HD Video Production Crew

Ki Pro Mini

james — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:06:05 +0000

I have been playing with my new toy, the Ki Pro Mini. What is really cool about it is being able to edit without the cost of decks. Everyone can now edit Pro Rez on their home computer. Very interesting the options and choices for smaller budget jobs.
Agency’s can now edit small jobs in house and still have them look big with a good shooter.
And with some of the cameras that I own like the Sony F3 or the Panasonic HDX900 the quality of image will be great.

Sony F3

james — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:16:25 +0000

Gribbins Film has picked up a Sony F3 with a Ki Pro mini recorder. A very sweet camera that uses 35mm Prime lenses. This make small jobs look bigger and Big jobs affordable. Hope to put up some clips soon

Emmy Nomination

james — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:51:37 +0000

I was nominated for an Emmy last week. It was for
OUTSTANDING CRAFT: LIGHTING DIRECTION & SCENIC DESIGN:
Elbert Hubbard: An American Original, Lighting Director, James Gribbins
Now what does one do with this? Being nominated is a private pleasure and not something you go around bragging about, yet I still have a business to promote and future jobs to get. This brings me back to what do I do with this. I guess it will become a line on my web sites and something I mention to agents and Production houses in Toronto and New York but other than that no much, just keep looking for projects and doing the best I can on the ones I find.

DSLR

james — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:53:10 +0000

I’m shooting a spot using a DSLR camera and I have some thoughts about it. I do not know if the worlds of Film/Video production and Still photography are merging but the tools seem to be. I know of a few still guys who are thinking “I could shot that spot” and the answer is maybe. They would have to learn a new mind-set and new skills. Making an image that moves and has a camera that is moving takes a different thought on composition than shooting a still image. Where is the point of interest in the image and where do I want it to go? As for Film/Video shoots shooting still, the same rethinking has to happen. The camera is a tool the artist uses to make the art. Both can learn from the other art.

The DSLR cameras make a real pretty picture with limited size. This allows the camera to go places that a bigger rig would have problems filming. With it’s small size you can quickly go from high to low or through crowds without drawing too much attention to the production. Big bonus with a run and gun shoot. As for the image, the camera is a tool. Is it right for all jobs, no. But the jobs it is right for like run and gun point of view or time lapse it is perfect for and you can make some really sweet images.

Another strong plus is for companies just starting out the cost are not as high, true the quality is lower but the return of your dollar is safer. Plus a one-person shop can afford a camera and an edit system with no decks needed for less than a high-end camera. This allows for smaller passion projects to happen without a ton of grant writing. So why shouldn’t every production house or edit facility becomes a full production company? When the tools become cheaper and production quicker the master craftsman who specializes becomes the only true means of creating a special product. The Artist with skills will rise above the rest.

Blog start

james — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:28:03 +0000

This is a new Blog started to comment about production in the upstate New York Area with some Western PA connections. The reason to start a new blog is that the industry is changing and the film professional has to adapt. A current issue is the idea of “what role the Buffalo Film Commission should play”. The Buffalo Film Commissions mission is to bring and help visiting productions in the Buffalo area. This has been the mission from the start, not to help local crew members get jobs on the production. That is just a plus. A list of local crews and services is for out of town companies use. It is a selling tool that the Buffalo Film Commission uses to bring work into our area. The role of the Commission is not to find you work or to promote your company. If you want to get on a production call Tim Clark and ask what companies are coming to the area and can I have a contact persons number or e-address. And if the company is not accepting calls do not take it out on Mr. Clark. It is not his job to find us work, It is ours.