Episode 41 - Featuring Owen Masterson of Anthony-Masterson Photography and producer of the movie Grow! - with host Carl Olson (http://16x9cinema.com) and co-host Chris Fenwick (http://chrisfenwick.com).

Christine Anthony and Owen Masterson are the wife/husband filmmaker/ photography duo known as Anthony-Masterson. They moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles 5 years ago because they wanted to experience a different part of the country.   

Their first film FARM!, a 13 minute documentary about young farmers in Georgia, was shot on the Flip Ultra. In 2008 FARM! was an official selection of both the Rome International Film Festival and the Athens EcoFocus Film Festival. They have since picked up a Panasonic HPX170 P2.

In this episode of Digital Convergence, Owen Masterson speaks with me about his latest movie project, the documentary: Grow!. The movie is about about young, new organic farmers in Georgia. They chose 12 farms located throughout the state. The cast includes 21 farmers, each one unique as far as education, experience, opportunity and motivation. Most of them do not own the land they are farming on. They began filming in April 2010 as the first crops were going into the ground. They will film through November as the growing season comes to a close. They will be editing over the winter and readying the film for the premier at the Georgia Organics Annual Conference in Savannah, GA in March 2011.

Episode 40 - Featuring Patrick Inhofer of Fini! Color Correction + Finishing and Tao Of Color - with host Carl Olson (http://16x9cinema.com) and co-host Chris Fenwick (http://chrisfenwick.com).

In this episode we talk with colorist Patrick Inhofer of Fini! Color Correction + Finishing. Color grading and finishing are Patrick's passion. He has worked on a huge variety of projects including film, documentaries, television series, corporate videos. His work has appeared on HBO, NBC, ABC, Showtime, ESPN, Oxygen, AMC, Lifetime, TNT, TBS, and National Geographic Channel - to name just a few.

With the advent of low-cost HDSLR video, many new filmmakers face a huge learning curve for not only production, but also editing and color correction, grading, and finishing. Where does a HDSLR digital filmmaker begin? What is the best way to learn colorist skills? How can the HDSLR DP shoot to get the best color results?

Patrick Inhofer's Tao of Color website is an incredibly rich resource for learning the art and craft of a colorist. His course helps you hone your skills as a colorist by allowing your to look over his shoulders. Footage shot with a Canon 5D Mark II is provided so that you can practice wit the same material that Patrick uses in the course. You learn how Patrick grades and then you go and apply what you learn on the 5D footage. 

Listening to Patrick in this podcast, you come to realize that he is not only a superb technologist, but is also a passionate artist.

Episode 39 - Featuring Jeff Regan of Shooting Star Video - with host Carl Olson (http://16x9cinema.com) and co-host Chris Fenwick (http://chrisfenwick.com).

Jeff Regan is the founder and owner of Shooting Star Video - a provider of high quality video equipment rentals and services in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Having been intimately involved in video technology since the Reagan administration in the early 80's, Jeff adds his unique voice and perspective to the Digital Convergence podcast. We talk about the evolution of video technology, bringing the cinema aesthetic to video, traditional video camcorders vs HDSLR gear, and the vital role collaboration plays in producing creative works. Jeff talks, too, about the new Panasonic AF-100 4/3 micro camcorder and answers a number of our questions about the camera, bit rate obession, AVCHD codec vs other codecs, etc. Jeff's insight into video technology brings a reasoned voice of balance in the near religious wars of HDSLR vs. traditional video. A must-listen episode!

Episode 38 - Featuring Brian Valente of Redrock Micro - with host Carl Olson (http://16x9cinema.com) and co-host Chris Fenwick (http://chrisfenwick.com).

Brian Valente of Redrock Micro join Chris and I in this episode of the Digital Convergence Podcast. Red Rock Micro, with headquarters located near Dallas, Texas, was founded in 2004 by a group of avid digital filmmakers whose desire to produce high quality movie images without access to huge budgets led them to start Redrock Micro: a company committed to the express purpose of bringing cinema-quality accessories to market at revolutionary prices. We believe in - and - enable the privelege of personal ownership of production equipment. Today, Redrock Micro designs and sells a line of high quality cinema accessories for independent filmmakers, film educators and students, and budget-conscious moviemakers. 

Brian talks with us about the new microEVF viewfinder for HDSLR cameras and also brings us up-to-date on the amazing microREMOTE. Brian graciously and patiently put up with our pushing him for more future product information and product ideas we would like to see. Redrock Micro has quickly established themselves as a leading innovator of HDSLR equipment - all without breaking the bank.

And exclusively on the Digital Convergence podcast, Brian valent announces the new Redrock Micro 3D rig for coupling two HDSLR cameras for filming 3D.

Episode 37 - Featuring Tara Oldfield and Jason DeRose of Novacut - with host Carl Olson (http://16x9cinema.com) and co-host Chris Fenwick (http://chrisfenwick.com). 

Chris and I begin this episode by talking about the Digital Dark Ages and huge problem of archiving and backing up video, photo, and other media files - affordably. Our banter migrates over to the controversial question "Is HDSLR video dead?"

In the interview segement, I talk with Tara Oldfield and Jason DeRose of Novacut. Jason and Tara are developing a free video editor that allows artists to collaborate over the internet and harness cheap cloud computing. The Novacut editor is aimed at professional-grade TV and movie production using HDSLR cameras (like the 5D Mark II). These cameras have drastically lowered production costs, but we want to reduce costs even further... so they are taking the lean, distributed workflow perfected by the open-source community, and bringing it to video. Distributed teams are a big part of what has allowed open-source to amazingly produce better software, yet for less money and in less time. The Novacut team feels they can do the same for video. Tara and Jason want to see an explosion of financially viable independent TV shows distributed directly to fans over the Internet, funded through direct fan support, licensed under the Creative Commons.

Chris and I wrap up the show with the latest on Chris' epic journey to switch from Final Cut Pro to Adobe's Premiere Pro. We talk about the Shane Hurlbut "sizzle" trailor video featuring highlights from Shane's 2010 HDSLR Bootcamp.

Episode 36 - Featuring MIchael Safai and Alaric Cole of Soviet Montage Productions - with host Carl Olson (http://16x9cinema.com) and co-host Chris Fenwick (http://chrisfenwick.com).

Carl and Chris talk with Michael and Aleric about their recently released amazing HDR film clip they produced using two Canon EOS 5D Mark II cameras and some proprietary post-production magic. The one minute 37 second film gives us a remarkable glimpse of the future of filmmaking. We talk about the state of the art of HDR technology and the aesthetic of HDR filmmaking.

So, You've got a great song. You want to make a music video. You want it to be memorable so that you stand out in the crowd. But you only have $500 cash and one day to shoot. What are you going to do?

Musician Tim Halperin and filmmaker Joe Childress join me on today's episode to discuss how they pulled off a spectacular continuous one-take music video using $500, several generous and willing volunteers, a handful of donated props, and a giant parking deck, and a whole lot of ingenuity - all in one day for Tim's song She Runs.

Episode 34 - Featuring Khalid Mohtaseb and Jonathan Bregel of Next Level Pictures - on the Digital Convergence Podcast by 16x9 Cinema with hosts Carl Olson (http://16x9cinema.com) and Chris Fenwick (http://chrisfenwick.com).

In the first segment of the show, Chris Fenwick talks about his behind the scene experience with Shane Hurlbut's Hurlbut Visuals HDSLR Bootcamp. Chris gives a feel for what it was like to be in attendance. Chris talks about how the editors at the HDSLR Bootcamp used Adobe Premiere Pro instead of Apple's Final Cut Pro and why. We geek out on data management when Chris reveals he collected over 680 GB of data at the HDSLR Bootcamp.

In the next segment I talk to two amazing filmmakers who are in their early twenties. Khalid Mohtaseb was born in Doha Qatar in December 1985. He spent his childhood traveling from one country to another, until his father was relocated to Wayne New Jersey in 1993. Khalid's work includes the controversial Haiti Earthquake Aftermath video - an amazingly beautiful, cinematic depiction of the sad human cost of this devasting earthquake. Khalid's talent has taken him all the way from shooting film in Coney Island to corporate interviews around the country.

Jonathan Bregel was mentored at a young age by photographer/professor Juan Carlos Castro and was taught the art of lighting, and frame composition. Prior to attending college, Jonathan's photography and documentary work was displayed in museums nationwide. Years later, he graduated from Full Sail University with a BS in Filmmaking. Jonathan's work has already been displayed on many television stations including; IFC, MTV, MTV2, MTVu, Fuse, and BET. Jonathans passion for filmmaking and travel has allowed him to shoot in every state in the USA along with several places outside the USA.

Khalid and Jonathan talk about a new music video they filmed with Canon 5D's and 7D's for the music group There for Tomorrow and their new single Deathbed.

Episode 33 - Trey Ratcliff

We have a great episode lined up for you today. My co-host Chris Fenwick shares a great tip for handling B-roll in Final Cut Pro that will save you a boatload of time. He has a great screencast showing step-by-step this technique: How To Edit B-Roll Faster. Chris and I also talk about a great little stopmotion video that the children of Chris' friend Jeff Dykhouse put together using iStopMotion, a huge Lego collection, and a firewire controlled camcorder over the course of two months. An amazing accomplishment in an attention-deficit world (video embedded at the end of this post).

Today's episode features an interesting interview with Trey Ratcliff.

Trey Ratcliff does not need any introduction to visual artists - he is the Jedi Master of HDR photography and the prolific blogger and curator of his website Stuck In Customs.

In today's episode, Trey and I talk about a wide range of topics. For filmmakers, Trey discusses his interest in how the human brain responds to high speed video. He has conducted a number of interesting experiments using low cost point-and-shoot cameras that can record video at high frame rates.

We delve briefly into the topic of HDR photography and then discuss a number of topics on the "edge" of visual arts. Trey manages to fool me into thinking he has taken up oil painting. Find out how he accomplished that!

We move on to the topic of "the decade of the artist" - how business models have changed for visual artists in the 21st century. Trey candidly talks about his business model and why he chose to go the route he did.

We share our common interest of the amazing music of Patrick O'Hearn.

Trey Ratcliff's insight into visual arts is captivating. We only scratched the surface in this episode. No doubt we can expect more exciting developments from Trey as he continues to push the edge of visual arts.

Episode 32 - In this episode Chris Fenwick and I talk with employee #1 of RED Digital Cinema: Ted Schilowitz. Ted talks with us about the Scarlet and EPIC cameras from RED.

What is variable HDR - an intriguing feature recently announced for EPIC - promising over 13 stops dynamic range? Will variable HDR be available for Scarlet? When will Scarlet ship? What is RED's position on the HDSLR video revolution? Where can HDSLR photographers learn more about shooting with RED? Why should cinematographers care about 4K? How does Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premeire Pro CS5 workflow compare for RED footage? Chris and I also share listener questions with Ted. A great episode! Ted was a fine guest and we are going to be inviting him back soon to dig into more details about EPIC and Scarlet. Just not enough time in one episode to talk about all the great things the RED team is doing.

This episode of the Digital Convergence podcast is also the first episode where I have the privilege of working with a co-host. Chris Fenwick is a post-production expert and accomplished filmmaker and photographer. With several years of experience in the industry, his opinions and insights are a welcome addition to this and future episodes of this podcast.