It's New Year's Day

It's the New Year, and I should do a year in review piece, but I already did that for Filmmaker. And I just want to point out that I did 2014K a day before RedShark News published their piece on why this will the year of 4K.

Not yet convinced that this will be the year of 4K? Canon just dropped the price of the C500 down to $20K. For the next three days you can buy it for $16,999 at B & H thanks to $3,000 in instant savings.

If that's still too rich for you, the C100 is now $4,999....makes you wonder what will be coming at NAB...


Meanwhile, Kai at DigitalRev takes a look at the retro Nikon Df DSLR, and doesn't like it at all (and it doesn't even do video!)


Here's an example of color grading, using SLog2 4K footage from the Sony F55. And here's a really interesting video showing the effect of moving the positions of your lights.

Amazing video of a brushless gimbal (the MoVI?) doing it's thing.


The Playlist has a list of the 15 best documentaries of the year, but didn't include The Crash Reel.

Meanwhile, looking for something to read? The Village Voice asks 'Who is Kickstarter for, anyway?" and wonders whether celebs should be using crowdfunding to make their films. I think we already had that discussion earlier in the year, but it's probably worth revisiting.

And if you're looking to change careers, maybe the exciting world of Location Scouting is worth looking at?


Earlier in the year someone joked to me that a cheap way to rent a camera is to hire someone with no experience who has gear and is willing to work for practically nothing. You get the camera at a discount price and it comes with someone to schlep it around! Just don't let them actually operate the camera.
So I found this tweet from Matt Jeppsen kind of amusing, quoting from some job posting he come across: “Looking for DP for a couple low budget commercial shoots. Rate $300-450/day. MUST come with Epic or Scarlet & lens package.” That's actually cheaper than you'd pay to rent a RED Epic on it's own (never mind lenses.)


The New Year is a time for reflection, so read this piece from Jonah Kessel at News Shooter, who is trying to stop working so much and get his life in balance.


Finally, in 2011 Neil Gaiman made a simple wish for everyone; "I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things..."