1. iPad in Modern Times

    I just wanted to blog, every so quickly about my acquisition of an iPad. It’s a very good piece of kit, which I’ve yet to use in the field, but will as soon as I can. I do have one criticism, the camera isn’t the best in the world, but is adequate for the quick acquisition of pics and for the video chatting that may take place over it’s life.

    To be honest I have done a little trial of iMovie on it with a view to looking at it’s use in the professional film making world. As a device to load rushes onto, I can see a very good use of it’s capabilities, but as a scene preview tool, I can see it working very well. For example, say you are on set and you are trying visualise how two scenes need to cut together, you can use it film and edit a short sequence. Also, when rushes are loaded up, a director could do a rough edit of his film in iMovie check everything is shot and also as a rough template for his editor to use. The system of editing is quick and easy; drag drop and pinch and zoom. The precise editor is pretty good too.

    Above all, this will prevent me from taking my laptop everywhere with me. Security and damage risks averted methinks.

  2. FCPX: a demon in disguise?

    I have been following the recent Final Cut Pro X release very closely and I wanted to write an article based on my findings. Firstly I must point out that I have not purchased this piece of software yet but I plan to do so in the near future. Many people are touting it around as “iMovie Pro”, but my views are different to this mentality. A lot of people are also comparing this release to the release of Mac OSX, migrating from OS9. 

    I would like to go on record as saying that I hope and pray that this version of Final Cut, does not remain 10.0 for long. I hope that 10.1 is round the corner and that features such as Multicam editing, XML support, FCP7 project importing, tape support, scratch disks and output to SDI are all included. It seems ridiculous that these features are not included, but to see if from another point of view, this is technically a 1.0 re-write so it will take time for these features to appear. I just dont understand why they didn’t take the full set of FCP7 options and features and work on a new implementation, including the new organisation features and magnetic timeline. It is like somebody pressed delete and then undo, but only recovered half of what was deleted. 

    On the plus side, a clearer move towards a tapeless environment is nudged along with this update, but from the feedback I’ve read it seems that these companies will migrate over to Adobe. It’s such a shame that Apple has sacrificed a really good line of Pro apps for the sake of selling to iMovie customers. 

    I am going to wait and see what happens before I commit to my purchase. I would suggest you read this article for a nice look into how Final Cut Pro X came about: http://www.dvcreators.net/what-does-the-guy-who-led-the-original-final-cut-pro-revolution-think-of-the-final-cut-pro-x-release/.

  3. We Will Never Run Out of Oil →

    Is this true??

  4. Guess the film? #2

    Guess the film? #2

  5. Best Cake I’ve ever made. Birthday gift for Trevor Hancock Esq. It’s a dark chocolate orange cake. For recipe click here.

    Best Cake I’ve ever made. Birthday gift for Trevor Hancock Esq. It’s a dark chocolate orange cake. For recipe click here.

  6. A shelf.

    A shelf.

  7. A short film I made in University. Please comment. 

  8. New Competition: Guess the film? #1 Please comment below.

    New Competition: Guess the film? #1

    Please comment below.

  9. ET: the Extra Terrestrial

    ET: the Extra Terrestrial

  10. A dark little script

    I’ve just watched “1941” from director Steven Spielberg and have concluded that it’s the biggest load of bullshit I have ever seen. I’m a massive fan of his and he is an inspiration to me as a film-maker, but this movie really stunk. 

    In response to this I have written a very black script, just over 1 page long with an extremely dark subtext. I want to make this film. 

  11. A room in ruin.

    A room in ruin.

  12. The madness of 3:12 am GMT

    It is 3:12 am GMT, it’ll probably be later than this when the post is live, but I cannot sleep at all. It is mental because I’m so very tired and exhausted, but sleep is not wanting to arrive when I want it to. I’m enraged at the fact that I can’t nod off, and my laptop is annoyed because he isn’t allowed to rest. 

    Any suggestions on getting to sleep?

  13. A trip to Morecambe

  14. Saddle up! Let’s get this moveable feast on the move!

    — Pete Postlethwaite, Jurassic Park 2: the Lost World

  15. Technology goes too far?

    I’ve just seen an advert for a writing tablet adapter for the Wii. Hmmmm. It makes me think technology is going too far. The advert states “why not bring the family together with Pictionary for the Wii?” Fuck. Why don’t families just spend £3.00 on a pad and pens and play Pictionary?

    I love technology but this is a bit too much.