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Archive for April, 2010

30
Apr

Whirlwinds move slower …

My LiveU Streaming Rig

My LiveU Streaming Rig

So, I made the long drive up from Vegas to San Francisco ten days ago. Aside from the spring snowstorm in the Bear Mountains outside of Bakersfield, the drive was uneventful. I got into my hotel around 1AM and started at the Pixel Corps the next morning at 9AM. From there, my schedule looked like this …

  • 04/22 – Meet a lot of the PXC team. Get some marching orders from Alex and John RIley. Log all of the EX-1 footage from NAB, organize it for post. Begin capture of DV footage from events streamed over LiveU, including the interview with Ted Schilowitz of Red Camera where we got some great insight into the Red Epic and Scarlet cameras.
  • 04/23 – Continue logging & capture of NAB footage. Also begin rough edits of footage for Gear*Media*Tech and MacBreak Studio. Get the lowdown on live corporate streaming event to which I am assigned for Monday. Meet some new PXC folks. After work , take in a double feature of Kick Ass! and The Losers. WIll write up thoughts on those films later.
  • 04/24 – Move from hotel to apartment. After setting up my two workstations in the apartment, I begin capturing more NAB footage, including interviews by Diana Weynand for the new 3D podcast we have in development at PXC. DV capture happens around other apartment set up stuff. Spend the evening checking out the North Beach area.
  • 04/25 – Spent most of the day waiting on the Comcast installer and cursing his name. Realize how much broadband Internet has become intertwined in my life. Wonder if that is a good thing. I need it more than I need cable TV. Am also surprised that, in the tech capital of the USA, I still have to wait on the cable guy. Spend much of the day continuing to capture DV footage from NAB 2010.
  • 04/26 – Call time at Noon for set up and testing for live corporate streaming event. Great opportunity to watch the well-oiled PXC machine in action and learn a lot about the way shows are prepped and produced.
  • 04/27 – Call time at 7AM. Got the trolley schedule mixed up and had to grab a cab to make it on time. It was also the classic foggy/rainy SF spring day. Worked the live streaming event until 3PM. Learned a lot about show flow, audio/video capture and video mixing. Nothing deep and technical yet, but a very good experience seeing it all in action. Also participated in my first show post-mortem where we broke down the show … calling out successes as well as learning opportunities. Was great to see how the PXC “way” values the voices of everyone on the team.

    After post-mortem, hustled to pack up all of the gear needed for the live-streaming on the film set. Headed home to pack up my own gear, grab the truck and head back to the office to pick up the gear and head off to the Sacramento. Was on set around 10PM. Watched the shoot in progress and got a sense of the parameters in which we could shoot “behind the scenes” (BtS) work.

I’ve now been on set for four days. We’ve learned a lot about the way the LiveU & uStream process works best. We’ve also learned a lot about the best ways to effectively shoot BtS & streaming footage. And, I’ve learned a lot about how a feature film set works, particularly an indie feature. The cast & crew have been absolutely incredible. Everyone is very professional, gracious and incredibly generous with their considerable knowledge.

There is a lot to process there. And, the days on set are long. So, I may not post much more until after we wrap next week. But, I already have a lot of great ideas for posts about this particular experience. Stay tuned.

Peace,

Doug

PS: A few important things that also happened along the way …

  • Spoke to Kelly (my lovely wife) and Finn (my rambunctious 2 year old son) at least once a day. Missed them a lot as the reality of the time away from them became more real. I think lots of married guys might fantasize about returning to bachelorhood, even if for a little while, but if you love your wife and kids, the reality is far less glamorous than the fantasy. It looks like my son grows bigger every day. Thank God for Skype!
  • On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I followed the near-perfect NFL draft by my beloved, home town Cincinnati Bengals. The only thing that might have made the draft better would have been if Taylor Mays (Safety, USC) slid to us like Rey Malalugua did last year. Two words … WHO DEY!
18
Apr

Octopus steals diver’s camera

I heard about this last week and then sublet on to it today. Enjoy!

17
Apr

DSLRs and F-15s

Doug Daulton, Richard Harrington & Alex Lindsay @ Nellis AFB. Photo by Neil Henderson

Yesterday, we mixed work and pleasure at Nellis AFB. It is not everyday that one gets to touch and photograph F-15s. Walking on to the flight line, I heard the theme from Top Gun playing in the back of my head. In addition to shooting the F-15 Eagles, we saw the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the A-10 Warthog , the B-1 Lancer, the V-22 Osprey, and the F-22A Raptor. On the flight line, we saw most of these taking off or landing. It was pretty amazing.

In between shoots, we visited the Nellis AFB “petting zoo”, a threat identification museum, which was recently declassified. It is a huge collection of captured assets, including a MIG-23, a MIG-29 and a bunch of tanks, missile systems and other huge, intense hardware. I kept waiting for Optimus Prime to rise from the mix.

We were shooting for a defense contractor with offices on base. We’ll probably be back to get additional footage over the summer. All of the footage and stills are to used in promotional materials for the company. Nothing we shot was classified and we are allowed to release the material. So, look for more images from everyone on the shoot soon. I am sure mine will be the worst of the bunch. I have so much to learn, but that is what an internship is all about!

Thanks to Alex, Richard Harrington and our hosts, Neil Henderson and his father, Earl “Obi-Wan” Henderson. That was an amazing shoot.

Peace,

Doug

UPDATE: We were shooting F-15s, not F-16s. Accordingly, I’ve updated everything in the post but the URL. Thanks to Neil for the correction. All of photos are included below.

15
Apr

NAB in the rearview mirror

The last week has been an exhausting sprint, beginning with the arrival of the LiveU box on my doorstep last Friday and ending with the Pixel Corps Q&A stream this evening. Along the way, both LiveU and uStream have been very supportive partners in the process. The “live” team is off for a little R&R (sort of) early tomorrow morning, then I get some down time with my family before the long drive to San Francisco next Tuesday or Wednesday. Everyone at the Pixel Corps has been most gracious and welcoming to the newest noob on the block! Thanks!

The fun starts next Thursday in earnest. I cannot say much more because not everything has been confirmed just yet, but if everything comes together as planned, you might here a little fanboy squeal from me late next week all the way from San Francisco. Those who know me well know just how hard it is to get such a reaction from me. So, you know it has to be something awesome. And, then on Sunday the 25th, I step on to my first feature film set.

I’ve learned so much is just these last few days, that I know my future projects would be 100% better if the PXC plug was somehow pulled tomorrow. So, I can only imagine how much my mind is going to be blown over the next 2 months.

Now, I am off to bed. First call is 6:45AM tomorrow. There are large engines involved. So, I need my shut eye.

Peace,

Doug

14
Apr

Behind the scenes at NAB

As we have been covering the floor at NAB 2010, Neil has been shooting us. Here are a few of his photos.

Folks have been asking about the rig we are shooting with. Here it is, top to bottom.

Peace,

Doug

13
Apr

Comfortable shoes and a few other quick lessons

We wrapped Day 2 of NAB shooting and I thought I’d share some lessons already learned from the experience. These are presented in no particular order.

  1. Redundancy is your friend. Always assume some important part of your kit will fail. Have a back up ready to go. We did not experience any major problems that prompted this lesson. It just seems to be a core principle of the PXC ethos and it lines up with my own POV well.
  2. Three things your kit must include:
    1. A small toolkit with a flathead & phillips screwdriver, needlenose pliers and a quarter.
    2. Extra batteries of all shapes and sizes.
    3. A knife of some sort.
  3. Gaffer’s tape is an amazingly useful tool; even better than duct tape.
  4. When storing gear for a long time between uses, remove all batteries. A corroded battery probably cost me a good set of Bose headphones.
  5. Speaking of headphones, always keep at least three sets of iPod earbuds on hand. Don’t use the iPhone earbuds with the mic as an audio monitor.
  6. My Beachtek needs a slightly longer screw to connect to the Canon HF10.
  7. The Zoom R16 is one sexy little mixer.
  8. When you have a wide shot of a group, do not pan between the speakers. It causes artifacts when streaming and is visually distracting. Cutting from speaker to speaker is really the job of a 2- camera shoot with a producer calling the camera changes to be managed by a video switcher.
  9. There is no such thing as having too many SD cards on hand.
  10. Tapeless workflow is where it at!
  11. The iPad is going to be a really big deal. I already knew that, but NAB has only confirmed this for me.
  12. I learned how to properly wrangle cable.
  13. Always have and use a pre-roll checklist.
  14. While I have a few minor quibbles, the LiveU unit is a pretty amazing piece of gear.
  15. Even at a show filled with broadcast and film pros, some people don’t recognize the camera and walk through your shots … no matter how hard you try to stop them.
  16. 3D is really here … if we do not kill it with ill-concieved conversions.
  17. Always have a spare tape/SD card in your pocket.
  18. My wife is a saint.
  19. The iPhone is an invaluable note-taking tool, especially with the video camera.
  20. Learning how something works needn’t stifle one’s sense of wonder about the fact that it does.
  21. There is no such thing as “too old”; so long as your mind remains open to new knowledge.
  22. I am woefully out of shape, but the aches and pains tell me I am making progress on that front.
  23. Running a camera is hard work, particularly when moving all around the show floor.
  24. Thanks goodness for comfortable shoes. Think of good shoes as an investment in your mental and physical health.

So, that is it for now. I’ll have more cogent thoughts when I have more time to write.

Peace,

Doug

11
Apr

Off to the Pixel Corps

I remember the first time I became aware of Alex Lindsay. It was somewhere between 2000-2001 when TechTV was still going strong. Alex was a frequent guest on The Screen Savers (TSS) with Leo LaPorte and Patrick Norton. I found Alex’s segments intriguing because they usually touched on the tech of film-making. Having worked at ILM, he spoke with great authority on the subject.

Back then, I had just returned to the world of technical writing and web design & development after taking time off to write and direct a short documentary. Making that documentary was the single most fun and engaging professional experience I’d ever had and I wanted more. TSS was just the right mix of technical and creative content to scratch that itch. The show was the first thing I recorded on my first TIVO.

A lot can change in 10 years.

For starters, TSS and TechTV are both gone. Kevin Rose, once a regular contributor on TSS, is now the Founder and CEO of DIGG. Leo LaPorte launched TWiT.tv and forged a new path away from broadcast/cable television and onto the interwebs. And, starting yesterday, I began working as an intern for Alex Lindsay and the Pixel Corps (PXC).

The story of how that happened is a fun and interesting one, at least for me. At some point, I’ll share it here. But, first call is 9AM tomorrow, so I need to keep this short.

This week, we are covering NAB for Pixel Corps and TWiT.tv. I am excited about the plan for the week and the new tech we’ll be bending to our will. ;^D After wrapping NAB on Thursday, I’ll take a few days with my family before I move to San Francisco for two months to complete the rest of my internship, the first 10 days of which will be on the set of a feature film.

Yep. I am pretty darn excited.

Over the next 10-12 weeks, I’ll be blogging and, eventually video blogging, about my experiences at PXC. By documenting this experience, I hope to be of help to both PXC and future interns who are considering taking the leap. So, stay tuned.

In closing, I’d like to offer a few words of thanks.

First and foremost, thanks to my wife Kelly, my son Finn and his little brother who is on the way. While the timing of this opportunity could be better for our family, it would only be harder to do down the road. So, thanks for letting me go on this adventure and supporting me along the way. I’ll miss you when I am gone and look forward to our daily Skype sessions. I love you!

Next, thanks to all of my family and friends in Vegas … Dad, Mom, Vince, Olivia, Consuelo, Byron, Bennie & Rose … who will be helping Kelly and Finn in my absence. Thanks also to Team Neoncon (Steve, the Mikes & Will), who will keep the ship moving forward until I return.

Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Alex Lindsay for giving me this opportunity. Its unique value is not lost on me. And, to my current and future colleagues and mentors at the Pixel Corps, thanks in advance for the lessons I am sure to learn from each of you. I’ll do my best to learn quickly and not slow you down.

Peace,

Doug

PS: Thanks to Gary Gannon. Were it not for you, I may not have rediscovered Alex by way of the Pixel Corps in the first place.

7
Apr

NAB for the Foodie

As I live in Las Vegas and enjoy a good meal, I’ve offered to field questions about local eateries for incoming NAB attendees. I am taking questions in Twitter, but 140 characters is problematic for describing why a place is great. So, I’ll keep this post updated with my responses and point folks here in Twitter.

Breakfast

  1. Hash House-a-Go-Go inside of the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace has, frankly, seen better days. Which makes the Hash House a real gem on the strip. The restaurant features gourmet takes on diner and farm food classics. Calling the portions enormous may be the understatement of the year.
  2. Brunch at Le Village Buffet at Paris! – Hands down the best breakfast buffet in town. Long lines can be a hassle though.

Steakhouses

  1. Craftsteak, by Tom Colicchio from Top Chef. Craftsteak is in the MGM Grand. About three years ago, I went to an event after party there and had the best steak I’ve ever eaten. I found Top Chef through Tom Colicchio, not the other way around.
  2. The Golden Steer. Just a bit off-strip on Sahara, it looks like hole-in-the-wall, but looks can be deceiving. Once you are inside, it is a slice of old-school, Las Vegas. The Steer has served Sinatra, Elvis and more than a few mobsters in it’s day. Why do they all come? The steaks and sides are absolutely top notch. Their prime rib is outstanding.
  3. Rum Jungle at Mandalay Bay. The Brazilian BBQ/Steakhouse food is good, but not spectacular. Rum Jungle is on the list for the experience. All you can eat meat, carved in big hunks. And, if you make your reservations from 8-9 PM on a weekend night, you’ll already be inside when it turns into a fun, unique dance club for the evening, so no waiting in lines. Think Go-Go dancers and drink runners all dressed in white, working in black light from suspended dance cages and a two-story bar.

Burgers

  1. Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay. The Burger Bar is the brain child of Chef Hubert Keller, most recently seen on Top Chef Masters. Absolutely amazing. If you only eat one burger in Vegas, make it from the Burger Bar!
  2. In-n-Out Burgers – No big surprise here for West Coast folks. But if you are coming from anywhere else, you owe it to yourself to go to the In-n-Out Burger on Tropicana & Dean Martin. If you are already a fan, this location is also a company store where you can pick up hats, shirts and other gear. Without question, they have the best fast food fries in the city. Each batch is made from fresh potatoes.
  3. Le Burger Brasserie Sports Grille in the Paris! – Home of the $777 hamburger! The rest of their menu outstanding as well. All high-concept burgers done well. I think they may have the best fries in Vegas.

Buffets

  1. Cravings at the Mirage – I am admittedly biased because I used to eat there a couple of times a week when I worked for the company. Disclaimer aside, it is the best value for a high-end buffet on the strip. Everything is outstanding. Vegetarians will love the salad bar where you pick the ingredients and they build a huge, hand-tossed salad. Service is high touch, which is not so common in a buffet.
  2. Le Village Buffet at Paris! – Lunch and Dinner are great as well, but they really shine for breakfast/brunch.