[Bob Cole]

[Edward G Downie] “if I pruchase a HPX500 that is $20,000.00 include lens and I could purchase some aditional cards plus a field recorder on both camera I still have to buy a deck, if I buy any of these camera, but if I buy the P2 technology I am looking into the future, I will not embrace the HDV or XDCamHD because all the majour players that make HDV and XDCamHD have sign on to the AVCH-Intra technology.”

But does the HPX500 offer the AVC-Intra codec?

[Bob Cole]

[Dennis Size] “given my druthers I would only use a honeycomb”

Dennis, could you please elaborate? Is it because the honeycomb is more effective at keeping the light off unwanted areas (e.g. background), or is it because of the character of the light itself?

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

Just a funny story here: I was on a film fest panel once and saw a short which had only one actor, a teen-aged boy who gradually became aware of some horror in the apartment just above his own.

There was a tracking shot of the boy walking down the hall, and something about the uneven pace of the camera made me realize that the camera must have been sitting in a wagon which was tied to the boy’s ankle, which was just out of frame.

It was actually a pretty well-made movie, but I was not at all surprised when the credits came up… and they read:

David Smith
Did
EVERYTHING

(David Smith is a made-up name — I wish I could remember the real one because he’s probably a big director now. Does anybody recognize this film?)

About credits: If yours is an esthetic question, then just look at some films you admire and pick a style.

If you’re wondering whether to scroll the credits or just dissolve from one page to another, the latter is easier. If you scroll you run into various technical issues. Do a search on the COW about scrolling text — there’s lots of advice about that.

[Bob Cole]

John is as usual right about using open face units with the Chimera. Your Lowel Totalight would work well with the small Chimera, and it packs small, which is nice.

Re: fabric grids — mine are 40 degrees which seem to work fine.

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[meding26] “I have seen commercials that use this technique but I have never understood how they can do it so smoothly.”

how commercial producers do it smoothly: they have the budget for high-end compositing and the artists to go with it.

how you can do it: your green screen idea might work. I would recommend including at least one foreground or background element when you shoot Scene 1; as you zoom past them, have someone take them out of the scene so they’re not there when you zoom out.

Todd’s idea would probably look better. If you shot in HD you would have some slop so that you could adjust the frame and make the close-ups match better.

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[beenice] “Little more info?”

You can compare the two products (BG-50 vs. BSG-50) on this page:

https://www.horita.com/video.htm

I’m not sure you really need the BSG-50, but I think it would prevent your 1800’s error message.

Good luck!

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[beenice] “bought a Horita BG-50”

Try to return it and buy a Horita BSG-50.

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

I appreciate the user report. My contribution to the waste heap will be just a little bit more modest now. Thank you.

— BC

[Bob Cole]

[Steve Wargo] “Horita has several products that do exactly what you want.”

Thanks Steve. Horita makes a “PTR” along with a clipboard version called the “Script Kit,” but even more interesting is their “Pocket PA LTC – Bluetooth Transmitter with PDA-LOG

[Bob Cole]

[Peter Corbett] “I would put the HPX500 against the 1/2″ F350 XDCAM HD”

Except that the 500 will use 2/3″ chips. The decrease in depth of field compared to a 1/2″ chip camera would weigh pretty heavily, for me, vs. the other more subtle criteria.

You seem to have a good line on this product — I’m interested in hearing your perspective on it once you actually see one.

— BC