57 Varieties
No, this has nothing to do with Heinz! But thanks to Google translate and a great plugin called gTranslate, this website is now viewable in 57 other languages. Cool eh!
Now this is where I welcome everyone from around the world in the various different tongues, but of course if you are reading this in another language, it’ll all have been translated! So it would just look like I was saying “Welcome” lots of times!
If anyone can…..
Today was a bit of a Red Letter Day for Tranquility Base Presents in general. After months of research and general umming and erring, I finally bought a new video camera. However, no ordinary camera. You maybe surprised to learn that I actually bought a DSLR – something that I’ve seen other enthusiasts do of late, even though I will primarily be using it for video filming. Yes, I chose the Canon 550d or if you live in the States, aka The Rebel T2i!
A Rebel T2i without a cause
So why a DSLR. Well, for the same price as it’s camcorder equivalent, you get more manual control over important aspects such as exposure and focus, not to mention great depth of field. For the Twilight project I needed a camera that would respond well to greenscreen so exposure control was a plus. And don’t forget the ability to swap lenses too allowing extra features such as wide angle shots, great, detailed close ups, zoom without digital zoom pixelling and heaps more which I will, no doubt, discover as I learn to use it! All that and a great selection of formats to record video in – NTSC & PAL in 24p,25p,30p,50p and 60p, from standard to Full HD. Indeed, by most accounts and reviews on the Internet, Canon is the best for Video on DSLR. Just look at the numerous examples on YouTube and you’ll see why – others just aren’t good enough. And why have almost good when you want Red One perfect….well almost!
Everyone will have different needs when it comes to filming. I found this old post last January on the brilliant Video Co-Pilot website. Read it if you’d like a well written summary of your options.
There are naturally downsides – it’s polycarbonate body makes it a little vulnerable to any accident that may happen as well as susceptible to weather if used outdoors. But hey, that’s nothing when you consider its potential – and that’s precisely what I want to consider in the next month or so. No doubt, loads of demos and experiments heading this blogs way…. so bite me or humour me! Either way get ready, the Twilight Ballrooms is coming!
The Devil’s in the detail
Have completed this 3d model as part of the local village store. The sweet wrapper images were a real bonus and are courtesy of Jason Liebig from Flickr! Many thanks Jason.
The actual model may well end up as a blur in the background, but that would still be the case if I were dressing a real set. At least this way I don’t have to Flambar everything!
CLICK ON PIC TO ENLARGE
All quiet on Base
Things are temporarily quite at Tranquility Base whilst I’m at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane teching “Shrek – The Musical”. The first preview was last night and the audience seemed to enjoy it. Nigel Harman’s “Lord Farquaad” stole the show and is impressive given that the actor spends the whole show whizzing round the stage on his knees! We are in previews until the Press Night on the 14th June. Hopefully, after then normal service should hopefully be resumed. Pre-production of the Twilight project will continue and, finances permitting, I will be looking to purchase a DSLR to film it with. No doubt I will tell you which DSLR I have chosen and why I chose it in future installments of this blog, so watch this BASE!
