Canon XH series -- various sample clips

Roger Lee · December 7th, 2007, 06:49 PM

Steve,

Thanks for sharing...fun stuff.

As strange as it sounds......I was looking for a bigger crowd..with a noisy background etc. that would give a person a feeling that this was a big, noisy nightclub. My guess is that a big, noisy, nightclub would not be easy to re-recreate.

Besides that, the angle of the shots, the sound, the dialogue and the action would give this viewer an impression that this was a multi-camera shot done by a more pro group.

Thanks for letting this rookie comment.

Take care.

Bryce Olejniczak · December 7th, 2007, 08:24 PM

hahaha... I just watched it again. Funny stuff.

Jay Legere · December 10th, 2007, 09:29 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdk17rIeLFs

This is the first official item I shot with my A1. As with all projects there are things that one wishes turned out differently, but I am happy with the attempt.

The video quality is mediocre on Youtube compared to the original but it is not too bad.

Hope you guys and gals enjoy.

2 minutes, 12 seconds.

Jay

Sean Sanczel · December 13th, 2007, 12:16 AM

"Hey"

Pretty funny. I liked it. I also like that you get your camera and your out there in a hallway shooting a funny idea.
That's the way to do it.

Jay Legere · December 13th, 2007, 11:13 AM

Thanks Sean,

I wasn't sure if it was well recieved by those who have watched it from this post.

I hope to punch out more shorts in the future and improve each time. This one took about an hour to shoot.

Glad you liked it Sean.

Jay

Luca Ghione · December 14th, 2007, 12:47 PM

I try to play the first video with my camera Canon A1, preset 18, using my cat "lusi" as actor and then I went to the mountain (Bardonecchia -Italy) to try outdoor.
Now you could see them...here:

http://vimeo.com/367533

and other:

http://vimeo.com/360714

Loren Simons · December 15th, 2007, 04:29 PM

The First one: What kinda tripod are you using? it looks like its some sort of bolt action and it keeps sticking. Id suggest a new fluid tripod. Than maybe do some zooms while your panning. Great look and soundtrack though =)

The Second One: Maybe its my computer? but its really badly dropping frames. But i am on a Power Mac. BUt could be me. Nice shots.

Kevin Bayer · December 20th, 2007, 08:40 PM

Hey folks,

I've started a website at www.softcitylights.com that is basically mini-documentaries featuring Cincinnati based artists and musicians. I've put the first one online including a download in 720p. Check it out if you can and I'd love any feedback you might have. All shot with the XH-A1.

Thanks,
Kevin

Luca Ghione · December 26th, 2007, 11:29 AM

Hi Loren, in the first movie I used a Manfrotto 503hdv tripod, but I used it more fast and with no fluid moviments.
Thank you for your other comments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren Simons

The First one: What kinda tripod are you using? it looks like its some sort of bolt action and it keeps sticking. Id suggest a new fluid tripod. Than maybe do some zooms while your panning. Great look and soundtrack though =)

The Second One: Maybe its my computer? but its really badly dropping frames. But i am on a Power Mac. BUt could be me. Nice shots.

Brian Brown · December 26th, 2007, 04:07 PM

I created this website for my buddy and shot four short video segments to overlay on four of the pages. http://www.inspectionadvantage.com/

I made a bracket to turn the cam 90 degrees, then shot him full-length on my greescreen in 30F. Footage was keyed with Keylight in After Effects, then I cleaned up the audio and made the alpha FLVs with Premiere Pro CS3. Flash was used to create the skin and set the FLVs to progressive download.

I coded everything by hand, but am really just a hack at HTML and CSS. I don't typically do websites except my own domains, but wanted to try out this "walk-on" style technique.

I'm finding that A1 footage keys very well and will offer this "walk-on" website service to my clients. The hardest part of the process is getting a good long take, since any editing at all would spoil the illusion. I don't have a prompter, but might have to invest in one if these videos prove successful.

Cheers,
Brian Brown
BrownCow Productions
Longmont, CO USA

Josh Chesarek · December 28th, 2007, 09:23 PM

I am currently working on a tutorial for this effect for fun. Have you considered having the person walking across the content. Most of the time when I talk to non film people they are more impressed with the video when the person is actually on top of content and then walks off. The key looks really good by the way :) The only add I can think of would be to use a shotgun mic to get rid of the lav mic to keep the clean look you have.

Brian Brown · December 29th, 2007, 10:21 AM

Hey Josh, thanks for the reply. I really think I'd need a cyc greenscreen to do someone walking. Just the static full-body shoot takes my whole 10'x20' muslin screen. Having to keep the talent a good 5' away from the screen (to avoid shadows) eats up most of the screen.

Have you seen any good tips (or sites) that deal with actual walking chroma keys? The "walk-on" vids I've seen lately by Rovion, etc. just pop-up, similar to mine. Some aren't even full-body.

If I get a bigger boom, I could sure hang my Rode hyper right down near the talent's head. That's a great idea.

Cheers,
Brian

Robert Huber · December 29th, 2007, 10:52 AM

I would love a tutorial on this. Anybody have one or know where I can find one?

Josh Chesarek · December 29th, 2007, 11:11 AM

Hopefully I will post one in the next week :p One thing to keep in mind is that you only need the area around the tallent to still be on the green screen. You can do a garbage mat around the non green screen bits to get rid of it. I did a very quick and dirty test yesterday using Ultra for the first time. Just filmed and keyed with a rinkled green screen. Will try and do a full body walk on with my 10'*15' screen next.

For fun you can check out the first time I tried to do a green screen with a bedsheet and some home depot lights and a GL2

http://www.simplethoughtproductions....een-chromakey/

Luca Ghione · December 30th, 2007, 11:32 AM

This is my new short movie for test, it is called "Refuse".
I used 1080/25f , shutter 1/50, gain 0, preset n.18 (Panalook).
I recorded it in Turin town - Italy
Please, tell me all indications and toughts about it, thank you.

you could see iy here:

http://www.vimeo.com/460153

December 10th, 2007, 09:29 AM	#243
Jay Legere Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada Posts: 98	HEY! A Northern Shorts film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdk17rIeLFs This is the first official item I shot with my A1. As with all projects there are things that one wishes turned out differently, but I am happy with the attempt. The video quality is mediocre on Youtube compared to the original but it is not too bad. Hope you guys and gals enjoy. 2 minutes, 12 seconds. Jay Last edited by Jay Legere; December 10th, 2007 at 12:04 PM.

December 14th, 2007, 12:47 PM	#246
Luca Ghione Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Turin ITALY Posts: 32	two new video with canon A1 I try to play the first video with my camera Canon A1, preset 18, using my cat "lusi" as actor and then I went to the mountain (Bardonecchia -Italy) to try outdoor. Now you could see them...here: http://vimeo.com/367533 and other: http://vimeo.com/360714

December 15th, 2007, 04:29 PM	#247
Loren Simons Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 288	The First one: What kinda tripod are you using? it looks like its some sort of bolt action and it keeps sticking. Id suggest a new fluid tripod. Than maybe do some zooms while your panning. Great look and soundtrack though =) The Second One: Maybe its my computer? but its really badly dropping frames. But i am on a Power Mac. BUt could be me. Nice shots. __________________ Loren Simons

December 20th, 2007, 08:40 PM	#248
Kevin Bayer New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 13	Soft City Lights XH-A1 Web Project Hey folks, I've started a website at www.softcitylights.com that is basically mini-documentaries featuring Cincinnati based artists and musicians. I've put the first one online including a download in 720p. Check it out if you can and I'd love any feedback you might have. All shot with the XH-A1. Thanks, Kevin

December 26th, 2007, 04:07 PM	#250
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	walk-on style website & videos shot with my A1 I created this website for my buddy and shot four short video segments to overlay on four of the pages. http://www.inspectionadvantage.com/ I made a bracket to turn the cam 90 degrees, then shot him full-length on my greescreen in 30F. Footage was keyed with Keylight in After Effects, then I cleaned up the audio and made the alpha FLVs with Premiere Pro CS3. Flash was used to create the skin and set the FLVs to progressive download. I coded everything by hand, but am really just a hack at HTML and CSS. I don't typically do websites except my own domains, but wanted to try out this "walk-on" style technique. I'm finding that A1 footage keys very well and will offer this "walk-on" website service to my clients. The hardest part of the process is getting a good long take, since any editing at all would spoil the illusion. I don't have a prompter, but might have to invest in one if these videos prove successful. Cheers, Brian Brown BrownCow Productions Longmont, CO USA

December 7th, 2007, 06:49 PM	#241
Roger Lee Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Western Minnesota Posts: 227	Steve, Thanks for sharing...fun stuff. As strange as it sounds......I was looking for a bigger crowd..with a noisy background etc. that would give a person a feeling that this was a big, noisy nightclub. My guess is that a big, noisy, nightclub would not be easy to re-recreate. Besides that, the angle of the shots, the sound, the dialogue and the action would give this viewer an impression that this was a multi-camera shot done by a more pro group. Thanks for letting this rookie comment. Take care.

December 7th, 2007, 08:24 PM	#242
Bryce Olejniczak Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Marquette, MI Posts: 65	hahaha... I just watched it again. Funny stuff.

December 13th, 2007, 12:16 AM	#244
Sean Sanczel Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 31	"Hey" Pretty funny. I liked it. I also like that you get your camera and your out there in a hallway shooting a funny idea. That's the way to do it.

December 13th, 2007, 11:13 AM	#245
Jay Legere Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada Posts: 98	Thanks Sean, I wasn't sure if it was well recieved by those who have watched it from this post. I hope to punch out more shorts in the future and improve each time. This one took about an hour to shoot. Glad you liked it Sean. Jay

December 28th, 2007, 09:23 PM	#251
Josh Chesarek Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 978	I am currently working on a tutorial for this effect for fun. Have you considered having the person walking across the content. Most of the time when I talk to non film people they are more impressed with the video when the person is actually on top of content and then walks off. The key looks really good by the way :) The only add I can think of would be to use a shotgun mic to get rid of the lav mic to keep the clean look you have.

December 29th, 2007, 10:21 AM	#252
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	Hey Josh, thanks for the reply. I really think I'd need a cyc greenscreen to do someone walking. Just the static full-body shoot takes my whole 10'x20' muslin screen. Having to keep the talent a good 5' away from the screen (to avoid shadows) eats up most of the screen. Have you seen any good tips (or sites) that deal with actual walking chroma keys? The "walk-on" vids I've seen lately by Rovion, etc. just pop-up, similar to mine. Some aren't even full-body. If I get a bigger boom, I could sure hang my Rode hyper right down near the talent's head. That's a great idea. Cheers, Brian

December 29th, 2007, 10:52 AM	#253
Robert Huber Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 40	I would love a tutorial on this. Anybody have one or know where I can find one?

December 29th, 2007, 11:11 AM	#254
Josh Chesarek Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 978	Hopefully I will post one in the next week :p One thing to keep in mind is that you only need the area around the tallent to still be on the green screen. You can do a garbage mat around the non green screen bits to get rid of it. I did a very quick and dirty test yesterday using Ultra for the first time. Just filmed and keyed with a rinkled green screen. Will try and do a full body walk on with my 10'*15' screen next. For fun you can check out the first time I tried to do a green screen with a bedsheet and some home depot lights and a GL2 http://www.simplethoughtproductions....een-chromakey/ Attached Images

December 30th, 2007, 11:32 AM	#255
Luca Ghione Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Turin ITALY Posts: 32	Short movie "Refuse" (2007) with Canon A1 This is my new short movie for test, it is called "Refuse". I used 1080/25f , shutter 1/50, gain 0, preset n.18 (Panalook). I recorded it in Turin town - Italy Please, tell me all indications and toughts about it, thank you. you could see iy here: http://www.vimeo.com/460153