March 2012 – Links and Production Stills News

Fatboy Soundblimps - Website Launched

• Fatboy Sound Blimp – Norway’s Tamas Mack has now launched the website for his unique sound blimp. Designed for Gripless dSLRs of both Canon and Nikon persuasion (one size fits both!!!) prices from USD $675 for the blimp and USD $285 for a filter-less tube. This is an exciting product and one I hope to review soon.
• Canon EOS 5D Mark III – 22 megapixels, dual CF and SD card slots, increased ISO range (100-25600 base + 50, 51200, 102400 expansion) and 61 point autofocus as well as a new “Silent” single shot and continuous modes (although not silent enough for most film sets). Canon have really upped the ante with their new full frame dSLR – this is going to be a very exciting, if expensive prospect for Canon shooters.
• Nikon D800 – 36.3 megapixels, ISO from 100-6400 (50 and 25600 with boost),dual CF/SD slots and USB connectivity. This camera has all the Nikon user’s hearts a flutter with its massive increase in megapixels making it an exciting tool for creating key art.
• Nikon interview: Alex Bailey – Here’s another in depth interview with probably the most frequently interviewed UK movie stills photographer. Alex is obviously talking up Nikon’s products but also gioves some good insights into the nature of the job and the challenges of making it a career.
• Adorama Interview: Hopper Stone – Hopper has had a cracking year as a stills photographer, having been just recently awarded for excellence in stills photography by the Publicist Guild as well as being accepted in the prestigious Society for Motion Picture Still Photographers. Hopper talks about the differences between shooting stills in television versus motion pictures in the Union regulated US industry and lots of other juicy stuff.
• The Hollywood Reporter – 2012 Publicist Guild Awards – Frank Masi (Motion Picture) and Hopper Stone (Television) this year were awarded for excellence in stills photography as well as publicists Tony Angellotti (Les Mason Award, the top award for film publicity), Sharon Black (Bob Yeager award for community service), Carol Burnett (Lifetime achievement award). Follow the link for full details!
• SXSW – Art and Advertising: Two Sides of the One Sheet – If you’re at SXSW this year check out this panel discussion on movie poster design.
• Don’t Call Me Oscar – One Child’s journeythrough the Best Picture nominees. This is definitely one for the cute file – key scenes for Oscar nominated films recreated with a young child.

For more tasty links to all things film publicity and unit stills – Check out my Tech Talk Page