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High Definition Video for Independent Filmmakers
A How To Guide for Digital Filmmakers
Welcome all! This is my blog to share my latest research,
thoughts, etc. on utilizing HD for independent filmmaking.
YES, I am available for consulting
Contact me at mike@hdforindies.com
All content copyright 2004-2007 Mike Curtis.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Yep - I got an iPhone 3GS, here's 1st night's impressions
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies
got it today, got it going, most interesting thing was issues migrating from a 1st gen to a 3GS - apps, prefs, accounts, passwords etc.
Read on for the details.
-mike
got it today, got it going, most interesting thing was issues migrating from a 1st gen to a 3GS - apps, prefs, accounts, passwords etc.
Read on for the details.
-mike
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Good FCP/Color workflow for Red
If I'm lazy enough, and don't get around to it soon enough, eventually Adam Wilt will write an article at least as good if not better than I would have - here ya go - a great Red/FCP/Color round trip workflow, that catches the gotchas that Red does, ahem WRONG.
Turns out Color is hard enough by itself to get right to round trip via FCP, but through Red into the mix and all Color's old bad habits come back - softening, incorrectly handled Motion Tab effects, etc.
Read Adam's article here:
ProVideo Coalition.com: Camera Log by Adam Wilt | Founder | Pro Cameras, HDV Camera, HD Camera, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, RED, Video Camera Reviews
Turns out Color is hard enough by itself to get right to round trip via FCP, but through Red into the mix and all Color's old bad habits come back - softening, incorrectly handled Motion Tab effects, etc.
Read Adam's article here:
ProVideo Coalition.com: Camera Log by Adam Wilt | Founder | Pro Cameras, HDV Camera, HD Camera, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, RED, Video Camera Reviews
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies
Vendor/Client Relationships - in the real world
sooooo painfully spot on!
What if you went to a restaurant, ordered a huge meal, and then said "We didn't budget for this." Clients try that smack all the time.
-mike
sooooo painfully spot on!
What if you went to a restaurant, ordered a huge meal, and then said "We didn't budget for this." Clients try that smack all the time.
-mike
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Austin Rules, bitches!
Geeks Gone Wild: Spock’s Surprise Appearance at ‘Star Trek’ Screening - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com
Yep - world premiere of the new Star Trek at the Alamo Drafthouse in my hometime, with Leonard Nimoy in da house.
Live long and prosper, homey.
Peace out.
-mikey
Yep - world premiere of the new Star Trek at the Alamo Drafthouse in my hometime, with Leonard Nimoy in da house.
Live long and prosper, homey.
Peace out.
-mikey
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Mike's Buyer's Guide for new iMacs
My article analyzing the new iMacs and how appropriate they'd be for editing purposes, compares'em (price/performance) as compared to Mac Pros.
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
some info on Mini DisplayPort
I got curious about what's up with Mini DisplayPort, and why Apple might have moved their entire product line over to it.
If Apple were to be ready to have 10 bit capable OS and hardware in a year or two, would the professional world move to it in bulk? I get the feeling OS X could handle this more gracefully than Windows.
Thoughts?
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies
If Apple were to be ready to have 10 bit capable OS and hardware in a year or two, would the professional world move to it in bulk? I get the feeling OS X could handle this more gracefully than Windows.
Thoughts?
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Gary's great article on ProRes codec
ProVideo Coalition.com: Apple | Vendor Blog
Gary Adcock has a really nice article up on PVC about the ProRes codec. Welcome to PVC, Gary!
-mike
Gary Adcock has a really nice article up on PVC about the ProRes codec. Welcome to PVC, Gary!
-mike
My article on new Mac Pros up at PVC
Hey, lookit, I'm not dead! I'm still writing about Macs and stuff!
Over at PVC:
Inside The New Mac Pros
Over at PVC:
Inside The New Mac Pros
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Rent my awesome Austin house!
Hey all - as many of you know, I moved to Los Angeles last year. My house has been rented out in the meantime, but the lease is up and the tenants are moving back into the house they were remodelling.
So - Casa Awesome in lovely Travis Heights is available once again!
Here's a Google Maps Street View
View Larger Map

Here's the deets:
IIRC, is about 1250 sq ft, 2 bed, 2 bath, asking $1795/month for rent, one year lease
2 bedroom (one master suite), 2 bathroom house in Travis Heights
Front and back yard, garage, walk in closet, large double headed tiled shower w/bench
washer/dryer, dishwasher, disposal, gas range, microwave, monitorable alarm, etc.
rock throwing distance to Stacy Park, 3 block walk through park to Big Stacy Pool (summatime!)
Walking distance to SoCo (South Congress) area - restaurants, shops, galleries, galore - where First Thursday is held
QUIET PRIVATE STREET - is a one block section of street with virtually no through traffic
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE A VIDEO WALKTHROUGH, EMAIL ME AND I'LL SEND YOU THE LINK!
NOTE: Many of these pictures are dated, some several years old and don't reflect current repairs/updates made to house - these are just what I had sitting around. I'll update with new pics in a couple of weeks, or ask for the video walkthrough which I did when repairs were nearly completed before I left for California. For instance, I have no pics of the completed fence - I haven't even seen it!
hardwood floors through almost all of the house, tile in master bathroom
original hardware throughout house, except for back addition (master suite) which was gutted and remodelled 7 years ago
master suite has walk in closet
large fully tiled bathroom with 4x5 foot shower that has a bench and dual shower heads
amenities include central heat & air, washer/dryer, dishwasher, disposal, fridge, built in microwave, alarm system (police monitoring available),
House is PRE-WIRED for whole house audio, video, ethernet (ethernet drops all over the house) - including little hatches to run wires in/out of the central wiring closet, hatch in front bedroom/studio, hatch in living room where home theater stuff goes, pre-wired for surround sound in living room,
IS IDEAL FOR TECHIE TYPE WHO WANTS A NICE HOUSE WITH A NICE STUDIO SPACE TO WORK OUT OF
Walkthrough:
HUGE live oak tree in front yard leading up to front porch - perfect for a couple of chairs to sit outside
Enter front door into living room, which is pre-wired for surround sound, with plenty of electricity where you need it (electrical system was upgraded when purchased house, specifically wired so that living room stuff was on same leg as studio stuff - so run audio/video to living room from studio with no hum or interference!)
Oh - and hardwood floors, original stained glass, beadboard ceiling, ceiling fan in living room as well
To the right is the front bedroom or studio - 13.25x13.25 feet, windows all around with original wooden blinds. Closet has a tidy little brass hinged/handled hatch a few inches on a side to pass any number of cables down to underneath the house - I used to have it set up so that whole house audio, video, ethernet all routed to here. The parts for the rack are still in the house for anyone who wants to put it back up. Or just use it as a beautiful front bedroom. Hardwood floors, lots of windows, ceiling fan, cute little fold down table built into wall. Acoustic tile ceiling - perfect for studio usage.
Leads to secondary bathroom which has a tub/shower setup and a surrounding shower curtain. Window in shower.
Leads to breakfast room, which I've used as a small studio space in the past. Lots of windows, nice view. Hardwood floors, ceiling fan, beadboard ceiling.
Kitchen to from breakfast room - gas range, built in overhead vent, built in microwave, ceiling fan, remodelled from original, tile countertops, brazilian cherrywood floors, large pantry, fridge included. Kitchen opens to living room
Between breakfast room and master suite bedroom is a laundry room - new high efficiency front loader washer & older dryer and some overhead storage space. Walls have extra insulation to isolate noise from bedroom. There is also a door to the outside here, convenient for the garage and parking - bring your groceries straight into the kitchen.

Master suite has pocket doors connecting to rest of house - two on one side, one the other, so someone can be working in studio or watching TV and sound is isolated - at least two doors between TV or studio and bedroom. Extra insulation was installed in all the new walls of the back part of the house for acoustic damping.
Master suite bedroom is large, with plenty of room for a king sized bed. Has large walk in closet and large bathroom (more on that below). Tall vaulted ceiling, I think 13 or 14 feet at peak. Suspended ceiling fan, 4 skylights, and back wall is mostly windows and glass above for view into trees in back yard - can watch the trees sway from in bed, or listen to the rain on the skylights. Pretty sweet. Door from bedroom leads into back yard with trees, bushes, plenty of grass (yes, there is a sprinkler system with timer)
Master bath is has hexagonal ("chicken wire") tile in black and white pattern with trim, black and white square tile on walls. Raised pedestal sink, 4x5 foot shower with a bench and two shower heads and a swinging glass door. Oh, and a window (patterened glass for privacy) and a skylight as well. Large linen closet (approx 4 feet wide) in hallway immediately outside bathroom door. Again, privacy was a consideration - solid wood door to bathroom, and another pocket door to bedroom, with extra insulation - one partner can shower without disturbing the other sleeping.
What else? It is a fantastic neighborhood, safe street, nice neighbors, park 2 cars in garage & driveway and not have to shuffle to get out, plenty of on street parking for friends to come by, brick barbecue pit in the backyard, 12x12 foot concrete slab in the back yard for chairs/tables/entertaining, fenced so can have a dog (small one please).
Lot is 55x105 IIRC.
Back yard pics:
So - Casa Awesome in lovely Travis Heights is available once again!
Here's a Google Maps Street View
View Larger Map

Here's the deets:
IIRC, is about 1250 sq ft, 2 bed, 2 bath, asking $1795/month for rent, one year lease
2 bedroom (one master suite), 2 bathroom house in Travis Heights
Front and back yard, garage, walk in closet, large double headed tiled shower w/bench
washer/dryer, dishwasher, disposal, gas range, microwave, monitorable alarm, etc.
rock throwing distance to Stacy Park, 3 block walk through park to Big Stacy Pool (summatime!)
Walking distance to SoCo (South Congress) area - restaurants, shops, galleries, galore - where First Thursday is held
QUIET PRIVATE STREET - is a one block section of street with virtually no through traffic
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE A VIDEO WALKTHROUGH, EMAIL ME AND I'LL SEND YOU THE LINK!
NOTE: Many of these pictures are dated, some several years old and don't reflect current repairs/updates made to house - these are just what I had sitting around. I'll update with new pics in a couple of weeks, or ask for the video walkthrough which I did when repairs were nearly completed before I left for California. For instance, I have no pics of the completed fence - I haven't even seen it!
hardwood floors through almost all of the house, tile in master bathroom
original hardware throughout house, except for back addition (master suite) which was gutted and remodelled 7 years ago
master suite has walk in closet
large fully tiled bathroom with 4x5 foot shower that has a bench and dual shower heads
amenities include central heat & air, washer/dryer, dishwasher, disposal, fridge, built in microwave, alarm system (police monitoring available),
House is PRE-WIRED for whole house audio, video, ethernet (ethernet drops all over the house) - including little hatches to run wires in/out of the central wiring closet, hatch in front bedroom/studio, hatch in living room where home theater stuff goes, pre-wired for surround sound in living room,
IS IDEAL FOR TECHIE TYPE WHO WANTS A NICE HOUSE WITH A NICE STUDIO SPACE TO WORK OUT OF
Walkthrough:
Enter front door into living room, which is pre-wired for surround sound, with plenty of electricity where you need it (electrical system was upgraded when purchased house, specifically wired so that living room stuff was on same leg as studio stuff - so run audio/video to living room from studio with no hum or interference!)Oh - and hardwood floors, original stained glass, beadboard ceiling, ceiling fan in living room as well
Leads to secondary bathroom which has a tub/shower setup and a surrounding shower curtain. Window in shower.
Leads to breakfast room, which I've used as a small studio space in the past. Lots of windows, nice view. Hardwood floors, ceiling fan, beadboard ceiling.
Kitchen to from breakfast room - gas range, built in overhead vent, built in microwave, ceiling fan, remodelled from original, tile countertops, brazilian cherrywood floors, large pantry, fridge included. Kitchen opens to living room
Between breakfast room and master suite bedroom is a laundry room - new high efficiency front loader washer & older dryer and some overhead storage space. Walls have extra insulation to isolate noise from bedroom. There is also a door to the outside here, convenient for the garage and parking - bring your groceries straight into the kitchen.

Master suite has pocket doors connecting to rest of house - two on one side, one the other, so someone can be working in studio or watching TV and sound is isolated - at least two doors between TV or studio and bedroom. Extra insulation was installed in all the new walls of the back part of the house for acoustic damping.Master suite bedroom is large, with plenty of room for a king sized bed. Has large walk in closet and large bathroom (more on that below). Tall vaulted ceiling, I think 13 or 14 feet at peak. Suspended ceiling fan, 4 skylights, and back wall is mostly windows and glass above for view into trees in back yard - can watch the trees sway from in bed, or listen to the rain on the skylights. Pretty sweet. Door from bedroom leads into back yard with trees, bushes, plenty of grass (yes, there is a sprinkler system with timer)
Master bath is has hexagonal ("chicken wire") tile in black and white pattern with trim, black and white square tile on walls. Raised pedestal sink, 4x5 foot shower with a bench and two shower heads and a swinging glass door. Oh, and a window (patterened glass for privacy) and a skylight as well. Large linen closet (approx 4 feet wide) in hallway immediately outside bathroom door. Again, privacy was a consideration - solid wood door to bathroom, and another pocket door to bedroom, with extra insulation - one partner can shower without disturbing the other sleeping.
What else? It is a fantastic neighborhood, safe street, nice neighbors, park 2 cars in garage & driveway and not have to shuffle to get out, plenty of on street parking for friends to come by, brick barbecue pit in the backyard, 12x12 foot concrete slab in the back yard for chairs/tables/entertaining, fenced so can have a dog (small one please).
Lot is 55x105 IIRC.
Back yard pics:

Monday, January 19, 2009
Over the Hills And Far Away Review - Read Variety's Analysis Of The Movie Over the Hills And Far Away
Over the Hills And Far Away Review - Read Variety's Analysis Of The Movie Over the Hills And Far Awayfilm iI was periohwrallyperipherally onvolveinvolve omn that froebdfriend Rita edited got a good review in Variety - iI went to sundance doc competition premiere WOO HOO frpmfrom my from my oiphone at sundance srinkin and celebrating
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
live blogging the MWSF keynote
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Beware 10.5.6! Don't upgrade if...
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies: "Beware 10.5.6 upgrade, 2007 Mac Pro owners
Does Funny-Not-Ha-Ha Things To PCIe Configs"
Does Funny-Not-Ha-Ha Things To PCIe Configs"
Death of Trade Shows
ProVideo Coalition.com: Production Gear by Scott Gentry | Founder | President: "The End of an Era
Are trade shows also going the way of the printed magazine and Dodo bird?� Apple leaves MacWorld effective 2010."
Are trade shows also going the way of the printed magazine and Dodo bird?� Apple leaves MacWorld effective 2010."
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Hmm...oh boy, this'll be interesting to see the comments on...
OK, HD for Indies fans - this is a DARK one.
In a foul, frustrated mood, but spilling what I see are the facts about the financial viability of, basically, much of what I've written about the last 5 years.
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies: "Rant on The Death of Indie Film as a Business Model
TRULY Indie Filmmaking is deader than fried chicken, financially"
Blast/comment away, preferably over on the PVC site where others will see it.
You know of a financially viable niche for indie content to make its money back?
Spill.
I don't see it.
-mike
In a foul, frustrated mood, but spilling what I see are the facts about the financial viability of, basically, much of what I've written about the last 5 years.
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies: "Rant on The Death of Indie Film as a Business Model
TRULY Indie Filmmaking is deader than fried chicken, financially"
Blast/comment away, preferably over on the PVC site where others will see it.
You know of a financially viable niche for indie content to make its money back?
Spill.
I don't see it.
-mike
Learn: Camera Reports: The Right Way
Ryan Patrick O'Hara: Learn: Camera Reports: The Right Way
good one - Matthew linked to it off of PVC, I'm throwing this in in case you missed it over there.
good one - Matthew linked to it off of PVC, I'm throwing this in in case you missed it over there.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Red revises Scarlet/Epic specs upwards, sweetheart deal for Red One owners (like me!)
ProVideo Coalition.com: HD For Indies by Mike Curtis | Founder | HD for Indies
This article outlines the announcements from yesterday, has a chart of all known stats on Scarlet/Epic models, and all the details (and some exclusives) on how these are different from the November 13th announcements. You're welcome, took 5 hours....
This article outlines the announcements from yesterday, has a chart of all known stats on Scarlet/Epic models, and all the details (and some exclusives) on how these are different from the November 13th announcements. You're welcome, took 5 hours....
Monday, November 17, 2008
Nice piece on new Red's modularity
ProVideo Coalition.com: Camera Log by Adam Wilt | Founder | Pro Cameras, HDV Camera, HD Camera, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, RED, Video Camera Reviews
Adam Wilt has a nice piece on Red's future and modularity.
-mike
Adam Wilt has a nice piece on Red's future and modularity.
-mike