Site Archive

Final Cut Pro X: My first impressions
Written by David Tames on June 23, 2011
Filed Under Apple, Editing, Final Cut Pro, Reviews, Video Production
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There’s been a lot of excitement in the air about Final Cut Pro X since the SuperMeet at NAB in Las Vegas many weeks ago. It’s been like a friend telling you about someone they want to set you up with on a date, and they tell you all sorts of things about them that get you excited...  Continue Reading...

Summer Documentary Film School at MassArt
Written by David Tames on April 26, 2011
Filed Under Camera, Courses, Documentary, Editing, Producing
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This summer MassArt is once again offering its popular four-week summer documentary mini-film school. Session runs June 6, 2011 through July 1, 2011. This is an excellent opportunity to learn in a hands-on, intensive, focused environment from working independent documentary filmmakers. You...  Continue Reading...

MassArt’s Summer Film School, 2010
Written by David Tames on June 10, 2010
Filed Under Art, Camera, Documentary, Editing, Events & Screenings, Filmmaking
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Summer is upon us and I would like to remind you there is still time to register for most of the Summer Film School classes at MassArt. If you don’t live in the Boston area, MassArt is offering an affordable residential option in the dorms! Check out the course descriptions below. For...  Continue Reading...

Viva La Difference: mixing media formats with Final Cut Pro 6
Written by David Tames on February 16, 2008
Filed Under Apple, Editing, Final Cut Pro, Macintosh
8 Comments  

Having to render any media that does not match the format of the sequence is a problem that has plagued Final Cut Pro versions 1 through 5. With Version 6 (bundled with Final Cut Studio 2, no longer available as a stand-alone application) this problem has gone away. Version 6 of Final Cut Pro...  Continue Reading...

18th Annual Pro Video Show
Written by David Tames on February 14, 2008
Filed Under Camera, Documentary, Editing, Events & Screenings, Filmmaking, High Definition, Interviews, New Media, Podcasting, Presentation, QuickTime, Video on the Web, Web
3 Comments  

The 18th Annual Pro Video Show (hosted by the Camera Company with the participation of the Boston FCP User Group, SMPTE/NE, and NPVA/NE) will be held Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, 2008 at Stonehill College (Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex) in Easton, Massachusetts. This popular annual event...  Continue Reading...

Comparing MacBook Pro external drive performance
Written by David Tames on July 20, 2007
Filed Under Editing, Filmmaking, Macintosh, Video Production
1 Comment  

Yesterday I wrote about using SATA drives with a MacBook Pro. Is it worth the trouble going the external SATA route with a MacBook Pro for editing? It’s certainly valuable when doing media ingest in the field (e.g. P2) direct to a mirrored pair of disks. I like it simply because I need...  Continue Reading...

Using SATA drives with a MacBook Pro
Written by David Tames on July 19, 2007
Filed Under Editing, Filmmaking, General, Macintosh
4 Comments  

UPDATE: The SIGG ExpressCard-M card has compatibility problems with Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5.x) so I switched to using the Tempo SATA Express 34 card, however, it does not support access to SMART status like the SIGG card did (March 30, 2008) UPDATE:With external hard drives with eSATA connectors...  Continue Reading...

Just a few days left to register for Making Media Now
Written by David Tames on May 26, 2007
Filed Under Business, Documentary, Editing, Events & Screenings, Filmmakers, Filmmaking, General, Media Literacy, The Media, Video on the Web
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Filmmakers Collaborative will present a full day conference at Boston University on Friday, June 1, 2007 consisting of master classes, panel discussions and keynote speakers focused on new technologies and the opportunities they create for film and media makers. A must-attend for cutting...  Continue Reading...

Reel Now Online
Written by David Tames on May 1, 2007
Filed Under Camera, Documentary, Editing, Filmmaking, General, Lighting, Music Video, Video on the Web
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I finally got around to moving my reel from DVD-R to the web. Of course, the DVD is still available, and the images look much better played off the DVD on a good 16:9 television, but the web is where it’s at these days. Special thanks to Colin Owens for the use of his music in several...  Continue Reading...

Do production values matter?
Written by David Tames on March 8, 2007
Filed Under Art, Camera, Editing, Events & Screenings, Filmmaking, General, Media Literacy, Video, Video on the Web
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We had an interesting discussion at the last Boston Media Makers meeting on the topic “Do Production Values Matter?” We set aside 30 minutes for the discussion, and a lively discussion ensued that went on for over an hour. Here’s a little video excerpt from the discussion: Click...  Continue Reading...

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