The Scan Project

Above: The Scan Project.

"A series of 60-second videos directed by artists, each relating to the term "scan" in some way. A longer segment on Lieve Prins, an artist who creates works by "scanning" with a modified copy machine, is included."

More about the project at UCTV and on IMDB.

Hanging Downtown screens at Coney Island Film Festival

My film "Hanging Downtown" will screen at the Coney Island Film Festival at 5 p.m. on September 22, 2012 in Program 5.   

Strapped into a straitjacket, tied up with rope, and hung upside down, Jason Escape risks his life and his pride to make Boston audiences see the world his way.

It features Jason Escape, and includes music by Sherwin Smith and Dennis Perez

Crossing

Smoke from a car fire fills the street in Los Angeles, Friday, August 10, 2012.

Microphone Comparison

Microphone Comparison Test from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Above: a comparison of three microphones:

• an Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier
• a Rode Lavalier Microphone
• and an Azden Barrell Shotgun Mic With XLR Outputs

All three are presented as recorded with no changes in level or equalization. The ATR-3350 does very well (and sells for a very reasonable sub-$25 price) but the Rode delivers what I think is a much more pleasant tone for a documentary interview. The shotgun mic does well, and with careful microphone placement and adjustment of recording levels can do even better.

Never Be Seen

An insect realizes he isn't blending in, Wednesday, July 11, 2012.

Mirrors and Windows

A sign at Wilshire and Fairfax, Monday, June 11, 2012.

Support Indie Film ... Now

My friend Kirk Dilley is raising funding to support his upcoming independent film "Know The Difference."

Above is a draft of the poster, designed by Matt Conway.

Go and check out the Kickstarter for the film.

Maybe you can help them out, or maybe you can promote them ... after all, it's all-or-nothing fundraising, meaning if they don't hit the goal, then they get nothing.

Why do I think it's a film worth supporting?

• Well, first: I'm going to do sound on it, and that's half the battle in Indie production: good sound.
• Second, have you seen the films Matt has worked on? Here's his IMDB page -- so, no question this will be great looking.
• Third: the actors involved are excellent.

Give the Kickstarter a look, see if you can help out.

B-Ball

A boy plays basketball late in the day in Upland, Calif., Sunday, May 27, 2012.

Know The Difference - Kickstarter!

Know the Difference Promo from Kirk Dilley on Vimeo.

"Pictures that move? Wow! That sounds expensive."

"It can be, but only if the Producers choose to pay for things such as cast, crew, food, lighting, costumes, makeup, transportation, and specialized motion picture equipment."

"If you take all of those things out of the equation, it actually becomes quite cheap."

Visit the Kickstarter page for Know The Difference and throw in a dollar or two towards those filmmaking luxuries ... like "cast" and "crew"...

Ernie Watts

Ernie Watts plays saxophone at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Friday, June 8, 2012.

Know The Difference: Joe

Actor Joe Willand waits during a promotional shoot for the film "Know The Difference" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Know The Difference

Director Kirk Dilley records HDSLR video of Caroline Macey during a promotional shoot for the film "Know The Difference" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Jazz Silhouettes

Musicians perform with bassist Henry “The Skipper” Franklin at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Friday, May 18, 2012.

Jazz Friday

A jazz bass player performs at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Friday, May 11, 2012.

Paper

A newspaper disintegrates in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Fairfax

A tagged rooftop seen on Fairfax in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Rock On

A transport vehicle holds a giant boulder on the site for LACMA's "Levitated Mass" in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

I Do The Rock

A woman answers interview questions in front of the site for LACMA's "Levitated Mass" in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

DocuDay and the Oscars

I went to DocuDay on Saturday, watching all the Academy Award nominated docs from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. -- but couldn't stay for "Undefeated," thereby guaranteeing it the win. I was also able to predict that "Saving Face" would win. I'm not sure why I knew that.

But the two real surprises:

1. DSLR video was key to "The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom," shot on a Canon 7D, and also "Hell and Back Again," shot in essentially a photojournalistic style but on video.

2. The 3D look and feel of "Pina," which I thought I would hate, worked. Worked very well, even. Biggest surprise: Wim Wenders was very clear about the fact that editing for a 3D doc could not just use existing strategies from 2D work. It has to be a different edit.

Above: the worst cell phone camera photo I've ever taken.

Ball

A chain link fence supports a ball near the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles on Monday, February 13, 2012.