Where's my jib?

If there's one thing I hate it's waiting. Especially if things keep being moved forward without obvious reason and you're not being informed. No, I'm not talking about your average video assignment where appointments and dates fly around like leaves in the wind- I'm talking about something I paid for over 2 months ago and that should have been delivered one month back...
Now 'things' happen and we all understand that, but rule number one in this -and any- business is to communicate to your customers what's going on. People will put up with a lot if only you will keep them informed. But that is not happening with my order from Glideshot Industries. I made special arrangements because I expected my jib to arrive at a certain time. But for no apparent reason that's all changed and I'm being kept in the dark. I'm afraid those high tilt shots won't be part of my shoot next week. And that s*cks. Just because it's a budget jib I shouldn't be getting 'budget service'..?

Mailbox: LP-E6 + charger

 

I received my aftermarket LP-E6 battery and charger today that I ordered while in the US. In addition to another set of 2 batteries plus charger I bought during my stay in America for use with my SmallHD DP4, I now have three batteries and 2 chargers in total.
The charger I received today is a familiar one: the same model that came with my first order of LP-E6 batteries. It has a removable battery-plate that you can swap for other types of camera batteries. The battery is 1800 mAh as opposed to the 2200 mAh from my previous (US) order. The printing on the battery is also different but the body feels and looks the same.

WHO VERIFIES WHAT MANUFACTURERS CLAIM?

You can use a single LP-E6 to power the DP4 so I'm curious to see whether the 2200 mAh lasts longer than the 1800 mAh. Moreover: does or can anyone verify/control what Chinese manufactureres put on their products? How do we even know that 1800 mAh is not really 1400 mAh? Or is that just the risk we take at $15 for a battery+charger incl shipping, a fraction of official Canon battery prices..?

Note: the batteries I bought from the US seller for 19,- are still holding up, after about 3,5 hours of operation on the DP4. In addition to the wall-charger they ship with a car-charger.  So they look like a much better deal. Seller does not guarantee info-recognition in camera but that's a feature I don't need.

Mailbox: Mattebox TrusMT M2

MATTEBOX FRESH IN FROM CHINA

Barely a few hours back in Amsterdam and DHL stopped by to drop me a package containing an impressive Chinese mattebox. This is my first mattebox and since I haven't had any sleep for 36 hours, I am glad I managed to set it up without any major problems... Although I couldn't get a camera mounted properly with this configuration. I had a problem fitting different lenses so that they line up nicely with the opening in the mattebox.
First impression: feels like a pro piece of gear but the french flag is really hard to screw into position tight. I like the swing-away feature and the two slots for the 4x4 filters that rotate independently.
There's no manual included how to set this thing up properly. Not that it seems terribly complicated but a few tips/instructions would be nice. I'll write more about this mattebox soon. And if anyone knows of some good, affordable 4x4 filters, drop me a line!

NICE, SOLID ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION

SWING AWAY FOR EASY LENS SWAPPING

2 SEPARATE, ROTATING FILTERHOLDERS

Crazy toy speedboat and GoPro HD Hero

On my last day in the US, a beautiful day spent partly on the beach, there was a guy fooling around with a remote controlled, miniature motorized speedboat. You couldn't help notice because the thing made so much noise, like a giant, mad insect...
I had my GoPro with me (carry a camera at all times!) and went up to the guy, asking if I could mount my camera to his boat. And so we did. This thing was about 2 feet long and went completely out of control after a minute or so in the water, furiously trying to shake off the camera.

But the GoPro stuck like perma-glue... a 100 point ride for the HD Hero!

Crazy toy speedboat and GoPro HD Hero from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

GoPro HD holds up in hurricane Irene

So Irene stopped us on our way out of the States. But could Irene stop my GoPro HD Hero? The hurricane has slammed into Massachussets on sunday August 28, according to the weatherforecasters and the hordes of desperate, sensation-hungry reporters waiting for a disaster to report on... This ia a great opportunity to test how waterproof my GoPro HD really is, how well it sticks to a car while gushing winds are trying to rip it off and if it holds up to the pounding of tidal waves...
Well, I can tell you the GoPro is indeed a Hero, withstanding 'the abuse' with flying colors. If you can survive a 'hurricane', you can survive anything, right?! Check out the footage and convince yourself. Parental Guidance recommended...

GoPro HD holds up in 'hurricane' Irene from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

iPhone remote control your DSLR

It's called DSLR.bot and has been around foa a few months. It got some good initial reviews, it's been updated several times and i wonder if anyone has used this in a professional situation. Looks like a great app with features such as Shoot, Bracket, Long Exposure, Movie controls, Timelapse, HDR bracketing and many options. 5 bucks for the app and 19,- for the infrared transmitter.

Playing with DSLR.Bot Application from emmagination on Vimeo.

Exit USA, Amsterdam here we come

Our family home in Hingham, Massachussets

It's been an incredible 4 weeks in the USA, starting in Vero Beach, Florida and then driving through Georgia, South and North Carolina, Tennessee, DC, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Shot some nice footage, bought some nice gear, met beautiful people and ended the trip at the house I have come to stay with my father since I was 7 years old, here in Hingham, Massachusetts.
Our car just refused to start up just when we're about to go the airport, Irene is on our tail so the time has come to go back to Amsterdam and back to work.
But this trip started me thinking: can I make a living as a filmer in the USA..?

Mailbox: articulating arm

I bought the 7 inch version of these earlier this year for US $44,- and it has earned a permanent spot either in my office or on my bicycle when mounting a camera to the seatpost or steering wheel. The I think it's a great little tool and when I saw the 11 inch model being offered for US $29,- incl shipping (to the US) I immediately ordered one. Use it to mount lights, monitors, mics, you name it- on your rig or in combination with a small (nano) clamp to a tabletop, chair, tripod, bicycle, whatever. Very handy.

Mailbox: GoPro LCD BacPac

THE LCD SCREEN COMPLETES THE GOPRO HD HERO

Got my LCD screen for my GoPro HD Hero one day after ordering- lightning fast shipping! It's a beautiful little screen and it comes with 2 extra housings, one for waterproof and one for non-waterproof use (the latter one is not sealed and thus has better audio) I was afraid the LCD screen would drain batterypower but it has a on/off button that works independently from the camera. This -and the GoPro Hero- seem like such simple devices but everything is so well designed and thought through... very 'Pro'..!

2 EXTRA HOUSINGS SHIP WITH THE LCD BACPAC

Cracked: Cowboy Studio shoulder support

A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF 'YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR'?

Upon opening my suitcase I noticed a part of my Cowboy Studio shoulder support was busted... I didn't even get a chance to use my new shoulder support before it broke, apparently cracking under pressure..? This is odd because we didn't take a plane, where our suitcases could have been banged around and 'excessive force' was exercised... I just took my suitcase out of the car a few times- it even was a Samsonite so it was not like the gear was unprotected!
I'll contact the seller and see what they have to say. I hope they have a professional response. I remember many years ago I bought a cheap wrench-set on a market in Amsterdam. The first time I used it to adjust my bicycle seat, the wrench broke in two clean pieces... I went back to the stand and the seller looked at the wrench, then at me and said: "Well, what did you expect for 5 euro's..?"

Just ordered: GoPro LCD BacPac

After unboxing my new GoPro HD yesterday, I sucked it onto my sister's old Volvo 960 and realized there was no way to frame the shot..?! You really need to buy the additional LCD BacPac -a tiny LCD screen that sticks to the back of the camera- to actually see what you're doing.
We drove to nearby Barrington as I anxiously ogled the HD Hero stuck on the rooftop, scared it would fall off and be crushed by traffic behind us...
That didn't happen and the footage looked great, better than expected- very sharp, and unjittery! Will post some video asap. This little camera shines but the LCD screen will turn what would otherwise remain a great gadget into a functional camera.

My latest camera: the GoPro HD (pricedrop)

SHEER LUCK OR DESTINY? A PARKING SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF B&H

It's all your fault. I felt obliged to post more videogear-related topics during this trip to the States and that's why I bought the GoPro HD on my way out of New York. Actually, I planned to just take a look at the B&H Superstore but when I walked around, I realized I was not going to leave this store without making a purchase. B&H has redefined the concept of a professional photo/video store. The complete choice of gear, the knowledge of the salespersons, the electric trolleys used to transport purchases to the cashregister: this is one smooth selling machine... (I am not in any way affiliated to B&H! I'm still waiting for an offer ;-)

So I was drooling over a line-up of camera's when a salesperson pulled out a GoPro HD to show a customer. It turned out this thing had just had a pricedrop from 299,- to 249,- I could not let it pass... After all, I found 110 dollars a few days earlier. Got an extra battery, a tripod mount and a handlebar-mount just to top it all off. Footage and review will follow later. Let's go shoot some action footage!

NEVER REALIZED THIS THING IS SO SMALL: HALF THE SIZE OF MY IPHONE

Exit NYC, enter Massachussettes

SHOT FROM THE FERRY- WITHOUT TRIPOD!

With pain in my heart I am leaving NY today. The three days flew by in a flash. The city and the people who live & work here made a deep impression, more so than before... Remarkable: while filming the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry I was told that The Law did not allow me 'to use a tripod on City Property' ... That was rather ironic.

Will make one quick stop at a photo&video supply shop and drive on to Sheffield, Mass. It promises to be a beautiful drive.

Money on the streets of NYC!

I SWAM IN A POOL ON THIS ROOF!

What makes you feel more at home in NYC than being cursed at by a cabdriver? Finding money in the streets! I found over a 100 bucks lying right on the pavement in front of a hotdog stand! What are the odds of getting at these 5 twenty dollar bills plus a ten dollar bill before someone else does..?!
I decided to immediately treat myself to a small magic arm I read about and cost next to nothing these days. And I still have some money left to spend at BH Photo&Video...

ONE OF THE 4 VIEWS FROM THE ROOF

I walked about 8 miles -carrying my GH2 permanently attached to my Slik Pro tripod (really glad with the foam padding on the legs so I can comfortably rest the tripod on my shoulder while walking) and shot some nice NY footage. But the highlight of the day was without doubt the opportunity to see the city from atop a highrise on Carnegie Hill. This must be the best view of New York City- incredible, uninterrupted views in all 4 wind directions. Mindblowing!
Other film-related news: spotted about 5 DSLR-shooters, sniffed at he NY Film Academy and saw a placque in Central Park dedicated to my production company, Imagine Video!

ME, AKA 'THE GURU OF IMAGINE VIDEO'

Entering New York City - a timelapse

It was many years since I last visited New York and, like most people, have never driven a car into the city. How many people would?! It is madness to visit any metropole in the world by car- traffic is alien&hectic, parking spots are impossible to find and if you do find one... it costs the price of a motelroom for 2 in rural Georgia...
But I would have not wanted to miss the experience of driving into this place. Nothing makes you feel at home quicker than being cut off by other cars, being cursed at and fighting for your lane with cabbies, bike-messengers and bus-drivers. In my Jeep Grand Cherokee I felt like a modern-day Mad Max at the Tunderdome. Arrived at the hotel without a traffic jam or a scratch... Home!

Shot on a GH2 with a Lumix 20mm 1.7 pancake lens, in a Puma sneaker stuck on my dashboard.


Entering New York City - a timelapse from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

Exit Washington, enter New York

We had an incredible drive yesterday from Wytheville to Washington. Drove through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, into the mountains followed by suburbia and Washington.
It turned out there are 2 Washington's , which we didn't realize so when we hit Washington, we had another 70 miles to go to Washington DC... (Finally realized what 'DC' stands for...)

'BACK OFF FROM THE CAR, SIR...'

It was past 7 PM by the time we found a parking garage and we headed straight for the White House to meet Obama. Unfortunately he was on the phone and couldn't come to the gates to discuss funding for my documentary 'I am Innocent'. A spokeswoman said "he'll look into it...". We all know what that means.

What's the next best thing to filming yourself? Making pictures of other filmers! I saw a TV-crew doing a standupper and decided to photograph them. I couldn't help myself and this is filmersblog, after all...

BOTH CREW MEMBERS FOLLOW FILMERSBLOG ON TWITTER

And now we're off to the Big Apple! Home of B&H! Thousands of filmers. Stage for many more acclaimed, historic films!! Stay tuned for my adventures in the Greatest Film City of the world...

Leaving Wythville, Virginia...

We're off to Washinton, leaving Wythville, Virginia behind. What will we remember Wythville for? Driving around in endless circles trying to find the 'ideal hotel' after sleeping in cheap, moldy motels for the last few nights. We had our minds set on the Marriott, which ould not be found by GPS. Even the gas station attendant could not tell us where it was. ("never heard of it") After 45 minutes we found it: right behind the very same same gas station we asked for directions...
But the reward was great: clean, kingsize beds! No smells! Spanking new bathroom! A good night sleep!

And this is the view of Wythville through the bugscreen of our hotelroom... Pretty cool pattern...

BUGSCREEN-VIEW FROM HOTELROOM, WYTHEVILLE

What does this ll have to do with filming? Nothing!
But I can tell you I've learned some new things about my SmallHD DP4, (will write about it later) got some more nice footage with the Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 and that I'm very grateful I brought my Slik Pro 700DX/Manfrotto 438/Fancier FT717-AH fluid head combo!

No time to film

Well, not entirely true but we're moving so much I can't share it,
yet! Shot some nice night footage last night. Now off to water
rafting and then Virginia...

FF on the cheap!

I had a few small ones- these are great to get smooth focus on a prime
lens. Driving out of Athens,Georgia, I saw a Bed&Bath and grabbed my
chance - and a large 'opener' for my bigger lenses. $2,99 for a follow
focus!
Now I'm all focussed on my way to the Smoky Mountains and Tennessee!

Poignant post from Savannah, Georgia

Stealing some wifi from the neighbours to post this picture...