SMiXeL

Had the pleasure of working with Rosey Media on Saturday Night Live’s May 10th digital short. It was a music video featuring Andy Samberg, Shia LeBoeuf, and about 20 guys with no pants.

Nothing starts the day like a man with no pants shouting your name and asking “What are you doing here?” That’s what my friend Adam did to me in my first 30 seconds on set — he was playing one of Andy’s pants-less minions in the music video. “Funny to run into you here,” just didn’t cover it. Now pants — pants might have covered it just fine.

The shoot was, of course, loads of fun and as always, hilarious. Shia LeBoeuf turns out to be a super nice laid back guy (I thought Hollywood A-list actors were supposed to be divas?). And who knew Andy has such nice legs?

We shot with a Panasonic HPX3000 camera, recording onto P2 cards. For some reason, SNL editors really appreciate the speed of a tapeless workflow. Might be because we shoot all day on Friday for a show that airs Saturday Night…

I especially liked the totally rockin’ look of Andy and Shia singing in front of a bunch of moving stage lights and stage fog.

Check out the video here:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/play.shtml?mea=250060

-=D=-

All in all, I like to be as polyamorous as possible when it comes to camcorders. But I do have a special affinity for Panasonic’s gear. In fact, Small Media Extra Large is the proud owner of a bouncing baby HVX200 camcorder.

I just saw Panasonic’s press release for the new HPX170:

Panasonic Debuts Ag-HPX170, A New Fully Solid-State P2 HD Handheld Camcorder

Basically, the HPX170 looks like it mirrors the features of an HVX200, with three main differences:
1. - No MiniDV tape deck. Bye-bye tapes.
2. - Adds HD-SDI out.
3. - A wider-angle lens

What’s really cool is that assuming this camera sells for around the same price as the HVX200, it means you’ll be able to output full-raster 1920×1080 over HD-SDI to a computer, from a camera that costs around five or six thousand dollars. Looks like it will output 1080 24p or 30p over 1080i.

My big question is will this thing record in DVCPRO HD, or AVC-Intra, or both?

Just noticed something cool on the high-res photo of the camera. There’s a switch on the side that changes the function of the focus ring from focus to iris. This would be a nice plus when using a 35mm lens adapter. When I shoot with our HVX200 and Redrock M2, I always have to worry about bumping the focus ring and screwing up the backfocus.

Can’t wait to play with one of these at the store, when it hits shelves this Fall.

-=D=-

From the folks at Team Forty

After seeing a few of these today, I wondered how many I could find in 15 minutes. Here’s what I came up with:

Create. Organize. Share. Connect. (blist)
Experience. Share. Connect. (geotract)
Connect. Share. Live. (KIJIG)
Create. Share. Connect. (Factory Joe)
Discover. Share. Connect. Discuss. (InfoAddict)
Play. Share. Connect. (PSC Site)
Express. Share. Connect. Enjoy. (Gapuchi)
Share. Connect. Grow. Act. (Get Real)
Remember. Share. Connect. (Memoloop)
Watch. Listen. Share. Connect. (Ruckus Network)
Create. Share. Discover. Connect. (Fraxi)
Create. Connect. Share. (MateCube)
Share. Learn. Connect. Make a Difference. (Care2)
Connect. Share. Care. (UPHS)
Connect. Share. Grow. (Annese)
Share. Connect. Grow. (4marks)
Create. Share. Change the World. (connect2earth)
Connect. Engage. Innovate. (I-Open)
Engage. Learn. Connect. (TeachTown)
Connect. Attract. Engage. (Xuropa)
Think. Engage. Connect. (OPB)
Create. Share. Sell. (Hurox)
Create. Vote. Share. (Twiigs)
Dream. Create. Share. (Pod Collective)
Play. Create. Share. (Yuva)
Create. Share. Earn. (open4)
Create. Send. Share. (MPLIX)
Print. Create. Share. (hp DP)
Create. Attract. Engage. Connect (TM2)

..and that’s just barely scratching the surface.

Which brings up this old chestnut from 37 signals…

ass loaded, originally uploaded by monkeyprime.

# 4 in my ongoing series of defaced NYC advertising…

Surrealism is back.

From Kottke:

Wonderful timelapse photos by Alexey Titarenko of “shadow” people in St. Petersburg just after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

These photos are amazing. Like seeing humanity as a single organism, or as a natural phenomenon rather than a collection of individuals. I love the way we flow up and around obstacles. Beautiful.