[Bob Cole]

[Chris Poisson] “If there’s an AC plug on airplanes then I stand completely corrected. I sure never saw one. Sorry.”

Sure Chris, EVERY airplane has an AC plug. They’re in different configurations, and not always at your seat.

Once you find out where it is, all you do is, take your extension cord, cut the end off with your knife, solder the loose wires to the proper connector, and then run the extension cord down the aisle to your seat (might need two cords, some of those aisles are long), while guarding the “hot” end from all the other passengers who want to use it too.

Then, plug the “hot” end into your UPS unit (variable voltages are a big problem), and plug in your laptop and hard drive and io HD, etc., and — oops, the pilot is telling us that we have to close our trays because we’re landing.

Actually, if you want to know whether the airplane you’re booked on has power, check out https://www.seatguru.com/articles/in-seat_laptop_power.php.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[Chris Borjis] “They accidentally left out the copy “if your Howard Hughes””

… or, “if you’re the chairman of the board of a car company flying to Congress on the corporate jet to demand money because you’re so close to bankruptcy.”

—-

on another front, don’t the people from AJA read these forums? I’d be curious about their reaction. In the Internet age, where fact-checking is pretty easy and fast, overblown ads won’t cut it.

[Bob Cole]

I was wondering when this thread would get silly … then I saw DRW’s name and I KNEW.

but, nitpicking? Me, never. I actually am so naive that when I saw the ad, my first thought was, “Wow, that’s really cool!” Which is another reason overstated advertising backfires – it makes the would-be customer feel like an idiot.

sorry David, can’t think of a witty response to yours… oh well.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Thanks for the comments.

I apologize to Matrox for the mistaken identity. I’ve had nothing but good support from that company. But I am very disappointed to realize that it is AJA making this overblown claim. Because I’ve also had excellent support from AJA.

As everybody on this forum probably knows, credibility is about as important as ability in the video business. A shame to see a company like AJA plant seeds of doubt, just for the sake of a clever ad.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

The .jpg doesn’t do the lighting justice. It just looks flat as a still. Somehow it’s much different in broadcast.

If you guys get a chance to screen an actual Frontline video, I’d be very curious about your evaluation qualitatively of the interview lighting. They’ve managed to create a distinctive style. I’m starting to think it’s not just the lighting, but the colorist as well. The beauty of this “look” is that it adds to the credibility of the whole show. It looks “unlit” = “truthful.”

Thank you for the responses. I’m going to try to simulate the effect this week on the first day of shooting talking heads for a new documentary, this way:

Key with Kino Flo Diva at eye level (if eyeglasses are a problem, I’ll move the key light to the side rather than up.) Fill with Chimera, on a dimmer.

I’m going to use some backlight even though it violates the “look,” because I have to use a backdrop rather than an environmental setting, and I think the shot will need some separation.

I’m also going to shoot HD, just to give me a little more quality to work with in post-production, if I can figure out the formula there.

Again, thank for the responses, and please take a look at the next Frontline — usually Tuesday, I think.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[Daniel Low] “These days most people would use Flip4Mac or Episode.”

Thanks! Very interesting.

In the earlier thread, someone pointed out that using WME guaranteed access to Microsoft’s latest efforts.

I just tried both ways: Flip4Mac straight out of FCP, and the QT->AVI->.wmv route with WME, at about 400 Kbps. For a similar final file size, the results were extremely close, though WME seemed to be a little more pleasing on faces — less harsh.

Since I couldn’t get MPEG Streamclip to produce a usable .avi file, I had to export a DV movie from FCP, take that into After Effects, and export an .avi for WME to encode to .wmv.

I’m still curious as to why I can’t make MPEG Streamclip create an .avi.

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Netting, huh? Interesting.

If any of you are interested but didn’t see the show, here is a link to one of the recent interviews:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/choice2008/interviews/axelrod.html

[Bob Cole]

[Michael Palmer] “I would only recommend the T12 units, why? because these compact tube units IMO have too many sources and poorly design reflectors and they defeat the purpose of the original design.”

Michael, as a Kino Flo Diva owner, I’d like to understand what you’re saying a little better. By “too many sources” do you mean the four bulbs in a Diva 400? Or manufacturers?

I think what you’re saying is you don’t like the Diva, because you have to use diffusion to turn it into a single source. Am I right?

Thanks!

Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Are you going to be a one-man band? If so, treat yourself like a producer — try not to carry a darned thing more than you absolutely have to. Live off the land and don’t burden yourself with a lot of lighting gear.

It’s an art project, right? so you can establish a very artsy, side-lighting style. Use windows where you can, and throw one side into shadow. That way, when there’s no window and you need to use a desk lamp, it won’t look too different.

Carrying around a lot of equipment can hurt your show. Especially if you’re doing this as a one-man band, you have to be realistic about what you can carry. If you have a lot of equipment to keep from getting stolen, that’s going to slow you down and distract you from getting your material.

You’re already going to carry around a camera and tripod, right??? I’d consider adding just a small camera light (the Lowel Pro-light?) and some diffusion, along with some way of mounting it off-camera – perhaps a clamp or a tiny stand you could set on a desk.

If you have a traveling companion, sure, go ahead and take a bigger light, the umbrella, and a stand. Lowel makes a nice compact stand which folds up backwards but still unfolds with a nice broad leg span.

Good luck.

bob c

[Bob Cole]

[Mark Suszko] “I think the sealed private reference letter can help, and certainly can’t hurt.”

Glad this works for you. But I was addressing your legal liability. Nothing’s private, even a “sealed private reference letter.” Any negative statement (especially one that you put in writing) could be used against you.

Bob C