This is another example of a film to DVD transfer service that we do here at Azure Production Inc. We use the Tobin Telecine transfer machine to get this job done. A camera is mounted directly on the machine about 4″ away from the film gate, sprocket less using LED light technology to light your film, therefore they will never burn if the film gets stuck.

Created for personal enjoyment… enjoy

Seeing an IMAX film is an experience like none other, with a screen so large it feels like you’re moving along with the movie. But how do they do it?

35mm film is the type of film found in movie theaters around the world, while IMAX film is twice the size at 70mm, offering about 8 times the resolution of regular film.

IMAX films are shown on screens that are usually 52 feet by 72 feet, while regular theatre screens are about 19 feet x 42 feet. The large film size is needed to ensure that the image projected onto screens this large is crisp and clear: The aspect ratio of IMAX film is 2.20:1, while the aspect ratio of 35mm film is 2.35.1.

35mm film has an embedded soundtrack that can be seen on the film, between the perforations and the image. Because IMAX film needs more space for the picture, it does not have an embedded soundtrack. Instead, IMAX film has a separate magnetic film that plays the soundtrack to the film. The 70mm film begins as 65mm for filming, but once filming is completed and the soundtrack strips are added the film is 70mm wide.

The first permanent IMAX theatre in the world was Toronto’s very own Cinesphere at Ontario Place, built in 1971.

If you’ve never seen an IMAX film before, there are plenty of IMAX theaters across Canada and in Toronto showing great movies – even some in HD! Check out this link for locations and showtimes. http://www.imax.com/countries/CA/

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Rental Video Equipment

Flycam 5000 (Steadicam, Glidecam alternative) rentals @ $30 per day. Hold cameras between 4 to 8lbs. Perfect for DSLRs to get smooth wedding videos shots, music videos, movies and short films.

Contact 416-850-7976 for more information, or email on right hand side.

Rental Details:
Includes Flycam 5000
Weights
arm brace

Costs before taxes:
$30.00/day
$45.00 for the weekend
$90.00 for 7 days

$200 credit card, debit, cash deposit

For heavier cameras see our Glidecam v-20

A steadicam is a mounted video camera that allows for the taking of unshaken andmore stable footage without using complicated dollies or tracks. It prevents the unavoidable hand shakes from even the most talented camera operators during fast-paced shots or filming that requires a fluid movement on the part of the camera operator. Essentially, it’s a harness that attaches the camera to the operator, or a camera that is attached to a a bar with a handle. This bar differs from a standard tripod as is allows for much swifter movement.

Several notable scenes in famous films have employed a steady cam, including when Danny rides his tricycle around the hotel in The Shining, as well as countless other films and television shows that have used long, uninterrupted single-camera shots.

Whether for commercial video production, educational video production, marketing video production or online video production, a steadicam can incorporate a more professional tone as well as a creative effect for nearly all forms of video production.

Here are some tips for operating a steadicam:

•        Protection: steadicam differ in size and complexity from regular cameras. In inclement weather, they need protection like any other lens but this can be difficult because handling a tarp can become cumbersome while holding onto the camera. A well-fitted harness will prevent wind from affecting the stability of the camera, and shields will protect from rain if using a tarp is too difficult. The shield should be attached in the direction of the wind, and this is especially helpful during event video production, where the venue is not changeable despite the weather.

•        Planning: conduct a few walkthroughs of scenes with the steadicam to best determine the appropriate angles and how the footage will look in the end. By planning out where everything will be, no one involved in the project will be tripping over each other and the footage will be as smooth as possible. In addition to the above, having a colleague guide you so you don’t trip over or bump into anything while walking backwards will allow the camera operator to focus on the shot itself and not be distracted by their surroundings.

•        Practice: operating a steadicam is often likened to ballroom dancing with regards to the precise and delicate footwork involved. Because your body is controlling much of the camera, practice walking around with your hands behind your back and focus on the movement of the rest of your body. This will give you a better understanding of how your movement affects the shot.

•        Study: study your own shots and other shots that use steadicams. Pan around an area and have an actor walk into the shot once in a while. Watching other films that make use of steadicams will help you gain some insight into how they are used, and E-bay and Amazon are full of DVDs and books that teach effective steadicam operation for all forms of video production. Many cities also have courses and workshops that can help you hone your budding filmmaker skills.

•        Balancing: balancing is potentially the most important aspect of operating a steadicam, and a properly balanced steadicam allows for more precise operation. Because the steadicam is a heavy object on top of a tall pole, the weight of the camera may pose problems and the unit as a whole must be properly balanced. The “pole” is called a sled, and the handle that slides up and down the sled is called the gimbal. When the gimbal is moved higher or lower, it changes the speed at which the camera moves forward and backward. The weight of the camera combined with the weights of the monitor and battery pack at the base of the sled (which looks like an upside down “T”, with the battery and monitor at opposite ends of the smaller line on the “T”) can affect how balanced it is and may require some adjustments.

Additionally, small weights called “pilots” can be screwed on at different ends of the sled to help balance it more.

For further reading on static balancing, dynamic balancing and the formulas for both, check out this primer.

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Rent Video Equipment, the Glidecam V-20 (Similar to the Steadicam).

Achieve smoother more professional video shots. Perfect for wedding videographers, independent film makers, music video directors etc… Free equipment delivery in the downtown Toronto area.

Please contact 416-850-7976 or email us at azureinfo@azureproduction.com for more information.

Rental Details:
Includes Sled with weights
Includes vest & arm
Includes all tools needed for balancing

Costs before taxes:
$125.00 per day
$200.00 for the weekend
$500.00 for 7 days

$1500 credit card, debit, cash deposit

For lighter cameras see our Flycam 5000

All film projectors work in essentially the same way: still images on a strip of film are projected quickly onto a screen, which makes the pictures appear to move.

A projector has two reels, a feed reel and a take-up real. The film starts out on the feed reel, and as it is “fed” through the projector it is wound up onto the take-up reel at the end.

The part of the machine that each film image passes through where light is shone on it to project it onto the screen is called the gate. A mechanical claw grips each of the holes in the film strip to pull the film through the gate at the requires speed.

As the 8mm film passes through the gate, it is illuminated by a light that projects the image onto the screen. The light inside of the projector is extremely bright because it has a mirror behind it that intensifies the light and directs it toward the film. A lens inside of the projector also bends the light inside of the projector to create a larger image that fits a screen.

Meanwhile, a shutter inside of the projector breaks up the light and leaves each frame in darkness for a split seconds at a time as they are shown, which tricks your brain into thinking the images are moving.

There are many different types of film projectors, and the different types are identified by the size of the film that can be played in them. So a projector that plays 8mm film is an 8mm projector.

An 8mm film must be played at 24 frames per second, so an 8mm film projector is designed to move the film through it this fast. Not all film projectors can be played on one projector. An 8mm film projector will not play super 8 film, for example.

8mm film has become less widely used since the advent of Super 8 film, although it is sometimes found in independent film stores.

If you have 8mm films you may have a difficult time finding a working 8mm film projector, or even replacement parts such as a replacement 8mm film projector bulb because there just aren’t that many around anymore. The 8mm film itself can also degrade over time, so it’s a very good idea to have the 8mm film transferred onto DVD so that you can continue to enjoy watching your 8mm films.

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As VHS video players become more obsolete and people with large video collections realize they need to transfer their films over before they degrade in quality, transferring film to DVD becomes a more sought-after service.

There are a multitude of online videos that teach you how to transfer your VHS tapes or older film reels onto DVDs as a do-it-yourself project. This is a neat idea, but not necessarily the best value for your money even when considering you’re doing it yourself.

How a do-it-yourself film to dvd transfer works is a projector plays the film on a flat surface (such as a wall) and this projected image is recorded by a video camera. The video camera can then be plugged into your computer to burn the video onto a DVD, or your video camera may already have DVD-recording capabilities.

We’ve written before on whether doing film-to-video transfers yourself are worth it – and they’re simply not, even if you are just doing a few family home movies.

http://www.azureproduction.com/blog/is-it-worth-it-to-do-vhs-to-dvd-video-transfers-yourself/

This is because you’ll need a quality video camera and a projector, both of which can be quite expensive. You’ll also need a completely flat wall surface (not a single bump) and mounds of patience – the video camera must be completely still while recording. Not to mention, projecting the film this way lowers the quality of the finished product, which will likely be just a burned DVD.

What we have in our production offices is a Mainstream E Telecine Model for transferring film that ensures a quality picture with no shakiness or flickering. Your home movies, professional videos or personal video tape collection will come out looking just as great as when you first watched them. And, your finished product will be a high-quality DVD that includes its own case and professional label.

Azure Productions also repairs, cleans and lubricates films that cannot be transferred.

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December 10, 2011, Azure Production had the opportunity to have their work shown internationally. Sanirang, a rock climbing school based out of Seoul, South Korea helped sponsor the Reel Rock Tour. Azure Production created a 2 minute spot for Sanirang.

For 2 minutes it showed cased Sanirang’s specialties; climbing school, guided tours and creating a tight community of expat climbers. The video ran repeatedly before the festival started in the main auditorium, intermission and also ran continuously in the reception hall.  A number of climbers of Sanirang’s community present at the showing were excited to see themselves on the big screen, at the same time getting lots of viewing time from other local and expat climbers at the festival.

This isn’t the first video Azure Production created for Sanirang, but it is the first one in an international screening. Azure Production currently works with Sanirang and other film projects are being discussed.

More on:

Sanirang, established in Seoul, South Korea is a climbing school predominantly for expats looking to climb local crags. They offer climbing schools in winter and summer and guiding services for those dropping in for a visit. http://sanirang.net/

Reel Rock Tour, film festival show cases climbers around the world pursuing their goals in climbing, exciting first ascents and up coming young climbers. Sanirang helped made this festival possible in Seoul, South Korea. http://www.reelrocktour.com/

Here is another sample of a super 8mm film to DVD transfer that we do here.

The machine we use is a advance sprocket less device. It has an LED light in which it won’t burn the film unlike a traditional projector. The speed is adjusted so that there is no flickering when the footage is being captured. We don’t go through any complicated box & mirror set-ups, so your footage is as clear as can be. The camera is locked down and about 4 inches away from the film giving superior transfer results at all times.