Adobe Acquires Mettle's SKYBOX technology

Making VR more accessible to Creative Cloud subscribers

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced it has acquired all SkyBox technology from Mettle, a global developer of best-in-class 360-degree and virtual reality software. The acquisition comes at a time when increasing numbers of creators, global brands and media and entertainment companies are embracing 360/VR and are looking for seamless, end-to-end workflows for this new, immersive medium. Read More

Few shots were more iconic than the epic cliff jump shot in Zack Snyder's 300 when Leonidas is traveling to meet with the Ephors. The seemingly unreachable ledge that may just be within grasp, given the proper motivation, stuck with director John Byron Hanby, IV and 10 years later he was lucky enough to be able to pay homage to 300 while Fractal Visuals was making a short film to Silversun Pickup's "Ragamuffin." Hanby walks us through the process of how his team at Fractal Visuals accomplished the epic jump. Read More

Project Profile:

Shooting an Epic 80's Style Horror Film: Sophia Rivera shoots "Jack Lantern" with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras

For horror movie fans, there is something special about the 1980s. The horror movie genre was reborn and a new look and feel to a whole generation of horror movies was born. And that is what Sophia Rivera had in mind had in mind when she started to shoot "Jack Lantern." And to get the look and feel that she wanted, she choose to shoot with the Pocket Cinema Camera. Read More

Technology: By Miles Weston

Content Insider #521 - Visible Flight

I always believe that less government is better but the recent ruling that you don't have to register certain "classes" of drones just doesn't feel right. The idea of anyone, everyone throwing a drone in the air without some ground rules on what they can do, can't do and what type of training they need is a little cause for concern. Somehow it just feels like the new freedom will come back and hurt people who use them to take exciting shots and make a living doing creative work. I could be wrong but still believe that kids who get theirs (ok dad got it for him) should get training in the rules of the road and regulations/requirements. Just hope his playing doesn't impact the M&E industry or business across the board. Read More

Case Study: By Victoria Garabedian

"Fractal Visuals Produces Viral Unofficial Music Video for Silversun Pickups"

John Byron Hanby IV, founder of Fractal Visuals has released an unofficial music video for Silversun Pickups song "Ragamuffin". Fractal Visuals assembled a crew and set out on a four-day shoot in Terlingua, Texas just an hour north of the Texas - Mexico border. "We filmed everything using the RED Epic Dragon and wanted to capture the aerial footage with the same camera." Then in post they combined their skills with using Adobe Creative Suites After Effects and Premiere Pro, along with Blackmagics DaVinci Resolve. The results were stunning. Read More

Feature: By Miles Weston

Content Insider#520 - Furiouser

There was something for everyone at NAB the way things are moving so rapidly. So we'll break down our discussion over several weeks...it's easier that way. TV is still where most people watch their content they just do it in a bunch of different ways. And thanks to all the online services that are cropping up there is new stuff to watch. That's good news for filmmakers as long as they can establish the right relationships. Yes that's the tough part but not half as tough as being a cable company and watching your "this show at this time" numbers shrink. Fortunately they also own the last 100, last 10 feet to the house so they have to shift their business model. Things are changing so fast you really don't want to go to sleep tonight because when you wake up....BAM!!! Read More

Project Profile:

"American Gothic" Captures Suspense and Creates Paranoia with Blackmagic Design

"American Gothic" is the latest project for writer, director and producer Stuart Connelly, whose previous projects include "Natural Selection" (2016) starring Anthony Michael Hall and Katherine McNamara and "The Suspect" (2013) starring Mekhi Phifer and Sterling K. Brown. Connelly and the film's DP Sherry McCracken selected a Blackmagic Production Camera 4K as their camera of choice. Read More

Technology: By Miles Weston

Content Insider #519 - Content Value

I like free stuff as much as anyone and that's certainly true of video content. I even like the idea that someone is willing to underwrite my watching the content. Part of the reason is that I know most of the people who prepare that content for consumption are independent creatives not the "big company" - Netflix, Amazon, Sony, ABC, BBC, you name it. I'm glad TDO was told to go pound sand when he asked for a "little" ransom to give back Orange is the New Black. Hopefully others will say no to the hackers/cybercriminals so they know stealing may be fun but it's no way to make a living. It's time to protect your content...it's too valuable to pay for a second time! Read More

Technology: By Miles Weston

Content Insider #518 - Fast

There was a ton to see at this year's NAB and over the next few weeks we'll look at what most filmmakers are doing today - 4K and trending toward HDR. It was 4K that is now being used by almost every filmmaker to do feature length films, documentaries, episodic series and marketing content for use to describe new prroducts, their applications and provide service/support. And the great thing for filmmakers is that the marketplace has opened up beautifully for them with financial opportunities - follow the money - with Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, iTunes, Vimeo and yes the kids favorites YouTube and Facebook. Every content delivery channel - we'll cover the trend/opportunities soon - around the globe is looking for good and insanely great content to offer to their viewers regardless of the screen they're using to educate, inform, entertain themselves! Read More

Events: By Andy Marken

Content, Streaming Take Center Stage at NAB

When everything around you is in total chaos, the best thing you can do is change your tag line to give folks the feeling you're in front of the situation. NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) did that with style this year by highlighting the MET (Media & Entertainment Technology) effect. That way, everyone could explain how they met or were meeting the market's demands and needs. Read More