Magic Lantern extends the Canon 5D's video capabilities

Magic Lantern firmware introduction from Trammell Hudson on Vimeo.

The Canon 5D mk2 already has some very tempting features for film making. Trammel Hudson has written a firmware hack that unlocks some of the audio capabilities and adds useful onscreen guides for framing and metering. More here.

To be honest, if I was film making with a high end SLR I'd probably invest in a good portable sound recording rig unless I was planning to record in some very contained spaces.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Francis Ford Coppola's studio in a van

Before the success of The Godfather sent him off making a string of high profile, big budget films, Coppola had wanted to be an experimental film maker, directing smaller, more personal works. For his latest movie he trimmed his equipment down until it would all fit into a Dodge (Mercedes) Sprinter.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Equipment

A bunch of film-making related links

I've been collecting links for the last week or tow and forgettimng to put them here on the blog so-

Investing in Digital Content I: The Problem with the "Hits" Model and Investing in Digital Content II: When it Actually Does Make Sense. A pair of guides for venture capitalists, via DISContent

Movie making manual on wikibooks.

PVC Fig Rig.

DIY Zeppelin wind shield.

Filmforge, a version of Drupal for video content.

The Manchester Open. Submit proposals for the 2009 and 2011 Manchester International Festivals.

Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking: Practical Techniques for the Guerilla Filmmaker

The Guerilla Film Makers Handbook

Guerilla Film Makers Movie Blueprint

Spinneyhead studios shopping list

I plan to put some applications in for funding, effectively requests for an equipment budget for Spinneyhead Presents. It's always good in those situations to know what you're asking for the money for, so it's time to draw up a shopping list. I've asked Alan to look into sound equipment, so I'll consider some video and software requirements.

We really need a better camera. A good high definition camera like the Canon XH A1, for example. I read a neat suggestion in a review about shooting footage in high definition and using the larger image to simulate pans and close ups in the editing for standard definition output.

To get the steady shots necessary to take advantage of HD in this way we'll need a solid tripod. I'd need to do some more research, but Manfrotto is a name that came up in an initial search.

EBay may be a good place to go for lighting equipment. But I'll look into some of the options suggested in this article first.

Software wise I'd like the latest version of Adobe Premiere Pro, or, even better, the full CS3 production bundle.

I shall expand on this list as I think of new stuff I need.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead