The Briefing Room

Wohler Extends Professional HD Monitoring Line With New 26-Inch Widescreen TFT Display

Summer McLennan — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:50:26 +0000

HAYWARD, Calif. — Aug. 19, 2008 — PANORAMAdtv, the video products division of Wohler Technologies Inc., today announced the release of the HDMon-260, a production-grade 26-inch widescreen TFT display that enables convenient HD monitoring in field and studio applications. Equipped with a feature set essential to professional broadcasting, this latest addition to Wohler’s HDMon line of HD color video displays accepts video signals up to 1920×1080/60P. (more…)

Digital Rapids Clears Hurdles Behind Unprecedented Summer Games Streaming Experiences

Mike Nann — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:04:54 +0000

August 19, 2008 — Markham, Ontario: Digital Rapids – a leading developer of solutions for bringing television, video and movie content to the latest generation of viewing devices — is one of the key enablers of the unprecedented live Internet coverage of the Summer Games currently being enjoyed by U.S. audiences.

Over 2200 hours of video will be streamed live on the Internet at NBCOlympics.com, powered by Digital Rapids’ encoding and streaming systems. The unprecedented scale of NBC Universal’s online coverage created new challenges going far beyond typical streaming scenarios.

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The 08 PAL Show Expands its Reach

nduncan — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:38:56 +0000

The PAL show is Canada’s largest trade show dedicated to Pro Audio, Lighting, Video, AV & Staging Products. The show features the newest technology, exciting events and Canada’s only networking opportunity for industry leaders. The 7th annual show takes place August 24 and 25, 2008 at Toronto’s International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd.

This year PAL steps it up with new training sessions for system integrators and installers. Newly added is the technical training seminar by National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA). Project Management, Business Design and Technical Knowledge are a few of the courses offered at the NSCA workshop. A Manufacturers Training Session features presentations by Erikson Audio, Radial Engineering and Kramer Electronics. (more…)

HIGH DEFINITION CAMCORDERS FROM CANON U.S.A. ARE BEING USED TO PRODUCE A WIDE VARIETY OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMING

Canon U.S.A., Inc. — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:20:23 +0000

From a leading daytime drama to a cable sitcom, from locally produced public television programming to a popular audience-participation show, Canon’s professional HD camcorders are increasingly being used to shoot a wide variety of television programming. With features such as Genuine Canon zoom lenses, Total Image Control, and HD/SD capture in multiple frame rates, Canon’s three-CCD professional HD camcorders are providing producers with an excellent means of capturing broadcast-quality images in a convenient form factor. Three of these models – the XL H1S, XH G1, and XL H1 – also provide professional connections for genlock, time code, and HD-SDI/SD-SDI video output. (more…)

Agenda Set for 1st Annual IBC FCPUG SuperMeet

Victoria Battison — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:35:55 +0000

The agenda has been announced for the 1st Annual IBC FCPUG SuperMeet to be held Sunday, 14 September, 2008 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands at the Culture Park Westergasfabriek, Gashouder as part of the giant trade show, IBC 2008.

This event is expected to be the largest gathering of Final Cut Pro users and digital filmmakers on the planet during IBC week.

Scheduled to appear, and this is subject to change, are: (more…)

Mekanism Signs New York Directorial Duo Dave and Rory

TRUST COLLECTIVE — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:10:14 +0000

San Francisco-based Mekanism recently added directors Dave and Rory to its growing roster to create, develop, and shoot the firm’s live action and integrated campaigns. The duo, who met as creatives at Mother, NY are already residing in Mekanism’s new Manhattan digs. The pair bring a wide range of expertise across concept development, writing, art direction, direction, and design. After several years of award-winning agency creative experience working on campaigns for brands such as Miller, Dell, NBA, Target, J&J, Lincoln, and Puma, they moved on to launch their own indy production shop. Drawn by a pursuit of more involvement in shooting and storytelling, they collaboratively shot projects for clients such as Qualcomm, MTV, Rembrandt, and tbs, prior to joining Mekanism’s team in 2008. (more…)

Sound Lounge Music & Sound Design Swells With New Talent

TRUST COLLECTIVE — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:57:39 +0000

New York-based Sound Lounge Music and Sound Design (SLMSD), a division of leading audio post-production studio Sound Lounge recently hired Composer/Sound Designer Joel Corelitz and Sound Designer Phan Visutyothapibal. These growth initiatives in sound design are lead by recent addition, Executive Producer Marcus Smith, further strengthening SLMSD’s position as a progressive brand leader in the sound design and music space. (more…)

Crossroads Welcomes Director/DP Ryan Gaw

TRUST COLLECTIVE — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:42:16 +0000

Bicoastal International Crossroads is pleased to announce the addition of Midwest native Director/DP Ryan Gaw to their ever-expanding Commercial division roster. Ryan’s recent commercial credits include spots for major auto brands Porsche and Audi. For two years straight, Gaw worked with Carmichael Lynch on the Harley-Davidson account, directing all of their work which included: twenty plus commercials, three product videos, and a national integrated effort for the new Dark Custom. Gaw credits this experience with impelling his effort to expand upon his personal passion of shooting beautiful sheet metal. His early resume includes National car campaigns via Drive Thru Minneapolis as well as independent efforts for The Discovery Channel. Gaw has DP’d for many of the top commercial directors such as Jake Scott and Michael Kabelnikoff, as well as camera assisting for celebrity cinematographers such as Academy Award Winner Robert Richardson, Max Malkin and Dana Christiansen. Ryan’s experience has not been limited to the commercial industry; previous music video credits include Will Smith, Bo Bice, De la Soul, and Alien Ant Farm. (more…)

Crossroads and Budweiser Give a Lesson on the Great American Lager

TRUST COLLECTIVE — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:37:50 +0000

The Brief:
In this six spot campaign, Mark Pellington of bicoastal Crossroads delivers all the quality and taste one expects from an ice cold Budweiser.

A scruffy young gent stands in front of a beer cooler perplexed amidst the array of beer selections. With percussions from the Jet’s song Are you gonna be my girl? sneaking in on the spot, a Bud delivery man approaches the young man and acts as a voice of reason. Finally, the enlightened young man acknowledges his muse as he reaches for a six pack of Budweiser.

The remaining :15 spots in the campaign feature an enthusiastic bartender serving the frothy brew and “lager lessons” to her male customers. The lessons are as follows: how to accomplish the perfect pour, Budweiser’s new signature glass, Budweiser’s 130 years of commitment to the same recipe, the Bud delivery man’s determination, and lastly why the best Budweiser comes from a tap. Dare we question The Great American Lager? (more…)

“TROPIC THUNDER’S” VISUAL EFFECTS PLAY UP THE LAUGHS: CIS Visual Effects Group Add Action to Action Comedy

Rita Cahill — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:50:09 +0000

Vancouver, BC - Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast in DreamWorks Pictures’ “Tropic Thunder,” an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the biggest war film ever. After ballooning costs (and the out of control egos of the pampered cast) threaten to shut down the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia for “increased realism,” where they inadvertently encounter real bad guys. CIS Visual Effects Group’s Vancouver, London and Hollywood facilities were called upon to support the action of this hilarious ‘movie within a movie’. (more…)