The X Generation
Transcription
The X Generation
A PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHERS Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 478423 November 2004 Volume 24, No. 3 The X Generation XDCAM Making Waves and Winning Raves ALSO IN THIS ISSUE VIDEO FILE: Tapeless “Cam-puters” GOLF: 3rd Annual Kodak/CSC Fall Classic AWARDS: Gemini/Gémeaux Nominations LIGHTING: “An Awesome Experience” DISCUSSION: Emerging Imaging Sensors NEWS CLIPS: Diet of Souls Honoured, and More PRESIDENT'S REPORT: “Fun” in Fundraising making a movie? read the book. The Goodman’s Guide to the Panasonic SDX-900 could be your most valuable asset A quick and easy-to-use field guide written from an operator’s perspective Packed with useful information, the book features: • What’s That?: Anatomy of the camera • Detailed look at Camera Menus and Controls • Creating looks: Full-colour images reflect various camera settings • Recording Functions • Audio Controls • Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide • Includes Interactive CDROM with Scene Files, manual text and SD card files Available at authorized Dealers. See our web site for a dealer near you. www.panasonic.ca volume 24, No. 3 November 2004 The Canadian Society of Cinematographers was founded in 1957 by a group of Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa cameramen. Since then over 800 cinematographers and persons in associated occupations have joined the organization. Our members now represent the film and video community in all ten provinces. Our aim continues to be to promote and foster the cause of cinematography and the interests of the Canadian film and video community. We facilitate the dissemination and exchange of technical information, and endeavor to advance the knowledge and status of our members within the industry. As an organization dedicated to furthering technical assistance, we maintain contact with nonpartisan groups in our industry, but have no political or union affiliation. CSC EXECUTIVE President: Joan Hutton csc Vice-President: Richard Stringer csc Treasurer: Joseph Sunday phd Secretary: Antonin Lhotsky Membership: Philip Earnshaw csc Publicity: Robert Brooks csc Education: Ernie Kestler Membership inquiries: 416-266-0591 CORPORATE SPONSORS alphacine/Toybox Applied Electronics Arri Canada Ltd. CinequipWhite Inc. Clairmont Camera D.J. Woods Productions Inc. Deluxe Toronto Eyes Post Group Four Seasons Aviation Fuji Photo Film Canada Inc. Kingsway Motion Picture Ltd. Kino Flo Kodak Canada Inc. The Lab in Toronto Lee Filters Lenhoff and Lenhoff Lorne Lapham Sales & Rentals Maxell Canada Mole-Richardson Osram Sylvania Ltd./Ltée Otto Nemenz International PS Production Services Panasonic Canada Panavision Canada Precision Camera Rosco Canada Sim Video Sony of Canada Ltd. Videoscope Ltd. Wescam William F. White International Inc. ZGC Inc. CSC OFFICE Canadian Society of Cinematographers Administrator: Susan Saranchuk 3007 Kingston Road Suite 131 Toronto, Ontario M1M 1P1 Tel 416-266-0591 Fax 416-266-3996 email: [email protected] Editor: Donald Angus (416) 699-9149 email: [email protected] Editor-in-Chief: Joan Hutton csc CSC NEWS is a publication of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. CSC NEWS is printed in Toronto and is published ten times a year. Subscriptions are available for $75.00 per year in Canada and $95.00 per year outside the country. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 478423. Contents 2 - President’s Report - “Fun” in Fundraising 14- Cover Story The X Generation 10 - Video File - “Cam-puters” 4 12 - Golf - Kodak/CSC Fall Classic 15 - Lighting - “Awesome” Workshop 16 - Discussion - Imaging Sensors 12 20 - Awards - Geminis et Gémeaux 22 - News Clips - Diet of Souls 24 - Action Production Notes - CSC Calendar Visit: www.csc.ca 15 president’s report Joan Hutton csc Putting the “Fun” in Fundraising W ork commitments prevented me from attending this year's third annual Kodak/CSC Fall Classic golf tournament, but I understand it was a great success again - thank you, Susan Saranchuk - and that this time the CSC education fund was the beneficiary of more than $14,000. We are most grateful, especially to Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging but to 2 • CSC News / November 2004 all the tournament sponsors and players as well, for the financial boost. It is most welcome, and now we can plan with security not only our regular education programs, such as camera assistants' courses and lighting workshops, but also new ventures. High on our projects-to-do list is a series of “lectures” by visiting directors of photography and our own distinguished cinematographers. The format has yet to be determined and it probably will be flexible to accommodate our guest VIPs; however, the basic idea is to screen a work - be it a feature, documentary, commercial or whatever - and then interact with the DOP face to face. The learning experience, for both up-and-coming and veteran shooters, will be phenomenal. We hope to videotape (or videodisk) each event, and, of course, publish a report on the evening in the CSC News and on the CSC web site. We'll keep you up to date on how our plans are progressing. We hope to have a schedule of our first events soon. Meanwhile, talking about putting the “fun” in fundraising, we are delighted to report on the success of “The Eleventh Hour Charity Challenge” to raise money for the Actors' Fund of Canada. In a letter issued in early October, the cast of the CTV drama series The Eleventh Hour challenged productions shooting in Canada during the Fund's “More Than Applause” campaign week of Oct. 18-25 to match or better the $1,100 it raised through an on-set raffle for cast and crew in the fall of 2003. The challenge web-letter cited recent tough times for the film and television production business and the 70-per-cent increase in assistance delivered by the Actors' Fund of Canada. Anyone working professionally in film, TV, music, theatre or dance can apply for short-term financial aid from the Fund, which has given out $2.5 million in rent payments, grocery money, utility payments and other assistance over the last 10 years. The Eleventh Hour cast noted that if every film and TV show in production during the fundraising week matched the $1,100 they raised last year, the effort would yield $50,000 for the charity. Shows picking up the gauntlet were Global's Train 48, the CBC's This is Wonderland, and CTV's Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye. A little over two years ago, in the September, 2002, issue of the CSC News, this column introduced CSC members to the Actors' Fund of Canada and published an informative letter from executive director David Hope. I thought then, and I still do, that this fund is worthy of your consideration. For more information, or to make a tax-deductible donation, you can contact the Fund at: The Actors' Fund of Canada, 10 St. Mary Street, Suite 860, Toronto, ON M4Y 1P9. Telephone: (416) 975-0304 (toll-free 1-877-3998392); Fax: (416) 975-0306; e-mail: [email protected]; web site: www.actorsfund.ca • FINE G RAIN ACCURATE COLOUR REPRODUCTION WIDE EXPOSURE LATITUDE GUTS TO SIT FIVE FEET FRO M SO M ETHING THAT COULD RIP YOUR HEAD CLEAN OFF We do our part. You do yours. As a consistent innovator in the advancement of motion picture film, Fujifilm has everything you need to get the shot you want. No matter what you’re shooting. www.fujifilm.ca/MotionPicture Photo: Don Angus cover story THE X-MEN: Sim Video president Rob Sim (left) and DOP Bert Dunk csc asc share the spotlight with a Sony XDCAM camcorder during an XDCAM showcase in September. Dunk calls the XDCAM system “incredible stuff.” I The X Generation t probably is the blue-laser, optical-disk technology that's causing all the excitement. After all, it was only a rumour a few short years ago - the stuff of science fiction. Whatever. The fact is, here in 2004, it has been a long time since a standard-definition video camera has stirred up so much buzz in the television industry. The centre of attention is the Sony XDCAM, which officially launched the X Generation of digital image acquisition at NAB last spring (with a preliminary introduction in 2003) and has been titillating filmmakers ever since. The last public love-in for the camera(s) - the IMX PDW-530 and the DVCAM PDW-510 - was a fall workshop at Sim Video that was sponsored by Precision Camera Inc. and Sony of Canada. 4 • CSC News / November 2004 XDCAM Making Waves and Winning Raves There was lots of technical talk and hype, and there was the XDCAM, of course, the star of the show. But the focus for most was the screening of tests shot by award-winning director of photography Bert Dunk csc asc - side-by-side visuals of day and night situations captured on both XDCAM and the Sony F900 HDCAM. The XDCAM images had undergone an up-resolution process. “The XDCAM looked pretty good,” Dunk said. “I mean, it's not high definition but it sure looks good. It's not a replacement for high def, but if it's accepted (by broadcasters) as an up-res, then for people with smaller budgets it's certainly a possibility.” The DOP, a technically-minded artist who has never actually shot a show in video but is not opposed to the By Don Angus “It's a Ferrari” - Michael Boland csc idea, said that “XDCAM is more than just a camera.” He explained that he used it for checking rushes on the threeperf 35mm shoot of a pilot, Anonymous Rex. In a procedure Dunk dreamed up himself (“Nobody at Sony had even thought about it"), post-production house Magnetic North simultaneously recorded on an XDCAM PDW-3000 studio deck while they were transferring the 35mm film to digital tape. The next morning he was able to access the IP address on the deck and get the thumbnail clips he wanted, or they put the clips up on their server and he could access them there. “With the thumbnail feature of the XDCAM, you can see enough to judge what you need to do, and then you get the full-res disk at the end of the day. That's a big plus.” He would like to do it again on his HAPPY OWNER: Michael Boland csc poses on location with his new XDCAM PDW-530. He went to Newfoundland and Iceland with an XDCAM from Precision Camera and “after two days, I said 'I'm buying this.' I could see how good it was.” next show, if that is on film, “because it is so handy.” Vice-president Bill Long of PCI has been saying all along that the camera and its unique optical disk recording system would have tremendous value in several production areas - documentaries, commercials, low-budget series, etc. - as well as for electronic news-gathering. He predicted the new kid on the block would supplant the Sony workhorses, the venerable Betacam SP and the much more expensive Digital Betacam. It's not just the advanced technology; just look at the cost, he noted. The high-end XDCAM PDW-530 camcorder sells for only $50,000. The XDCAM family consists of camcorder models PDWsee page 6 CSC News / November 2004 • 5 from page 5 510 and PDW-530 and deck models PDW-V1 (mobile), PDW-1500 (halfrack) and the PDW-3000 (studio). The PDW-510 records DVCAM only, whereas the PDW-530 can record in DVCAM or MPEG IMX. A single disk holds 85 minutes of DVCAM material and 75 minutes of MPEG IMX 30Mbps data. For MPEG IMX at 40 Mbps and 50Mbps, the disk capacity is specified at 55 minutes and 45 minutes respectively. PCI sales executive Ted Mitchener told CSC News that “in just a short period of time we have experienced a great deal of success in placing XDCAM products in the Canadian production and post-production community. The response to the quality of images produced by the PDW-530/510 and the improved work flow in post has been overwhelmingly positive. “The use of the proxy video and associated meta data will generate huge time savings both on and off set. Logging, which traditionally is one of the more time-consuming and tedious procedures, is an area where huge amounts of time can be saved simply due to the nonlinear nature of the XDCAM optical disk recording system. 'Pretty incredible stuff, it's the future' Imagine not having to shuttle tape ever again. “While Betacam SP and Digital Betacam will continue to be widely used, I believe that XDCAM will come to dominate in ENG/EFP applications in the not-too-distant future.” Rob Sim of Sim Video concurred. The XDCAM “is not just the cam- era, it's the whole system,” he said. “It's the ability to send your footage on Ethernet and the low-res proxy for off-line. For cost-effectiveness, the disk can be reused thousands of times, which is not the case with videotape. The camera itself is the latest technology; its sensitivity is about ASA 640, and it handles contrast nicely. Overall, as a standard-def camera it's performance is definitely in the realm of 16mm (film), and it will shoot 24p as well as 30p and 60 interlace.” Sim Video has three cameras now but will probably acquire more “as the demand ramps up, and it seems to be ramping up. We'll probably be up to five very shortly.” Besides news-gathering, Sim said XDCAM applications encompass sports, reality, documentary, low-budget series and music videos. “I believe it will be the de facto replacement for COMMERCIAL FIRST: Tony Wannamaker csc, one of the two commercial DOPs for Toronto 1's creative services department, lensed early this year the first commercial to be shot in Canada with the PDW-530 model. Toronto 1 is the first Canadian broadcaster to switch from tape-based acquisition to the XDCAM. 6 • CSC News / November 2004 Betacam. I think the whole format lends itself well to streamlining the whole production process. You can be editing as you shoot. You have nonlinear access to your footage. You can ship your dailies off to L.A. (for example) very easily and very cheaply on the Internet. “It certainly does look pretty good up-res. It doesn't look as good as HD. It's still a standard-def NTSC camera, and no matter how good the camera is you can't fix the deficiencies of NTSC. That's why HD is so wonderful, because there are no remnants of NTSC.” The XDCAM is not a flash in the pan, “although it depends on how quickly the world of HD takes over. That's where the future is, and it's happening now.” Mike Spear at Videoscope said the XDCAM is generating “lots of interest and the demos are showing that everybody likes the camera. It's got strong quality and they see it as almost a Digital Betacam.” However, he added, it is a transitional period. “I'm not getting the feeling from cameramen that they're all that convinced as to which format to go with these days, whether to go for a less expensive XDCAM unit or to hang in there for HDCAM.” As a newcomer to the increasingly complex world of digital video, the XDCAM may not yet be a major player, but the camera and optical disk system certainly has its cheerleaders. Besides Bert Dunk, who called the technology “pretty incredible stuff, it's the future,” the XDCAM has won raves from several CSC members. Michael Boland csc bought a PDW530 last June only days after borrowing a “trial” unit from PCI for a documentary shoot in Newfoundland and Iceland. He was asked to shoot the CBC doc by Newfoundland producer/director Barbara Doran, and he was planning on using his Betacam SP when Steve Mayhew of Eyes Post Group suggested he check out the XDCAM at Precision Camera - “'16:9 and better than Digi Beta. Maybe you can trial it,'” he said Mayhew suggested. Doran and the CBC agreed to use see page 8 ★ Providing Aerial support to the film industry since 1987 AS 355F1 TwinStar AS35OD & AS350B2 ASTAR Bell 206B JETRanger Fly Away Home • The Big Hit The Wall • The Jackal Universal Soldier La Femme Nikita Barney’s Great Adventure Blues Brothers 2000 • Bait Dick • Bless This Child Exit Wounds • Driven Dracula 2000 • John Q Wescam Lighting ★ ★ Grip ★ Generators ★ ★ Camera ★ ★ Spacecam Imax Tyler Mounts Mega Mounts Lester B. Pearson International Airport Toronto Canada David Tommasini, President internet: VANCOUVER TORONTO 2820 Underhill Avenue Burnaby, BC V5A 3C5 Tel: 604.434.4008 Fax: 604.434.4066 80 Commissioners Street Toronto, ON M5A 1A8 Tel: 416.466.0037 Fax: 416.466.9612 PRAIRIES ATLANTIC www.fourseasonsaviation.com Tel: (905) 671• 9644 Fax: (905) 671• 9536 Toll Free: 1• 877• HLCPTRZ ⁄ 452 • 7870 CSC News / November 2004 • 7 74 Stevenson Road 139 Thornhill Drive Winnipeg, MB Dartmouth, NS R3H 0W7 B3B 1S2 Tel: 204.632.6813 Tel: 902.468.4747 Fax: 204.632.6820 Fax: 902.468.3535 www.psps.com from page 7 the XDCAM and Bill Long at PCI agreed to supply it. Taking his old Beta SP as backup, Boland went to Newfoundland with the XDCAM and “after two days, I said 'I'm buying this.' I could see how good it was.” He warmed up quickly to the camera's many features, especially the thumbnail scenes and the ability to play back the footage at night on an eight-inch Sony monitor. “It just looked outstanding.” The camera “is a Ferrari. It's evenly balanced just like my old Arri SR. It doesn't have the back weight of the tape deck in it. I was just blown away by the whole thing. This has made videotape redundant.” Don Purser csc shot a children's show pilot on XDCAM and said, “It's certainly the most interesting thing to come along in a while. I like the look of it; I saw the tests shot by Bert Dunk and some of his up-res images looked quite spectacular. “It's nice to be able to check something in the camera,” he added, “pull it into thumbnail mode, play back a specific take, and then just hit record. There's no queuing up, just start right where you left off. The disk goes to the next available space.” He liked the weight of the camera, too. “I think this will replace Digi Beta. I think the electronics of processing have improved a lot since the last series of Digi Betacams. I think (blue laser technology) has great potential you know, the whole thing of being able to work proxy video and that kind of stuff. I think it's got a real hook.” He said, “It runs a little hot., but I suppose the upside of that would be that if you had it in a Polar bag, working outside in the winter, you wouldn't have to put any Hot Shots in it.” Anton van Rooyen was one of two camera operators, with Robert MacDonald, under DOP Milan Podsedly csc on a Rhombus Media documentary on the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He said he believes economy was a major factor in choosing XDCAM, “and the fact that it has 24p added some bling for the price.” 8 • CSC News / November 2004 He liked “the light weight and the balance of the XDCAM,” especially since “we had our cameras up, I would say, for five hours and 45 minutes out of every six, largely hand held. It was one of the hardest shoots I've done physically - just nonstop even with two cameras. We did rehearsals, performances, we shot behind the scenes, we shot breaks during rehearsals when one or more of the musicians would talk to visiting schoolchildren, we shot them setting up on stage, we shot the conductor in his office suite, we interviewed many orchestra members, we would travel often with the conductor in his car. Then we shot parties in the evening, either an official gathering at Roy Thomson Hall or perhaps an informal dinner at a restaurant or at '24p added some bling for the price' one of the patrons' houses in Rosedale. “We put the camera through its paces over the two weeks. We used five cameras for the performances.” One downside, he said, is that “it does use more power compared with, say, a 570, whose battery will last way longer than it will on an XDCAM.” Tony Wannamaker csc, one of the two commercial DOPs for Toronto 1's creative services department, lensed early this year the first commercial to be shot in Canada with the PDW-530 model (see CSC News, May/2004). Toronto 1 is the first Canadian broadcaster to switch from tape-based acquisition to the XDCAM. “My interest primarily centred on the application of the camera in prolonged commercial production environments, its reliability in cinema verité type shoots, and its application in post-production,” he said. “The XDCAM performed well in both studio and field environments. “It was a cool, windy day when I shot the initial tests. Fortunately . . . I could warm my fingers at the disk insert location. However, having noted the heat generation, I was concerned about prolonged use. On set, I had the camera running constantly over a period of eight hours. The disk insert location was warm to the touch, but there was no indication of overheating; the re-writable disk was warm to the touch as well.” Wannamaker said, “The ability of the camera to generate thumbnails on request for sequence clips proved beneficial in the commercial environment. When we needed to screen footage, to ensure that we got the take, we easily enabled the thumbnail function and the clip bin was presented in the side panel monitor. It was simply a matter of selecting the clip and enabling the item for playback.” He said it was “exciting to be part of this new technological leap. The XD cameras offer practical advantages to both our current affairs and creative services departments and provide our production staff with an efficient means for work flow.” Richard Stringer csc has shot with the XDCAM and was “impressed by an improved picture over existing standard-def cameras in that price range and the fact that this camera offers slow shutter speeds and 24p.” Stringer attended NAB last spring on behalf of IATSE 667 and wrote a detailed review for the union's newsletter, including his assessment of “tapeless image storage cameras.” Excerpts of Stringer's work are printed in this issue. Copies of the full material are available from IATSE 667. Meanwhile, Panasonic has introduced its DVCPRO Professional Plugin (P2) technology, which allows images to be captured on P2 Secure Digital (SD) memory cards and transferred directly to editing software, eliminating the need for tape. According to Panasonic, P2 technology puts the information right into the editor's hands with no digitization or conversion, saving hours of work. Data is immediately accessible on the P2 card in file format. The card is recognized instantly when inserted into a PC's PCMCIA slot. The system is expected to have a major effect on the broadcast and news-gathering industries, which depend on tape-based systems. • video file Tapeless 'Cam-puters' Are for Real T he big development at NAB 2004 was eliminating tape as a video format and replacing it with the same type of data storage we use in our computers and digital cameras - disk drives and solid memory cards. This concept has been around for a few years, but it's kicking in for real this year. There is lots of competition and there are different systems from the key video manufacturers. As usual, they all want their product to be the next format of choice. Sony has its XDCAM. This is a bluelaser system that uses a DVD-size disk in a protective compartment. Cost is $40 for a recording time of 45 to 85 minutes, depending on picture quality. There are two standard-definition cameras - one very good at $27,000, one really good at $50,000. I have already shot with the XDCAM and I was impressed by an improved picture over existing standard-def cameras in that price range and the fact that this camera offers slow shutter speeds (and 24p). Panasonic has its DVCPRO P2. This system uses a small card - a big brother to cards you might use in a digital still camera. Cost is $2,000 for 18 minutes, but don't panic - Panasonic says this cost should come down. The standarddef camera with P2 is the PDX800 at $28,000. This camera accepts five P2 cards for a total of 80 minutes and picture information will jump from one card to another - even mid-shot. Ikegami, a video manufacturer not seen much in Toronto, started this idea a few years ago. They have a disk in a cartridge-type drive, the FieldPak2, which they claim could accept other memory devices in the future. It costs $500 and stores an hour or more depending on the picture quality setting with their new standard-def camera, the DNS-33W. JVC cameras are using an add-on drive called FireStore. With this, you can record on both tape and disk drive. So what are some of the advantages 10 • CSC News / November 2004 to tapeless shooting? First, we eliminate tape's transport mechanism which can be noisy and break down or require maintenance. The tape stock is vulnerable to handling damage and dropouts, but these new storage devices are robust and can handle extremes in temperature and humidity (which can make tape inoperable). But the big change I noticed was the replay and re-cue features. Anybody who has shot tape knows that when you are two-thirds through the tape, nobody goes back to check the first By Richard A. or second take, because it takes too long, the tape might get screwed up, and you have to be careful to re-cue to the point you left off or you might erase something. With all the digital capture devices, you can go back and check takes instantly (like selecting tracks on a consumer CD player), with no fear of doing damage or erasing anything. So you can look at previous takes, even delete them and then return to shooting at any time. These devices can be used over and over many times, which changes the cost factors compared with using existing videotape. Other advantages of disk drives are time lapse and replayable freeze frames. There is also a feature called “cache” where the disk or card can be capturing an image even before you ask it to. When you press record, a certain amount of time can be pre-recorded. This is useful if you've fallen asleep when the prime minister starts his major address! Now that information is in gigabytes, the pictures can be downloaded to computer faster than real time. Tape has always required real-time digitizing when loading the images into computers for editing. Panasonic chose solid-state card storage because there are no moving parts and therefore no maintenance, while Sony maintains that the XDCAM, which has a spinning disk, is reliable and rugged. At NAB, Sony had a camera in a deep freezer and during the demo they took it out into the warm Las Vegas environment to show record and playback was no problem (lens fog was still an issue though!). I asked about vibration interfering with the disk record mode, but this camera actually senses shock and is always using a memory buffer to delay the digitizing if necessary. Sony's disks are just a little more expensive than present tape costs, Stringer csc although you can reuse them. You can choose to keep them as you would videotapes; they are very robust and have much more shelf life than tape. If you want to reuse the disks, you must transfer the images on to disk drives, DVDs or tapes. Panasonic's P2 cards are pricey, but cost and memory capacity will change. If you use up your supply of P2 cards on location, you will have to download the images on to a laptop to free them up for reuse. Even though downloading is fast, it would be an issue in the field. One interesting feature on the new cameras is a colour LCD flip-out monitor on the side, similar to miniDV camcorders. The location is on the top right of the operator's side of the cameras, and on the XDCAM it can be switched to show the timecode information. My only problem is that if you want to use this LCD for the director while you use the viewfinder, there is little or no room for your head or if you shoot from the hip the LCD is totally blocked. Maybe they should consider locating the LCDs at the top of the camera behind the handle. Many of these camera systems are still in development and soon this kind of data capture will be used on HDTV models. • CSC FULL AND CSC FULL MEMBERS Nicholas Allen-Woolfe csc Jim Aquila csc Eduardo Arregui csc Michael Balfry csc Christopher Ball csc John Banovich csc John Bartley csc asc Stan Barua csc Yves Bélanger csc Peter Benison csc Dean Bennett csc John Berrie csc Thom Best csc Michel Bisson csc Cyrus Block csc Robert Bocking csc Ludek Bogner csc Michael Boland csc Raymond Brounstein csc Thomas Burstyn csc Barry Casson csc Eric Cayla csc Henry Chan csc Marc Charlebois csc Rodney Charters csc Bruce Chun csc Damir Chytil csc Richard Ciupka csc Arthur Cooper csc Walter Corbett csc Bernard Couture csc Richard Crudo csc asc Dean Cundey csc asc Francois Dagenais csc Steve Danyluk csc Louis de Ernsted csc David De Volpi csc Kim Derko csc Jacques Desharnais csc Serge Desrosiers csc Jean-Yves Dion csc Mark Dobrescu csc Wes Doyle csc Guy Dufaux csc Albert Dunk csc asc Philip Earnshaw csc Ian Elkin csc Michael Ellis csc Carlos Esteves csc Nikos Evdemon csc David Frazee csc Marc Gadoury csc James Gardner csc David Geddes csc Ivan Gekoff csc Laszlo George csc Len Gilday csc Pierre Gill csc LIFE MEMBERS John Goldi csc Russ Goozee csc Steve Gordon csc David Greene csc John Griffin csc Michael Grippo csc Manfred Guthe csc Thomas Harting csc Peter Hartmann csc Pauline Heaton csc Brian Hebb csc David Herrington csc Kenneth Hewlett csc Edward Higginson csc Robbi Hinds csc Robert Holmes csc John Holosko csc George Hosek csc Colin Hoult csc Donald Hunter csc Joan Hutton csc Tom Ingle csc Mark Irwin csc asc Maris Jansons csc James Jeffrey csc Silvio Jesenkovic csc Daniel Jobin csc Pierre Jodoin csc Martin Julian csc Norayr Kasper csc Glen Keenan csc Ian Kerr csc Jan Kiesser csc asc Alar Kivilo csc asc Douglas Koch csc Charles Konowal csc Rudi Kovanic csc Jim Kozmik csc Ken Krawczyk csc Les Krizsan csc Alwyn Kumst csc Jean-Claude Labrecque csc Serge Ladouceur csc George Lajtai csc Harry Lake csc Marc Laliberte Else csc Barry Lank csc Henry Lebo csc Richard Leiterman csc John Lesavage csc Henry Less csc Pierre Letarte csc Philip Linzey csc Walt Lloyd csc J.P. Locherer csc Peter Luxford csc Larry Lynn csc Duncan MacFarlane csc Dylan Macleod csc Bernie MacNeil csc Glen MacPherson csc Harry Makin csc Donald McCuaig csc Robert McLachlan csc asc Ryan McMaster csc Michael McMurray csc Stephen McNutt csc Graeme Mears csc Simon Mestel csc Gregory Middleton csc Gordon Miller csc Robin Miller csc Paul Mitchnick csc Luc Montpellier csc George Morita csc David Moxness csc Craig Mullins csc Douglas Munro csc Dan Nowak csc Rene Ohashi csc asc Ron Orieux csc Harald Ortenburger csc Gerald Packer csc Rod Parkhurst csc Barry Parrell csc Brian Pearson csc David Pelletier csc David Perrault csc Barry Peterson csc Bruno Philip csc Michael Wale csc John Walker csc Tony Wannamaker csc Peter Warren csc Andrew Watt csc Jim Westenbrink csc Tony Westman csc Kit Whitmore csc Brian Whittred csc George Willis csc Richard Wincenty csc Peter Woeste csc Bill Wong csc Bruce Worrall csc Craig Wrobleski csc Yuri Yakubiw csc Matthew Phillips csc André Pienaar csc Edward Pietrzkiewicz csc Ronald Plante csc Randal Platt csc Milan Podsedly csc Hang Poon csc Steven Poster asc csc Andreas Poulsson csc Pascal Provost csc Don Purser csc Joel Ransom csc Ousama Rawi csc bsc William Reeve csc Stephen Reizes csc Derek Rogers csc Brad Rushing csc Branimir Ruzic csc Robert Saad csc Victor Sarin csc Paul Sarossy csc bsc Gavin Smith csc Christopher Soos csc John Spooner csc Ronald Stannett csc Barry Stone csc Michael Storey csc Richard Stringer csc Michael Sweeney csc Adam Swica csc Attila Szalay csc Christopher Tammaro csc Gabor Tarko csc John Tarver csc Brian Thomson csc Paul Tolton csc Bert Tougas csc Chris Triffo csc Sean Valentini csc Paul van der Linden csc Derek Vanlint csc Roger Vernon csc Steve Vernon csc Daniel Villeneuve csc Daniel Vincelette csc FULL LIFE MEMBERS Herbert Alpert csc asc Robert Brooks csc David Carr csc Christopher Chapman csc Robert Crone csc Kenneth Davey csc Kelly Duncan csc dgc Dan Gibson csc Kenneth Gregg csc Brian Holmes csc Maurice Jackson-Samuels csc Naohiko Kurita csc Douglas Lehman csc Donald McMillan csc Jim Mercer csc Roger Moride csc Dean Peterson csc Roger Racine csc Robert Rouveroy csc Ivan Sarossy csc Josef Sekeresh csc Walter Wasik csc Ron Wegoda csc Louis Wolfers csc Toronto Vancouver Tel: (416) 444-7000 Tel: (604) 291-7262 CSC News / November 2004 • 11 3rd Annual Kodak/ CSC Fall Golf Classic: Teeing Off for CSC Education Fund Photo: Don Angus Photo: Don Angus of the Ontario film and television industry pitched and putted around the 18 holes of the 3rd annual Kodak/CSC Fall Classic. It was “a gem of a day,” enthused one happy golfer. see page 14 LONGEST DRIVE, WOMEN: Johanna Gravelle receives her prize from colleague Dave Butler of Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging. LONGEST DRIVE, MEN: Josh Scherba. Photo: Don Angus MOST HONEST GOLFERS: Eugene McEleney, Dee Smith, Russell Cienapp and Paul Stechly of the Applied Electronics team. 1-2-3 . . . you're right, they've lost somebody. Photo: Don Angus LOWEST TEAM SCORE: Daniel Schwartz, Richard Storms and Mark Lewandowski of the D.J. Woods team. Diane Woods could not make it. 12 • CSC News / November 2004 Photo: Don Angus I t was officially the first day of autumn, Sept. 22, and a bright sun in a mostly cloudless sky warmed the lush fairways and greens of the splendid Woodington Lake Golf Club in rural Tottenham, Ont. For five or so hours, longer for some than for others, 80 golfers from all corners PUTTING CONTEST: Winner Alwyn Kumst csc. Photo: Don Angus recreation for education CLOSEST TO THE HOLE: Men, Allan Munro. Women, Cynthia Dron. Thank you The 3rd Annual Kodak and CSC Fall Classic Golf Tournament at Woodington Lake was a resounding success. Participants from all walks of the entertainment industry enjoyed a full day of fun and fundraising in support of the CSC Education Fund and Lecture Series. Our sincere thanks to our sponsors, to the companies and individuals who donated prizes for the tournament winners, to the volunteers who helped make sure that everything ran smoothly, and to everyone who took time out from their busy schedules to support the cause. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you. SPONSORS DONATIONS Applied Electronics Ltd. Arri Canada Bacardi Canada Clairmont Camera David J. Woods Deluxe Toronto Ltd. IATSE 667 LEE Filters Maxell Canada Osram Panavision Canada Corporation Precision Camera PS Production Services SIM Video Sony of Canada Ltd. Videoscope Ltd. Wm. F. White Int'l. Woodington Lakes Golf Club Sahadat of Kodak Entertainment Imaging, Susan Saranchuk and Karen Longland of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, and Doug Maguire of Maguire Marketing & Communications. “The Kodak & CSC Fall Classic golf tournament is a great opportunity for us all to get together for a day of fun and fundraising,” she said. “Thanks to your efforts, 100 per cent of the money raised this year will go directly to support the CSC education fund and lecture series. So by being here today you're not only supporting the CSC, you're also supporting future generations of cinematographers. And that benefits us all.” CSC education chair Ernie Kestler said the recession that hit the Photo: John Narvali Photo: Doug Maguire from page 12 There were 90 guests at the sumptuous, roast beef dinner that followed the friendly competition. Comic magician David Merry played host, entertained with a hilarious set, and announced the various prize winners. The biggest winner was the CSC education fund, to which the day's proceeds of over $14,000 were allocated. Kim Snyder, country manager and vice-president of Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging, urged the dinner gathering to give “a big round of applause” for the various tournament sponsors, because “without them this event wouldn't happen.” She also thanked the organizing committee “for making this such a memorable day” - David Butler and Duane FAIRWAY PIRACY: Ed Higginson csc, president of The Lab in Toronto Inc., tries to look menacing as he appears to hijack a golf cart - his own. MERRY MAGICIAN: Dinner host David Merry performs a magic trick with the help of his pet mouse, who miraculously lived through the show. Photo: John Narvali THE 19TH GREEN: Ernie Kestler, CSC education chair, and Jennifer Mallette of William F. White International, enjoy the sunshine and fresh autumn air at the Kodak/CSC Fall Classic. The CSC education fund was the beneficiary of the day's proceeds. Photo: John Narvali WELCOME: Kim Snyder, country manager and vice-president of Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging, welcomes golfers and other guests at the Kodak/CSC Fall Classic dinner. 14 • CSC News / November 2004 Canadian film and television industry has made it difficult to find funding for the annual CSC camera assistants' course and the CSC's regular lighting workshops, both of which are “an important and popular part of the CSC's mandate to promote and foster the art of cinematography in Canada.” The infusion of money from this year's golf tournament allows the Society to continue existing education programs, he said, and to develop new educational programming “in an effort to keep up with the ever-changing technology.” A new lecture series in the works “will have Canadian and foreign directors of photography screening their work and participating in follow-up discussions.” Kestler said: “There is much the CSC wants to do to help disseminate the collective knowledge and expertise of our profession. The funds raised today will help us make a major step in that direction. Thank you all.” And now, the tournament's prizewinning golfers: • Lowest team score (63): Mark Lewandowski, Daniel Schwartz, Richard Storms ($100 gift certificate from Sporting Life - donated by Clairmont Camera, plus Kodak garment bag and one dozen golf balls.) • Most honest golfers: Paul Stechly, Eugene McEleney, Dee Smith, Russell Cienapp (Videoscope/Sony briefcase with coaster, pen, calculator.) • Putting contest: Alwyn Kumst csc (2 Raptor tickets, donated by IATSE 667.) • Longest Drive, Women: Johanna Gravelle (Green fees for 2 - Woodington Lake Golf Course; DVD player, donated by D. J. Woods Productions) • Longest Drive, Men: Josh Scherba (Green fees for 2 - Woodington Lake Golf Course; DVD player, donated by D. J. Woods Productions) • Closest to the Hole, Men: Allan Munro (Bacardi gift basket) • Closest to the Hole, Women: Cynthia Dron ($50 Sporting Life gift certificate donated by Clairmont Camera) • lighting CSC Lighting Workshop: 'An Awesome Experience' T he Fall 2004 edition of the CSC's ongoing series of Lighting Workshops was held the weekend of Oct. 23 at PS Production Services in Toronto, with an enrolment of 10 participants. On day one, Ernie Kestler, CSC Education Chair and workshop coordinator, introduced the class to the various theories of light and lighting, and also demonstrated the use of several types of light meters. The workshop students got to talk and compare notes over lunch break, then in the afternoon session Ernie talked about three-point lighting and set up an exercise where the group tried to make an object look three-dimensional. Everybody enjoyed the chance of actually experimenting with various lighting approaches and observing the results. Subhashish Tripathy found the hands-on exercise to be “an awesome experience.” Day two started with a tour of the lighting facilities at PS, conducted by Rae Thurston, PS senior vice-president, operations. With over 29 years of senior level experience at managing the rental of film and television production equipment, Rae has a reputation as a very “hands-on guy.” Over the years he's been gaffer for numerous films, and a production manager on many commercial shoots. While the tour was in progress, George Willis csc, aided by gaffer Bob McAdam, devised a lighting plan for the standing set (generously provided by DSA) that he used for several practical demonstrations. The DOP set up an office interior, with transitions from early morning to night (including a neon effect from outside the window). He also explored the effects of an approaching storm on a domestic (ground floor) interior, Not only did he STUDENTS get a tour of the lighting facilities at PS, conducted by Rae Thurston, PS senior vice-president, operations. Text and Photos by Ernie Kestler CSC Education Chair demonstrate different times of day, but also tree effects indicating the storm and wind. The group also looked at light transitions, including water and fire effects, that George set up on an exterior patio set. Participant Andrew Stevenson thought that “this workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn from highly experienced professionals.” Everyone agreed the workshop was both informative and stimulating, and helped to demystify some of the “mysterious” aspects of lighting. In the words of Denise Curry, “it helped get my creative juices flowing.” Workshop clients were William Austin, Maggie Craig, Denise Curry, Robert Hanousek, Julia McDowell, David Niven, Andrew Stevenson, Subhashish Tripathy, David Trueman and Jason Vitesse. • LIGHTING instructor George Willis csc set up an office interior, with transitions from early morning to night, including a neon effect from outside the window. CSC News / November 2004 • 15 discussion Emerging Technologies in Imaging Sensors W ith the transition to digital television driving the requirement for multi-format, multi-use imaging devices, the October meeting of the Toronto branch By Lance Carlson of SMPTE examined emerging technologies in imaging sensors for multi-format SD and HD broad- cast use and cinematography. SMPTE invited CSC members to the discussion in the Eaton Lecture Theatre at the Rogers Communications Centre of Ryerson University, and Associate Member Lance Carlson was there to report for the CSC News. The meeting was arranged by Paul Stechly of Applied Electronics Ltd. and Reid Robertson of Panasonic Canada, and sponsored by Applied Electronics. Presentations included, CMOS: Cameras for Multi-format HD Production, by Alan Keil of Ikegami; Advanced Frame Transfer Technology, by Lucian Ion of Dalsa Corp.; and the D-20 Cinematography Camera, by Sebastien Laffoux of Arri Canada. The Arri D-20 The Dalsa Origin I t was a little like Back to the Future. The evening's three presentations were about current and future leading-edge technologies, but, for a nostalgic look back, Gord Ballantine of Applied Electronics brought out his collection of Image Orthicon tubes, some about the size of a small bazooka, with a 3 1/2- inch sensor, down to a MagLight-sized single (monochrome) 1/2-inch chip and a 2/3-inch Beta-style beamsplitter block. 16 • CSC News / November 2004 Apparently the delicate nature of the tubes made the switchover to solidstate CCD chips a rapid and welcome one. Moving forward, Alan Keil, VP and director of engineering for Ikegami at its Maywood, N.J., headquarters, started his talk by summarizing a bit of the history of image sensors, including the Image Orthicon, the Plumbicon, etc., and then explained some of his company's developments into current solid state CCD technology. His detailing of photo diodes, or pixels as we now know them, led to a comparison of Frame Transfer, Interline Transfer and Frame Interline Transfer technologies used in current image capture devices, primarily video cameras. He also explained how Ikegami is now exploiting new technologies with CMOS-sensor image acquisition, which it has developed in collaboration with Rockwell Scientific. CMOS imaging technology is obviously now coming of age in motion imaging and Ikegami is pinning much of its expectations on maintaining their reputation for quality in their new HDTV products with this technology. Not least in features of the CMOS technology is the fact that it consumes considerably less power than CCDs. I have attended Mr. Keil's presentations before and they are always fascinating in their obscure detail of some of the intricate workings of the imaging devices we rely on to often make us look smarter than we really are (at least speaking for myself). The next presentation was by Lucian Ion, filling in for John Coghill of the Waterloo, Ont.-based Dalsa Corp., which seems to have its act together in creating a next-generation digital cinema camera, the Origin. Gord Harris, formerly of Imax and a consultant to Dalsa, alerted me to this product over two years ago and I have been waiting and watching with anticipation ever since. I have not been to NAB for either of the launch presentations, but there is certainly a lot of buzz among serious cinematographers in Europe and Hollywood and in between. Denny Clairmont of Clairmont Camera is also involved in an advisory role. Without getting into a history of Dalsa (primarily a chip maker) and their amazing products, a simple reminder may be in order. Their chips are of such quality that they were selected by NASA for duty on the Mars Rovers, whose spectacular images we have all seen. With 20 years of experience designing the world's best image sensors, Dalsa followed a cinematographer's wish list to design the next-generation digital cinema camera from the ground up. Dalsa's digital cinematography system reinvents the digital cinema camera the way it should be. Origin has not grown from videocam roots. Its revolutionary power and performance have been focused directly at the needs of motion pictures. This was essentially a technical/engineering presentation and P+S Technik Digital Image Converters Use 35mm primes on your 2/3” or Mini DV camera and get the same depth of field, angle of view and focal length as with 35mm film cameras. Use PL, Panavision or Nikon mounted 35mm primes on any high-def or standard def 2/3”video camera. Get creative with the hindreds of lens choices that used to be available only to 35mm filmmakers. Pro 35 Use PL, Panavision or Nikon mounted 35mm primes on your Canon XL-1/1-s, Sony PD-150, VX2000 or Panasonic AG-DVX100 Mini DV camera. Professional results, Mini DV budget. Mini 35 Mount the lenses used in filming on a video camcorder and preview the scene as the film camera will actually see it. Record shots on location, evaluate lighting. Replace camera with optical viewfinder for director’s viewfinder. VDF-35/16 Director’s Viewfinder Available for sale or rental, information package on request. 200 Evans Avenue, Unit 4 Toronto, Ontario M8Z 1J7 Tel: (416) 463-4345 Fax: (416) 469-2609 [email protected] see page 18 CSC News / November 2004 • 17 from page 17 DELUXE is Canada’s leading full-service film laboratory and postproduction house serving feature, television and commercial filmmakers. We offer the highest quality theatrical, television and postproduction services. We provide extensive theatrical fulfillment and distribution services, delivering release prints, trailers and marketing materials direct-to-exhibitors throughout Canada and the USA. Visit our website at www.bydeluxe.com Deluxe | Laboratories | Toronto • Dailies – 35mm & 16mm • Front End Services • Release Printing • Anti-Piracy Technology FCTTM Deluxe | Cinema Services | Toronto • Release Print Distribution • Print Control, Tracking, Storage • Trailer Breakdown & Chasing • Marketing Fulfillment • Trailers • Standees • One Sheets • Banners Laboratory 350 Evans Ave., Etobicoke, ONT M8Z 1K5 P: 416.364.4321 F: 416.348.0104 Contact Paul Norris, VP Sales Lab 416-205-8029 18 • CSC News / November 2004 Deluxe | Postproduction | Toronto • Sound Re-Recording • Sound Deliverables • High Definition Dailies • Hi Definition Mastering • SD/HD Telecine • Editorial Services • Physical & Digital Vaulting • Digital Asset Management • Standards Conversion • Intl. Broadcast Duplication • Broadcast Distribution • Screeners – Promo & Academy • Digital Intermediates (EFILM) • Digital Distribution Postproduction 424 Adelaide St. E., Toronto, ONT M5A 1N4 P: 416.364.4321 F: 416.364.0615 Contact Stan Ford, VP Sales Post 416-957-6202 the techno stuff is in white papers at www.dalsa.com/dc for anyone wishing to get into the details. From my standpoint, the real story is that this camera represents a breakthrough in digital capture for some time to come; they will not need to bring out a new camera in two years. The current camera is capable of outputting 2K or 4K res uncompressed pictures (potential for large format) and more; the cinematographer can choose the format and the aspect ratio. The 22-megapixel CCD image sensor (4008 x 5344 pixels) offers the industry's best image quality with dynamic range (72db linear) (12 stops), sensitivity and low noise that are unmatched by sensors with a fraction of its resolution. Other features include 35mm PL mount cinema lenses for a complete choice of lenses you know and trust, and the corresponding depth of field you expect. An optical viewfinder (made by P+S Technik) enables the operator to see what is actually being captured. The first production models will achieve a 60fps frame rate at full resolution and a higher fps rate at a lower res. Nominal exposure index is 200T and 300D, with 400D being the objective in production models. One obvious challenge for this camera is just what to record on. After all, 4K uncompressed output requires something in the order of 1.4 terrabytes for 60 minutes. Current Origin recorders use a RAID0 configuration with 1.2tbytes of storage (approximately 50 minutes). The new generation recorders will be configured as RAID3 or RAID5 to provide redundancy. In a studio setting, camera output could be streamed directly into a storage network, but when “on location” the camera needs a field recorder, which must be offloaded when full (much like film magazines). Sebastien Laffoux of Arri Canada presented the D-20, which has been shown in functional models over the last year or so. There apparently are plans to introduce pre-production models before the end of this year in select Arri rental facilities. As one might expect from Arri, the D-20 is a cine-style digital camera which (Arri is always quick to point out) is for TV-oriented applications. However, it is designed to have the feel and versatility of a film camera, including most of the familiar accessories. In its own way, it is somewhat format agnostic and future proof. The full-sized CMOS CCD is full S35 size and can be cropped to match film formats, depths of field, etc. Currently one can record to HDCAM and HDCAM SR (2880 x 1620 pixels) or other formats. In so-called “film mode,” the D-20 can record unprocessed data from the sensor to a recorder or it can be fed to a film negative (through an Arrilaser film recorder) (3648 x 2162 pixels). It sounds cumbersome but reeks of versatility (and quality). Basic specs of the camera include: modular design; about 15 pounds; PL mount availing itself of any or all high-quality lenses out there; a quiet mirror shutter borrowed from the Arricam; and a variable frame rate for film-style handling. The limit currently is 100fps with speed ramp and exposure compensation, but increased rates are anticipated and will be contingent on format and compression. Latitude is expressed as 60db (10 stops) at 12bit digitization. As indicated, Arri will be releasing a limited number of preproduction models in select rental facilities in Europe, the U.K. and New York and looking for feedback in collaboration with end-users (hopefully cinematographers) to continue its development towards a full production model. Tests have been carried out comparing the D-20 with standard and Super 35 as well as 65mm. (Sebastien said there was a limited presentation of test results in Toronto last spring, and the most convenient window for the next local showing will be after NAB next year.) The promise of digital image capture is complex and exciting. The above cameras are the result of many years of leading-edge research and technology achievement. Along with the Thomson Viper and the Panavision Genesis, they represent a new era in high quality image capture. • CAMERA CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: Sony VX1000 DVCamcorder complete with 6 lithium batteries, Century Precision Optics wide angle, 2X telephoto and 16/9 anamorphic lenses, plus Beachtek Pro Audio inputs, LED VU Meter, and wireless microphone, and carrying case. Original cost $10,000. Complete package price $ 2,000. Contact Robert Bocking csc (416) 631-9845 or [email protected] FOR SALE: Fujinon 8x20 switchable zoom lens with doubler; Fujinon wide angle X.07 adapter; Fujinon Tele-Converter X 1.6; screw-on Heliopan rotating polarizer and Heliopan UV filter; all equipment in excellent condition. Total price $16,500. Phone (604) 947-2915 WANTED: Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society in Vancouver is shopping for an Arri BL3 or BL4 35mm sync production camera package. Preference is a complete package which must be in good condition. Partial packages may be considered. Shopping list: a 4-perf body, PL mount, full academy film gate, 1:1.85/TVsafe ground glass, video assist optics, follow focus, 4"x5.65" matte box, 4 - 6 mags, and a set of Zeiss T1.3 primes. Wish list includes a video tap, more mags, a head and legs, an Angénieux T3.5 HR 25-250mm zoom lens, a 4-perf MOS PL mount camera package, filters would be nice, too. Contact: Randy Rotheisler, phone (604) 251-6762; fax (604) 685-9685; email [email protected] FOR SALE: Meerkat 35 jib arm, made by Filmair International, Toronto. Almost new, used only couple of times on one show. Included are two extra weights, extra long weight rod and hard case. Asking price $4,200 plus taxes. Contact Milan Podsedly (416) 409-5758, [email protected] FOR SALE: Nikon Super Zoom system for Betacam - you can fill the frame with the moon or pan within a postage stamp, $7,000; Sony SX999 miniature (pencil) camera with 3.5mm, 6mm and 12mm lenses, $1,200; BVW25 Betacam record playback deck with Telcom time code display, Pelican and soft cases, and 110v power supply $4,000; Two camera master lighting kit; Two 750W Rifalites with diffusers and egg crate grills, 2 Arri stands, 2 HD stands with lighting booms with counterweights, spare lamps, extra cables and case, $2,000; Custom camera safe with electronic lock, for Durango or larger SUV, $400; Nikon OS “V” underwater camera with 35mm f2.5 lens and SB-102 flash, complete with case, manuals and spare “O” rings, all in mint condition, $1,500. Contact Jim Mercer, 416-932-3485 or [email protected] FOR SALE: Used equipment. Arri SR package, w/10-100 Zeiss, w/Arri Shade & Accs, 2 mags & case,15,000; Arri “S” package, VS motor, primes, cable, battery, 2,500; Panasonic DVX 100P DV Camera, w/standard accs., 3,400; Ang. 12-240, 12-120 Arri “B” mount, call for price;Ang. 5.9mm (Arri S), Ang. 10-150 (Éclair), Ang. 12-120 (CP), call for price; Century lenses, 25-250 zoom, 500mm w/ 2X, 230mm, 300mm, call for price; Bolex packages, Rex 3's, Rex 5's, EBM's, other Crystal motors, call for price; Filters and more used gear: Check our web site www.llsr.com; Phone: (604) 298-3224 Fax: (604) 298-2023; Looking for used film or video, email [email protected] FOR RENT: Pro 35 Adaptor with PL Mount and Nikon Mount. Call Henry Less at 416-678-5377 WANTED: Used Lighting & Grip in good condition. Please call Andrew @ 416 535-1475 or email: [email protected] FOR SALE: From Leather Design Tech, leather items customized to the needs of the film industry; also nylon cordura, an inexpensive way to create and organize “on set” accessory bags, personal tool belts, camera tool pouches, labelled and slimmer cable pouches. Now making TV monitor covers for easier monitor viewing. For camera assistants, now making camera cart bags to hang off your carts, with labelling for great organization, approximately 18x18x6 inches, $35-$45 each; and smaller nylon cordura pouches to hold various cables to reduce the bulk in your “ditty bags,” 3x4 inches, $8.00. Think of something you need, we can design and create it together. Call to order: Lori 416452-9247, 905-895-3807, [email protected]. Web site: www.leatherdesigntech.ca Camera Classifieds is a FREE service to CSC members. If you have items you’d like to buy or sell, please fax your list to (416) 699-8521 email [email protected] CSC News / November 2004 • 19 awards Nominees for 2004 Gemini Awards et Prix Gémeaux T he Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television has announced the Best Photography nominees for the 19th annual Prix Gémeaux in Montreal Nov. 27-28 and the 19th annual Gemini Awards in Toronto Dec. 11-12-13. Gemini nominees: Best Photography in an Information Program or Series are: Ian Hannah, CBC News: Sunday “Afghanistan”; Colin Allison, CBC News: the fifth estate “Run For Your Life”; Henry Less csc, made to order “East Meets West”; Aldo Columpsi, On The Road Again “Pamorama Painter”; Brad Schewaga, The Thirsty Traveler “Absolutely Aquavit”. Best Photography in a Doc- 20 • CSC News / November 2004 umentary Program or Series: John Walker csc, Men of the Deeps; Claudine Sauvé, Short Infinity; Michael Grippo csc, Sleeping Tigers The Asahi Baseball Story; Mike Rudyk and Wayne Vallevand, The Lone Trail: The Dogs and Drivers of the Yukon Quest; Keith Brust and Susan Fleming, The Secret World of Gardens: Garden Mimics. Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series: Henry Chan csc, Human Cargo; Les Erskine, Da Vinci's Inquest “A Man When He's Down”; David Frazee csc, Cowboys and Indians “The Killing of J.J. Harper”; David Frazee csc, Da Vinci's Inquest “Bury My Own Bones”; Rene Ohashi csc asc, Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion “Part One”; Peter Woeste csc, Stargate SG-1 “Nightwalkers”. Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series: Rudolf Blahacek, Death and The Maiden; Kim Derko csc, Youkali Hotel; Paul Tolton csc, Shadow Pleasures; André Turpin, Amelia. Prix Gémeaux: Meilleure direction photographique - dramatique: Georges Archambault, FORTIER “Épisode 6”; Bruce Chun csc, Grande ourse “Le mal surgit de l'ombre”; Ronald Plante csc, LES AVENTURES TUMULTUEUSES DE JACK CARTER “Tigre et passion, partie 2”; Laurent Beauchemin, RUMEURS “Amour et biologie 2”; Michel Caron, SIMONNE ET CHARTRAND “19681969”. Meilleure direction photographique - documentaire, affaires publiques, reportage, biographie: Jean-Claude Labrecque csc et Jérôme Labrecque, À HAUTEUR D'HOMME; Alfonse Mondello, L'IMPOSSIBLE RETOUR DES EXILÉS AFGHANS (ZONE LIBRE); François Beauchemin et Robert Vanherweghem, LA COLÈRE DES PARIAS (EXTREMIS); Philippe Lavalette, LES MESSAGERS ; Mario Cyr et Martin Leclerc, MISSION ARCTIQUE “La grande traversée. Meilleure direction photographique ou éclairage - humour, variétés, arts de la scène, talk show: Normand Chassé, À VOUS LE MONDE; Claude Benoit et Normand Chassé, LA SOIRÉE DES JUTRA 2004; Pierre Roy, LE VENT, LA MER, LE ROC; Réal Truchon, MUSIQUE DU MONDE . . . D'ICI; Gatien Ouellet, STAR ACADÉMIE (LE VARIÉTÉ) “4 avril 2004”. ••• Kodak Entertainment Imaging is once again sponsoring the Best of Photography categories. “Kodak is committed to supporting Canadian filmmakers,” says Kim Snyder, vicepresident of Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging. “We're very proud of our long-standing partnership with the academy to help ensure that talented filmmakers in our industry continue to receive the international recognition they deserve. Congratulations to all of the nominees for their dedication and commitment to excellence.” • “Get it to The Lab” • 16/35mm colour negative processing • Set up • Academy leader • Cleaning • Ready for transfer Audio and Video quotes available in conjunction with Deluxe | Sound & Picture C O N TA C T : Ed Higginson: Al Lindsay: Tel: Fax: [email protected] [email protected] (416) 461-8090 (416) 461-0768 Toll free: 1-888-822-2505 183 Carlaw Avenue • Toronto, Ontario • M4M 2S1 The One Swatchbook that has it all ... ROSCO CANADA 1241 Denison St., #44, Markham, Ont., L3R 4B4 905-475-1400 Toll Free: 1-888-767-2686 Fax: 905-475-3351 w w w .r o s c o - c a .c o m CSC News / November 2004 • 21 news clips DIET OF SOULS WINS CINE AWARD At 2004 Atlantic Film Festival The documentary Diet of Souls was jury-selected for the William F. White Cinematography Award at the 24th Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax in September. Diet of Souls, the third in director John Houston's Arctic trilogy, was shot by Robert MacDonald and Christopher Ball csc as co-cinematographers (see CSC News, June/2004). Diet of Souls premiered at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa on June 20 and on Vision TV on June 24, 2004. More information on this film and the entire trilogy is available at www.triadfilms.ns.ca or [email protected] THE HOLLYWOOD OPTION On History Television Twenty-five years ago this month in Iran, the CIA and Canadian government joined forces in a covert operation called “the Hollywood Option,” the most dangerous diplomatic operation in Canadian history. The story unfolds in the documentary Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option, made by director Chris Triffo csc of Regina-based Partners in Motion for History Television. It premiered on Oct. 30 and was rebroadcast on Nov. 4. On Nov. 4, 1979, 66 employees of the American embassy in Tehran were captured and held hostage. Just a few hundred meters away, six other Americans found haven in the Canadian embassy. Former Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor, then prime minister Joe Clark, former external affairs minister Flora McDonald, the former Empress of Iran, key members of the U.S. administration and CIA, authors Stephen Kinzer and Claude Adams, American hostages, and members of the six escapees all bring this story together. 22 • CSC News / November 2004 HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Shot in Montreal by Paul Sarossy csc bsc “There are great movies, there are date movies, and then there's something even yummier: great date movies. Head in the Clouds is a fine example of the latter,” says a threestar review in the Toronto Globe and Mail. “A pleasure-purveying hybrid of cinematic art and unabashed romantic melodrama, this is the sort of film that brings to mind the sweeping epics of a bygone era (think Doctor Zhivago or Gone With the Wind).” The feature stars Oscar-winning Charlize Theron (Monster) and Stuart Townsend. “Lavishly photographed by legendary Canadian cinematographer Paul Sarossy (csc bsc),” continues the review, “the film was shot mainly in Montreal, though you'd scarcely believe it. The fictional Paris of Sarossy and director John Duigan is a magical, soot-blanketed urban landscape of romance, violence and despair. It's the perfect backdrop for this great, gooey, hot-fudge sundae of a love story.” THE DGC AWARDS Arcand and Invasions Take Top Honours The Directors Guild of Canada celebrated the best film and television work created by its members at the 2004 Directors Guild Awards in Toronto, the third annual such gala. The host was Mary Walsh, and Leslie Nielsen made the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to director Arthur Hiller. The DGC's Distinguished Service Award was presented to long-time DGC member Keith Cutler by DGC president Alan Goluboff. DGC Team awards are given to all DGC members working in Guild categories on the winning productions. The Craft awards are presented to individual members for outstanding achievement. The winners of the 2004 DGC Awards were: Outstanding Achievement in Direction Feature Film: Denys Arcand, Les Invasions Barbares Outstanding Team Achievement in a Feature Film: Les Invasions Barbares Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Movie or Mini-series: Human Cargo Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Television Movie or Miniseries: Brad Turner, Human Cargo Outstanding Team Achievement in a Family Feature Film: Blizzard Outstanding Achievement in Production Design - Feature Film: Matthew Davies, The Saddest Music In The World Outstanding Achievement in Picture Editing - Feature Film: Michele Conroy, Nothing Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Feature Film: Mark Gingras, John Laing, Michael O'Farrell, Jill Purdy and John Douglas Smith, The Statement Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Television Series: Sturla Gunnarsson, Da Vinci's Inquest “Bury My Own Bones” Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Series - Drama: Da Vinci's Inquest “Bury My Own Bones” Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Television Movie or Miniseries: Tom Bjelic, Allan Fung and John Douglas Smith, Shattered City Outstanding Achievement in Picture Editing - Television Movie or Miniseries: George Roulston, The Many Trials Of One Jane Doe Outstanding Achievement in Production Design - Television Movie or Mini-series: Tim Bider, Shattered City Outstanding Team Achievement in a Documentary: Dying At Grace Outstanding Achievement in Production Design - Television Series: Jennifer Stewart, Snakes & Ladders “Political Animals” Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Television Series: Susan Fairbairn, Ronayne Higgenson and Brandon Walker, Slings & Arrows “A Mirror Up To Nature” Outstanding Achievement in Picture Editing - Television Series: Paul Winestock, The Eleventh Hour “Hard Seven” Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Series - Comedy: Corner Gas “All My Ex's” Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Series - Family: Degrassi: The Next Generation “Holiday” KODAK CINESERVER Major Step Forward In Digital Cinema Eastman Kodak Company announced at the annual ShowEast Conference in Orlando, Fla., that the company is taking a major step forward in its goal of making highquality digital cinema available for motion picture exhibitors around the world. The company is demonstrating the Kodak Digital Cinema Solution for Feature Presentations, a bundled package of hardware, software, and support services. The core of the package is a unique Kodak CineServer, which includes proprietary colour technology and image science to deliver high-quality images to the cinema screen. The full solution includes preparation and distribution of content and technical support. Kodak services include preparation of the Digital Source Master files by LaserPacific, a Kodak company. LaserPacific provides complete digital post production services, including digital intermediates, encryption, compression, and encoding in digital cinema color space, all designed to enable audiences to experience movies they way the filmmakers intended. The digital content is transferred to a hard disk drive or DVD-ROM, which are distributed to cinemas. The disks are loaded into the Kodak CineServer, which decrypts and decompresses the movie and sends it to a cinema-grade digital projector to play on the theatre screen. KODAK AND CSM Bring Digital Pre-Show to Harkins Theatres Eastman Kodak Company, Harkins Theatres and Cinema Screen Media (CSM) have announced that CSM, the world's largest, independent provider of digital pre-show presentations, has made an additional purchase of more than 200 Kodak Digital Cinema systems. The company will use the systems to present the CSM digital pre-show entertainment program to audiences in the growing network of Harkins Theatres. Key to the Kodak sale is CSM's new multi-year agreement with Harkins Theatres, giving CSM the exclusive right to provide a revolutionary digital pre-show program on all 289 Harkins screens, circuit-wide. The program is designed to be both entertaining and informative for Harkins' guests. Harkins makes the third major chain with an exclusive partnership with CSM and Kodak. All Century and CinéArts theatres also are being equipped with Kodak digital pre-show systems. Since November, 2003, CSM has purchased more than 1,300 Kodak digital cinema pre-show systems. They are currently being installed by Kodak and used by CSM to provide a market-leading digital pre-show entertainment program in the Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Carolina markets. COMWEB GROUP ANNOUNCES Three Executive Appointments Chairman/CEO Paul Bronfman has announced the appointments of Mark Prior to president of Comweb Group Inc., Kevin Gordon to president of Entertainment Partners Canada, and Robert Bruce to chief financial officer of both the Comweb Group and William F. White International. • CSC News / November 2004 • 23 ACTION PRODUCTION NOTES & CSC CALENDAR British Columbia, Prairies ANDROMEDA (series); DOP: Gordon Verheul; Op: James Wallace; 2nd: Trevor Wiens; to Dec. 20, Burnaby. DA VINCI'S INQUEST (series); DOP: David Frazee csc; to Nov. 22, Vancouver. THE FANTASTIC FOUR (feature); 1st: Larry Portmann; 2nd-unit Op: Paul Mitchnick csc; to Dec. 22, Vancouver. GODIVAS (series); DOP/B-Op: Bruce Worrall csc; to Nov. 22, Vancouver. INTO THE WEST (mini-series); 1st: Kirk Chiswell; B-Op: Dean Bennett csc; to Nov. 8, Calgary. THE L WORD (series); Op: Neil Seale; to Nov. 16, Vancouver (HDTV). THE LAREN SIMS STORY (MOW); 2nd-unit DOP: Craig Wrobleski csc; wrapped Oct. 29, Calgary. A LOVE STORY (MOW); DOP/Op: Greg Middleton csc; to Nov. 3, Vancouver (HDTV). LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (series): DOP: Randal Platt csc; to Dec. 2, North Vancouver. THE MOUNTAIN (series); DOP: Attila Szalay csc; Op: Brad Creasser; BOp/SC: Michael Davies; to Dec. 6; Burnaby. THE MUPPET WIZARD OF OZ (MOW); DOP: Tony Westman csc; to Nov. 1, North Vancouver (HDTV). RENEGADEPRESS.COM (series); DOP/Op: Ken Krawczyk csc; to Nov. 19, Regina. TERMINAL CITY (series); DOP: Thomas Burstyn csc; B-Op: Cyrus Block csc; to Feb. 14, Victoria (HDTV) TIDELAND (feature); Op: Mark Dobrescu csc; to Dec. 2, Regina. Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic L'AUDITION; DOP: Pierre Jodoin csc; to Nov. 21, Montreal. AURORE; DOP: Louis de Ernsted csc; to Dec. 6, Montreal. BLENDED (MOW); DOP: Michael Storey csc; Op: Glen Warner; to Nov. 19, Toronto. DEGRASSI (series); DOP: Gavin Smith csc; to Nov. 17, Toronto. ELEVENTH HOUR (series); DOP: David Perrault csc; B-Op: Cudah Andarawewa; to Dec. 13, Toronto. LES EX; DOP: Bruno Philip csc; to Dec. 10, Montreal (HDTV). FREAKS OF NATURE (series); DOP: Mitchell Ness; to Feb. 11, Toronto (HDTV). INSTANT STAR (series); DOP: James Jeffrey csc; to Dec. 3, Toronto. JEAN'S FATE; DOP: Daniel Vincelette csc; to mid-December, Montreal. KEVIN HILL (series); David Moxness csc; 1st: Chirayouth Jim Saysana; to Nov. 25, Toronto (HDTV). THE LAND OF THE DEAD (feature); Op: Mark Willis; B-Op: Perry Hoffman; to Dec. 12, Toronto. LIFE WITH DEREK (series); DOP: Milan Podsedly csc; 1st: Peter Battistone; to Dec. 1, Corner Brook, Nfld. (HDTV). MISSING (series); DOP: David Herrington csc; Op/SC: Michael Fylyshtan; 1st: Philippe Champion; to Nov. 10, Toronto (HDTV). NAKED JOSH II; DOP: Francois Dagenais csc; to mid-January, Montreal. THE PIERRE HEIST (MOW); DOP: Luc Montpellier csc; to Nov. 26, Toronto. QUEER AS FOLK (series); DOP: Thom Best csc; Op/SC: Iain Baird; to March 31, Toronto (HDTV). RENÉ-LÉVESQUE; DOP: Serge Ladouceur csc; to Dec. 23, Montreal. SHOW ME YOURS (series); DOP: Kim Derko csc; Op: Anton van Rooyen; to Dec. 8, Toronto. STONE COLD (MOW); DOP: Rene Ohashi csc asc; B-Op: Christopher Ball csc; to Nov. 19, Dartmouth, N.S. SUE THOMAS F.B.EYE (series); DOP: Yuri Yakubiw csc; Op: J.P. Locherer csc; B-Op: Russ Goozee csc; to Feb. 28, Toronto (HDTV). SWARMED (feature); DOP: Robert Saad csc; Op: Kit Whitmore csc; to Nov. 9, Toronto. THIS IS WONDERLAND (series); DOP: Gerald Packer csc; Op/SC: Colin Hoult csc; to Feb. 10, Toronto. TILT (series); 1st: Jeremy Tabarrok; to Feb. 14, Toronto (HDTV). TWIST; DOP: Daniel Vincelette csc; to Nov. 1, Montreal. WIDOW ON THE HILL (MOW); DOP: David Greene csc; 2nd: Marcel Janisse; to Nov. 7, Toronto (HDTV). WILD CARD (series); B-1st: Demetri Portelli; to Nov. 25, Toronto. Schedule of Meetings and Events of Interest to CSC Members TORONTO Nov. 18, 7-10 p.m. - Technicolor Creative Services hosts a “Night With A Colourist,” including: Discussions about television and cinema with longform and commercial colourists; and demonstrations of colour, software, HD, various looks and equipment. Refreshments served. At 49 Ontario St., 7th floor. RSVP by Nov. 12 to Kevin Barendregt 416-585-0674 or [email protected] Nov. 29-Dec. 3 - Kingsway Motion Picture Ltd. presents a five-day Steadicam Workshop, with lead instructor Paul Taylor of Los Angeles, a Steadicam operator for 20 years and an instructor for 15. (He also teaches at the Rockport and Malibu Classic Workshops.) Fee for the workshop is C$2,225 plus GST, which includes the five days of training and lunches. Attendance is limited to 12-14 students, with a rig for every three partici- pants. To book space, contact Douglas Macaulay at Kingsway Motion Picture, 4-200 Evans Avenue, Toronto, ON M8Z 1J7, phone 416-463-4345, fax 416-469-2609, e-mail [email protected] Mon., Dec. 6 - Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging hosts their annual Christmas Soiree. At Kodak Canada Head Office, 3500 Eglinton Ave.W. Details TBA. Dec. 11-12-13 - The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television presents the 19th annual Gemini Awards. Mon., Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. - 2005 CSC Annual General Meeting. At Precision Camera, 181 Carlaw Ave. MONTREAL Nov. 27-28 - The 19th annual Prix Gémeaux Check www.csc.ca 24 • CSC News / November 2004 The next step in evolution. TREME SPEED - TREME FREEDOM - Perfection Demands TREME FLEXIBLITY Precision Camera Inc. Experience the evolution of optical technology. Precision Camera is pleased to reveal to you the birth of a new generation. The Sony XDCAM series is the convergence of the AV and IT worlds. For over 25 years Precision Camera has been personalizing the latest technology so that you don’t have to settle for anything short of perfection. Embrace the new way. 181 Carlaw Ave. Toronto, Ontario M4M 2S1 Tel: (416) 461-3411 Fax: (416) 461 4869 www.pci-canada.com www.pci-xdcam.com T o r o n t o . V a n c o u v e r . H a The XDCAM and Professional Disc logos are registered trademarks of the Sony Corporation of Japan. All rights reserved. l i f a x MORE CHOICES. MORE LATITUDE. MORE POSSIBILITIES. Explore the power of the expanded KODAK VISION2 Color Negative Film family. Now you can choose from more film stocks than ever. All offering superior shadow and highlight detail. Excellent tone scale and flesh-toneutral reproduction. And created for both traditional and digital post. KODAK VISION2 Motion Picture Films. Expand horizons. To learn more, visit kodak.com/go/vision2. THE FUTURE IS © Kodak Canada Inc., 2004. Kodak and Vision are trademarks. WIDE OPEN. KODAK VISION2 Motion Picture Films. What’s next. VISION2 100T 5212/7212 VISION2 200T 5217/7217 VISION2 Expression 500T 5229/7229 VISION2 500T 5218/7218