Jul 16

Those of you who have been taking cameras out from VCAM are already aware that we have several different models available.  We still have a couple of Sony TRV950 3-chip DV cameras, we have a few Panasonic DVX100 24p cameras, and our most recent additions are three Canon HV20 HDV camcorders.  The HV20s are capable of shooting in “high definition” DV video at a 1440 x 1080 (anamorphic) resolution, which is obviously higher than the standard DV resolution of 720 x 480.  However, because of a complicated post-production workflow dealing with HDV video and because of the fact that VCAM channel 15 still broadcasts in standard definition video (and will for the forseeable future), VCAM staff has gotten used to recommending that producers shoot in standard definition when using the HV20.

That said, if there are any adventurous VCAM producers who would like to explore some of what HD video has to offer, you might want to take a look at this Vimeo channel devoted to the Canon HV20/30 camera series.  Some of these folks are using special software for doing effects and color correction in post-production and some are using fancy 35mm lens adaptors, but the basic footage is all shot on the very same cameras we have available here at VCAM.

So give us a call if you want to try your hand at HD videography!  We’d love to showcase what you create on VCAM channel 15!

Jun 07

Jun 05

Ira Glass, producer and host of PRI’s wonderful radio program, This American Life, gives some wonderful, inspiring and reassuring advice to media makers in this YouTube video. Whether you’re a newcomer to media-making or have been producing your own show for years, this is incredibly valuable advice…

Lately Glass and the TAL crew have taken their show to TV, and are now in their second season of This American Life on Showtime. The cable show presents some of the finest short-form documentary filmmaking happening right now. The first season is available on DVD.

May 28


Here’s a neat and easily digestible animation from the folks over at Common Craft.

May 09

From the Pangea Day website

“Starting at 18:00 GMT on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers. The entire program will be broadcast – in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.

The 24 short films to be featured have been selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over one hundred countries. The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform, and allow us see the world through another person’s eyes. Details on the Pangea Day films can be viewed here.

The program will also include a number of exceptional speakers and musical performers. Queen Noor of Jordan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, musician/activist Bob Geldof, and Iranian rock phenom Hypernova are among those taking part.”

Apr 27

Test post

Apr 22

Check out Rebecca Kopycinski’s opening credits for her new show Burly Song. She designed them using Adobe’s CS3 here at the VCAM studio and in the process she has rapidly become quite skilled at After Effects. Burly Song will feature performances by musicians from our local independent music scene as well as special guest appearances from touring musicians performing in the Burlington area. You can look for Burly Song to premiere on VCAM Channel 15 next week!

Feb 25

VCAM, CCTV and RETN are once again collaborating on the Vermont blogging experiment, Exit Voices.

If there was a comments section on your ballot on election day, what would you say? What do you think about the issues, ballot measures and candidates this election? Exit Voices is your forum. On Tuesday March 4th, Exit Voices will host a series of open threads, giving any Vermonter the opportunity to say his or her piece. Some of these comments and video entries will be highlighted on the blog and during CCTV’s live election night coverage on channel 17 and over their live web stream that evening. Stop by Exit Voices and speak you mind. The floor is yours.

Leading up to the 4th, Exit Voices will be aggregating content from all over the Vermont blogosphere and soliciting essays, photos and video posts from Vermonters across the state, discussing Town Meeting Day and the Vermont presidential primary.

Please swing by and lend your voice to the discussion.

Feb 13

Tonight at 7:30 pm Vermont Public Television is hosting a live web chat with Vermont ACLU director, Allen Gilbert, and assistant US attorney, Bill Darrow.  The focus of the chat will be “Civil Liberties in a Changing World.”  In an email, Gilbert writes…

    I’m a panelist with Bill Darrow, an assistant U.S. attorney here in Vermont. The topic is “Civil Liberties in a Changing World.” Darrow, as you may know, is pretty aggressive in defending government actions in national security, drugs, death penalty, etc.


    The chat on Wednesday will focus on national security, and I’m sure Darrow will try to belittle claims that civil liberties have been diminished because of the war on terror — or that if they have, the Bush administration has structured security programs in a way that minimizes civil liberties impacts while maximizing protection of U.S. citizens’ safety.

Go here to log into the chat — you can comment anonymously if you wish.

chat.jpg

Jan 24

A trio of British graphic designers spent four days filming themselves running up and down Omaha Beach in Normandy and then composited the footage to create an amazing, on-the-cheap, DIY D-Day scene. Here is the YouTube clip…