Quick Focus
Existing Groups
Winnipeg Amateur Moviemakers
811 Fleet Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3M 1K2 Canada
204-453-6907
Wally Robertson
2nd Thursday of each month
London (Ontario) Videography Club
19-295 Wilkins St
London, ON N6C 5C1 Canada
519-685-6197
Thom Speechley
2nd Wednesday of each month
Annapolis Association of Professional Videographers
565 Pinedale Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401-6816
410-224-8337
Mark Goldberg
1st Friday of each month
Seeking Group or Will Organize
Dave Cordova
9690 W Olive Apt 52
Peoria, AZ 85345
Iain Gilmour
6 Alexandra Place
Knaresborough, No. Yorkshire UK HG5 9ER
Rod Garside
PO Box 1088
Tuolumne, CA 95379
Videomaker's User Group Resources
Free Listings
Let new members know about your group. For inclusion in our user group listing, submit your request to "User Groups," c/o Videomaker, P.O. Box 4591, Chico, CA 95927; fax 530-891-8443; e-mail editor@videomaker.com. For a list of existing user groups and/or video enthusiasts seeking or willing to organize a group in your area, send an SASE to our mailing address.
Web Home Pages
Expand your user group's horizons by posting your home page on the Videomaker Web site. If you don't have a Web page, we'll create one for you. For more information, send e-mail to dtaylor@videomaker.com.
Online Forum
Visit the Videomaker Online Forums at www.videomaker.com/forument.htm to network with other user group members and organizers.
User Group Startup Kit
Videomaker's user group startup kit contains everything you need to start and run a successful user group: how to find members, publicize meetings and conduct screenings; sample newsletter, newspaper ad and meeting agenda; discounts off Videomaker merchandise and more. For more information, call 530-891-8410, ext. 242.
Web Watch
DV & FireWire Central
www.computervice.com/dv-l/
DV & FireWire Central is a Web site completely focused on DV and IEEE 1394, including news, tips, techniques, specifications, and links to other DV and FireWire sites. Don't miss the sections on undocumented VX1000 features, Area 1394 (a special section on FireWire), and other features in this rough, but informative Web site.
Entry Deadlines
The 42nd San Francisco International Film Festival is accepting entries for its Golden Gate Awards until December 4, 1998. The contest is accepting VHS entries in 12 categories: eight Documentary, Short Narrative, Animation, Music Video and New Visions-Video categories. There is a sliding, length-based entry fee for each video ($45 for under 15 minutes, on up to $85 for over an hour). For more information, call (415) 929-5014, e-mail ggawards@sfiff.org or visit the contest's Web site at www.sfiff.org.
The 1999 South by Southwest Film Festival is accepting VHS entries until November 16 (for regular deadline entries) or December 14, 1998 (for late deadline entries). The fees are $20 for short videos and $30 for features, but late deadline entry fees go up by $5 respectively. The contest is awarding prizes in Narrative Feature and Short, Documentary Feature and Short, Animated Short, Experimental Short and Music Video competition. To enter call (512) 467-7979, e-mail film@sxsw.com or visit the Web site at www.sxsw.com.
Sony's NightShot Bonanza
When Sony announced that users of the company's NightShot-equipped camcorders reported they could see through some types of clothing, we here at Videomaker were reminded of the old X-ray specs that used to be sold in the back of comic books. The mere suggestion that an infrared camcorder could see through clothes was so intriguing to the mainstream media that almost every news outlet picked up on the story, and the Sony camcorders were in newspapers, magazines and on TV.
What's the real deal with NightShot? NightShot is an infrared light and IR light sensor that is built into newer Sony camcorders. NightShot is designed to assist people filming subjects in low-light situations, such as when shooting wildlife at night. The controversy erupted because some users reported when the NightShot feature is used with an infrared filter in full-daylight, the camera "sees" through some types of sheer clothing.
According to Videomaker's Technical Editor Jim Martin, what they are actually seeing is a fully lighted, infrared recording of the heat signature generated by the subject. Some imaginative folk noticed that some parts of the body appear, well, noticeably hotter than other parts when recorded under these conditions. Sony has disabled daylight use of the NightShot feature on its new camcorders, but owners of pre-controversy models can still lay claim to a camera that would make any curious 12-year-old boy proud.
Winnipeg Amateur Moviemakers
811 Fleet Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3M 1K2 Canada
204-453-6907
Wally Robertson
2nd Thursday of each month
London (Ontario) Videography Club
19-295 Wilkins St
London, ON N6C 5C1 Canada
519-685-6197
Thom Speechley
2nd Wednesday of each month
Annapolis Association of Professional Videographers
565 Pinedale Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401-6816
410-224-8337
Mark Goldberg
1st Friday of each month
Seeking Group or Will Organize
Dave Cordova
9690 W Olive Apt 52
Peoria, AZ 85345
Iain Gilmour
6 Alexandra Place
Knaresborough, No. Yorkshire UK HG5 9ER
Rod Garside
PO Box 1088
Tuolumne, CA 95379
Videomaker's User Group Resources
Free Listings
Let new members know about your group. For inclusion in our user group listing, submit your request to "User Groups," c/o Videomaker, P.O. Box 4591, Chico, CA 95927; fax 530-891-8443; e-mail editor@videomaker.com. For a list of existing user groups and/or video enthusiasts seeking or willing to organize a group in your area, send an SASE to our mailing address.
Web Home Pages
Expand your user group's horizons by posting your home page on the Videomaker Web site. If you don't have a Web page, we'll create one for you. For more information, send e-mail to dtaylor@videomaker.com.
Online Forum
Visit the Videomaker Online Forums at www.videomaker.com/forument.htm to network with other user group members and organizers.
User Group Startup Kit
Videomaker's user group startup kit contains everything you need to start and run a successful user group: how to find members, publicize meetings and conduct screenings; sample newsletter, newspaper ad and meeting agenda; discounts off Videomaker merchandise and more. For more information, call 530-891-8410, ext. 242.
Web Watch
DV & FireWire Central
www.computervice.com/dv-l/
DV & FireWire Central is a Web site completely focused on DV and IEEE 1394, including news, tips, techniques, specifications, and links to other DV and FireWire sites. Don't miss the sections on undocumented VX1000 features, Area 1394 (a special section on FireWire), and other features in this rough, but informative Web site.
Entry Deadlines
The 42nd San Francisco International Film Festival is accepting entries for its Golden Gate Awards until December 4, 1998. The contest is accepting VHS entries in 12 categories: eight Documentary, Short Narrative, Animation, Music Video and New Visions-Video categories. There is a sliding, length-based entry fee for each video ($45 for under 15 minutes, on up to $85 for over an hour). For more information, call (415) 929-5014, e-mail ggawards@sfiff.org or visit the contest's Web site at www.sfiff.org.
The 1999 South by Southwest Film Festival is accepting VHS entries until November 16 (for regular deadline entries) or December 14, 1998 (for late deadline entries). The fees are $20 for short videos and $30 for features, but late deadline entry fees go up by $5 respectively. The contest is awarding prizes in Narrative Feature and Short, Documentary Feature and Short, Animated Short, Experimental Short and Music Video competition. To enter call (512) 467-7979, e-mail film@sxsw.com or visit the Web site at www.sxsw.com.
Sony's NightShot Bonanza
When Sony announced that users of the company's NightShot-equipped camcorders reported they could see through some types of clothing, we here at Videomaker were reminded of the old X-ray specs that used to be sold in the back of comic books. The mere suggestion that an infrared camcorder could see through clothes was so intriguing to the mainstream media that almost every news outlet picked up on the story, and the Sony camcorders were in newspapers, magazines and on TV.
What's the real deal with NightShot? NightShot is an infrared light and IR light sensor that is built into newer Sony camcorders. NightShot is designed to assist people filming subjects in low-light situations, such as when shooting wildlife at night. The controversy erupted because some users reported when the NightShot feature is used with an infrared filter in full-daylight, the camera "sees" through some types of sheer clothing.
According to Videomaker's Technical Editor Jim Martin, what they are actually seeing is a fully lighted, infrared recording of the heat signature generated by the subject. Some imaginative folk noticed that some parts of the body appear, well, noticeably hotter than other parts when recorded under these conditions. Sony has disabled daylight use of the NightShot feature on its new camcorders, but owners of pre-controversy models can still lay claim to a camera that would make any curious 12-year-old boy proud.
