RED Los Angeles User Group meeting, June 11th 2011

[Igor Ridanovic]

RED Los Angeles User Group
June 11th, 2011
9:00 am to noon

Please RSVP here (http://www.redusergroupla.com)


Come on back to another big RED Los Angeles User Group meeting and a tasty breakfast from Porto's Bakery across the street. This list is not final, we'll have updates in the coming weeks.

Image Systems (http://www.imagesystems.se) (formerly known as Digital Vision) will show their latest tools in Nucoda Film Master. The additions to the color grading system allow use of OpenEXR files which is just what the doctor ordered for the new Epic camera's HDRx™ mode.

Shot on RED One, the feature film Skyline released by Universal late last year was finished using the new HDR (high dynamic range) workflow in Nucoda Film Master. Since many of you have seen the film we have asked Image Systems to emphasize the actual HDR toolset and show us the examples where OpenEXR gives cinematographers more creative control than the standard 10-bit log files.

The hip guys from The Foundry (http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/products/storm/) will demo the latest version of STORM. Their groundbreaking software was the first software to edit and save R3D files.

STORM brings consistency and continuity to your workflow enabling you to quickly and easily take RED media from camera, through editorial and onto post-production and delivery. STORM allows you to efficiently organize and integrate your RAW RED content with your editing solution, visual effects software and finishing products, providing a consistent reference throughout the process.

John Matlick and Ken Drapkin of ConstantVelocityTechnology will introduce the MightyPacks™ solid state drives (http://www.wix.com/johnpaulmatlick/constantvelocitydrivesystems).

MightyPacks™ are the only motion imaging drives that guarantee average speeds of 245MB/s and are easily combined for faster performance. Energy efficient and practically indestructible, they are designed to never falter, even when full, fragmented, or under extreme load. The demo will feature Media Composer playback of mutiple RED streams, and Iridas 2K Stereo.

Meet the Go-to-Guys (http://www.kappastudios.com/?page_id=475) at Kappa and a new System-based approach to dubbing: Minute-by-minute pricing – No rounding up, an Online Dub Job Estimator, Email updates on the status of your job, In by 3 pm out by 10 am the next business day and most importantly Discount Studio Pricing for the independent producer. Test drive the Dub Job Estimator and get your questions answered.

We're very excited to have Christian Bloch (http://hdrlabs.com/news/index.php) (EdenFX, HDRLabs.com) who will complement the Image Systems demo with a seminar on the foundations of HDR image capture and post. You will learn why HDR is becoming one of the most important advances in digital imaging.

Christian is a VFX artist who created visual effects for StarTrek: Enterprise, Lost, 24, Chuck and several movies. He has pioneered the practical application of HDR images in post, specifically under the budgetary and time restraints of broadcast production. He is the author of the HDRI-Handbook, a unique guide to shooting, stitching and using panoramic HDR images.

Our friend Scott Snare is hosting the Owners' Circle where you can chat about any RED subject. Scott is one of the most experienced RED people out there and he loves to share his insights. You don't have to be a RED owner to participate.

New Media Film Festival (http://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/) has a submission discount code for our members. No film to submit? No problem. Use the coupon code to save 30% on festival tickets. Touted as "Sundance for the Facebook crowd," the festival has a RED category and a grand prize valued at $12K. Visit RED Los Angeles USer Group website for the coupon codes. (http://www.redusergroupla.com)

Door prizes this month include (and we hope there will be more):

two copies of Steve Ecclessine's acclaimed book So You Wanna Be A Producer? (http://soyouwanttobeaproducer.com/)

[Igor Ridanovic]

Update, June 2:

We just added a ton of door prizes. In fact, more prizes than ever before.

Verizon Wireless, our new neighbor in the Kappa Studios building is donating a Samsung Galaxy Tab. This Android based tablet offers 3G connectivity and retails for over $400 in most stores! To receive the Samsung Galaxy Tab door prize the winner must sign the tablet up on a two year contract at $80.00 (for 10 gigs of usage).

Make sure you visit the Verizon store in the building because they are also offering 15% discount on accessories to three lucky winners. Sorry, no discounts on Apple gear, although Verizon now carries iPhone.

We have three copies of Steve Ecclessine's acclaimed book So You Wanna Be A Producer?

Speaker Christian Bloch is throwing in two copies of HDRI-Handbook. This book is out of print. You can not buy it new online or in bookstores!

New Media Film Festival is waving submission fees to three "Shot on RED" category submissions. They are also giving away two festival badges for the San Francisco festival in November.

[Igor Ridanovic]

Update June 6:

Have you seen Torc Offroad Series Championship on Discovery HD Theater? It's the largest sporting event shot on RED. Director of photography Gianny Trutmann will talk about the most demanding situations, heat, dirt, noise and everything possible to make the camera crash. Oh, yes, Gianny will also screen scenes from the show in Members' Showcase.

Also joining us is the president of Digital Cinema Society James Matthers, a true RED pioneer. James will help out Scott Snare in the Owners' Circle. Scott will bring in his brand new Element Technica Atom stereoscopic 3D rig.

[Igor Ridanovic]

Update June 8:

Russ McDonald is presenting a writing seminar. Screenplays are about precision, from Black Swan to Avatar. They all follow a progression that audiences not only expect, but demand. So why do some films succeed where others fail?

They fail because their stories do not emotionally connect with the person sitting in the seat, and buying the popcorn. This half hour seminar will help you focus the emotional core of your story, and give you a practical road map that will take your idea from inside your head to the page. Four sessions starting at 9:00 with Q&A from 11:00 to noon.


Two guys from Denmark just walked in. No, this is not a joke. They dropped off a way cool camera support device called VBag. It's a crazy invention. It's basically an industrial strength polyester fiber vacuum bag you can place over uneven surface, suck the air out and use as a sturdy camera support. You have to see for yourself, we'll have it available at the Owners' Circle.

[Steve Das]

Just wanted to say..these meetings rule...very well run and organized...great guests with alot of info...and they even have breakfast stuff to eat.
For those to the south or North of L.A./Burbank area it's well worth the trip...and this meeting tomorrow on Sat. sounds like an especially good one. Thanks going out to Kappa Studios for hosting it at their great facility.