film.vid.stuff

POV Interactive Documentaries Nominated for a 2015 Webby Award!

Late last summer when we produced and showcased these six interactive documentaries, we wanted to show that online documentary did not need to be confined to a conventional linear format: We could push the web browser to its limit, use nonfiction media to spark tens of thousands of conversations about taboo social issues, and share artful experiences where the technological innovation was mostly hidden. Each of the projects exemplifies how storytellers are now able to use the web to engage with audiences — through nonfiction media — in new ways. And we hope it’s just a start.

The six projects — 89 Steps: A Chapter of Living Los Sures, Empire, Fukushima: The Eternal Season, Immigrant Nation, The Most Northern Place and Whiteness Project: Inside the White/Caucasian Box — tell compelling, human stories and use web technologies to push the boundaries of what we expect from the documentary form. This category has traditionally rewarded collections of linear documentaries, so we’re excited to be recognized for pushing the form and taking advantage of the interactivity the web makes possible.

We’re also thrilled to be an “honoree” in two other categories: “Best Use of Interactive Video” for “POV Interactive Documentaries” and in “Documentary: Individual Episode” for Empire. PBS Online Film Festival, in which POV was a partner, was also nominated in the “Online Film & Video: Variety” category and Who really runs Washington?” from Al Jazeera America incorporates “Data Docs” a project developed at POV Hackathon.

If you haven’t yet explored these shorts, please do now at http://www.pbs.org/pov/digital/shorts/.

¶ Posted 26 April 2015 † Deb § Documentary § Interactive § POV ‡ Comments (0) °

DaVinci Resolve Tutorials

No-School Links

One of the key takeaways from this video is just how quick and simple Resolve makes it to correct subtle (or horrid) white balance issues, which is one of the largest problems with run-and-gun footage. With a quick glance at the RGB parade, it’s very easy to see where adjustments need to be made. Although the creator of the video uses the color wheels to make these adjustments (for the most part), I’ve always found RGB curves to be the quickest and most efficient method for straightening out a wonky RGB parade.

Color Grading 101 by F-Stop Academy

“I am a newbie to color grading….but as a DP I’m very familiar with colour, contrast and tone.

So I decided that as camera technology was advancing faster than I can keep up, I would jump into Resolve 9 when it was released and learn the power of colour grading as an extension of my skill as a DP and content producer. With many cameras now shooting a log type of image, I figured that now is a good time to take my color grading beyond simply applying a look with Magic Bullet (great software but it applies the look to everything like a color wash and so there is no real finesse).”

¶ Posted 24 April 2015 † Deb § Color Grading § Open Source Software § Tutorials ‡ Comments (0) °

Is Investigative Journalism a Joke?

Is Investigative Journalism a Joke? Jeffrey Ruoff

“As print profits continue to plummet and some of the more traditional media outlets turn away from ambitious investigative journalism, documentary filmmakers are picking up the slack.”

Good take on the role of documentary today.