gdp's Comments

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : FSB086: Patrick and Amina Moreau

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:44:03 +0000

Once I stopped producing new FSB episodes, I cancelled the old hosting service where old interviews were kept. You can hear a recent interview of Patrick on Crossing the 180 though.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : Full Frame Boogie - CONCERT VIDEO

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:20:04 +0000

Hey Oleksandr, I'm not sure what you mean that all band members are filmed but lead singe. Jerry Ghionis is the lead singer. He's in the film.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : FSBTV023: Mike Colon Part 8

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:48:04 +0000

Mike does tell that story in one of the episodes. I think in part 2 or 3. You should look it up.

Why are� you afraid to put your name? I find it very interesting when people criticize others from behind the veil of anonymity.

PoetZero : 8 Reasons to Buy a DSLR for Video

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:50:07 +0000

You have Kevin Shahinian's "City of Lakes" trailer posted. Here's the full film. How can anyone see this film and not be absolutely blown away. And it was premiered at NAB on a large screen with ASC's in the audience who marvelled http://ow.ly/1Cabn

PoetZero : 8 Reasons NOT to Buy a DSLR for Video

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:04:15 +0000

I must say I'm starting to second guess my earlier comment that if I got to know you I'd find you to be a good guy. It's my nature to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. But I'm just not seeing any silver lining with you. You're blatantly accusing Philip and denigrating his character. Someone who's donated countless hours of FREE time educating this industry on way more than just HDSLRs; spending hours on end doing review shoots; giving workshops and interviews; offering free audio training online; answering people's questions; giving back on his blog, twitter, in interviews; actually contributing something POSITIVE to the industry as a whole. You're accusing him of disliking negativity about DSLRs and hyping it every chance he gets b/c he's financially tied to Zacuto?! Talk about mis-iinformation! Where Phil is for the most part being a positive contributing member to this industry you claim to love, you just continue to stir the pot. From Day 1 Philip has talked about not only the pros of HDSLRs, but the cons. He's showed what it can do, and he's explain the limitations. He frequently talks about shooting with more traditional cameras and on a road trip from SF to LA recently did a video review of Panny's HPX370. He offers civil discourse on the topics. The only time I ever see him get heated is when trolls offer baseless accusations or throw out vapid, nonconstructive critiques. To accuse him of what you're accusing him of is so ridiculous, I don't even know where to start. Then you denigrate Zacuto's name. Yes, they sell rigs for DSLRs. But they were selling and/or renting camera gear well before DSLRs came out. They saw a market need and decided to fill it. Steve Weiss is a stand up guy and he often goes out of his way not to hype Zacuto when interviewed. The irony Mr. Ruffo is that you're accusing Zacuto and Philip, casting aspersions on their characters on a public forum, w/o having done YOUR research. Furthermore, you're accusing them of doing these things for commercial reasons. Hmmm, isnt't that what your whole beef is about. You're pissed off because YOUR clients (people who pay YOU money) are being misinformed (so you claim) thereby hurting YOUR business. You SAY it's because you just care about the industry, that you don't want poor up and coming filmmakers to be fooled into using such a terrible cameras, to preserve the look and beauty of filmmaking. But it seems to me that the real reason you continue your tirade is that you're tired of losing business to clients who don't want to use your skill set or rent your cameras because of the "misinformation." In other words, you're doing all of this for financial motives as well. Don't try to sell us YOUR kool-aid that you just care about this industry so much. Honestly, it's like with every post you make you dig yourself deeper and deeper. If I were Jim Jannard I'd gladly pay you two year's worth of your salary just to keep quiet and stop "defending" RED. I really would.

PoetZero : 8 Reasons NOT to Buy a DSLR for Video

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:35:41 +0000

This was meant as a response to the main post, but I accidentally posted it as a reply to Rob. -------- David, I think the article you wrote is very well written, and your points good. I think the problem with it is the title. You call it "8 Reasons NOT to Buy a DSLR", but then in the very last paragraph, you say you bought one! And, that you love it, are blown away by the image quality, and that you're shooting more than ever. That's a HUGE disconnect. It's almost like it was written by someone with a split personality. You then go on to say that it's not about the tools. In essence, your whole last paragraph totally negates the 4-5 pages you wrote leading up to it. If this post is aimed at Hollywood level DPs as you mentioned in one of the comments, then say that in your opening paragraph. Change the title to something like "8 downsides to HDSLRs you need to be made aware of when shooting." Truth be told, although good points, obviously in and of themselves they're not strong enough reasons NOT to buy one. Especially when you get the quality of images you yourself admitted they create. Mr. Ruffo's feelings aside, you cannot deny the quality of imagery and storytelling filmmakers from low life students and (gasp) wedding filmmakers, to ASC level DPs are producing with these cameras. As you mentioned in your eloquent last paragraph, they're just tools. Tools that when used correctly can create amazing art. In the end I actually really enjoyed your article and felt it educational. Just misleading in how you presented it.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 06:20:05 +0000

Thanks for all your discussion JD. Very appreciated. I hope you continue to listen to the show and engage in the conversations.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 02:15:47 +0000

>>no one bashed him for posting on the site etc. people just raised questions about his work and expressed opinions. if people are only invited to comment if its going to be positive then in all honesty. What's the point?<< I was commenting on people bashing him b/c he talked about HOW he did it. Or that they're sick of hearing how much the camera can do. I don't want a site that is all about just positive opinions. Never said that. But, since it's a DSLR-related site, people who post videos on it will most likely talk about how they did what they did. >>But more than this I'm generally confused by the amount of it when I don't see a viable market for the end result? who's buying news content like this? so far the only place I'm seeing it is on websites advertising the cameras, software, lenses, and equipment.<< I can't comment on the market for this kind of journalism per se. I have to defer to those more knowledgeable about the news market more specifically. But if I may be so bold, I would hazzard to guess that you will see more news pieces like this... or rather, maybe not like khalid's specifically, but ones that are more "cinematic" and engaging. CNN's annual humanitarian awards show that airs during Thanksgiving comes to mind. Many of those video packages summarizing the nominees were very artfully and cinematically shot and edited. The black and white short films by award-winning journalist Chris Morris that Dan Chung posted today also point to a direction where news may be going. (http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2010/04/05/the-cin... Lastly, regarding your comment about the criticism being constructive and if i thought it was harsh, then I better "get in the real world" as you put it. Let me take the opportunity to live up to my own words since you're all of 26. :-) I'm 41 and I can assure you I live "in the real world." I've worked for large companies and small. I've had the opportunity to manage large groups of people, and be mentored and managed by top notch fortune 1000 managers. I've owned my own video business for almost 8 years and I first took filmmaking courses back in '92. I have been the recipient of constructive criticism, harsh criticism, bashing, as well as praise and awards. So, I can attest to the fact that in this business, you have to have a thick skin. I don't deny that. Doesn't mean I will support mean-spirited, unconstructive criticism when I see it. And I know it when I see it. There's a way one can give critiques (beyond just what kind of lens to use) without it being personal. Many of the comments to Khalid weren't done that way. Dissenters to Khalid's piece weren't just saying he need to user fewer slider shots. His work was called "rubbish"; just another bunch of pretty shots; irresponsible; crappy slider work; etc. IMHO, those kind of comments (and the context in which they were told) doesn't seem constructive. Bottomline: Khalid is a big boy. He doesn't need me to defend him, and it seems based on the interview his skin is indeed thick enough. I think we can all agree to disagree on whether his piece is "journalism." JD, I applaud your passion for this topic. I really do. It's obvious you care about this industry. Just be open to other ways of doing things that go outside the norm. The biggest harbingers of change always come on the coat tails of passionate debates such as this. Recognize when you see that going on in an industry, and make the decision to embrace that change.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 16:14:04 +0000

I really don't think he was comparing himself to Natchwey. Come on. Khalid's young, but he's not stupid. He was just making the point that even Natchwey makes stylistic decisions on how he post processes his photos. He just doesn't shoot and throw them in a magazine. Khalid was defending his decision to do color correcting as a way to make his film look better by stating the fact that even the \"masters\" do that.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 16:07:48 +0000

First James, thanks for commenting on the blog. I sincerely do appreciate the time you took to do so. I want to make a few clarifications and points.

One, let there be no mistake that my show is not a journalistic one. This show should not be held up to the standards required for true journalism. It is just that...MY show. If it were a true journalistic show, I'd be way more harder on guests than I am. Most interviews aren't even about controversial topics. They're about the guests and their career or their take on filmmaking. It will on many occasions show my point of view though. Whenever possible and when practical, I will make attempts to have both sides of a debate represented (when there IS a debate.)

I put this episode together very quickly. As I pointed out in the episode, I had intended to start my \"Business of Hollywood\" series instead. But, I wanted to strike while the iron was hot and stick this episode in. I had to act fast. It made sense to have on in that case just Dan and Khalid (as opposed to trying to coordinate multiple calls and interviews in a week's time).

There were a lot of attacks against Khalid on Dan's blog. I thought that other side had plenty of coverage in the comments there. For whatever reason, Khalid chose not to respond to all of them. I wanted to hear more of his take on the topic since we was not doing so on Dan's blog.

As far as me taking your comment out of context. Even with the context you put here, nothing changes. The blog is about DSLR news shooting. Khalid was invited to post his video and explain how he did it. To bash him for doing what he was invited to do, on a site that is ABOUT DSLR news shooting, still seems off to me. Great, you felt his story lacked substance. That's totally fine. Comment (with professionalism and compassion) on THAT issue. Why go on about how frustrated you are hearing about all the things this camera can do?

The issue really wasn't about the fact that Khalid talked about the camera and what it could do. The issue was whether the content he provide was true journalism. If he had shot and edited a piece that you and the other dissenters felt was TRUE journalism (however you define it, e.g. a beg, mid, and end; story context, etc.) AND THEN he went on to explain his shots, etc, there would be no debate. Maybe there'd still be one or two comments about the slider, but if he really moved you with a journalistic story, you wouldn't be complaining about him saying all that this camera could do and telling people to \"stop showing us what this camera is capable of.\" Why would you ask for such a thing on a blog where that is the main point. People who read it are going to WANT to know how someone shot and/or edited something. I for one appreciate it when people like Khalid take time to share their skills.

The thing that really got me about the dissenters on the blog was not that they felt Khalid's piece wasn't true journalism. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. For me it was all about their approach. It was frankly rude and unprofessional. Instead of showing appreciation for someone who went out of his way to share how he did something (which, in most filmmaking circles is widely praised and applauded), he was actually attacked for sharing his knowledge. And the criticism about his piece was not at all constructive.

Khaild is only 24 years old. I would guess that many of the dissenters are considerably older and more experienced. As I commented on Dan's blog, there was a missed opportunity for you all to come along side a very young, empirically talented, yet inexperienced journalist, and provide compassionate, constructive criticism. Words are very powerful, and they have the power to build up or destroy a person's spirit. Or affect one's direction in life. Who knows what kind of journalist Khalid COULD become if those like you and Mark and the rest, who DO have the experience, knowledge, and wisdom, mentor and teach him what he could do different to make his work ring more true. Instead, the kind of critiques given only hurt the industry. I think unprofessional, mean-spirited, unconstructive criticism like that does far, far more harm to your industry than a 24-year-old-filmmaker, who admittedly has not done a lot of this kind of stuff, make a \"journalistic\" piece that is too \"MTV\" for your liking.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 19:40:14 +0000

Thanks for the comment Brandon. I'd encourage you to listen to the interview if you haven't already. Dan Chung (a celebrated 15 year veteran and whose blog prompted this discussion) makes a great point. That had this been the first video out of Haiti, as-is that would be a problem. But, given the context, this piece serves a very different purpose.

When I refer to this piece as being journalistic, I mean to say that it is a form of journalism. Documentary filmmaking to be exact. It's not a traditional documentary. It's not a traditional journalistic piece. It's not meant to tell a full story. I see it as a complement to what is already known and out there. An emotional journey to Haiti. For me (and many others who've seen the piece, Dan Chung included) it was very moving.

I think there is room for films like this under the \"journalism\" umbrella. They convey feeling and emotion. That is (to me anyway) just another form of communicating a message. From this piece I know that these people feel destitute, need water, are tired, and need care. It makes me care for their plight.

As far as Khalid saying what kind of camera he used, I'm really surprised he's getting grief about that. The video was posted on DSLRNewsshooter.com. The point is to share your DSLR work with other professionals in the business. The audience is filmmakers and other DSLR shooters. For the most part, we WANT to know. That's how we learn. It's like when filmmakers on Vimeo list their gear and filters used. The audience on Vimeo wants to know that stuff. I WOULD suggest he take it out of the opening segment, as it's not needed IN the actual video. So, I'll give you that. But, as Henry commented, if he didn't say ahead of time what he used and how he did id, he'd be inundated with emails from interested parties wanting to know those answers.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 16:59:17 +0000

I hear what you're saying Cliff. And I can understand the importance of journalism in the essence of going out to \"get the story\". But, there has to be a place in the \"journalism\" category for documentaries that are not purely photojournalistic. Investigative style documentaries like the ones by Errol Morris or produced by companies like Participant Media (makers of The Cove and Food Inc) are IMHO, just as journalistic as someone going into the field to report on a subject. Just because a documentary has cinematography that is set up, interviews that are planned, or even <gasp> may use re-enactments, don't make them any less valid than a solo VJ such as yourself working the in the field with JUST a camera and a lens. I think there's a place for both styles of journalism. The \"run and gun\", purely PJ style, and the more time-intensive, narrative documentary. Khalid even makes a good point in the interview that in many cases journalists don't color correct or use Magic Bullet because there just isn't any time. But, if you're working on a piece (such as his) that doesn't have that kind of deadline, and you have the time and freedom to create a more involved film, why not make it look as good as possible.

I think much of this is just change. Change in how journalist tell stories and report the news. And change always has a way of ruffling the feathers of the status quo.

Thanks for the link to the Backpack Journalism project. I'll take a gander. And thanks for the engaging discussion. :)

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 16:13:07 +0000

Thanks for commenting Cliff. How do you define \"glitz and glam\"? Where do you draw the line? If you shoot something in black and white, is that too stylized. Real life isn't in black and white? Do you consider Khalid's piece too \"glitzy\"? If the way a piece is edited (from the music, to the color grading, etc.) draws the viewer in and makes then more emotionally connected to the subject, how's that a disservice?

What are your feelings about documentaries by Roger Moore (who bugs me by the way). His work has no glitz, but he tells his stories in a way that is very misleading. Or how about the work of Errol Morris? Too glitzy? Yet, the way he reveals a subject matter is totally captivating.� I think both are extremely talented filmmakers and storytellers, but IMHO, the non-glitzy one (Moore) is less journalistic the Morris' work (the more glitzy). I go back to Greg's point. As long as it doesn't distract from the facts of the story, or mislead viewers, I say you actually honor the subject matter by making it look and sound as good as possible.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-012: Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb - Cinematic Journalism

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 15:31:06 +0000

I totally agree with you Greg. There are some who feel that over-stylized photography or videography somehow detract from that perception. I tend to disagree. Nothing in Khalid's piece does this, IMHO. There's a similar debate on PDN about some war photos taken with an iPhone and a Polaraid filter added. Very interesting what people think: http://www.pdnpulse.com/2010/03/stylized-photojou...

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : C180-011: Steve Weiss of Zacuto

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:21:04 +0000

Thanks Shawn. In all my dealings with Steve, he's such a stand up guy. Very personable and down to earth.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : Prelude to the End

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:04:04 +0000

I may consider� uploading the old episodes to our new podcast server. In the meantime, the old server does not expire until September. Gives everyone plenty of time to download the older episodes from the old iTunes account.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : Prelude to the End

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:16:04 +0000

Thanks for your kind words Nathan. I'm so pleased the podcast has been helpful for you and your business.

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : Prelude to the End

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:11:53 +0000

Thanks for listening Rupert. It's been a pleasure doing them. Glad you understand. Who knows, maybe I'll have an FSB special every now and then. I reserve the right to pull a Michael Jordan and come back a few times. ;-)

F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE : Prelude to the End

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:09:47 +0000

So pleased the show has been a "guilty pleasure" for you. The website will always be up. It's the home for our other shows. The only FSB episodes that will eventually "expire" are episodes 1-99. I guess that's a lot of them. But, I don't think they'll expire until late summer. Episodes 100-107 and all the video episodes will be up indefinitely (they're all on a different service). Thanks again.