible for Videomaker’s success. I want to extend my warmest appreciation to each and every one of them. Starting with my son, daughter and wife (all of whom currently work here), thanks for putting up with me and my devotion to this company that, at times, may have overlapped into our family a bit too much. Thanks especially to my wife Patrice for being the keeper of the purse strings. She and I are a perfect balance, as I tend to be the visionary risk-taker and she’s the pragmatic voice who keeps us grounded in reality. As Vice President she has been and remains “the other half of the sky” involved in every important decision ever rendered here.

Outside of my family, I want to recognize the people who I approached 26 years ago when I first had the idea for this magazine. One of our local business leaders, Howard Isom, and I spoke last week about the day we first met. Howard said I was just a hippie living in the woods with a crazy idea and that no one had ever published an international magazine in this town before.

Some of the people who I pitched actually invested in Videomaker (Howard wasn’t one of them), but Garey Weibel (the then Publisher of our local newspaper, the Chico Enterprise Record) did. Some would say that Garey and I couldn’t have been more different, but we developed a keen relationship based on mutual respect. Garey’s advice over the first few years was indispensable and more than once helped save this fledgling company from disaster. In one harrowing incident in our earliest days, Garey literally rescued the company from the brink of disaster, contributing venture capital when it looked like this start-up was going to run out of cash.

Read the rest of this entry »

You can win some free video tools, just by donating to the Japanese earthquake relief efforts overseas. Or just donate to help because Japan needs our help, and they’ve supported our hobby, career and love of video creation all these years.

For years we’ve enjoyed their technological innovations, we’ve used their products, enjoyed their technical advancements, salivated over the latest techno ‘gee-whiz’ toy they released. Our visits to Las Vegas for the Consumer’s Electronics Show (CES) and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) every year remind us of their importance to our industry and our lives, now the Japanese are in dire pain and despair, and video producers are giving back. You have a chance of winning some video gear at NAB 2011 due to the efforts of producer-director Philip Bloom.

The massive earthquake, then the following tsunami, and now radiation in the very air they breathe, water they drink and food they eat, has touched every single person living in the entire island country of Japan in ways few can completely understand.

Factories that build our gadgets are closing, companies that deliver our goods are unable to process the orders, and benevolent producers like world-renowned documentarian Philip Bloom are reaching out to help.

Bloom posted a “Help Japan” message on his website, offering a chance to win an iPad – his very own iPad – as incentive to donors. Other manufacturers of techno and video gadgets stepped up to the challenge and also offered “prizes” in Bloom’s drawing for cash donations to the Japanese Relief fund.

Do you recognize any of these names? GoPro, Marshall, Kessler Crane, Letus, Zacuto, Digieffects, Redrock, Redgiant, and Cineroid? You should, we’ve written about every one of them in Videomaker and they all have some connection to Japan – either due to design, or build or accessories for their products. All of these companies have donated gear for the drawing.

Bloom’s drawing will be held at NAB 2011 in Las Vegas in a few weeks, and participants need not be present to win. Many people have donated to the causes posted on Bloom’s site stating they don’t want a prize, only to help those that have given so much to the video world. Where would we be today without these companies’ designs, innovations and support?

Everyday, Videomaker hears news from companies we work with – Robin Hoffman of JVC sent us a note confirming JVC’s employees are safe, DisplaySearch tells us the chemicals needed in some semiconductors and LCD displays are affected and the supply chain is on hold.

Our own CEO, Matt York, was in Japan just 2 days before this tremendous quake, meeting with Sony reps about their latest releases in the NXCAM family. Some Sony plants have been shut down, and other companies like Canon, Panasonic, Hitachi, Grass Valley and more – all companies you read about every day in the pages of Videomaker – have been affected. Sony is donating 300 million Japanese yen to help the country and 30,000 radios to help get news updates to citizens.

So check out Bloom’s site – or follow the links below. These relief agencies below are the ones posted to Bloom’s site. If you donate and can prove a receipt, follow up with Bloom’s site for a chance to win – or just join in the conversation.

World Vision , Mercy Corps , Islamic Relief USA , Red Cross

NAB 2011 will be a somber one this year, I know it will stand as a reminder of how small this world has become and how we all share in concern for our friends across the Pacific. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to all of those who have lost loved ones during the tragedy.