nofilmschool » software

Get Your Canon T2i/T3i, GH3, Nikon D800, & More Looking Like Film with FilmConvert's Newest Update

Joe Marine — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:42:45 +0000

During the NAB 2013 show, FilmConvert, the film emulation color grading program/plugin that actually maps color profiles to specific film stocks, was updated with support for the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, GoPro HERO3, Canon 7D, and 60D, as well as newer profiles for the Canon 5D Mark II and Mark III. Now, in the newest update, they’ve added the Panasonic GH3, Nikon D800 and D7000, in addition to the Canon T2i/T3i. Read on for more about the update, including a new ability to apply film color and contrast separately. (more…)

Screenwriting Meets Simplicity: A Review of the New Screenwriting App Slugline

Christopher Boone — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:23:43 +0000

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the introduction of Slugline, a new Mac app for screenwriting from Stu Maschwitz and Clint Torres of Act Focused Media. The concept behind Slugline is to keep the app simple so screenwriters can focus on the writing. Slugline uses Fountain, the screenwriting markup language designed by Maschwitz with screenwriter John August, and adds a slight veneer of GUI to separate it from a plain text editor. Thanks to a review copy provided by Act Focused Media, I’ve had some time to work with Slugline to provide nofilmschool readers with a more in-depth review of this new Mac app. (more…)

New Screenwriting App Slugline Focuses on Simplicity So Writers Can Focus on Writing

Christopher Boone — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:31:11 +0000

Last month, I wrote about the retail version of screenwriting Mac App Highland from Quote-Unquote Apps, based on the Fountain markup language. The major selling point for Highland is its ability to melt PDFs into Fountain-based text files that can be edited and exported as either formatted PDFs or Final Draft (.fdx) files. Today, Slugline arrives, a new screenwriting Mac App now available for purchase that is also based on Fountain. What is Slugline’s major selling point for screenwriters? Simplicity. (more…)

EditShare Announces the Highly Anticipated Mac Version of the Cross-Platform NLE Lightworks

V Renée — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:02:40 +0000

The battle of NLE superiority rages on, a new contender arrives with EditShare‘s announcement of Lightworks for Mac OS X. Lightworks has a long track record with industry professionals, but this move could potentially open up the software to a much larger market. It is now the only NLE that is compatible across all major operating systems (Windows, Linux and Mac). Read on for more info. (more…)

Canon Announcements: C300 Push Autofocus, C500 ACES Support, & New 35mm Cinema Prime Lens

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:02:41 +0000

The days when Canon made its prized quality lenses separately for either its bizarre HDV psuedo-progressive imaging camcorders (remember those?) or its high-res digital stills cameras are gone — having bled into the present day. Now, its lenses have a significant stake in the production of 4K digital cinema, and its Cinema CN-E EF-mount line of compact prime lenses will be fully rounded out by a just-announced 35mm prime, due out before the close of the year (that makes six lenses now: 14, 24, 35, 50, 85, 135). Furthering the same professional motion picture mission, Canon has also announced free firmware/software upgrades for automated functions such as Push Autofocus, as well as professional-grade ACES pipeline support for color management. Some updates apply to different cameras than others, so check below for more details. (more…)

Highland Screenwriting Mac App Now Available, Free to Try and $10 Through March

Christopher Boone — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:03:10 +0000

After a little more than a year of beta testing, Highland, the screenwriting app from Quote-Unquote Apps, is now available for purchase in the Mac App Store. To promote the retail version, Highland is available for $10, half off its list price of $20, through the end of March. Highland lets writers write scripts in plain text and converts files between PDF, Final Draft (.fdx) and Fountain, a screenwriting markup language developed by Quote-Unquote Apps. To find out more about how Highland works and to get a free demo, check out the video and details below. (more…)

'Casper' Spreadsheet Template Makes Call Sheets and Production Reports Fast, Easy, and Free

Dave Kendricken — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 02:47:30 +0000

Production reports, call sheets, time logs, and schedules are a very necessary aspect of a shoot’s organization. On smaller productions with a limited crew, you may be responsible for producing these documents yourself. Thanks to a developer called ThinkCrew, you now have access to a tool that makes creating these production docs that much easier. It’s called Casper, and it’s a totally free set of templates for Microsoft Office Excel designed for production management. Dynamic scripting under the hood means Casper automates the process for you, filling in relevant data across multiple documents as you input it. Read on to check out Casper, plus some videos breaking down this useful toolset. (more…)

J.J. Abrams and Valve CEO Gabe Newell Discuss Storytelling in Film vs. Video Games

Dave Kendricken — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 01:33:02 +0000

Nowadays, major franchises get the royal treatment upon release. Some video game series are expanded with original novels or comic books between release dates. The opening of many big films occurs with novelizations and video games accompanying them. The problem is, I haven’t seen many video game adaptations I’ve been able to appreciate as good films in their own right, and all the while games seem to be getting more and more realistic. How comparable, or even compatible is storytelling between video games and movies? If anybody could figure it out, it’d be “Star Wars Episode VII director” J.J. Abrams and Valve co-founder/CEO Gabe Newell. Check out their full D.I.C.E. 2013 keynote discussion below. (more…)

Is the First 'Instant' 3D Modeling and Motion Capture Camera the Future of CG Animation?

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:34:34 +0000

In creating computer generated imagery, reference photographs of real-life objects may assist modeling, texturing, and animating a 3D object. In animation, this practice translates into something called motion capture, or ‘performance capture’ when facial expressions are the focus (see: Avatar). Fixed reference points on an object or surface help artists recreate something virtually, but Microsoft XBox 360′s Kinect technology is actually able to recognize shape and motion on its own, turning you into a full-body video game controller in real-time. The new Lynx A Camera looks to take this a step further. Meet the world’s first ‘point-and-shoot’ camera that can model and capture the geometry, texture, and motion of anything you aim it at, right before your eyes. (more…)

Film Looks the Easy Way: FilmConvert Now Supports Canon C300 and Arri Alexa, BMCC Coming Soon

Joe Marine — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 15:54:51 +0000

A solid color grade can very quickly take the edge off an image that looks “too digital.” If you don’t have much time to spend on said color grade, but you’d like to get a great look very easily, a film LUT that attempts to recreate some of the magic we get from Kodak and Fuji stocks could serve you well. We’ve discussed FilmConvert a bit before, but basically it’s either a standalone program or a plugin for the major Apple and Adobe products that uses the color science of the specific camera you’re using in order to precisely match the film stocks they have in their system. Now they’ve introduced another update, this time including support for the Canon C300 and the Arri Alexa. (more…)

Polaroid, Technicolor, Kodak: With the Branded Beast Extinct, What Becomes of the Brand?

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:29:21 +0000

In the whirlwind of hyperactive change that is Moore’s Law, branding can be a prime anchor point. Brand identity fights the tendency toward ‘the new’ with powerful invocations of the past: nostalgia, reliability, simplicity, and the association of that brand name with the creation of very dear memories. Granted, nostalgia alone can’t save anyone from bankruptcy — but it’s a start. Polaroid, Technicolor, and Kodak are prime examples of this interplay, and each is adapting in its own ways — though there’s some overlap. Not one, but two of these traditionally film-based companies are even releasing digital cameras. In whatever the way, each of the three is working toward the preservation of its own historic brand name — which do you think will pull through? (more…)

Bad Robot's Creative and Technical Paradise with Avid's Dyamic Collaboration Environments

Dave Kendricken — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 19:56:02 +0000

At the end of last year, Avid announced a free webinar exploring Bad Robot, the film and TV production company co-founded by J. J. Abrams — which, judging by the success of such projects as Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Lost, and Star Trek, is doing more than one thing very, very right. Don’t worry if you missed that webinar, though, because Avid has recently shared a 20-minute video breaking down Bad Robot’s studio space — and not only is it an enviable one for any independent because each step of the creative process is fostered there, but also because its Media Composer workflow of collaboration taps the future directly. (more…)

Digital Bolex's Lab-Style RAW Software Will Be Your CinemaDNG Workflow Workhorse

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:09:02 +0000

By coincidence or not, it seems like each camera announced to use CinemaDNG as its RAW shooting format is poised to change the world in its own way. The Blackmagic Cinema Camera and the ~$3K Digital Bolex D16 seek to put quality acquisition tools in nearly anyone’s hands, while the future-bound Aaton Penelope Delta and open source Apertus Axiom bear their own technical notabilities (and nobilities). Clearly it’s time to really start wondering about CinemaDNG. As of now, the license-free format is being adopted by way more cameras than NLEs, and workflow questions, concerns, and schools of thought and technique abound. There’s hope and then some, though — just over the horizon the RAW processing software shipping with the Digital Bolex D16 just might change the world in its own way, too. (more…)

Speaking of Apple's Prices... Why Are They So Damn High?

Dave Kendricken — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 07:54:26 +0000

More than anything, users appreciate the undeniable consistency (and therefore, customer confidence) that comes with any Apple machine or app. This applies to both consumers and professionals, though some of the latter may hesitate in days to come. Of course, achieving this consistency can be a double-edged sword — the very measures that guarantee the quality you’ve come to know and respect of Apple computing are the same tendencies that see them labeled as “notoriously controlling.” This too goes for the staunchly unwavering prices of Apple products across the marketplace — that double-edged sword extends all the way out to how such pricing is so firmly set. And, in terms of sword metaphors, this is more often the kind that cuts a hole in your pocket than the kind that “slashes prices.” (more…)

Adobe Releases Full Creative Suite Online Completely Free (But Not Quite, and Not the Newest Version)

Joe Marine — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:35:31 +0000

What could be better than free software? Well, a lot of things I guess, but I’ve never known anyone that would turn down an offer for free software (even when the legality of said free software is questionable). Some of you may have been following the news on the internet yesterday, but the Adobe site had been down for quite some time, so I’ve been waiting for the dust to settle a bit. The situation is not actually as obvious as it may seem at first glance, and it’s taken a little investigation to get to the bottom of why Adobe would release an older version of Creative Suite for free online. (more…)

Final Draft 8 on Sale for $149 at The Writers Store, Today Only

Christopher Boone — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:08:45 +0000

Writers tend to be procrastinators. Maybe we kid ourselves into believing that we’re waiting for inspiration to strike. In reality, we’re usually finding new ways to avoid the fear of the blank page. Well, if you have been waiting for the right opportunity to buy Final Draft 8, arguably the industry standard for screenwriting software, your procrastination has just paid off. Final Draft 8 is on sale for $149 at The Writers Store today only, Saturday, December 8, as one of its 12 Days of December Deals. (more…)

Want Film-Like GH2 Footage? FilmConvert Now Supports GH2, More Canon Profiles, and Final Cut Pro 7

Joe Marine — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:11:16 +0000

Not too long ago we told you about a color corrector plugin/standalone software solution from Rubber Monkey that not only tries to mimic the looks of many film stocks, but does it in a way that is particular to the exact camera you’re using. Until now the only cameras that were guaranteed to work properly with FilmConvert to achieve the specific look were Canon DSLRs and RED cameras, but now they are adding support for the Panasonic GH2, as well as support for more Canon picture profiles, and a brand new plugin for Final Cut Pro 7. (more…)

Check Out This Thorough Presentation Comparing Final Cut Pro X vs. Premiere Pro CS6

Benjamin Dewhurst — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:30:12 +0000

In post production, I’ve always been a fan of the products from Adobe. I cut my teeth on programs like Photoshop 7, After Effects 5.5, even Image Ready (remember that?). But for editing, I never really got into Premiere Pro, and instead focused my attention on Final Cut Pro (from version 3 onwards). However, this year I finally made the decision to migrate to Premiere Pro CS6, as Final Cut Pro X has some infamous issues. Granted, Final Cut Pro X has come a long way, and it continues to be a true “pro” tool, but there are some quirks worth comparing against Premiere Pro CS6. Both suites are tools that should be compared objectively. Ric Lanciotti from The Pacific Northwest College of Art made this great video comparing the two editing suites. Though he takes the perspective of an educator looking for solutions for students, I think there are still lessons for all of us — especially those of us who only edit in one suite or the other. Check out his full 45 minute presentation after the jump: (more…)

The Writers Store Final Draft Sale Extended to Nov. 30, Plus Exclusive NFS 10% Off Coupon

Christopher Boone — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:21:45 +0000

Back in September, you may recall we told you about The Writers Store’s sale on Final Draft 8 (arguably the standard when it comes to professional screenwriting software) where you could save over 30% off the sticker price. Well, good news to all you procrastinators out there (and if you’re a writer, you’re probably a procrastinator). The Writers Store has extended its Final Draft sale until Nov. 30, offering its Final Draft Platinum Package for $169 (a 32% savings off the Final Draft sticker price). Plus, NFS has an exclusive coupon to get you an additional 10% off most anything else purchased at The Writers Store. (more…)

Adobe Extends 40% Discount on Creative Cloud to June 2013

Ryan Koo — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:00:44 +0000

So much for the deal expiring at the end of August — Adobe’s offer of their entire Creative Suite for $30/month (as opposed to $50/month) is now available until June of 2013 for current CS users (CS3 or later). You have to sign up for a full year of Creative Cloud but the savings totals $240; I myself am a satisfied Creative Cloud user, and who doesn’t like saving 40%? (more…)