“Today, everybody’s a filmmaker.”  That’s the message of director Wim Wenders (“Paris, Texas” and “Wings of Desire” among many other films, as well as music videos for U2 and The Talking Heads) as he introduces a new innovative video competition in partnership with the pen and watchmaker, MontBlanc. Launched in September, the competition, titled “The Beauty of a Second” is designed to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the invention of the Chronograph by Nicolas Rieussec, which was able to record time to an accuracy of one fifth of a second, quite a feat in 1821.

“One of the great things about cinema is how it makes us aware of time.  Each film consists of many brief moments of life that altogether create a unique and new space in time.”  If you’re familiar with the project, or if you’re paying close attention to the tile of the competition, you’ll realize that the emphasis here is definitely on “brief.”

The MontBlanc video competition is for films one second in length.  As Wenders eloquently points out, every video we shoot is a series of one-second moments.  But what if you as a videographer set out specifically to capture the perfect one-second on film?  Would it be a moment in nature?  The start of a smile on a child’s face?  A white shirt hanging to dry on a line?  How do you capture not only a beautiful moment, but perhaps even a compelling story in just one second?  Maybe it’s not possible, but that’s precisely the goal of this competition.  And from the entries so far, it looks like many videographers are capturing great moments in very small cuts (or, more precisely, in very precise edits).

Since the competition opened, the first three submission timeframes, or “rounds,” have been completed.  As of this writing, we’re mid way through round four.  The final round will finish on February 12th.  At the conclusion of the contest, Wim Wenders will select the winning one-second film.  Once you’ve viewed a few dozen of the one-second clips, you’ll likely agree that choosing a winner seems like an impossible task.  Just how good can one second of footage be?

But the hosts of the website, “The Beauty of a Second,” provide an additional incentive for film makers and film buffs alike to join the fun. Even if you haven’t submitted your one second entry, you can assemble your favorite one-second films into a “Playlist,” thus editing together a film of up to sixty seconds, comprising sixty segments.

In our Videomaker blogs and forums we’ve talked frequently about outlets for creative videography and film making.  We’ve even reviewed the history of continuous shot films that can last as long as  eight hours.  This film contest from MontBlanc is clearly at the other extreme.

But MontBlanc is not the only outfit with a focus on the one-second film.

“The 1 Second Film” is a non-profit organization that has already produced what they describe as “the world’s biggest shortest film.”  The concept here is to produce a one-second animated film where each two frames of animation is comprised of a single collaborative painting.  (Actually, the twelve paintings that compose the animated film were produced at a kick-off party years ago.)  The one-second film will then be followed by a one hour credit roll, during which a “making of” documentary will run while all the contributors (the “producers”) to the non-profit will be listed.  The project’s beneficiary is The Global Fund for Women.  Producers, who have contributed everything from a few dollars to tens of thousands, include everyone from celebrities (Kevin Bacon, Steven Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland, and many more) to corporations (Apple, FotoKem, and others).

These two projects have a couple of things in common.  First, participants share a love of visual arts and experimental video.  Second, both projects are profoundly rooted in a sense of collaboration.  Both are worth paying attention to in 2012.

100 Years of Technology – What Will Video Look Like in 100 Years?

From prehistoric cave drawings to modern video techniques, those of use who chose the life of visual historian and story-teller have had a lot of technical advances to keep abreast of. How does one manage it all for decades at a time?

I am always amazed at how fast technology advancement moves nowadays. From someday working on transparent videos, like our associate Jackson Wong reported, to texture-touch TVs that associate Dan Bruns reported about, many of today’s technical inventions now follow what is called Moore’s Law, which states that the “number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years“. [Source: Wikipedia]  People used to keep their old TVs for a lifetime, then for a decade, now many of us upgrade every three years or so. Many more of us upgrade our mobile phones annually, whereas our grandparents kept their original black desktop ‘anvil’ hard-wired telephone their entire life.

I was at a grade-school’s annual Winter Concert last night and saw dozens of parents using a varied assortment of new and old devices to capture the moment: from a very old large clunky video camera that had only an eyepeice to tiny digital flash-drive camcorders, mobile phones, even an iPad.

Technology in the Past

I love reading about the changes in technology, especially that which applies to cameras, editing and computers. Recently I wrote two blogs about technical history: The Birth of Film and History Now and Then and one of our readers, Roger Miller, brought me up to date on a story we wrote back in 1998 called “Video Time Machine: A Look Back to Life Before Camcorders“.  Roger was featured in that 13 year old story along with being a guest on our old TV series that aired on late night cable in the 1990s called “Videomaker Presents“. These videos show early reactions  of airlines and pedestrians and motorists to “this new thing” called home video. They also show early newscasts, equipment costs, and buying decisions with regard to home video. It’s always fun to look back at those old archives!

Roger created his own production company in 1980, Advantage Video, and now solely produces wedding and events videos, working up to 5-camera shoots. His company also works at converting videos from all those old obsolete formats from Betamax to disc. He suggests this is a good business to get into, because where will today’s families be when they want to future-protect their old family memories?

Good idea. There are a few companies looking towards the future for archiving purposes, Primera Technology is partnering with Millennitia, to create discs that they claim will last 100 years. You might want to put a DVD player and wall-wart into that time capsule to play it from!

Not to sit on just creating and archiving video, Miller has also been doing some technical inventing of his own, coming up with the SteadyIT for small camcorders.

The Future of Video?

This look at the historical predictions for the future from Predictions TV , (albeit dated, since it only goes to 2009), is an interesting title-graphical look at technology from 100 years to 2009. From “will we survive the millennium bug?” (1999) to “will 640k be enough for anybody?” (1979) and “will computers eventually weigh less than a ton?” (1949) But even just 3 years later a lot has happened since then.

I love looking at old technology – and seeing how far we’ve come just in my lifetime. LAU Beirut’s Riyad Nassar Library has a fantastic collection of technological historical artifacts. If I ever travel to the Middle East I’d just as likely want to see this amazing collection as I would ancient pyramids!

I love this – Predictions of technology of 100 years ago, from Live Science. Other 100 years of technology a quick search came up with found that IBM has been around for a century and Computer Weekly takes a look at the future of technology in 100 years, and my favorite, a 100 year starship project.

What do you think? Where do you think we will be with computers in 100 years? How about capturing, editing and sharing videos a century from now? Let’s hear your future predictions – the nice thing is, none of us will be around to see if you are right or wrong! (Unless, of course, the pharmaceutical companies invent that No Aging Pill by then!)

Avid Announces Media Composer 6 – in 64-bit and Blackmagic Designs offers Thunderbolt Support for Avid

Rebuilt from the bottom up, Avid Media Composer version 6 is getting serious about an already powerful program. Sporting a new user interface, and 64-bit processing, Media Composer will also support AVCHD and RED Epic files.

On the same front, last week Blackmagic Design also announced the new Desktop Video 9.0 software updates for support for the new Avid which is good news. Avid users will be able to work with Blackmagic Design’s 3.0 Thunderbolt and PCI Express video capture and playback devices.(More Blackmagic details below)

From Avid in a press release dated November 3, 2011:

BURLINGTON, MA—Nov. 3, 2011—Avid today announced new versions of its flagship video editing systems—Media Composer version 6, NewsCutter version 10 and Symphony version 6.
Media Composer version 6, Symphony version 6 and NewsCutter version 10 are rebuilt from the core on an entirely new open, 64-bit architecture that raises the bar for performance, flexibility and productivity. With this version, Avid is also introducing a sleek, new User Interface—designed to speed workflows while simultaneously preserving the same functionality that so many professionals have built their careers on. In addition, these systems include support for third-party hardware, AVCHD and RED Epic support with Avid Media Access (AMA), an Avid DNxHD 444 codec, and support for Avid Artist Color.

Together with existing Avid innovations such as AMA, for direct access to file-based media; Avid PhraseFind, powered by Nexidia, and Avid ScriptSync for phonetic searching and editing; and real-time Mix and Match, allowing multiple formats in the same timeline—this major release reinforces Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony systems as the ultimate professional editors on the market, specifically designed to meet the creative and technical demands of the broadest array of editing workflows.

More Open, More Flexible

· Leverage existing hardware investments and easily add Avid editing systems into current workflow configurations thanks to the new Avid Open I/O, which enables support for popular video and audio cards from AJA Video Systems, Blackmagic Design, Bluefish444, Matrox and MOTU.

· Easily incorporate Avid’s high-performance hardware video accelerator, Avid Nitris DX—the most versatile and powerful video hardware system optimized for Avid editing systems—into high-profile film or TV workflows through its availability as a standalone hardware purchase at a new, reduced price. Nitris DX is available with one or two

Avid DNxHD or AVC-Intra chips and supports full resolution and full frame stereoscopic workflows.

· With Symphony software, experience greater flexibility and choice for on-set and mobile editorial and color work, or meet increased facility capacity—now available as a software-only solution, at a lower cost.

Enhanced Integration for the Most Demanding Post Production Workflows

· Increase flexibility for editorial and finishing with enhanced Pro Tools integration and 5.1/7.1 surround and extensive metadata management, which allows the transfer of more session data from Media Composer to Pro Tools. Additional metadata is available in the AAF interchange format. Extensive 5.1/7.1 surround support is also fully compatible with Pro Tools through the improved AAF capabilities.

· Maintain a familiar and trusted editorial process with new, industry-defining 3D stereoscopic workflows that offer full resolution, real-time editing, mixed eye workflows as well as a deep toolset, with title and conversion control. Editors can also easily export metadata into Avid or other third-party finishing systems for grading and high-end effects.

· Preserve full color information from HD RGB 4:4:4 sources without compromising system performance or storage through the new Avid DNxHD 444, a high-quality HD codec. Avid DNxHD 444 can help significantly enhance real-time HD production productivity with the highest color detail possible, is suitable for the most demanding productions, and is also an ideal archiving format.

Additional New Editorial Capabilities to Increase Workflow Speed and Productivity

· Gain greater power and flexibility in high performance color correction with support for the Avid Artist Color control surface within Avid editing systems.

· Speed time to editing by eliminating timely transcode, re-wrap, and log and transfer processes through expanded AMA, which now offers native support for AVCHD and RED Epic as well as the ability to encode Apple ProRes (Mac OS-based systems only).

• Ease and expedite workflows and toolset expansion with the new Avid Marketplace, which offers in-system access to stock footage from Thought Equity Motion. The Avid Marketplace also enables customers to browse available video and audio plug-ins along with other products in the Avid Store to complete a suite.

· Get questions answered quickly with a new Customer Assist Tool, offering direct, in-app access to guides, help, and configuration information.

· Gain up to 2.5 times faster encoding with Sorenson Squeeze v8, included with Media Composer, NewsCutter, and Symphony software.

Avid Vantage

Concurrent with the launch of today’s announcement, Avid is introducing the Avid Vantage Program, an annual membership program for Media Composer and Symphony customers that provides many great benefits. The Avid Vantage Program—which is also available to Pro Tools customers—provides subscribers with unlimited online technical support, plus deeply discounted expert phone support when they need it. They also gain access to a great collection of NewBlueFX effects (for Media Composer or Symphony subscribers) or audio plug-ins (for Pro Tools subscribers). And, for a limited time, they’ll receive a high-value Avid Store coupon that can be applied to new software purchases or upgrades.

Pricing and Availability

New versions of Media Composer, Symphony and NewsCutter software will be available on November 15, 2011. Beginning with these releases, NewsCutter will be available for the same price as Media Composer, Symphony 6.0 will be available as a standalone software option and Nitris DX will be available as a standalone hardware option.

· Pricing for Media Composer 6.0 starts at $2499. Upgrade pricing starts at $299 USD.

· NewsCutter 10 starts at $2499. Upgrade pricing starts at $499.

· Pricing for Symphony 6.0 starts at $5,999. Upgrade pricing starts at $499.

· Nitris DX starts at $5,499.

· Pricing for Media Composer Academic version 6.0 starts at $295 USMSRP for educational institutions and students.

· Final Cut Pro (excluding Final Cut Pro X) users can purchase Media Composer with free online training to help them move from Final Cut Pro to Media Composer, for $1499.

Avid Vantage Program

The new Avid Vantage Program will be available during Q4 2011 to Media Composer, Symphony and Pro Tools users with all of the great benefits described above, for $149/year US MSRP.

For more information about Media Composer, visit www.avid.com/mc. For more information about Avid Vantage, visit www.avid.com/avidvantage.

From the Blackmagic Press Release of November 2, 2011:

Milpitas CA – November 3, 2011 - Blackmagic Design today announced Desktop Video 9.0, a major new software update with advanced capture and playback for the Avid Media Composer 6 family of software including Avid Symphony and Avid NewsCutter, for both Windows 7™ and Mac OS X.

Desktop Video 9.0 is available for download now and free of charge for all Blackmagic Design customers. This update includes support for all current DeckLink, Multibridge, Intensity and UltraStudio models.

Avid Media Composer has long been respected by the broadcast and film industry. For the first time, Avid customers can use Blackmagic Design’s latest Thunderbolt, USB 3.0 and PCI Express video capture and playback devices.

Professionals demand frame accuracy and flexible workflows. The combination of Blackmagic Design hardware and the flexibility of Avid Media Composer lets you work with virtually any media format including Uncompressed 10 bit YUV and RGB, Avid DNxHD, Panasonic DVCPRO HD, Sony XDCAM and more.

Blackmagic Design’s UltraStudio 3D and DeckLink HD Extreme 3D take full advantage of new advanced 3D editing support in Media Composer 6, saving time and creating a much more fluid editing experience for 3D projects.

Desktop Video 9.0 Key Features

• Certified by Avid for Avid Media Composer 6, Avid Symphony, Avid NewsCutter.
• Uncompressed and DNxHD capture and playback in Avid Media Composer 6.
• RealTime effects in Avid Media Composer 6.
• Advanced dual stream 3D workflow capturing left and right eye to separate files in Avid Media Composer 6.

Availability and Price
Desktop Video 9.0 is available now free of charge from the Blackmagic Design web site.

Videomaker workshops offer a great ways to get good video info fast.  While Videomaker has lots of ways to learn about video — webinars, training DVDs, a monthly magazine, or can getting tips sent daily to your email — nothing quite compares to getting some face-time with a real live person. Luckily, there’s an easy way to get the personal attention that you crave – Videomaker‘s in-house workshops are the perfect opportunity to get all your toughest video and videography questions answered by a live Videomaker expert. Our experts love to help you make better video, so these popular and informative workshops thrive on student questions. Bring your biggest questions and trickiest problems and get some answers.

The Basics of Video Production is a great way to get a hands-on introduction to making videos. Various lectures by video experts will cover the fundamental techniques of shooting, miking, editing and lighting. Our best video experts are always on hand during these educational sessions. Each workshop contains lectures, demonstrations and Q&A sessions with experts. But by far the most popular section of the day is when attendees get to take their cameras out into the field to put all the new techniques they’ve just learned into practice. Previous workshop groups have used their skills to craft professional-looking video movies in just three days. End your weekend with a complete video project to how the class. It’s no wonder that previous attendees rave about Videomaker workshops; 100% of attendees rated this workshop as good or excellent and that’s a record we’re proud of.

Sign up for The Basics of Video Production today and you’re sure to agree.

Intensive Editing is a three-day, hands on course is for students who understand the basics of video editing and want to advance their skills. Each student will work on a supplied HP laptop, using Adobe professional editing software that will take you from the basic skills to some advanced techniques including time remapping, advanced trimming features, multi-camera editing and more. Seating is limited so register for Intensive Editing today!

Sign up for our Intensive Editing Workshop and get ready to learn.