Animation Block Party - July 25-27

Since, I'm started on an animation kick last post, I might as well follow it up with an animation festival. And not just any animation festival. This one is more like a party...actually it IS an animation party right here in our very own quaint little village of Brooklyn, NY.

To be specific, I'm talking about The 5th Annual Animation Block Party which pretty much includes everything the name implies- animation, good drink, and bands all in an outdoor setting in the inner city. Here's one of last year's films from my fellow NYU alum- Sarah Wickliffe:




Apart from the video and description from the official website below, I really know absolutely nothing about this event, but I do know a good time when I see it and this event looks like a good time for anyone, but particularly if you are a creator or fan of animation.

Unfortunately, I will be shooting another party in Brooklyn Saturday night- a multi-venue Barack Obama fundraiser, but this looks like a good time. Perhaps I'll make it through on Sunday sometime.




Here's the info and official website description:

Some call it punk rock, some call it grass roots, but labels aside - NYC based Animation Block Party is dedicated to exhibiting the world's best independent, professional and student animation.

Since the premiere of the first official Animation Block Party film festival on September 9th 2004 - we have received over 4000 animation submissions from all ends of the earth.

Animation Block Party will run from July 25-27, 2008 in Brooklyn. Over 100 films from a record 800 plus entries will be screened at the fifth annual ABP.

ABP opens on Friday July 25th at Rooftop Films, featuring live music from Plushgun, followed by a screening of ABP's most fun and fan friendly cartoons. A party at Bar Matchless will follow with free beer from Radeberger.

ABP continues on Saturday July 26th at Bam Cinematek, with experimental works and music videos in Program One and a storytelling focus in Program Two. Screenings will be followed by an after party at Cherry Tree with free Newcastle from America's News Source, The Onion.

ABP closes on Sunday July 27th at Bam Cinematek, with top professional and independent works in Program Three and the strongest narrative local and international shorts in Program Four. The closing evening party is at Habana Outpost, featuring streaming videos, delicious food specials and free draft beer courtesy of Autodesk.

Yo! Animate This!

Okay, I think this is actually so cool that I was at first tempted to just keep it to myself, but after playing around with it a little, I decided that it was so cool that it would be a public disservice not to share it with you and I think the company that developed it deserves proper mention for a job well done.





Confession time: Here's the sad truth, ladies and gentleman, traditional filmmaking is my thang, but I've always secretly longed to also be an animator, but three formidable obstacles have long stood in my way-

1. Despite early promise in grade school, I suck at drawing
   
2. I simply don't have the patience to work 6 hours to create 6 seconds of finished footage
3. Merely thinking about high end animation software makes my brain hurt

Up until now, I've been haunted by this unfulfilled longing, but now the good people at Fuzzwich have created a virtual Fantasy Island for wanna-be animators like me. The relatively new filmmaking art of Mechinima has recently filled the longing for some computer-saavy wanna-bes. (See my previous Machinima post.)

However, I think Machinima is still not yet evolved to my "idiot-proof just-give-it-to-me-now and make-it-easy-and-intuitive like-my-ipod" kinda level. The new app I want to tell you about will have you cranking out clever humorous animations in 10 minutes flat from scratch. All of the animated clips on this post were created using it.

In a matter of minutes you can create and share a very cool, professional-looking, and creative animation with music using their funky-fresh brand-new still-in-Beta-testing, only-tell-people-you-like-about-it online app called Minivid.

Who Can I Turn To


I've seen other interfaces for various animation applications, but they were always fairly static and limiting. I think the people at Fuzzwich have actually nailed it here. They've actually made it super-easy for anyone to create a simple animation, have it look and play good, share it, and offer enough options in music, backgrounds, characters, and actions that everyone's cartoon creations can feel unique.

The interface is pure Down and Dirty- simple, effective, and not overcomplicated. After watching just a 2 minute video tutorial (see below) I was able to quickly get a cartoon up and running. The more I played with it the more I could see this app sucking up vast chunks of time without even realizing it as I try to top Pixar's latest effort from my laptop. (Reest assured the animators jobs at Pixar are still safe...for the moment.)

How to Create Your Own Minivid

How to Minivid! from fuzzwich on Vimeo.


Nevertheless, there's plenty of room to really grow this app with even more character choices, the ability to add your own music and pix, animate mouths seperately, etc., but it's a great start for us pencil-challenged wanna-be animators. Give it a few more versions and even us- the non-graphically artistically-challenged can become serious animators too!

It stands alone as just plain silly creative time-wasting fun- (especially with the likes of characters of George Bush, Barack Obama, and a Chewbacca knock-off thrown in!). However, a Down and Dirty DV filmmaker with the proper application of imagination and perhaps some creative post-hacking of a finished Minivid could easily incorporate such video animations (not the music) into a larger online filmmaking effort...assuming there are no legal issues with using finished video, of course.- If there are just remember you didn't hear it from me.


Le Ballet De Pug



Please leave your comments or point us to your Minivid creations below.

UPDATE:
So, had I have stopped playing with Minivid long enough, I would've noticed their upcoming offering, Animator which apparently can do all the things I said that I'd like to see in future versions of this program. It's in a very private Beta at the moment, but perhaps you will be one of the lucky ones selected to participate.

I am intrigued and excited to check out the results from the beefier application. I think this really is revolutionary and a great leap forward for Down and Dirty filmmakers everywhere. If anyone has any Animator projects online, please feel free to link to them in a comment on this post.

Animator BETA Preview Video:




The Fuzzwich Screencast from fuzzwich on Vimeo.

Ant's Consumer Camcorder Guide

I recently gave a quick crash course in choosing a consumer camera for the Fox Business News Channel at the B&H Photo Video Superstore in Midtown Manhattan. I also gave a quick overview of some of my personal picks for the best consumer-level camcorder bargains out there.
These cameras are primariliy for non-professional filmmakers- regular ol' people - who want to shoot personal home movies, vacation videos, or who may have some very simple business video needs.

If you are an aspiring filmmaker on a really tight budget, the models below with mic and headphone connectors will get you rolling until you can upgrade to something a little more professional in the $2500+ price range. (If you are a filmmaker in the market for a more advanced prosumer camera, make sure you sign up to our mailing list at the top right of our blog and check out my 2 part podcast on How to Choose a Camera - part 1 & part 2.)

The first thing you want to consider in a consumer camcorder is image-quality. How good will the picture look?

HD vs. SD
HD video cameras will give you a much clearer, sharper picture and a more cinematic widescreen format. However, if you don’t own an HDTV or if you want to get more professional camera features at a bargain, you may want to go with a standard def camera, which costs less and will look just like the images you are already used to on any non-HD television.

IMAGE SENSORS
The other image-quality factor to look for is the size of the camera’s image sensor. Now image sensors, or image chips, are essentially the video equivalent of a photo negative- the bigger the sensor - the better the image quality. So a 1/3” sensor would give you a better image than a 1/4” sensor chip, and so on.

CCD vs CMOS
There are two different kinds of image sensor technologies out there - CCD chips and the newer and cheaper CMOS chips. When it comes to CCD chips, 3 chips is better than one. However, most cameras at the consumer price point are gonna be single chip cameras- and that’s perfectly fine for the home moviemaker.

ABILITY TO SHOOT IN LOW LIGHT
Another factor to consider is the camera’s ability to shoot in low light. Look at the specs for something called the lux rating of the camera. The lower the lux rating the better the camera will perform in low lighting conditions. (7 lux or lower is fine, but a camera rated at 3 lux or lower will perform great in low light.)

RECORDING FORMAT
Mini-DV tape is still the most established consumer format, but there are now many choices of recording media out there including hard-drive, DVD, and flash memory-card based cameras.

Some of these newer formats you will find still have a few quirky performance and compatibility issues when it comes to reliability and editing, but they generally offer greater convenience, flexibility and savings in tape costs over mini-DV tape. My advice to you would be to spend a little extra time researching possible issues when purchasing any non-tape based camera.

CONNECTIONS
Also check the specs for the type of connections or ports the camera has to hook it up to other devices such as your computer or tv. A Firewire and an A/V connection - which goes into the little yellow, red and white plugs on your tv - should be standard for any model.

For the best quality playback, also look for S-Video connectors or HDMI or Component connectors on HD model cameras. In addition to getting a picture out of the camera, a few consumer models may offer audio connections to plug in a pair of headphones or a microphone, both of which you’ll need if your filmmaking ever becomes more serious.

ADVANCED FEATURES
As home filmmaking becomes more accessible, more and more pro features have been creeping into consumer cameras in the last few years. Now almost anyone can get more professional results using the same tricks as the pros.

The most valuable advanced feature is manual controls- specifically manual focus, exposure, shutter speed and white balance will all give you much greater control over image quality when you are ready to switch out of full-auto mode.

An optical image stabilizer to help improve shaky camerawork is always a great feature to have. And if buying HD, look for a focus-assist function to help you focus those ultra-sharp HD images on that tiny LCD screen. A touch screen LCD, photo-capture, time-lapse recording, and 16:9 wide screen mode are also great advanced features to find in a consumer-level camcorder.

So now that we talked about the basic things to look out for, I wanna point out 3 different consumer models that pack in some great features at recession-friendly prices. So check out the all-new first time ever...


Price-Buster Consumer Camcorder Picks!!!!!
Ant's personal camcorder picks for the home movie crowd - all under $1000. Help out the economy by spending your recession tax relief check on one of these video camcorder bargains...










Panasonic - PV-GS320 - $320.00

• Standard Def mini-DV camcorder
• 3x 1/6” CCD sensors
• 1 lux min. light
• manual focus
• S-Video Out (w/ special cable)
• No mic or headphone jacks
  
  
  

Canon Vixia HV-30 - $750.00

• HD mini-DV camcorder
• 2.7” CMOS sensor
• .2 lux min.light
• manual focus and exposure
• optical image stabilizer
• mic/headphone/HDMI connectors
• very simple controls
• HV-20 is a great substitute model

Sony - HDR-HC9 - $900.00

• HD mini-DV camcorder
• 2 lux min. light
• 2.9” CMOS sensor
• touch-screen interface
• exposure histogram

(*All prices are as found at B&H Photo Video Superstore in Manhattan, NY at the time of posting. Prices vary from market to market.)

Another Video Black Box

Patrick Ng touched on some of the new generation of "Video Black Boxes" out there in a recent post, but I wanted to quickly revisit the subject to tell you about a new black box product that sounds quite intriguing to me.

The Zee Vee ZV-100 is a new electronic device that will allow you to stream ANYTHING on your computer screen to your tv via a standard cable connection. So this means you could look at YouTube videos, trailers, a Final Cut Pro file, or even just check your email or surf the web all on your big screen HD television. (Yes, it broadcasts in HD!)

At $500, it's still a little pricey for my budget, but this is the first generation of this technology, so that's always most expensive. If I ever get my hands on one, I'll give you a direct report, but for now you'll have to check out the video below and read the NY Times article here for more insight.

I've said it before and I'm saying it again- the digital landscape and the balance of power is shifting- one camera, one device, one technology at a time, but they just keep coming and they keep getting better and cheaper.

I suggest that everyone reading this blog begin to seriously comtemplate exactly how we can take advantage of these new technologies to improve the quality of our filmmaking and do an end run around the gatekeepers of film and tv. (Just last week CVS drugstores in the L.A. area reported a 33% increase in sales of Depends Adult Diapers because every Hollywood gatekeeper who makes their living by picking and choosing what films and shows can be distributed and how is pissing in their pants.)

That's just my two cents...

Short Zee Vee Promo Video:



Read more here:
NY Times Technlogy Article

European Book Tour Recap

Just after Sundance and before the Spring thaw, I dashed over to Europe for a quick three-city book tour to spread the word about "The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide". Sponsored by my publishers, the good people at Focal Press, it was only my second trip to the continent and even more enjoyable than the first trip last summer. As always, it was all too short.

My presentation was entitled, "Down and Dirty Filmmaking: Guerrilla Tactics for Professional Results". It was a motivational and educational seminar on developing a guerrilla mindset and milking every last drop of production value from limited production resources. This seminar picks up where the book leaves off and expands the Down and Dirty DV shooting philosophy with case-studies and specific guerrilla filmmaking tactics and strategies. Don't worry, if you missed it, It will soon be available as a full-length DVD with enhanced slide illustrations and I'll be presenting it again this Fall in NYC.

The more people I meet and spend time with from other cultures, the more it re-affirms what I already know- that we all really are much more alike than we are different. The facial features, clothes, music, food and culture all change, but the people inside are truly all the same- just regular folks like me and you. And the struggle to make quality films with limited resources is even more universal. Everywhere filmmakers have the same struggle and hunger for new knowledge.

Here's a brief and long overdue European book tour recap...

Dublin, Ireland - Film Base

Recap: I touched down in Dublin sick as a dog with a nasty flu that was going around at the time. Although I was looking forward to it, I simply could not muster the brave heart to eat the black pudding sausage at breakfast. (And this is coming from a man who eats Scrapple!) The next day I preached the guerrilla film gospel to a group of about 50 people at Dublin's indie film mecca, Film Base, a real down-to-earth filmmaker co-op, not unlike NYC's own DCTV where I spoke the night before getting on the plane. To my surprise the crowd skewed older, with many of the filmmaker's in or past their 30's, but they were as much into guerrilla film tactics and learning the craft as any younger audience. It was a really surreal blessing to see my little guerrilla film handbook written right here from my ass-groove on the sofa and on the subways of NYC sitting there on the shelves of book stores half-way around the world. Despite my flu, I didn't let the visit go by without sampling the local ale and Irish music with Focal Press Ireland sales rep, Nathalie.

London, England - School of Audio Engineering

Recap: I took the world's most expensive taxi ride from the airport to my hotel in Islington - about $140! (London's subway,The Tube, I would later discover would've only cost me about $7 and been a lot faster.) I must say however, that they have the biggest taxi's I've ever been in. Had a nice session with a group of enthusiastic young people at one of London's premiere film institutions. I literally set the room on fire. As soon as I finished my presentation and began the Q&A, grey smoke began to pour out of a flourescent light fixture in the room and the building was evacuated until Her Majesty's Fire Department came - see photo left. (Who knew this guerrilla film seminar was that HOT?!) Had a great dinner with Focal Press rep, Emma, who took good care of me in London and Amsterdam. I walked around all the next day just marveling at buildings. Toured the Tower of London and realized that it's not always good to be king, or at least not next in line on the king waiting list. A whole lot of would-be and new kings seemed to get killed along the way. (Still couldn't eat the black pudding.)

Amsterdam, Netherlands - School of Audio Engineering

Recap: Although there were ample herbal cures available there, somehow merely touching down in Amsterdam seemed to be enough to finally shake off my nasty flu. I barely made it to my own seminar, because I was following one of those cutesy tourist maps that makes a mile and half hike off the beaten trail look like a short two block stroll. After wandering for a good 45mins. on the more suburban outskirts of the city, I eventually found my way to the SAE's filmmaking outpost. I did two lively back-to-back seminars for an inquisitive international crowd of new and emerging filmmakers in this incredible modern facility. How students manage to concentrate on their work in this very hip and very fun city I'll never know, but they've got excellent support in this hidden away film and audio school. I hope to return for a longer visit in the ner future.

Mad thanx to all my Focal Peeps in Europe and beyond for making this tour happen. Much thanx to everyone who came out to hear the guerrilla filmmaking gospel. Thanx for sharing your stories, tips, and inspiration and spreading the word about the The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide. As always, I learned as much as I taught on the trip and met some cool filmmakers from all over the earth.

If you're hustling to make your filmmaking vision reality, just know that you are not alone. Somewhere, in some city, province, village or block halfway across the globe is another filmmaker named Heinrich, Solange, Fritz, Erika, Chang, Kee-Young, or maybe Tony and they are going through the exact same trials and tribulations of filmmaking. And just like you, with a little knowledge, passion, and hustle they will eventually realize that vision and put it out there for all the world to share in the universal language of film.

Peace, love and video to all the Down and Dirty DV filmmakers all over the world. Keep hustlin' and shootin', shootin' and hustlin', smarter and harder than before. I hope to catch up to y'all again soon.

-Ant.

"The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide" European Tour

was brought to you by

Podcast Episode #12 - Stacey Parks on Distribution

In episode # 12 of The Down and Dirty DV Podcast, Stacey Parks, author of "The Insiders Guide to Independent Film Distribution" and founder of the indie film distribution website, FilmSpecific.com, shares her "4 Key Aspects to a Distributable Film":

Cool Tools - Helmet Cam

I've been meaning to write about a couple of new digital tools that have caught my eye out there over the last few weeks. Here's the first of several I will mention...

As someone who shot his first video projects on a 50 lb. 3/4" video tape decks (the camera was separate and only weighed 25lbs!)- I am constantly amazed and amused at the rate that new affordable and revolutionary media tools are being rolled out. So I thought I'd write about some recent tools (and toys- let's be honest) that digital guerrillas may find useful or at least cool and amusing. First up...

VholdR Wearable Cam (MicroSD card)
The VholdR (vee-holder) is a little standard def solid state wearable camera best suited for the sports and stunt video hobbyist. With this little baby you can shoot any number of creative POV sports and chase sequences or get other experimental POV shots. Just think of a place to stick it and let your imagination fly.

One of the big challenges of shooting documentary and reality stories in particular is finding a way to show your audience the story as opposed to just telling them with words. And one of the most powerful ways of showing an audience is the POV shot. According to manufacturer Twenty20:

"VholdR mounts to nearly anything, from helmets to handlebars, roll cages to bull horns. It captures TV quality audio and video to a MicroSD card, and it's abuse proof. No tapes, no cables, no kidding."

I wouldn't risk a DVX-100 on the handle bars of my buddie's bike, but that's exactly this little $350.00 video tool was meant to do- be a poor man's stunt cam. Here's some dirtbike footage shot with the VholdR.



Manufacturer's Specs:

• Video size pixels (lines):640x480 (480 lines)
• Frame rate: 30fps
• File Type: mpeg4
• Video rate: 50min/GB
• Avg. battery life: 2 hours

How to Learn, Break In and Rise Up in the Film and TV Industry

Over the past few months I've been slowly hitting the speaking circuit as my schedule allows. Next week I will be rolling out a brand-new seminar for aspiring filmmakers here in NYC:

How to Learn, Break In and Rise Up in the Film and TV Industry
presented by Anthony Q. Artis, D.V.P.

Wednesday, June 18, 11:00am-1:00pm
B&H Superstore - Event Space 420 9th Ave., NY, NY 10001
(map & directions)

This is a special treat, because this is an all new one-of-kind seminar to help new and aspiring filmmakers breakthrough, jump start and manage a career in film and tv. And this very first time only I will be presenting the entire seminar to the public totally for FREE at The B&H Superstore in NYC.

(Not unlike a comedian, I like to try out new material on a smaller local audience, before adding it to my main paid seminar roster. So this is a one time only chance to see this new presentation for free. The next time it's offered it will be for a fee or if I ever give it again for free, it will only be a limited part of this full presentation. )

Here's a detailed description from B&H website:

How to Learn, Break In and Rise Up in the Film and TV Industry

Anthony Artis, the author of the new "Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide" and host of The Down and Dirty DV podcast and blog, will deliver an inspirational real-world overview of what it takes to break into the film and TV industry. Anthony will cover a wide range of topics, including learning the filmmaking process, film school vs. self-teaching, specific film job resources for NYC, making the most out of your first job or internship, recommended reading, Los Angeles vs. New York, working in an industry office and overviews of common tracks to directing, writing, editing and producing films and TV.

If you’ve recently graduated from film school, or are looking to make a career transition, then this seminar is the perfect introduction into the world of film and TV. Following Anthony’s seminar will be a Q&A session as well as book signing.

I hope to see you all there!

-Ant.

Shut Up and Shoot Goes #1 on Amazon.com

It's now official, the little underground film book that could is now loose in the world and running with the big dogs...The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide has gone to #1 on Amazon in the Amateur Production category.

This ranking changes by the hour, but the book has hit #1 regularly lately. Eventhough rankings fluctuate by the hour, the book has consistenly been at the top of the list for Amateur Production, Technical, and Television and Video categories.

When I began this project, many people looked at me like I was crazy...I was, but I was also on to something and I knew it, eventhough not everyone around me could see it. another lesson in the power of faith and persistence, people.

You can get the book from Amazon or a signed copy direct from me if you want to support the guy that actually wrote it (with a 20% discount and extra bonus materials of course).

Thanks to everyone for making this book #1!

Down and Dirty DV Trick: Getting a dolly or crane shot with just a tripod.

This simple technique epitomizes the Down and Dirty philosophy: Getting a high production value for your project at little or no cost by coming up with creative solutions.

Using just a Mini Bogen or a similar video tripod and zooming all the way out (the wide end) of your digital video camera's zoom lens, you can achieve impressive short dolly/crane shots that rival results from an actual dolly/crane. Check out the video below to see how it's done:

Video Cam Super Trick!

Video by Bruss Pup Productions