IMS Cimena

IMS Film Projects:

Also refer to the index under the heading Cinema Projects for Progress Reports & Summaries.

IMS Films on YouTube:

Now that I've managed to post a film on YouTube and I have finally gotten my editing systems functioning I am in a position to edit some films I have laying around unfinished. I especial hope to get "You're Not Getting The Point" posted, because I know a number of people have wanted to see this film finished.

Just so you know, I've started making films when I was seven years old. Writing takes up a lot of time.

I'm still learning how to integrate the films into this blog in an aesthetic fashion. I do know that if you view the films on YouTube then there is a count of view, which I don't have here.

Equipment & Formats:

I've concluded that I will be striving to acquire one or more Canon XL H1 . It seems to be a Digital HD Camera that will meet my needs. That being said, I'd also like to connect with other filmmakers who are using that camera for input and or crew in the Philadelphia area.

Archive:

I have numerous formats, 8mm, Super 8, 16mm, VHS, Beta, S-VHS & Mini DV and I've never really had them all working in symphony with each other. My experience was chiefly in the middle of the format wars between 16mm & video, et al. In those days everything was intentionally proprietory and it became too difficult for me to deal with, so I have been loath to attempt it. My solution to the struggles and costs involved with film/video was to focus on theatre instead of film-making. Thank God for the advancements that have brought the field together!

I tend to acquire my equipment when everyone else dumps it for the latest and the greatest, although I'm getting tired of that approach. I've managed to fill in the gaps with some equipment that I had a hard time finding and now the bridge between film and video is almost complete. By complete I mean easily passable in both directions.

Since we are writing a musical, the equipment and programs for studio operation in audio was a priority. This translates into film and I expect to adapt some of what I have for location work. Digital Performer is our principle composing software and it was very difficult to get it up & running properly and to learn it , and the adjacent programs & hardware. That caused me to forestall addressing Final Cut Pro, but now that I have, I'm almost addicted to it. Rendering is a bummer though, because I'm using an older version. But I'm very thankful that I can at least begin to edit the numerous films I have laying around unfinished.

I still have to work on getting all the equipment synchronized properly with SMPTE, but I'm on that path and for now I don't need that. I have been planning on using an Alesis BRC or the MOTU 2408 for the location Master Clock because I anticipate using the XT for the location sound, the BRC would work. Of course it's all rather bulky, but hey, I'm working on low budget. I may get an mixer/interface with XLR imputs to work with the XT instead of the BRC. It may be that an HD 24 or a laptop would be better, but I haven't determined that yet. I have a Uher 1000 Pilot that has served me very well, and with repairs that will still capture great mono sound.

I'm interested in finding ways to encode the film I shoot thru my Beaulieus, so if anyone has a solution to that, please let me know. In addition to an assortment of other cameras, I've got a 5008s, a few R-16s and I am looking to acquire a 4008 & a News 16. And of course my goal is an Aaton, possibly an Arri & a Mitchell for 35mm. If I shift away from the Beaulieus, which I ultimately have to do, then I need a whole array of gender-specific (and expensive) accessories.

HD is another issue. It's convenient, but it's not the same as film. I expect to experiment with that soon. I remember being at the Show Bus Expo in NY when HD was first proposed. That was back in the 80's, when things were really changing around... well enough of that.

Keep watch here for further discussions on film production activity. AG