Monday, December 18, 2017

360 Video Test Using Ambisonics


This test was aimed at developing some ideas for using Ambisonics along with 360 video. That is,if you were really standing beneath Edinburgh Castle, you would hear sound based on the direction you were looking.

So, try this:

1. Put headphones on.
2. Watch the video, orienting yourself to look toward the castle.
3. The first bus that passes should sound as if it moves from your right to your left.
4. Now, replay the video facing AWAY from the castle.
5. This time, the passing bus should sound as if it is behind you.
6. This means you will hear it first in your left ear, moving to your right ear.
7. So, instead of stereo, this is decoding the sound based on where you are looking -- in theory, that's more immersive and similar to our real-world experience.

You might also try this in a headset https://youtu.be/NwcYpf6kQWA - but be sure to use headphones.

Friday, December 15, 2017

360 video test (using LOG format)

VID_20171215_114127_011 from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.


Here is a quick test shooting 360 video in LOG format. This takes more postproduction work, but might give more control over the tonal range of the image.

If you are watching this on a VR headset, you should be able to turn your head to follow the motion of the bike. If you are holding a phone at arm's length, this should also work. If you are just watching in a browser (Firefox works, some browsers might not) then you can probably use the left arrow to follow the bike.

The point of testing this in LOG was to see if high-contrast situations could be controlled. Here, shooting into the sun, the shadow side of the tree presented a challenge. By using LOG and then working with color correction, I was able to hold detail in the bright areas as well as the shadows.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

360 Camera Virtual Reality Test Shots

VID_20171212_120910_010_1 from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Here are three views of a location, shot in 360-degree virtual reality. You should be able to see this in a VR headset or just by holding your phone at arm's length. If you are seeing this in a browser you should be able to click and drag around, although that's not as much fun.

UPDATES: 1. This works in Firefox. On mobil phones, it doesn't seem to work in Safari. It works in the Vimeo app. It may be best to go straight to Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/246982292

The reason for shooting in this particular spot is that it is a real resolution challenge -- tons of detailed plants, detailed ground, etc. So far, I've seen the detail vary greatly in different platforms. I've tried it in a Google Cardboard with an iPhone in it, and that worked well. A bit immersive. And I've tried it with an iPhone 6 Plus held at arms length. It looked good, but that's a less immersive method. On a laptop, it works (as on this page viewed in Firefox) but if the goal is immersion, then the headset is the real target.

More experiments ahead. 

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Edith and the Riot



Edith and the Riot from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Here is the first trailer for "Edith and the Riot," a short documentary I am developing on Edith Pechey.
Blocked from a scholarship she had earned and a degree she had worked for, Edith Pechey fought against rigid institutions, powerful men, and a rioting crowd of male students to become one of the first female doctors. Edith and the Riot is a fifteen-minute social justice documentary following contemporary women as they uncover Edith’s lost history while facing their own parallel challenges.

Watch this page for updates.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Lone Star Screening #LSFF



My short documentary "Icarus in Fort Worth" screens Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at the Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth, Texas. It's in the program "A Little Taste of Texas & More [Part 2] (Short Films)."

The film's logline is:

A Texas daredevil faces danger to become a wingwalker and stunt pilot, risking everything to expand his fame and build a Hollywood movie career. The true story of Ormer Locklear, the greatest pilot you've never heard of.

It features the voice of Joshua Sherman.

Monday, October 09, 2017

Film Exercise

Fisher_FilmExercise_001 from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Here is a recent film exercise, filmed in one day, in one location, and also edited in one day.

Sunday, October 08, 2017

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

Screening on KERA's Frame of Mind



Tonight at 10 p.m., my short documentary "Icarus in Fort Worth" is included in "Frame of Mind." The program will be broadcast on PBS station KERA.
The fifth episode of Frame of Mind explores North Texas and beyond through the documentary lens with a series of short films featuring old home movies, a family-owned western-wear store, and a famous stuntman from Fort Worth.
Read more about tonight's Frame of Mind episode, here:

http://artandseek.org/2017/10/04/frame-of-mind-texas-documentaries/

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Icarus in Fort Worth screening at #FWIFS

Our short documentary "Icarus in Fort Worth" will screen at the Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase on Sunday, July 16th at noon. (This year FWIFS is in the heart of Historic Sundance Square at the Norris Conference Centers - 304 Houston Street, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102.) More information soon.

Friday, March 03, 2017

Icarus in Fort Worth at Tribute Film Festival


Our short documentary "Icarus in Fort Worth" screens Saturday at the Tribute Film Festival in Abilene, Texas. Tickets are free.
The Tribute Film Festival is a three-day, three-night film festival. Events include screenings of selected films in the Frontier Texas theater, a three-day independent filmmaking seminar, social/networking events throughout downtown Abilene, and a festival gala at the historic Paramount Theater to screen the award winning films on Saturday evening March 4th.

The film's logline is:
A Texas daredevil faces danger to become a wingwalker and stunt pilot, risking everything to expand his fame and build a Hollywood movie career. The true story of Ormer Locklear, the greatest pilot you've never heard of.

It features the voice of Joshua Sherman.

And ... the film won Best Heritage Mini-Documentary.

Tribute Film Festival Gala
Historic Paramount Theatre
352 Cypress St, Abilene, Texas 79601
Saturday, March 4th
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Free
(325) 437-2800 

Thursday, March 02, 2017

The Texas Sun and the Festival Run


The Texas Sun from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Our short documentary "The Texas Sun" has now screened at film festivals for one year. One full year. The film went to:
17 February 2016 ... (Thin Line Film Festival)
1 April 2016 ... (Interurban Film Festival)
28 April 2016 ... (Hill Country Film Festival)
10 June 2016 ... (Friday on the Green)
25 June 2016 ... (Lionshead Film Festival)
14 July 2016 ... (Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase)
11 September 2016 ... (Artcroft Film and Video Festival)
15 October 2016 ... (West Texas Film Festival)
10 November 2016 ... (South Texas Underground Film Festival)
16 February 2017 ... (Deep in the Heart Film Festival) 

The film won:
Best Domestic Documentary - MicroShort
Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase

Best Texas Documentary Short
Lionshead Film Festival

and was also nominated for:
Best Documentary Short
Deep in the Heart Film Festival
If you enjoy the film, please give it a vote at IMDb.

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Screening at Tribute Film Festival



Our short documentary Icarus in Fort Worth will screen at the Tribute Film Festival this Saturday, March 4 at 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST. The screening is FREE.

The film's logline is:
A Texas daredevil faces danger to become a wingwalker and stunt pilot, risking everything to expand his fame and build a Hollywood movie career. The true story of Ormer Locklear, the greatest pilot you've never heard of.

We won the "Best Heritage Mini-Documentary" award.

The news on KTAB has a preview of the festival:

Local Film Festival Returns for Second Year


Tribute Film Festival Gala
Historic Paramount Theatre
352 Cypress St, Abilene, Texas 79601
Saturday, March 4th
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Free
(325) 437-2800

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Deep in the Heart Film Festival #dithff



Our short documentary "The Texas Sun" will be screening at the Deep in the Heart Film Festival on Saturday, February 18th, at 10 a.m. in the "Family Friendly Films" block.

The film has been nominated for "Best Documentary Short."

Texans, come and see it. 

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Austin #WomensMarch

Women march along Congress Avenue during the Women's March in Austin, Texas on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

Women's March, Austin

A woman marches during the Women's March in Austin, Texas on Saturday, January 21, 2017.