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!

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…

VCAM volunteer extraordinaire, Jeff Botas, has been experimenting with streaming some VCAM shows live on the Internet as well as offering them up for on-demand playback as podcasts and/or video blogs. So far, the experiments have been on Jason Piche’s Talking Trash, Brian Kling’s Street Signs and L.J. Palardy’s Global Sounds. Once we have a streamlined system in place for doing this regularly, we will offer training to producers who wish to do this for their own shows.

Jeff uses a combination of free web applications and Macintosh software to do the streaming and podcasting of the shows. For streaming shows live online, Jeff plugs the output of the record deck in the control room into his Mac laptop (we’re working on getting a machine in the control room for this specifically) and sends the live program up to a site called ustream.tv — a free web-based streaming and social networking site. As it’s uploaded, ustream sends the signal out live over the net. Anyone in the world with net access can watch the show, call the studio line (if the show is live on the air at the time) or even participate via an IRC chat session that the show’s host monitors during the broadcast.

For podcasting the video and audio of the completed show, Jeff is using blip.tv. Jeff writes…

This site rocks. There are a plethora of features that allow me to do everything I want and more with my video. Unlike YouTube, I can upload an entire show with no time or file size limits. No more splitting a half-hour show into 4 pieces with poor video quality. FTP is available so that I am easily able to upload one or multiple shows. The available distribution methods are phenomenal. I only use the RSS syndication for iTunes, the Facebook API, and Cross-posting, but there are many others (Internet Archive, del.icio.us, Twitter, MySpace, AOL Video, etc). The Facebook method puts a Blip.tv video player in your profile and automatically displays the most recently uploaded video. The Auto Cross-posting feature automatically makes a new post on your blog with embed code that shows your most recently uploaded video (ex: http://streetsignsvt.blogspot.com).

Thanks to Blip.tv, it’s easy to host and syndicate a video podcast while iTunes makes it easy to find for a large audience. Since I have Blip automatically creating the RSS feed for me, all I had to do was submit the feed URL to the iTunes podcast directory. Though the podcast has been available for several weeks, Jason and I finally found the time to do this for Talking Trash last night. I would have done it sooner, as I would for Street Signs, but I thought it best to have the show’s producer make the submission (using their Apple ID).

Here’s last Wednesday’s Talking Trash, which was streamed live over the web and then uploaded to blip.tv…

As Paula Routly mentioned at Friday’s Producers’ Recognition Dinner, we are entering an age of new media. The only question is, will we willingly embrace these new methods of online publishing and video distribution or will we fight, kicking and screaming, as we are dragged into this brave new world. We at VCAM are aiming for the former option. Thanks to people like Jeff and forward-thinking producers like Jason, Brian and L.J., the rest of us are able to learn by their examples.

As mentioned in the previous post, VCAM is hosting a panel discussion on Sunday afternoon called Digital Tools for Artists. The panel will be moderated by graphic designer and web guru Gahlord Dewald of ThoughtFaucet. Joining Gahlord on the panel will be filmmaker Art Bell; the director of Champlain College’s new Digital Filmmaking major, Karen Klove; blogger and marketing professor, Elaine Young and filmmaker, Nate Beaman.

Also present at the event will be several members of Last Monday [interactive], a loose consortium of Vermont media artists and professionals, who are co-sponsoring this event.

Things are hopping here at VCAM in anticipation of this weekend’s South End Art Hop. If you’ve been to VCAM for Art Hop in the past, you know we get a lot of foot traffic through the studio, and we’re expecting this to be our biggest year yet. We’re featuring over 20 artists’ work in our space (including two new films by VCAM production manager Bill Simmon) and we’re collaborating with the other 208 Flynn sites to host one big Art Hop extravaganza. The fun begins Friday night at 5pm. We hope to see you here!

Also as part of Art Hop, VCAM is hosting a panel discussion on Sunday afternoon that’s being presented by Last Monday [interactive]. It’s called Digital Tools for Artists. According to the press release…

On Sunday September 9th at 1:00 p.m., Last Monday [interactive], a consortium of digital media artists and professionals, will host “Digital Tools for Artists,” a panel discussion and workshop about many of the free and inexpensive digital tools that are available for artists and small business owners. Topics covered will include blogging, podcasting, video for the web, online social networks and netroots marketing. Specific software applications from Apple and Adobe may also be discussed. The panel, which will be made up of several local digital media experts, is being presented as part of the South End Art Hop and will be held at the Vermont Community Access Media studios at 208 Flynn Avenue.

Last Monday [interactive] was started in 2006 as a monthly get-together of filmmakers, animators, audio engineers, web developers and other artists and professionals who work with digital media in some way. LMi meetings are held on the last Monday of each month (hence the group’s name) and are typically casual, low key events where works-in-progress are shown, and tips, tricks and techniques are shared between members.

The panel is free and open to the public. We’ll also be recording it for future broadcast on the channel.

Jackie Yantachka is a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School and is doing her Grad Challenge in television production. As part of her challenge, she’s been shooting a movie review show at VCAM, both in the studio and out in the field. Look for the as yet untitled show in the coming months on the channel. Good luck, Jackie!