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“Feeling Good”

// May 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Film & Movies, Projects

So here’s that HazMAT video I posted info about earlier. Interested in your feedback!
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A Feat of Audio

// April 28th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Random, Videos

I’m probably a little late on the internet, blogosphere band wagon to see this, but I couldn’t help but be impressed! One thing I am not is an audio guy, so when I see this I’m pretty blown away with how well it’s all put together!

Sony EX1, Letus, and a HazMAT Suite!

// April 26th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Film & Movies, Projects

So a few weeks ago I was asked to DP a project that needed to feel like a music video, and they wanted some 35mm action! Unfortunately - or perhaps fortunately - I recently broke the coupler ring on my Redrock M2, and I needed to rent a cinema adapter package for this project. I’d been wanting to work with the Letus Extreme for a while so seemed like a great opportunity! I rented one for the day, hired my buddy Keegan Ead to come AC for me, and it was a fantastic experience!

Avid @ NAB

// March 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Media & Technology

Avid’s showin’ up at NAB this year and introducing some very Final Cut Pro-esc additions their the Avid Media Composer. Guess they have to keep up with their compitition!

You can read the article posted at StudioDaily.com.

I’m still a huge fan of Avid Media Composer, so I’m glad to see they’re making some moves in the right direction.

There’s still some debate out there as to weather or not moving away from the dongle is a good move on Avid’s part, but it personally doesn’t effect me either way. Honestly I think I’d rather have the extra USB port.

For all the Final Cut users out there: How much more likely are you to switch to Avid aftering hearing of these added features? If not at all, what would Avid have to do to win your loyalty?

- Tim Allen

“Like You Said” in Bloomfest!

// March 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // Film & Movies

LikeYouSaid_Poster_vIFFactor A short film I Directed called “Like You Said” has been entered into the Bloomfest Short Film challenge at ExposureRoom.com. Show some love and head over there to vote!

The catch is, you have to vote on at least half of the films (rate them 1 to 5 stars) for your vote to count! So if you’re in the mood to watch 28 three minute short films, help us out!

And if you’ve never seen the film before, at least go check it out, and let me know what you think!

Thanks for the support!

Details on this short film at IF Factor’s Website.

Orphans Lose Their Home

// March 10th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Film & Movies

I read some pretty distressing news today about San Francisco based visual effects house The Orphanage. These guys - while perhaps not as well known - are up there with Digital Domain, ILM and also less known Weta Digital.

If you’re not in the film scene there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of them, but I’m certain you’ve seen their work. The Orphanage worked on movies like Vanilla Sky, Hero, The Day After Tomorrow, Hellboy, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Sin City, Aeon Flux, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End, Superman Returns, Night at the Museum, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Live Free or Die Hard and most recently Iron Man. These guys are some of the best.

And they’re closing their doors.

Filmmaker Magazine quoted this letter Stu Maschwitz wrote as a post on his blog.

Today I had the heart-wrenching task of joining my co-founders Scott Stewart and Jonathan Rothbart in announcing that The Orphanage will be suspending operations indefinitely. We started the company ten years ago, tripled in size each year for our first three years, and worked on some of the biggest and best effects movies made. We produced shorts and even features, we spawned a commercial division and an animation company, and we hung out in the halls with Frank Miller, Ethan Hawke, and M.C. Hammer. We did DI before it was called DI, we gave birth to Magic Bullet, and we did really, really good work.

But that’s not what matters the most.

It’s no accident that our company’s name described a place for people, people who may be thrown together, but who ultimately create their own destinies. Scott once described his vision of an orphanage as “a hundred success stories waiting to happen,” and that is exactly what came to pass inside our offices. We have had the privilege of working with many “Orphans” over the years, and watching them grow and take on new responsibilities has been the single greatest part of coming to work every day.

A message to the visual effects industry: You will never find a better employee than a former Orphan.

And to the Orphans: It has been a privilege and an honor to work with you.

This stings. What does this mean for small time guys like us trying to make it in the biz? I’m pretty confident that “indefinitely” doesn’t mean forever.
Your thoughts?

- Tim

Almost done…

// February 20th, 2009 // No Comments » // Film & Movies, Projects

Headed up to Pine this weekend to snag the last couple shots for Fate. This is all that’s left other than a few green screen elements. We’re so close. So very close. Gordan Clark’s been a faithful actor and friend as we’ve been trying to wrap all this up! Good man, amazing actor! If you guys haven’t seen the trailer for this short we’ve been workin’ on, check it out and le’me know what you think!

Shake It!

// February 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Film & Movies, Media & Technology

I’ve been hearing a lot of good stuff about Shake. Regardless of the fact that Apple has allegedly EOL’d it, it continues to be an industry standard in compositing software. It’s node based compositing is an interesting approach, and one that I’ve very much come to appreciate.

“Last Call” | 24 Hour Film

// February 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Film & Movies, Projects

Competed in the 24 hour film challenge this last weekend, and made a pretty sweet little 3 minute short film. Created from concept to completion inside of 24 hours. Read more about the weekend and watch the film over the ,IF Factor Blog or just watch it right here!

The Elihu Project

// October 8th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Plugs

In the relentless pursuit to see his dreams realized, and the calling on his life fulfilled, my good friend Mat Weddle, and his wife Lisa, have launched The Elihu Project. Hear his heart, support his vision! This guy is ridiculously good, and the world needs his music!