Buggy DaVinci Resolve and Mavericks osx transcoding

I work as a freelance Digital Image technician. I rely on Apple ecosystem on films shot digitally or even on film format to color correct, transcode or check raw footage for feature films, ads, short films and various fashion films projects but the wired thing that I noticed is that when trancoding rushes for the edits in low res formats. The trancoding suddenly slows down from real time on a 16 GB ram on the latest Mac book Pro 15 inch retina display or over heats and makes the system crash a lot in the log in screen.

For example a trancoding is happening at 24fps (Frames per second) it slows down to 2 to 4 fps per second after sometime.

Only way to make it work is by pressing the power button risking a clone copy of the hard drive reopening the project and giving in and out points and continuing from the point the DaVainci slowed down and completed transcoding.

I am hoping for an update for Black magic product soon for this bug.

Some suggestions:
Disable the screen saver and switch of graphic switching
Revert back to old OSX
Wait for updates

UPDATES:  Install Mavericks OSX and Install the latest version of DaVinci Resolve

Krish 3 Review

I went to watch the film Krish 3 today:

First Impressions:
Full house and lots of cute kids with their parents.

The movie begins with 'Krish 3: The Game promo'
(I am like what the hell)

Stay with me, Now the montage is shown which depicts previous incidents from Koi Mil gaya and Krish 2.

Story/Direction:
Its feels like the great Indian epic story of Ramayana retold in mordern times.

Hritrik Roshan and the double role of father avatar works.

Priyanka Chopra and Kangana adds glamor and humor in the film filled with action and melo-drama.

Vivek Oberoi dude you really nailed it.

Rajapal Yadav the wannabe Krish and Rakhee Vijan A.k.a Sweety (Hum Paach) should have gotten a little more screen time and there are lots of surprises so no spoilers from me.

VFX:
Simple and sweet. State of the art digital art direction.

Sound Design:
Excellent sounds used in the action sequence and no extra Indian serial like sounds used to add humor.

Songs:
Yo mon ok but feel like non digetic sound may be I am not used to Indian films shot like Hollywood so songs made me feel awkward but no offense.

Editing:
It takes patience to manage vfx sequences and maintain the narrative, emotions and continuity. The fight sequences where well edited and comic scenes where well cut.

(I don't know why 'U' certification given by the Indian censors had kissing scenes and death of a kid shown to primary audience kids. I am sure some children may have some nightmares.)

Cons:
Too many in film branding feels like inception.

The actors mark can be seen by the way rocks have been placed in the song.

Compatibility solution for BBM in Android

"This app is compatible with your device."

For BBM app support on your incompatible android mobile device then you may send a email to bbmsupport@blackberry.com

Success with my mobile device.

Before

After

The Lunchbox Review

'The Lunch Box' is a film directed by Ritesh Batra which was selected by prestigious Sundance Institute film fund and has won many hearts at the film festivals. 

The film shot by Michel Simmonds around the backdrop of Mumbai which showcases the life of its inhabitants and there struggle in the city. The film also recreates the nostalgia like the use of tapes and tape recorders and the letters as a medium of exchange of communication between Illa and Mr. Sajjan Fernandis. They both fall in love due to an error in the dabba (Tiffin box) food delivery system which leads to delivery at the wrong address instead of her husband. 

The film has actors like Irrfarn Khan a widower working as a accountant in a government office working in the claims department who is about to retire where as Nawaquzidin Siddiqui the new office employee in the claims department and Nimrat Kaur as Ila the house wife and her husband trying to re ignite the romance in the marriage after her daughters birth. 

A a sweet voice of a Illa's neighbour who spices up the screen with witty puns and advices but with seriousness which Ritesh Batra successfully evokes similar to Hitchcock where audiences seem to relate and root for the negative character and many other small moments which can make you laugh out loud. 

The marathi folk songs have been cleverly used with old hindi film songs like Sajjan as background songs with interesting linking of cuts in the editing by John F. Lyons and music by Max Richter and sound design . 

The film at the end teaches you to appreciate small things in life.

Deactivating active facebook sessions remotely

I see most of my friends on social networking sites like Facebook who become the victim of hacking or miscellaneous comments and pranks at times they are humiliating. There are even friends who keep on losing there cellphones at public places due to which they have to open a new account.

Here is a solution to log off the active Facebook sessions on your mobile devices and other computers such as office, public library, educational institutes or cyber cafe securely.

Step 1:

Log into your Facebook account

Step 2:

Click on the settings wheel on the top right of your screen.

or
Update - Triangle

Step3:

Click on the wheel and go to 'Account settings'

Update - Settings

Step 4:

On left side bar click on 'security' tab - click on "Where You're Logged In"

Step 5:

Now you can see the active sessions on the devices. You may choose to end all active sessions or selected sessions with current active user session login.

Also read:

Lost android mobile phone 
Gmail remote sign out

Gmail remote sign out

Now a days we use the internet on go the on our mobile devices and on computers at our work place, educational institutes, public libraries.

G-mail being one of the best free mail service providers with one account which can be connected to other Google products accounts if linked like YouTube, Google maps, Picassa, blogger or even Google plus and many other services Google offers for free. (*T & C apply)

What if you forget to sign out of your account at a public computer or you lose your tablets or cellphone or any other mobile devices.

Worry not.

I have a solution.

Log onto G-mail account.

Browse down to the bottom right of your inbox.

and Click on "Details"

Details

Now a new windows will open with your login ip, browser and location information.

Now click on the grey button "Sign out of all other sessions"

Now we are done.

Hope this helps you to log out of sessions.

Tasher Desh Review

It's not an art cinema or a commercial Bengali film its promises of an experience.

Qaushiq Mukherjee also known as 'Q' is known for directing films 'Gandu'. He is well known for making psychedelic films, which have overdose of visuals style of editing cuts like a fashion film with parallel narrative taking you a trip of music and visuals in a world governed by the characters which takes you on journey.

'Tasher Desh' is a modern take on revolution breaking rules and coming out of the shackles of the society. 'Tasher Desh' in English means 'Country of cards' reminds you Satyajit Rays 'Chess Players' and movies like Dreams by Akira Kurosawa and Takshi Kitnao's way of story telling and narrative structure.

The songs of Rabindranath Tagore with new age music bring life to stretched conversations between the writer and the widower and the relationships between the royal prince and the princess and the queen.

The writer's story is in black and white whereas he characters are in color. Mixed with claustrophobia and open spaces of beaches in the land of cards.

Its Rabindranath Tagore's play retold.

Lost android mobile phone

We all know the pain of losing our beloved mobile devices. We all know someone who has lost their mobile phone on a vacation with all the precious holiday moments and contacts and vital banking information.

If you have a android phone its possible to turn on the silent phone or to locate the culprit or catching hold of your prankster friend when he hides it somewhere hidden from your view as you struggle to find it. :)

Go to the URL: google.com/android/devicemanager

Select the device and ring the phone. If you have sensitive data on the phone you can also erase your phone data remotely to prevent misuse.

You can also try : 'Find My iPhone'

Macintosh internal speaker output volume fix

This is a frequent problem on mac when the internal speakers go mute. This are the solutions I found on the internet which also worked for me many times on different systems on mac platforms.

Scenario 1: 

Its a problem when a switchers gets jammed. It seems to work with headphones but the internal speakers does not give any sound output.  (I am no mac expert so you can search about it on the internet)

1) Open system preferences and go to sound control preference and then select the output tab so that you can see your output options.

Get your headphone audio jack and then gently poke around the back your audio output. 

The aim is to poke a  switch inside jack output which needs to get pressed.

Scenario 2:

Watch the output in the system preferences as it turns from Built-In Speakers grey.

1) In a finder window select/open: Macintosh HD - Library - Preferences - Audio


2) Copy any files in this audio folder onto your desktop to keep as a backup.


3) Delete any files in the audio folder


4) Open the System Preferences - sound control preference and then click a few things to force the computer to generate new uncorrupted plist (or preferences list) files in the folder you just purged.


5) If all goes well and you have sound through a built-in-speaker audio output option delete the "backup" .plist files you copied to the desktop.

Credits: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2767922?start=0&tstart=0

The mobile device technology

The billion years of human evolution according to 'Darwin's theory of evolution' we have now come a long way in the biological evolution process. We have now started to find the answers to our origin for sometime now looking into deep space for answers of our being in the universe. As I speak there is always a individual sitting besides you pressing their mobile qwerty key pads, communicating with another individual wireless on their smart phone or tablets portable devices. Its now possible to communicate through radio waves after humans experiments with fire, wheels and letters through pigeons and horses and 20th century inventions like telegraph, radio and Morse code until Alexander Graham Bell discovered telephone and when we leaped into 21st century the Internet and microprocessors has enabled us to carry our work and to have a  virtual presence on a go connecting to the could servers. This has enabled us to work on collaborative process with like minded individuals crossing borders and overcoming the Geo political limitations.

By Redrum0486 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DynaTAC8000X.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6421950

We no longer need cables or to carry bulky hand set devices on our shoulders like the At&T bell phone installed in the car but soon Motorola was the company which thought out of the box and changed the game. The same way the optical disk and the USB storage devices or the flash cards added mobility to carry data across computers and networks.Even though there has been a issue of privacy but still the technological advancement has shaped the modern world. Every day our capabilities are increasing. But there lies a concern if all our information becomes open and freely available on the internet what happens when your identity gets stolen. You must have befriended celebrities on social networking websites like twitter or other such web 2.0 sites who impersonate them only to realize later the accounts are fake or some even get scammed. The internet is free and open but there have been instances where people have been in trouble with the law enforcements.

The mobile devices have become a tool which has made average citizens journalists via camera phones and audio recording devices which has act as virtual witness as a evidence in many high profile cases or to avail public services . The mobile devices have become essential gadgets to own what happens to the data when it falls into to wrongs hands or when you lose all the information stored on the mobile device due to the dreaded mobile drop from a height or if it gets stolen and the passwords and the credits card information or the e-wallets gets misused before you realize its stolen. Off course there are security measures and could computing as can act as your backup but you have to go through verification till you restore your digital life with the withdrawal syndromes and short depressing process due to loss of your beloved mobile device for some us have gone through in life when family albums or important document are stored in digital form.

Here lies the question relying of digital platforms as we leap into a world of e-commerce and bio metric information as our passwords to virtual existence of human beings somewhat turning into cyborg like Arnold Schwinger in movie Terminator. Will artificial intelligence become self conscience enough to take over humans into building a world similar to the movie matrix enslaving humans by concealing truth as humans are feed by tubes and virtual information is feed through neurons and nerves to conceal the truth.

May the I-robot are merely a toy till now bu as always we humans will always term the inventors and the theorist as a fiction but we will know soon when these inventors find ways to make fictional devices and thoughts into reality.

Also read: Searching the Aliens our eyes on the sky

Ship of Theseus

After a very long time I saw people silently viewing the movie 'Ship of Theseus' in the theater just like my days in film school and sitting till the end of the credit roll. 

The story of  'Ship of Theseus' by Anand Ghandi tells three stories of a blind photographer, a Jain monk and a stock broker. Its a well shot film which should not be missed at all.

 The concept of replacement of components with new one is well explained at the end of  the movie.

D-Day Review

D-Day is a action packed drama film which is more like playing with India's sentiments loosely based on a true story if go by the end credits based on India's no. 1 wanted criminal and worlds no. 2 most wanted criminal residing in Pakistan with help of ISI.

The story revolves around four RAW agents from India trying to bring back its wanted terrorist Goldman played by Rishi Kapoor to India after following the United States model of locating Osama Bin Laden from Attobad by in flirting a country to get its enemy.

Nassar as Chief of RAW Ashwini Rao gives green signal on Wali Khan's information played by Irrfan Khan a under cover RAW agent that he has spotted Goldman. Risking his family even though when had a choice when his mission was over. What soon follows a chain of events before and after the mission that follows to bring back Goldman.

The movie has well choreographed fight sequences and a well edited song Alvida. The production design and look of Karachi which was all shot in India looks good but if leave in the city you can't ignore noticing its not Karachi. The four agents Irfarn Khan, Arjun Rampal, Huma Qureshi, Aakash Daahiya.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

I recently watched Bhaag Milkha Bhaag last Saturday late night show which was week later due to my busy work schedule. 

The man who trashed by breaking the records and made India proud. Its the story behind his struggle of how he achieved the goals enacted by Farhan Akhtar in 187 minutes movie which at time seemed stretched but well paced and edited with ear pleasing heart pumping soundtrack. The good use of archival footage with CGI (Computer generated imagery) and picture perfect scenes of  Ladkh where Milkha trains with a heavy Tyre to break the world record. 

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a biopic film directed by Rakesh Omprakash Mehera. Offcourse some of the scenes have been dramatized but the movie is a biopic on the great Indian athletic legend from India Milkha Singh or better known as the "Flying Sikh". 

The story is set in backdrop when Milkha Singh has thrashed the international 400 meter athletic record and Panditji (Pandit  Jawaharlal Nehru then Prime Minister of India) announces a friendship match with Pakistan and Milka Singh is chosen as the leader of the Indian contingent at Lahore which was fixed with the Pakistani General. But he refuses to go stating his bitter past during the partition. 

The movie also depicts women falling in love for Milkha. Sonam Kappor as Biro, Meesha Shafi as Perizaad, Rebecca Breeds as Stella are the actors who play love interest on screen. 

Prakshraj plays the the strict army instructor at Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh . Pawan Malhotra and Yograj Singh play Milkha Singh's coach. 

Dalip Tahil plays the iconic character Jawaharlal Nehru on screen.

Lootera Review

Lootera (Robber) is a love story between Varun Shrivastav a con man played by Ranveer Singh and Pakhi Roychoudhary played by Sonakshi Sinha the daughter of zamindar of Manikpur played by Barun Chandain set in Bengal in the post independent era of 1950's when electricity started reaching small towns and cities in India. This is a era when the government has brought in the act to abolishing the feudal system of zamindari.

The movie takes place in rural Bengal when Varun Shrivastav and Pakhi Roychoudhary both meet up on a chance encounter and series of events and they fall in love.When their love flourishes and they decide to marry against the wishes of his uncle Bajpai played by Arif Zakaria who has taken care of Varun and his best mate Vikrant Massey who plays Devdas a big fan of Dev Anand shab who are partners in the crime for robbing from kings and zamindars and the rich always fleeing away with the loot hence the title lootera. But Varun has fallen in love with Pakhi but he has to flee sighting that there is no future due to the constant danger which lurks on him. He steals away with a precious item on the eve of their marriage only to meet again after he breaks the heart of the zamindar and Pahki. She is suffering from illness alone at Dalhoise where she is trying to write a novel but the heartbreak and losses make her weak but soon they meet again as Varun comes back in her life but inspector K N Singh is after the duo. There is also sweet humor and funny bits that makes you laugh which sets the love equation between Phaki and Varun.

A beautifully shot film by Mahendra J. Shetty and wonderful performance which makes the film come alive. The production design of the film is well down like in the scene where the Varun meets up with his uncle Bajpai in the park street restaurant which resembles like Mocambo in its hay days. A popular restaurant joint in Kolkata then known as Calcutta or a Adda (A place for chat) which is surrounded by well dress high society Bengalis, businessmen and youth in their suits. The realistic zamindar house and old cars. The movie is well edited by Dipika Kalra setting the right pace with wonderful lyrical songs written by Amitabh Bhattacharya and Swanand Kirkire, composition by Amit Trivedi sets the mood and the emotion and the geography and the period.

Vikramaditya Motwane has done a commendable job with teaming up with a creative team. He has put his heart in the film with great background score, songs and the production design the way the movie progresses it makes you live the era.

Low Cost SD to HD digital conversion

Assuming your master video file is at 720x 576 pixel size. You can do it cheaply using Adobe After Effects with a 30 day trial version.

In Adobe After effect make a 'New composition' 

(Press Command+ N in mac or Control+N in windows) 

Click to open the screenshot in new tab

Now create comp with the custom preferences of 1280x720 (Width x Height) and set the right frame rate and then 'Import' the video in after effects.

Now drag & drop the the video clip in the timeline or in the 'comp' in the browser window.

Right click on the visible clip and go through the pop up menu to Transform and click on fit to comp (Alt+Command+F in mac or Alt+Control+F in windows)

Now the Adobe after effects will automatically resize the canvas.

Now select the clip in source comp windows besides the time line and go to composition in the menu and select Add to Render (^+Command+M in mac or ^+Control+M in windows)

Now a render window will open in the timeline window 

Go to Output module and set your encoding setting and then go to 'Output to' and set the destination for the output.

Even though this is a low cost remedy process to upscale a video there is a marginal quality loss for which you may need to set the contrast and brightness. The higher you scale lets say 1920 x 1080 P there will be some kind of pixel stretching.

Ghanchakkar Review

Ghanchakkar literally in Hindi means 'heavy spin' or in simple terms fickle minded. The movie tends to serve humor with lots of " Heeanh..!" by the Punjaban kudi Neetu played by Vidya Balan. A average housewife with very fashionable clothes married to Mama's boy Sanjay a.k.a Sanju played by Emraan Hashmi who is a master lock breaker who happens to rob a bank with Pandit played by Rajesh Sharma and Idris played by Namit Das the kiddish mobster with a gun as his only power.

The trio loots a bank with funny mask of Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan and Uttpal Dutt which we all have seen in the trailers which takes away the element of surprise but its still fun to watch the film with trio wearing mask of famous Indian movie stars which makes the scene hilarious and creates a association. After the trio loot the bank they decide to meet again after 3 months to avoid being caught but there is one problem Sanjay meets with an accident and he forgets about the robbery due to amnesia. The vital details where he had hid the money is gone as he tries to trace with little clue available. The quest for search of their money and with his co-accomplices struggle to make Sanjay remember where the money is hidden which makes him question his wife and friends who will he trust and how will he get through the hurdles is what keeps the audience on their toes.

The movie celebrates retro amnesia in glory. One one of the scenes where the characters tries to figure out the name of Ghajni lead protagonist where they all go wrong and also in another scene doctor trying to figure out the patient Sanjay which glorifies the human nature of all us being a fickle minded or a 'Ghanchakkar'.

The film also tributes Rajesh Khanna when the character played by Emraan Hashmi tries to trace the lost money as he explains Neetu about his whereabouts much like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro "Antonini Park" pun Sanjay describe his is at 'Rajesh Khanna Park'.

The sound design of most of the film is like a arcade video game. The movie does not have too many playback songs in between expect Allah Meherbaan and Lazy lad as title sequence which is sweetly animated which gives some clues about the movie.

The train action sequence scene edits and camera work are very interesting to watch.There is also a cameo shot of director of the film director Rajkumar Gupta.

One disappointment too much in film branding affects the narrative structure and the flow of the film.

In my conclusion life is short but a pinch of salt little or more can make or break the balance so do watch the film at cinemas near you.

Fukrey Review

Fukrey in hindi which literally means cheap. The film portrays the struggle of 4 guys trying to take shortcuts to reach their goals. The wired guy played by Varun Sharma as Choocha the dreamer, the confident Pulkit Samrat as Hunny the school students and Lali the sweet guy played the son of Bali Halwali doing correspondence in Delhi followed by Ali Fazal as Zafar graduate and a budding musician who devoured his life to music who is still struggling to make a foot.

Fukrey is a hilarious satire a small slice of our Indian education system on reel when students migrate from school to colleges and the anxiety of public exams to score goods marks to get into desired college. This is a period when students crave and count days to start their new college life. These anxiety leads Hunny and Choocha the lottery buying easy money seekers who get into trouble with Bholi Punjaban played by Richa Chadda the money lender and also a dangerious criminal which drives them to do illegal businesses.

Neetu, Zafar's ex-fiance played by Vishakha Singhwith whom Zafar is in still love with leaves her when she confronts to Zafar to choose her or music but he chooses music. This sets the underline theme of conflict shortcut VS struggle. 

But only fact that has to be noted which strikes me is that they never show any back story of Hunny like his family or other friends expect Choocha as his best friend and Priya played by Priya Anand as love interest.

Pankaj Tripathi as the corrupt security guard and the man walking on the street with a hearing problem whom Lali inquires when the beggar takes away his motorbike parts or cylinder adds humor to the story which did make the audience laugh their hearts out loud.

Ambarsariya and Raba are refreshing songs.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Review

Yeh Jawaani hai deewani is a emotional journey. Its a film worth watching at cinemas. Ayan Mukerji as a director is successful in evoking the emotions as I walk out of the cinema hall one can not let away those good deep heavy feelings as you leave the theater with the small moments and the soul touching song and lyrics just like he did in his previous movie Wake up S!d.

Ranbir and Deepkia are good pair on the film and even the actors Farooq Shaikh and Tanvi Azmi makes you feel home who play the parents of Ranbir Kapoor who prefers to be called as Bunny.

The friends Aditya Roy Kapoor and Kalki Koechlin are confusing but they do spice up the screen with humor and support to bunny even though Bunny is lost in his world of ambitions to live his dreams to travel the world.

The special appearance by Madhuri Dixit as Mohini in the song does add up to the film where Ranbir's character a out going and adventurous young lad explores the world as he dances with Mohini in a intership for a foregin tv crew as the first song of the film looks too forced and early but it sets the character of Bunny a 'besheram' (Shameless) a person who lives the moment.

The character of Deepika as Naina the 'scholaar', the character who takes on taking challenges as she transforms from a reserved bookish topper to a fun loving girl.

Off course is a commercial Indian movie and it showcases foreign locations but also captures the Indian hill stations of Manali and Kashmir. 

Hangover 3 Review

Hangover 3 is a continuation of disaster before a wedding at a bachelor party but Hangover 3 seems to be a reunion more of a intervention to Zach Galifianakis as Alan lives his reckless life. Its a laughter riot. 4 friends coming back together once again. The movie also takes on famous Hollywood iconic scenes which is cool to watch. Leave your brains and just enjoy the joy ride with the wolf pack.

Chow

WWIL GAP Diploma Film 2012

This is a student diploma short film made at Whistling Woods 2012.

WWIL DIPLOMA FILM - JULY 2012 - GAP - Short Film

Camera: Sony F-35

Format: HD

Cast: Debashish Naha | Usha Kiran | Yash Salvi | Ashika Dahya | Mehul Dawar| Vivian

Directed by Viral Desai

Producer Mansi Shah

Story and Screenplay Harshith Bangera and Viral Desai

Cinematography Kavya Sharma

Editing Utsab Bandopadhyay

Sound Rahul Badwelkar and Rakshit Thantry

Music Ragini Shankar

WWIL 2012 Diploma Film House For Sale

Jaya an old women of age 60, has to sale her house, different customer come to see her house, but in end no deal happens but one day old man name Prabhakar who is a friend of old lady comes to see Jaya’s house & truth is revealed about Jaya & her house.

WWIL DIPLOMA FILM - JULY 2012 - House for Sale
Camera: Sony F-35
Format: HD

Cast
Sharmila Goenka | Mukesh Rawal | Ashika Dahya | Kaushal Pratap Singh | Mansi Shah | Vipul Tyagi | Agnimitra Sharma | Digvijay Singh  | Akash

Written and Directed by Harsh Bablani
Cinematography Nam Ngo
Edited by Utsab Bandopadhyay
Sound Recordist Abhishek Pant
Sound desinger Rakshit Thantry
Music Advait Nemlkar
Line Producer Mayank Dhanuka and Agnimitra Sharma
Unit Production Manager Santosh Kadam

Go Goa Gone Review

Watched Go Goa Gone..! I am sorry to say its a crapy film.

What all we know? what we have done?
A. G#@n£@

The film is well crafted no problems with the story too. Its just that the Zombie genre for Indian Cinema is too late to hit the screens.For audience like me who have seen the episodes of 'Walking Dead' and watched films like Zomieland and other films of same genre would only love the jokes. But hey its not that bad if you are bored watching animals in the zoo focefully caged in the zoo in the name of science or hate your Italian Pasta or Sushi looking out something new for food, how about some human flesh for a change or how about some shooting practice. Oh wait the bullet shots generated on Nuke or after effects in cgi, well didn't get the software since the theater "My Cinemas" cut short the end credits to save time and lamp change cost for "Shoot Out at Wadala".

Bombay Talkies Review

I spent a lovely evening all alone by myself with Rs. 300/- spent for a ticket at a suburban multiplex seated on a comfy mechanized leather seats to watch a film after 5 months inside a air conditioned room with complete strangers to watch 'Bombay Talkies' a film, which showcases the regular people and their connection and livelihoods connected with cinema. It is a series of 4 short films with 4 different stories.

Go watch the film its a good movie. :)

Why digital film looks so milky

A job of a 'Digital Image Technician' is to set and decide workflow to avoid conflicts when dealing with mixed formats from different digital cameras and take secure backups and transcode for the editor to do offline edit before the Digital Intermediate process takes place so that EDL's, XML and the VFX sequences and sound match with the offline edits during the post production process till your content is distributed through Digital Cinema Package (DCP).

A 'Digital Image Technician' is generally from post production background who is a editor who understands the process of pre production to post production and various other aspects of film making which comes handy to guide different departments of a film unit to achieve best from their art and times breaking new grounds which creates a feeling of 'Awe' in the minds of the audience.

The ARRI Alexa camera is a digital tape less camera which records digitally on cards with images up to 3k size which is higher than 1920X1080 pixels HD resolution recorded on Sony F3 and Sony F35 on tapes but latest *Sony F65 is tape less (updated).

On my seventh day as a DIT on location I was asked "Why the SXS Apple Pro Res QuickTime 444 clips looks milky" for which I had no proper answer. I just knew that a LUT (Look Up Table) has to be added to the Apple Pro Res 4444 QT's to make it look like the live video feed from calibrated monitors on set in the post stage while trans-coding as decided with the team.

The older ARRI Alexa camera gives two outputs one in SXS cards in Apple Quick Time 444HQ format with roll numbers as a clip name and .ARI Codex in Gemini card which records .ARI file in folders or in the Codex recorder as a raw proprietary extension like the .dpx sequence is given in form of .ari you can switch on and off the Rec709 looks set by the cinematography department while trancoding a process to makes high res footage for editing to save disk space and easy data management .

The camera records on 24 fps (Also on 25 fps and other fps). The ARRI Alexa camera shows you the live feed REC 709 look that you see on the monitor with no milky image but you can see a milky image in the ARRI Alexa Apple Pro Res 4444 QT MOV on XT or 444 HQ on the SXS cards. Its because the image has additional gamma (brightness) to give more control of colors while doing the color correction so its only the meta data same goes for Red epic (5K) and Red Dragon (6K) (Updated). Its just representation of looks via meta data.

You have to add custom LUT's to make it look like raw live feed on the camera .ARI file sequences while trans-coding with Davici Resolve lite or any other software which accepts LUT's to make the C-log/S-log/red-color look like the way you recorded on ARRI Alexa/Red/F-65/Black Magic Pocket Camera (Updated).

THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN INDIAN CINEMA

I spent some time researching the essential innovation that led to today's Indian Film industry into modern age. This was poster is made by Utsab Bandopadhyay. The vector graphics used under fair usage from tabakool/brusheezy.com

Happy 124th birthday the silent tramp who always makes us laugh

Sir Charles Spencer  Chaplin singing the "Nonsense" song from the movie "Modern Times"

"The Great Dictator" speaks (The music has been added but it says a lot)

Google Doodles 160th Anniversary - India's First Passenger Train 16 April 1853

Google Doodle

160th Anniversary - India's First Passenger Train 16 April 1853 (Mumbai to Thane)

Nice Article on DNA about Indian Railway History: http://www.dnaindia.com/blogs/1822868/post-the-complete-story-of-indian-railways

Pay with a tweet

http://www.paywithatweet.com/

Enjoy "Pay with a tweet" options on twitter or Facebook for promoting a product via tweet or a FB post to avail some cool applications,fonts,games or music downloads for a freebie by simply promoting it. This is a awesome business model to promote brands, arts, products on social media in exchange for a tweet which redirects you to a freebie download page or exclusive new look of your favorite stars.

Advantage to the promoters:
You can set a limit to share so that you can serve first come first basis limited serve to your target audiences with a expiry date.

Disadvantage to the promoters:
Once the product is downloaded or viewed for example a trailer watched in exchange for a share on twitter or Facebook the user can delete the post which reduces the target audiences for a limited period shared on the timeline or twitter feed.

Adobe premiere pro cs6 missing presets sequence fix on mac

Adobe Premiere Pro CS 6 trial version dialog box screen shot

Now a days film and tape based recording formats is being replaced by tape less camera in form of meta data in cameras like Red, Arri Alexa and Canon DSLR's. Even adapting to new formats takes times that's the place I come in resolve frame rate mi-match issues, mixing different formats, XML and EDL offline to online matching during the process of digital intermediate, DVD authoring with multiple language subtitling, DCP (Digital Cinema Package) creation for digital movie projectors. Trust me I am good at it most of the time but sometimes it becomes also a learning process on the job. Actually its more fun than a job. As a editor I enjoy editing films but really hate the rush to complete films but I have to be practical since the producer has paid huge money laying on the film. The film has to be released soon for the movie to earn profits. Its your speed,skills and know how on line to finish the project on time. As a student I trained on Apple Final Cut Pro 7 in film school and learned Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 during my school summer vacations.

So to cut it short.

Apple released Final cut Pro X (Version 10) in the market with new state of the art editing pipeline with interesting new features. Most of them liked it some compared "FCP X" to "I-movie" on steroids catered to armature market. Most of them shifted to Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro. But I personally don't think software matters much its the skills I have even edited big projects on Sony Vegas Pro, Windows Movie Maker and even on Nero Vision and got handsomely rewarded. In the end, the editing suite of your choice is just a tool of the profession. Its the picture that matters to the audience.

I too use Final Cut Pro 7 and use Adobe software's like After effects for movie titling and Photoshop. Recently I started using Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 for editing web programs at CND on Apple Macintosh computer and discovered small bugs which got resolved with the Adobe Premiere Pro CS 6.2 update.

After few days I accidentally uninstalled Premiere Pro CS6 from my mac book Pro but I reinstalled the software again to my shock I realized that all the sequence presets went missing in the preset window in Adobe Premiere Pro CS 6.2. So I looked on the net and found about the problem on the mac system so temporary solution was to "drag and drop" the premiere project file on premiere to continue editing since I had deadline. Luckily it worked and I was able to drop it to my clients on time.

Later on I went to the internet and I found out that its a licensing problem for which I have to deactivate my Premiere Pro license but it didn't work even after reinstalling and downloading the newer version of premiere from the internet. Meanwhile, I continued working with this problem and later on I left my job and went independent so I had to return the license to my client.

After a while, I gave up finding answers to why all the default presets sequence went missing on my mac version of Adobe Premiere Pro CS 6 and nothing seemed to work and I did a massive system clean up to solve the problem and tired with a trial version of Adobe Premiere Pro and it worked.

This is the solution which worked for me:

Note: Do it at your own risk. This is a step to clean Adobe program data to fix missing sequence presets to reappear so do not ask for illegal hacks,cracks or keys. You need to have adobe ID.

1. Uninstall Adobe Premiere Pro or the Master Collection.

2. Download 'Adobe Creative Suite Cleaner tool' from the Adobe website.

3. Go to User (or Name) - Documents and delete the folder called "Adobe"

(Its OK if the folder is not there move on to the next step)

4 . Go to 'Application support' and delete "Adobe" folder

5. Again Go to User (or Name) - Library - delete the folder called "Adobe" go inside the folder called Preference Pane inside it delete all com.adobe file also check for com.adobe file in the cache folder.

(Note be careful do not delete any other com. files or folders)

6. Re-install Adobe Premiere Pro. 

Set your serial numbers and preferred language and activate with Adobe.

ALSO TRY: (Updated)
I would recommend you to go to the mac desktop click on any where on the screen. You see finder on top of the apple menu icon on the white bar then press option (alt) -> go to library. Its a hidden folder in the go menu and delete any adobe products. But you do need to have a legal version to get the full adobe premiere cs6 features on your mac.

Hope it works for you :)

Searching the Aliens our eyes on the sky

The progress in the field of scientific research and few accidental discoveries has shaped the human kind to leap forward in predicting the future. Well we are not yet perfect but we are still evolving as the atomic clock ticks in the universe. Its been human beings quest to search species alike humans on the planet "Earth" and beyond the corners of the planetary system. The closest to us finding aliens is single cellular organisms living in unfavorable conditions where we never thought there will be life existing. We don't know if the neighbors in outer space are hostile or friendly but the curiosity to know if we are alone in this universe or not motivates us to put different kinds of telescopes and receivers all around the world towards the sky.

This is a free software application which helps you in contributing the search of life in outer space to listen to the voice of space from the Aliens.

BOINC is a program that lets you donate your idle computer time to science projects like SETI@home, Climateprediction.net, Rosetta@home, World Community Grid, and many others.

http://boinc.berkeley.edu/

Apple ProApps QuickTime Codecs v1.0.2

#Important Codec Update: ProApps QuickTime Codecs v1.0.2

Image Source: apple.com

http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1396

This update adds the following video codecs for use by QuickTime-based applications:
Apple Intermediate Codec
Apple ProRes
AVC-Intra
DVCPRO HD
HDV
XDCAM HD / EX / HD422
MPEG IMX
Uncompressed 4:2:2
XAVC

This update is recommended for all users of Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4.

One of my favorite edits for GQ India

One of my favorite edits for GQ India when I was working for Condé Nast India. Wish you a Happy Birthday Ajay Devgn :)

Simple way to take out jammed DVD from computers

After long use over a period of time the DVD drive mechanism gets prone to wear and tear and this causes the DVD disc to get jammed .

For representational purpose only

Here are some fix to take out jammed DVD's Disc:

Windows:

• Desktop

You can use a pin or a long needle to fit inside the small hole of the DVD drive to force the DVD tray to open.

• Laptop

You may have to contact a computer expert if you can't find the hole to force open the DVD tray.

Macintosh:

A mac has a unique design you have to press 'eject' to take out a disc or if it does not work then it will ask you to force eject. 

If this too doesn't work go to 'disk utility' in applications or type "disk utility' in spotlight.

In 'disk utility' you can see the optical disk drive on left hand side of the dialog box window.

Select and try mounting it and then click on eject.

If the DVD is still stuck in the Mac book Pro laptop then pull the laptop upwards and press eject and make sure its tilted so that the DVD disc slides out of the drive.

You can also use a visiting card and keep pressing the eject button to make the DVD come out of the drive but it may cause damage to your original optical disc so take care.

Same can be done for I-MAC's but its best you call a MAC expert from Apple Care or a person who is Apple certified if you are not sure.

Other solutions:
If you can't boot up your mac due to DVD that is stuck inside. Then first wait for the OSX to boot up if it does not work then left click button pressed on the track pad/mouse and keep the eject button pressed.

Basics of digital camera

This are collection of 3 videos that explain the ISO, F-stop, Depth of field for digital principal photography.

ISO


F-stop


Depth of Field

Migrating from FCP 7 to Adobe Premiere Pro

Export 'xml' from 'Final Cut Pro - 7' with version 5 and check the option box to take the outside clips.

Open 'Adobe Premiere Pro' and import the 'xml'  and reconnect the media from the sequence timeline or browser if it's offline. 

Locate the clip in your system or from your hard drive. 

When you are done editing on Premiere you can bring back the rough cut with basic transitions to FCP by exporting a 'fcp xml' in Premiere and import it in fcp from file menu - import.