June / 2010

In the News

Panasonic’s Latest AVCCAM HD Camcorders

Panasonic has announced its new AVCCAM HD camcorder, the AG-AF100, the first professional micro 4/3-inch video camcorder optimized for high-definition video recording. Scheduled to ship by the end of 2010, according to the Pansonic press blurb, the AG-AF100 will set a new benchmark for digital cinematography.

Targeted at the video and film production communities, the Panasonic AF100 delivers the shallow depth of field and wider field of view of a large imager, with the flexibility and cost advantages of use with a growing line of professional quality, industry standard micro 4/3-inch lenses, filters and adapters. The full 1080 and 720 production camera offers superior video handling, native 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates, professional audio capabilities and compatibility with SDHC and SDXC media.

The design of the AF100’s micro 4/3-inch sensor affords depth of field and field of view similar to that of 35-mm movie cameras in a less expensive camera body. Equipped with an interchangeable lens mount, the AF100 can utilize an array of low-cost, widely available still-camera lenses as well as film-style lenses with fixed focal lengths and primes. The camcorder records 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) in AVCHD’s highest-quality PH mode (maximum 24Mbps). It is 60Hz and 50Hz switchable.
The AF100 maximizes the potential of its high-resolution imager with built-in ND filtering and dramatically reduced video aliasing. This newest Panasonic AVCCAM camcorder is the first to enjoy the benefits of advanced SDXC media-card compatibility in addition to existing SDHC card support. (SDXC is the newest SD memory card specification that supports memory capacities above 32GB up to 2TB.) With two SD slots, the AF100 can record up to 12 hours on two 64GB SDXC cards in PH mode.
3D Television Coming Soon to a Living Room Near You

Just as 3D films have taken over movie theatres, televisions capable of displaying 3D images in HD are making their living room debut. Samsung will be the first out of the gate with its line of 3D televisions, with five LED edge-lit LCD models that range in size from 40-to-55 inches (and prices from $2,500 to $4,000), followed by plasma models up to 63 inches. Other manufacturers have also announced plans to launch 3D television, including Panasonic, followed by Sony, LG, Toshiba and Sharp.

These new televisions, which can also show 2D programming, are also ideal for 3D video gaming (beginning with the Sony PlayStation 3 this summer) and 3D sports broadcasts. In fact, at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Disney’s ESPN announced it would launch a 3D channel this summer, in time for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, while Sony, IMAX and Discovery Communications will also launch a 3D channel.

Along with a 3D-capable HDTV, buyers will also need the following to experience the stereoscopic visuals at home: compatible 3D glasses that will cost up to $250 per pair; a 3D-enabled Blu-ray disc player (Samsung currently has the only model available); and a new HDMI 1.4 cable, which can run between $70 and $350. The required “active shutter” 3D glasses, by the way, are different than the “passive” or “polarized” ones worn in the movie theatre.


Hungarian Society of Cinematographers to Celebrate Its 20th Anniversary

An ambitious series of events has been announced by the Hungarian Society of Cinematographers (HSC) to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its founding under the inspiration of the legendary Gyorgy Illes hsc. To mark the culmination of these celebrations, the HSC is planning the first World Conference for Cinematographers in late November in Budapest. IMAGO is giving its fullest support to this conference, which will be designed to meet the challenges of changes in global technology, examine working conditions everywhere and improve standards of training and the understanding of International Property Rights.

Budapest, which this year is the European City of Culture, will be the venue in September for a series of master classes involving cinematographers representing many of IMAGO’s 37 societies. These will be scheduled throughout the month and will be designed to give practical guidance to cinematographers, lighting technicians and grips. It is expected the world-class venues available in Hungary such as in the newly built Korda Studios and the other fine post-production facilities available will be utilized. It is planned to exhibit the latest and best equipment available for European professionals.


Paul Sarossy csc, bsc Brought on Board to Shoot The Borgias

Paul Sarossy csc, bsc

Jeremy Podeswa (Fugitive Pieces, The Tudors) has come on board to direct The Borgias for Showtime and CTV, while fellow Canuck Paul Sarossy csc, bsc (Death Comes to Town, Chloe) will lens the 10-part cable drama about the powerful Italian Renaissance family. Other homegrown elements for the Canada/Hungary/Ireland co-production include François Séguin as production designer, and newcomer actor François Arnaud joining the cast as Cesare Borgia, the ruthless son of Rodrigo, to be played by Jeremy Irons. Colm Feore is cast as Rodrigo’s arch-nemesis, Cardinal Giuliano Della Rovere. The Borgias, also to air on Bravo!, is co-produced by Toronto’s Take 5 Productions, with Bill Goddard as co-producer. The drama is set to be shot in Hungary this summer for an early 2011 airdate.


Canadians at Cannes

ZedCrew, a film directed by 26-year-old Noah Pink, was screened in the 42nd Directors’ Fortnight program at the 63rd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, held this past May. Pink joined Xavier Dolan, whose follow-up to his award-winning debut I Killed My Mother, Les Amours imaginaries, was presented at the Official Selection in the Un Certain Regard category. ZedCrew, a medium-length documentary, gives a unique and raw insight into the contemporary lives of urban Zambian hip-hop musicians. At this year’s Cannes, Atom Egoyan (Chloe) served on the short film jury as president.


Stagnation Grips Saskatchewan

Equipment supplier William F. White International pulled out of Saskatchewan because of the province’s declining production numbers. The move brings five jobs and the company’s 10-year stay in Regina to an end, while raising fears that the hard times in the province are about to get harder. Members of the local film community were shocked to hear of White’s closure because White is known for donating equipment to small, independent filmmakers. PS Production Services still operates in the province.

Production volumes since 2008 have dropped 70 per cent to some $44 million, a slump critics blame on the provincial government’s failure to improve the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit. Meanwhile, its main competitor, the province of Manitoba, has been quick to make changes, and now offers a 30-per-cent break on all labour and production costs. Saskatchewan currently offers a 55-per-cent credit on just labour.
The Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Association has suggested the government dole out tax credits to producers earlier to reduce interim financing charges. Currently, tax credits are paid out 12-to-18 months after productions are complete. But it’s unlikely changes will come soon. The provincial government delivered a budget in March that reduced overall government spending by $121.3 million, one casualty of which was educational channel SCN that went off the air in May.


2010 Hot Docs Winners

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival capped it annual event with its 2010 Awards Presentation at the Isabel Bader Theatre in downtown Toronto in May. Ten awards and over $72,000 in cash prizes were presented to local and international filmmakers, including awards for festival films in competition and those recognizing emerging and established filmmakers. The Hot Docs Awards Presentation was hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, host of Q on CBC Radio One.

The Festival’s top honour for international films in competition, the Best International Feature Award, was presented to Yael Hersonski’s A Film Unfinished, a haunting visual essay that deconstructs an unfinished Nazi propaganda film about Jewish life in the Warsaw Ghetto. The award includes a $10,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs. The Special Jury Prize – International Feature was awarded to Laura Poitras’s The Oath, a complex, mysterious portrait of a former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden. Sponsored by the OMDC, the award includes a $5,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

The top honour for Canadian films in competition, Best Canadian Feature Award, was presented to Shelley Saywell for In the Name of the Father, a powerful investigation into “honour” killings. Sponsored by the DOC, the award includes a $15,000 prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation. The Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature went to John Zaritsky’s Leave Them Laughing, which follows darkly funny smart-ass Carla Zilbersmith in her battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Sponsored by the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, the award features a $10,000 prize courtesy of the foundation.

The Best Mid-Length Documentary Award was presented to I Shot My Love (Tomer Heymann), an intimate portrait of two lovers, one German and one Israeli, as they confront the challenges posed by their families. Sponsored by the Canada Council, the award includes a $3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs. Best Short Documentary Award was presented to Tussilago (Jonas Odell), the story of a young girl swept up into high drama due to her relationship with West German terrorist, Norbert Krocher. Sponsored by Playback, the award includes a $3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

The HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award was presented to Jeff Malmberg, director of Marwencol. The Hot Docs Board of Directors presented the 2010 Hot Docs Outstanding Achievement Award to celebrated UK filmmaker Kim Longinotto. Hot Docs’s Don Haig Award, presented annually to an emerging Canadian documentary filmmaker, was awarded to Toronto’s Philip Lyall and Vancouver’s Nimisha Mukerji. Awarded by the Don Haig Foundation, the prize includes $20,000 cash. The Lindalee Tracey Award, which honours an emerging Canadian filmmaker with a passionate point of view, a strong sense of social justice and a sense of humour, was presented to 20-year-old filmmaker Ayanie Mohamed of Toronto. As part of the award, Mohamed will receive a $6,000 cash prize and $3,000 in film stock donated by Kodak Canada.

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