SoftScreen--A Nifty Idea

Don Berube · December 18th, 2003, 11:40 AM

Hey Charles,

It was nice seeing you at the DV Expo West, was going to talk to you some more and watch your DVD, but as you may have noticed, we were swamped in the Canon booth. I had no idea we would be that busy! Still, it was nice to see you. Next time I am in LA (not too long from now), we will have to kidnap you and buy you some drinks on top of the Standard. hehe

I haven't used a softscreen myself, so I wouldn't know exactly what material is used. I would say that it wouldn't be too difficult to get that material from a Gel manufacturer, be it Gam or Lee or Rosco. Your'e right about using one outside in the wind. Or perhaps even indoors with a ceiling AC vent - like some of the studios I have worked in.

About the frame, if you look closely at the picture, I do think that you will notice some woodgrain action there. Hmmmmmmm...

- don

Charles Papert · December 18th, 2003, 12:06 PM

<,the SoftScreen is "a special acrylic optical panel that diffuses light." From the pictures on the site, it looks like some sort of plexiglass-like material.>>

Dig it. Well there we are then. The cat seems to have crawled back into the bag, eh?

Of course, it might be possible to affix a gel to a panel of Lexan (and build a frame, and add 5/8" studs, etc etc) to achieve a similar effect.

The point is (and this is aimed at an earlier poster here): there's nothing new about copying someone else's smart idea, and it costing a lot less if you refuse to place a value on your own time as well as the R&D involved in creating the design you are knocking off (and the advertising and overhead that made it possible for you to hear about it in the first place). It's just bad taste to crow about the whole thing. In my opinion.

I've seen a few people (in the Steadicam world, for instance) make a cheaper mousetrap by knocking off and cutting corners. Sometimes they are pretty proud of themselves and thumb their noses at the "establishment" and their ridiculous prices. A few years down the road, someone comes along and undercuts them, and now they are the "establishment"--suddenly they are singing a whole different song.

Diatribe over...hi Don, nice to chat with you too. You guys were damn busy at the booth. Nice little show.

December 18th, 2003, 11:40 AM	#16
Don Berube Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Boston, MA (travel frequently) Posts: 837	Hey Charles, It was nice seeing you at the DV Expo West, was going to talk to you some more and watch your DVD, but as you may have noticed, we were swamped in the Canon booth. I had no idea we would be that busy! Still, it was nice to see you. Next time I am in LA (not too long from now), we will have to kidnap you and buy you some drinks on top of the Standard. hehe I haven't used a softscreen myself, so I wouldn't know exactly what material is used. I would say that it wouldn't be too difficult to get that material from a Gel manufacturer, be it Gam or Lee or Rosco. Your'e right about using one outside in the wind. Or perhaps even indoors with a ceiling AC vent - like some of the studios I have worked in. About the frame, if you look closely at the picture, I do think that you will notice some woodgrain action there. Hmmmmmmm... - don __________________ DONALD BERUBE - noisybrain. Productions, LLC Director Of Photography/ Producer/ Consultant http://noisybrain.com/donbio.html CREATE and NETWORK with http://www.bosfcpug.org and also http://fcpugnetwork.org

December 18th, 2003, 12:06 PM	#17
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	<,the SoftScreen is "a special acrylic optical panel that diffuses light." From the pictures on the site, it looks like some sort of plexiglass-like material.>> Dig it. Well there we are then. The cat seems to have crawled back into the bag, eh? Of course, it might be possible to affix a gel to a panel of Lexan (and build a frame, and add 5/8" studs, etc etc) to achieve a similar effect. The point is (and this is aimed at an earlier poster here): there's nothing new about copying someone else's smart idea, and it costing a lot less if you refuse to place a value on your own time as well as the R&D involved in creating the design you are knocking off (and the advertising and overhead that made it possible for you to hear about it in the first place). It's just bad taste to crow about the whole thing. In my opinion. I've seen a few people (in the Steadicam world, for instance) make a cheaper mousetrap by knocking off and cutting corners. Sometimes they are pretty proud of themselves and thumb their noses at the "establishment" and their ridiculous prices. A few years down the road, someone comes along and undercuts them, and now they are the "establishment"--suddenly they are singing a whole different song. Diatribe over...hi Don, nice to chat with you too. You guys were damn busy at the booth. Nice little show. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com