Issue 13 December 11th 2020

Creative Economist

We Survived + 14-Day Feature Updates

Thank goodness the cyber weeks and special deals are over, am I right?

I came out of it a little lighter in the wallet, but I tried to offset the weight loss by packing on some pounds in turkey.

Our 14-Day Feature program is in full effect and we are already getting really great feedback from the people participating!

People that started on launch day are already over 70 pages into their scripts with just a few more days to go before they have a finished movie ready to be sent out for notes, coverage, and/or feedback!

We just wanted to give those people a shout out and say how excited we are for them. Keep it up!

The Latest

‘Shogun’: FX Series Retelling of James Clavell’s Novel Will Be ‘Game of Thrones’ in Feudal Japan

FX is developing the scripted series Shogun, a retelling of James Clavell‘s bestselling novel, which is being billed as Game of Thrones in feudal Japan. Boardwalk Empire producer and Thrones director Tim Van Patten is set to produce the series.

New Pixar Movies: Buzz Lightyear Origin Story ‘Lightyear’ Will Feature Chris Evans, ‘Turning Red’ Coming From ‘Bao’ Director

Two new Pixar titles have been announced during the Disney Investor event, and one is a pretty big surprise. That would be Lightyear, which is – believe it or not – the origin story of the real Buzz Lightyear, the character made famous by the Toy Story franchise.

‘Safety’ Review: Disney+ Sports Biopic Is Not Much More than an Inspirational College Football Commercial

The story of Clemson athlete Ray McElrathbey and his younger brother gets a feature-length adaptation that finds drama in mostly the wrong places.

Disney Plus Sizzle Reel Teases the Streamer's Upcoming Content

On the heels of news about a price hike...

Following their big Investor presentation, Disney released a sizzle reel for their upcoming Disney+ movies and TV shows.

Old Beliefs are Sacrificed in ‘The Mandalorian’ Chapter 15

Our precious Baby Yoda is nowhere to be found, making our rage as palpable as to that of our hero.

Original Aunts from the ’90s “Sabrina” Series Will Appear in “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”! [Video]

TGIF, and guess what? A blast from the past is coming in the form of a Sabrina reunion!

The next season of Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” will be the show’s final season, with Part 4 set to arrive on December 31, 2020. Ahead of the premiere, Netflix has revealed a fun little treat that’s nestled within Part 4, announcing that Beth Broderick and Caroline Rhea from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” will cameo.

The Industry

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: Hayden Christensen Joins Cast of Disney+ Series

Hayden Christensen is heading back to a galaxy far, far away. At today’s Disney investor presentation, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced that Christensen “will return in the role of Darth Vader” in Obi-Wan Kenobi, the prequel series which also features the return of Ewan McGregor in the titular role.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 5 Ordered by Hulu

Praise be: The Handmaid’s Tale has been renewed for season 5. Hulu has ordered a fifth season of dystopian drama based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, which is currently shooting its fourth season. The post ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 5 Ordered by Hulu appeared first on /Film.

ART OF THE CUT on the workflows and methods for editing “Mank”

Our discussion today is with Ben Insler. Ben was the assistant editor on David Fincher’s feature film, Mank, which was edited in Adobe Premiere. David Fincher’s production company has its own post house – Number 13, which I have had the privilege of visiting in the past – and it is really on the cutting [...]Read More...

3 Budgets, 1 Director: Does Money Change Nolan’s Filmmaking Style?

Nolan has worked at various budgetary levels in his films. Here's how.

It's often hard to look at a director who has made humongous movies and find tangible lessons. That's how I felt about Christopher Nolan for a long time. It seemed to me that he was working at such an enormous level that there was really nothing that could trickle down and be applicable to me and my process.

Then I remembered that Nolan did not start out that way. In fact, like most of us, he ha almost no money for his first feature. Still, it was the lessons he learned as a fledgling filmmaker that helped shape where he would go and how he would spend his budgets.

Check out this video from In Depth Cine, where they take a look at the effect that the production budget has had on Following, Memento, and Inception, focusing on how access to money affects the cinematography and storytelling in each film.

Then let's talk after the jump.

Staging is one of the most important choices in storytelling. It's hard to remove yourself from the entertainment value of a movie or TV show and really study the way it's made. I find that with the movies I have seen the absolute most, this gets a little easier. One movie I go back to over and over again is Raiders of the Lost Ark because of its staging. Every shot feels calculated, and every transition feels measured. But there may not be a better way to study that movie than by examining the one Steven Soderbergh created when he re-edited the film in black and white. By taking away the dialogue and score, he makes you focus on the way the camera moves and the staging of every scene. Why do this? I'll let Soderbergh explain.

The Taxman Cometh

Are we about to see the pigs fly?

Netflix uses a series of offshore tax havens to shield itself from paying taxes around the world. However, as countries struggle in a self-imposed recessionary environment, the jig might finally be up.

AMC Entertainment Raises $100M But Warns Cash May Be Gone In January, Slams Warner Bros.

Cue the government for some bailouts...

Struggling AMC Entertainment said it risks running out of funds in January. In its latest warning cry, it said it needs $750 million “to remain viable” through 2021. Even if it raises that, it still risks bankruptcy next year if moviegoing doesn’t pick up — and Warner Bros. may have made that harder to accomplish.

Industry Insights: An Interview with Composer Guillaume Roussel

From the talkies to virtual reality, composer Guillaume Roussel talks with PremiumBeat about his process when scoring a film.

How Rita Moreno Found Dignity and Strength With Her ‘West Side Story’ Role

She is a legend!

In the past decade or so, Rita Moreno has received multiple lifetime achievement awards, and would probably receive even more — except that she’s too busy working. The actress, who turns 89 on Dec. 11, is one of the few people to win an EGOT: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

Dune Director Denis Villeneuve Slams HBO Max Deal, Warns Sequel May Not Happen

All the creators are mad about this move, but what do you think?

Dune director Denis Villeneuve slams the HBO Max deal, blasting Warner Bros. and claiming they may have destroyed the prospects for a sequel.

Disney+ is Raising Its Price to $8 a Month Starting March 2021

It's like all the drug dealers say... give them a taste, and then get them hooked...

Disney+ is introducing its first price increase since the Disney streaming platform launched in November 2019. Disney+ is raising its monthly subscription price from $6.99 a month to $7.99 a month, effective March 2021. The inevitable happened: Disney+ is raising its prices. But only by $1. At last night’s Disney Investors conference, Disney announced that […]

The post Disney+ is Raising Its Price to $8 a Month Starting March 2021 appeared first on /Film.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Costume Designer on Creating the Mirror Universe Looks

What a fun gig!

Costume designer Gersha Phillips has been designing the look of “Star Trek: Discovery” for three seasons. Laser cutting, bonding and 3D printing are the “futuristic” tools she has been using to craft the costumes of the series, hoping the costumes look “modern” for the 32nd Century using 2020 technology,” she explains.

In 2020, Hulu brought travel TV into the post-Bourdain future

Anthony Bourdain’s sudden, shocking death in the summer of 2018 knocked the food world off of its feet, leaving a void that seemed like it could never be filled.

The Tech

Aputure LS 600d Pro – Field Review

It's an impressive light, and certainly makes me excited for the future of LED lighting technology.

HMI can’t help but be looking over their shoulder. High-output lighting sources capable of mimicking sunlight or moonlight over large areas used to be the sole province of hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide lighting (HMI for short). Enter the new LS 600d Pro fixture from Aputure. It’s part of a group of high-output LED sources that are starting to hit the market with the result that the 600d Pro could become the flagship on indie film and commercial productions in the years to come.

How Does the Sony FX6 Hold Up Against the RED KOMODO, Canon C70 and Sony FX9

It's a classic shootout. Who do you think will win?

If I had to pick the three most exciting cinema camera launches of 2020 I would go with the Sony FX6, Canon C70, and RED KOMODO. Easy choices. All of these cameras also share a design ethos of being small and lightweight while offering image quality and features normally found in larger, pricier systems. Those are just about the only things that are similar between them. Being the most recent, the FX6 is the shining star of the cinema world, though it faces stiff competition. CVP had 48 hours with the FX6 and threw up some great tests to show

The post How Does the Sony FX6 Hold Up Against the RED KOMODO, Canon C70 and Sony FX9 first appeared on 4K Shooters.

Shooting HDR with Dolby Vision on the iPhone 12 – Guest Review

HDR with Dolby Vision on the iPhone. Get your family vacations filmed in style!

This is a guest review by Samuel Bilodeau who just completed testing the Dolby Vision HDR features of his new iPhone 12 Pro Max. Let’s see what conclusion he came up with. The new iPhone 12’s been out in the wild for a short while, and I’ve been taking mine for a spin to test out the feature that made me open my wallet and upgrade: the new native Dolby Vision HDR shooting. As a professional with over 5 years experience grading and teaching on HDR, I needed to know, is it any good?

Panasonic BGH1 Lab Test – Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Latitude

The BGH1... Is it just a cubed GH5s? Should we care? Let's take a look.

Does the Panasonic BGH1 camera represent the state of the art for cameras based on micro four-thirds sensors (MFT)? How does it compare to the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or the Z CAM E2? Curious? Read on … As mentioned in earlier articles, my first (camera) love was a Panasonic Lumix GH1 with a MFT sensor in 2009 – the possibility to adapt virtually any type of lens combined with great image quality and small camera body just cut it for me.

Kessler CineShooter Remote App Launched

Kessler has some great options in the motion control arena, and they are stepping it up with mobile control.

Kessler Crane has just announced the launch of its CineShooter Remote App, compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Also, the Second Shooter Remote App is now available for Android users. Let’s take a closer look at what this app can do! The Kessler CineShooter is the company’s latest camera motion control product that was announced back in July 2020. At the core of the system, there is a nodal pan and tilt head that allows you to create very complex movements and repeat them indefinitely. The head can be combined with a slider, FIZ motors, and turntable motors to create 5-axis movements.

LEICA SL2-S Announced – 10-bit 4:2:2 4K & 25fps 14-Bit DNG Raw Photos, Under $5K

The DSLR video game is relentless. Who can keep track anymore of all this stuff? Well, for the sake of an abundance of options, here's Leica throwing their hat into the ring.

Leica SL2-S full-frame mirrorless camera has just been announced. It features a 24.6MP sensor with IBIS, ISO up to 100,000, and it sports an L-Mount, of course. The camera can shoot up to 25fps 14-bit DNG raw continuous stills (no audio) internally without limit. Furthermore, it also does regular stills of course, and video up to DCI 4K 30fps in 4:2:2 10-bit or DCI 4K 60fps in 4:2:0 8-bit. The Leica SL2-S can now be pre-ordered for $4,895. Roughly a year ago, Leica introduced the SL2 full-frame mirrorless camera. It made headlines with its impressive video specs, like 5K30p, 4K60p, and 10-bit internal video. Shortly after the announcement in November […]

The post LEICA SL2-S Announced – 10-bit 4:2:2 4K & 25fps 14-Bit DNG Raw Photos, Under $5K appeared first on CineD.

Zacuto Canon EOS C70 Cage and Z-Finder Announced

It's interesting to see the waterfall effect of commerce happen for the new cameras that are released. First the cameras, then the cages, shoulder rigs, accessories. It's a snowball effect of money leaping from people's wallets.

Zacuto recently presented a sneak peek preview of a Zacuto Canon EOS C70 cage with a Z-Finder system. These products are still in the prototype stage, but they should be available soon and are already available for pre-order. Let’s take a closer look at these! The Canon EOS C70 is already shipping, and if you missed it, you could watch our interview with Canon here. In a nutshell, this camera features the same sensor as the Canon C300 Mark III with built-in DGO technology to increase dynamic range up to 16 stops. The C70 is the first Canon cinema camera to feature an RF lens mount, and it can record […]

The post Zacuto Canon EOS C70 Cage and Z-Finder Announced appeared first on CineD.

RED KOMODO Gets Canon RF Lens Support, AF Improvements, and More

The latest news from the RED front.

The RED KOMODO has instantly turned into the most favorite entry-level cinema camera for a myriad of filmmakers who were previously desperately craving to enter the RED ecosystem without breaking the bank. Of course, this doesn’t stop RED from improving the functionality of its latest camera release while getting the most out of it through regular firmware updates. The just-released KOMODO firmware version 1.4.0, for instance, adds Canon RF lens support in BETA to the camera along with Angelbird ARRI AV Pro 256GB CFast card support. Additionally, this update brings some further AF Improvements as well as it fixes the

The post RED KOMODO Gets Canon RF Lens Support, AF Improvements, and More first appeared on 4K Shooters.

BMPCC 6K vs Kinefinity TERRA 4K Side-by-Side Comparison

The tech available in the affordable price brackets for cinema cameras is getting more and more impressive. How do these two cameras stack up?

Either I’m getting older, or it’s getting harder and harder to tell cameras apart. With so many great cameras on the market these days, and so many amazing tips, tools, and techniques to match their colors, I must confess they’re all really just starting to look the same and my pixel-peeping chops just aren’t what they used to be. Matteo Bertoli has pitted the BMPCC 6K up against the Kinefinity TERRA 4K. Do you think you could tell the two apart without cheating? The Pocket 6K is a tremendously popular camera all over the world, but even though Kinefinity makes

The post BMPCC 6K vs Kinefinity TERRA 4K Side-by-Side Comparison first appeared on 4K Shooters.

Zeiss eXtended Data Comes to Fujinon Premista Zooms with Latest Firmware

The large-format Premista lenses receive new metadata support.

The Baader Meinhof phenomenon is in full effect at No Film School. It was only a few days ago when we dove into the significance of lens metadata and how the Zeiss eXtended Data protocol can be more beneficial for visual effects artists than Cooke's i/Technology or ARRI's LDS metadata. Now, Fujinon has added support for the protocol for its Premista series zooms.

Fujinon's Premista series are high-end cinema lenses that you'll most likely rent rather than buy because of their $38,000 price tag. But if you have the cash, feel free to shop here.

The lineup debuted last year with a 28-100mm T2.9 and an 80-250mm T2.9-3.5, but it was announced that a new 19-45mm T2.9 model will come out in 2021.

The lenses are built for large-format image capture and are capable of covering a 46.3mm image circle. So if you're shooting on the Sony VENICE, RED DSMC2, or ARRI, they have you covered. (Even ARRI LF Open Gate at 44.71mm.)

Leitz HENRI Directors Viewfinder for Leica SL Cameras

Okay, interesting.

German lenses manufacturer Leitz has just announced the launch of a new directors viewfinder specifically designed for Leica SL cameras: the Leitz HENRI. This director viewfinder allows the camera to be easily taken on and off and is available in L-PL and L-LPL lens mounts. Let’s take a closer look at it! The Leica SL2-S came out earlier this week – you can read our entire article here – and Leitz already announced that they’ve been working closely with Leica to develop a director's viewfinder: the Leitz HENRI.

SANDMARC Lenses and Filters for iPhone 12 Series Launched

Looking to get your Soderbergh action on, iPhone style? Your tool kit just expanded.

SANDMARC, a company specialized in smartphone accessories, has just launched a new lineup of lenses and filters compatible with all iPhone 12 models. These lenses/filters attach to an included case that lets you choose between a filter mount, an anamorphic, telephoto, wide-angle, or macro lens. Let’s take a closer look at it! SANDMARC has been making accessories for iPhones, DJI, and GoPro cameras for quite some time now. Indeed, if you missed it, we already reported about their iPhone 11 Series accessories, anamorphic lens adapter, and motion variable ND filter for iPhones.

Canon EOS C70 Now Netflix Approved

Interesting! But it's important to remember that the "Netflix Approved" cameras are specific for Netflix Original productions and aren't required for your project to get acquired by Netflix.

Netflix recently announced that the Canon EOS C70 is officially approved to shoot Netflix 4K Originals content. This approval is not a big surprise, as the C70 is equipped with the same sensor as the Canon C300 Mark III, which was also approved by Netflix. Let’s take a closer look at it! Following the footsteps of the RED Komodo that was approved in November, Netflix recently published a camera production guide for the Canon EOS C70 with settings and best practices to shoot Netflix 4K Originals content. The image below shows the camera production guide for the Canon EOS C70, issued by Netflix. Recommended settings are highlighted in yellow.

What To Watch

This Christmas, look beyond the classics to some more offbeat holiday movies

What are your holiday favorites?

It’s mid-December, and for many people, that means the Christmas season is in full swing. Far be it from us at The A.V. Club to deny anyone their annual holiday traditions—including the yuletide staples, like It’s Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story or Home Alone, that grace televisions (and, in normal times, movie…