A mere month after the release of programmer Muslix64's BackupHDDVD, which allows users to bypass the copy protection of both HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs, the first pirated movie has hit BitTorrent. Serenity is now floating around on BitTorrent channels as a .EVO file, playable on most DVD playback software, weighing in at 19.6GB with MPEG-4 VC-1 encoding. BackupHDDVD is not a complete package as far as ripping discs, because users must obtain and insert a volume or title key to extract the files. However, is this first HD DVD torrent the beginning of a new influx of illegal movie downloads via hackers and pirates? Do big studios already have to worry about an ensuing copy protection battle, with the format wars not even settled?

New York Times article on Hollywood's uneasiness about YouTube. Even though, Hollywood for the most part has been embracing the YouTube phenomenon lately. Part of the problem now (and has always been) is that many of their movies land up on YouTube, even if it is broken up in several pieces (Youtube has a time restriction).

On my personal blog, I'd linked to a very important television series that I found in its entirety on YouTube. It ended up being the most popular post of 2006. Mind you, the content owners in question were not interested in bringing it to DVD or even releasing it (at the time) and it was too important to be shelved. Like many other movies, the television series was taken down to be only found at another hosting site.

I find many movies on YouTube, I am not really comfortable with this. Not because it is illegal but because I can't watch something for that long on my computer, when I can easily get it on Netflix. This annoys most people. But I'm sure Hollywood will spend a lot of money addressing this issue, especially when they get their numbers wrong: "No one knows exactly how much Hollywood-derived content is uploaded to the site without the studios' consent, but academics and media executives estimate it could be anywhere from 30 percent to 70 percent." I laughed when I read this.

The article also has many instances of compromise, for example, 8 Mile was found and then taken down from YouTube except for the songs. The article also shows Hollywood's uneasiness towards user-generated content which at times means "Hollywood-recycled" content. "Brian Grazer, a producer of '8 Mile,' said some of the mashups he had seen were 'pretty hip.' But he said he, too, viewed them as a form of piracy: 'It bothers me artistically. Here's this thing where you have no control; they are chopping it up and putting your memories in a blender.'"

Sometimes you need a dead guy and you just can't find one. Well look no further because here's the scoop to make your own and it won't require any prison time. Check out this How to Make a Dead Guy 101 post for all the bloody details.

We just love folks that share their DIY magic.

Macworld 2007 has come and gone, and Apple has taken the movie download game one step further with the introduction of the Apple TV. Yet only one new film studio partner was announced, and that was Paramount. Despite unleashing over 100 of their movies to the iTunes Store, hardly any are what we would consider current titles. And where are all of the other Hollywood studios? Why aren't any other companies jumping on the bandwagon, with Jobs seemingly poised to take over everyone's living room? This Business Week article explains why: they want you, the consumer, to have even less control over that media file you are buying, and they want even more money for it. Yes, it seems $15 just isn't enough for a movie download, even without any kind of extra content or the visual quality seen on a DVD. (Oh, and near zero production costs for the companies themselves.) And yes, being able to watch this download on up to three devices is just too many. Gee. Thanks, Hollywood.

(via CinemaTech)

One of my favorite blogs, Signal vs. Noise, has a long article on MacGuffin. A name coined by Alfred Hitchcock, who described the element: a "device, the gimmick, if you will, or the papers the spies are after...The only thing that really matters is that in the picture the plans, documents or secrets must seem to be of vital importance to the characters. To me, the narrator, they're of no importance whatsoever." The element that pushes all the other elements into action. Even though it merely acts as a plot agent, it has inherent power. Most writers use it, even if they don't know what a MacGuffin means. Some legendary directors like Truffaut and Mamet are quoted in the article on power of the MacGuffin. One of the best recent examples was the glowing briefcase in Pulp Fiction.

16x9 Inc. gives you more shot options with the new EX 1.5X teleconverter. This puppy has a 72mm thread and can be used with:

• Sony HVR-V1U, HVR-Z1U, HDR-FX1, HDR-FX7
• Canon XL-H1, XHA1, XHG1, XL2
• Panasonic DVX100B

Sony HVR-V1U and HDR-FX7 owners will need a 72-62mm step-down ring which is included at no charge. List price is $875 but currently it's available at a promotional price of $795.

Final Cut Pro guru Larry Jordan provides some basic information about external storage solutions in this video over at Studio Daily. Topics include Firewire, SATA and data transfer rate comparisons. If you are just getting started in editing and new to the external storage game, this will give you a good start.

Last week, I saw Children of Men. Two nights ago, I saw it again. Rarely do I pay to see a film twice in the theater, but Children of Men almost demanded that I do so. Not only am I a big fan of intelligent sci-fi films (and books, especially of the dystopian variety), Children of Men represents a startling standout act in terms of actual production. Other than the tight plot, deliciously thoughtful political overtones, pitch-perfect acting, incredible art direction and locations, and superb pacing, this film features some of the most startling long takes I've ever experienced. In fact, it is the film's use of long takes that is the most inspiring and impressionable feature of the film.

In a time where superfluous CG effects and chop-chop editing plague so many Hollywood pictures, Children of Men stands in defiance of the hyper-real. In an early long take spanning at least a couple of minutes, a group of five drives down a road and sees a burning car quickly rolling down a hillside, blocking their path. A massive horde of thugs hoping to do the passengers in come out of the woods and run towards their car which is now forced to speed in reverse. Chaos ensues during the chase, and the camera never cuts away from the perspective inside of the vehicle during all of this. It's an incredibly planned shot, and only a precursor to a much bigger and more technically impressive long take later in the film.

The complete lack of editing during some of Children of Men's most emotionally heated and technically impressive scenes is a real filmmaking marvel. Ultimately, it gives the film a much bigger punch because we are able to experience these scenes uninterrupted, with no disruption to the sense of time. Yes, these long takes give the film an almost "realistic" quality. And that is what separates Children of Men from the rest. There is not only good entertainment to be had with Children of Men, but a valuable learning experience. So yes, long story short: see this movie.

Long tail theorist Chris Anderson talks movie production and applies it to small scale, low budget filmmaking in a new blog entry which lifts from the recent DV Rebel's Guide for some examples and inspiration. The claim is that when costs of production and distribution decrease (as in, what is happening right now), new long tail markets emerge. (Read up on long tail for a clear understanding of the concept.) Anyway, it's a fresh perspective to see this theory applied to filmmaking. Plus, the low budget production ideas and tips from DV Rebel's Guide and very smart, and some are pretty surprising, too. Recommended read.

(via HDforIndies)

When I was shopping around for a DVX100B last year, I did a ton of research and looked into many different shops and online retailers, hoping to strike a killer deal. If you're in the market for a new camcorder and haven't had much experience seeking out prices, the experience can be somewhat daunting with the extraordinary number of grey market retailers. (eBay features countless grey market goods, in particular.) The grey market "refers to the flow of new goods through distribution channels other than those authorized or intended by the manufacturer or producer". In other words, if you buy a camera through a grey market shop, it will not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty because it has been imported illegally from another country. Not only that, but any potential rebates will not be applicable. Although I don't know of any grey market camera shop "master list", this thread on DVXUser.com is at least one valuable resource for identifying shady retailers. Brooklyn is infamous for its grey market shops, and there are other warning signs that might indicate a grey market seller. If you see a price that is too good to be true, it more than likely is just that. Ultimately, it's important to be an intelligent shopper, and identify trustworthy sellers and stick with them.

Wish you were in Park City for Sundance or Slamdance? Attending either film festival and want to share your experiences with others in real time? The Workbook Project has launched a new social mobile experiment called Fest Mob, wherein participants can share their festival experiences via mobile text messages, photos, and video. All real-time documentation can be viewed at the Fest Mob website, and non-attendees can interact with comments and questions for the lucky folks over in Park City.

Workbook Project founder and filmmaker Lance Weiler says: "Since I won't be able to make the annual pilgrimage to Park City this year, I started thinking about how I might be able to experience it first hand. The fest mob is a way for people who can not make it to the festival, to interact with those who can, in a sense creating a social network around the experience." Definitely an intriguing concept, and worth checking up on throughout the next couple of weeks. Content is already creeping in.

I just goes to show, if your video is stupid enough, and...um video-y enough you could be famous... or at least win some cold hard cash. Stupidvideos.com announced today, their award for Best Original Video of 2006. The winners Invisible Engine, a comedy troop from LA won $15,000 and untold recognition throughout the blogosphere.

The troop put together a little skit about a mouse stealing a tank which I admit made me laugh quite a bit. Stupid Videos says they awarded "Mouse Tank" the prize because it shows "what everyday users can do with just a camera and some creativity." (And a mouse in a remote control tank.)

Click READ below for a link to the video

Forget YouTube, start your own video sharing site. Sorenson Media has announced Sorenson Squish that will allow you to publish and share user-generated video. Squish is a Java based web app that encodes files within the browser using the Squeeze Compression Suite technology. Just drag and drop a file on the app or stream it from a camera and the video is compressed and sent off to the hosting server. Here are a few of the features:

• Client-side compression technology runs in a browser
• PC and Mac support
  
• IE & Firefox (PC) and Safari & Firefox (Mac) supported
  
• Input video formats supported: ASF, DV, MOV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV
• Input image format supported: GIF, JPEG, PNG
• Output format is Flash video
  
• Supports capture of video streams from attached DV camcorders or Web cams

Sorenson is also offering SquishNet as a place to host your videos. It provides an embedded Flash video player plus allows page customization so you can make the look your own, like matching your existing website. You can check out an online demo of SquishNet here. Pricing for Squish starts at $1 per user annually with an annual minimum of $5,000. Pricing for SquishNet, which includes Squish, starts at $1.50 per user annually with an annual minimum of $7,500. Both products will be available in February.

Avid users might want to check out this compilation of the Best Tips and Tricks of 2006 from Avid's InFocus newsletter. You can view all the tips and tricks from Avid and the community, plus loads of other info for Avid products from the community website. You never know when you might find a time-saving gem or two.

[via Videoguys]

The folks at Boris FX are on a Universal Binary mission. They must love their Mac users because they are cranking out support for Intel Macs plus maintaining compatibility with PowerPC systems. The latest products to get in on the Universal Binary action are Graffiti and FX. Boris Graffiti 5.1 and Boris FX 9.1 are now available as free updates for 5.0 and 9.0 users.