CasablancaExpert

Casablanca Online Workshop - Next Session Begins May 10th

Join Casablanca Expert Chet Davis for the next Novice/Intermediate Virtual (online) Workshop. The next session kicks off May 10th and runs for four (4) sessions, two weeks apart (until June 21st, 2011)

Folks who attended the first session (January-February) thought these classes were an ideal way to learn... in the comfort & convenience of your own home/office, without travel expense, and with just enough class time and time to practice between sessions!                

Click here for workshop details & registration

 

Macrosystem US moving their offices (across town)

Casablanca customers in North America should not be alarmed if they attempt to reach the offices of Macrosystem US this week, as they are moving their office across town (in Boulder, Colorado).  They expect to be open for business at their new location on Monday, May 2nd.

The following announcement was sent out just a few moments ago to those on the MSUS eNewsletter list:

Spring Greetings!

After 13 years here in the Conestoga Court building, we're moving to a new location.  It's a very short move, all of 3 blocks.  The new office is south facing, with a wall of windows looking over a pond.  It's a nicer building in an office park just across 55th Street from our current location.

Given the move, we'll be closed from now until Monday of next week as we transfer ourselves to the new digs.  Please be patient with us as we reset.  We'll work to get done as quickly as possible, but there may be delays in repairs, support, and shipments.  Our phone numbers are not changing.

Our new address will be:
5541 Central Avenue
Suite 135
Boulder, CO  80301

Coffee Klatsch Review - April 25, 2011

The Casablanca Expert Coffee Klatsch (also known as the Monday Meeting of the Minds) had a lively 'virtual conversation' this morning

Chet shared some of his thoughts about regular sharing of your video work with a group or a colleague who can provide thoughtful, constructive criticism for you (and Chet clearly outlined what he believes is thoughtful, constructive comments).   And as he does each week - Chet provided an update on the recent articles available in the Casablanca Expert Blog and the Your Technology Tutor blog. 

We had the pleasure of hearing from Syl Renaud of Reno Video Productions who recently returned from a shoot in the Arctic Circle (where is was a cool -22 Fahrenheit).  He talked briefly about the trip and what he did to keep his video gear performing well in the sub-zero temperatures.  Chet showed some photos of Syl on location and shared the links to two videos Syl has already produced on his recent Arctic Trip.

And then Chet showed his 'VOW' -- Video Of the Week, this week it is a sports releated video that used GoPro helmet cameras and the Twixtor motion manipulation software.

The internet links (URLs) for the items mentioned above and the audio recording (available as an MP3 file) from the meeting are available for Website members to review here: Coffee Klatsch Archives

Contest for Videos Produced Specifically for Online Applications

Thanks to Justin Philpott at MacroSystem US, I caught the following video contest (from the Macrosystem US Facebook page):

Can your company or organization’s videos stand up to the competition? At OnlineVideo.net, we want you to create great-looking videos. But even more than that, we want you to use videos effectively on your site. Tell your message, reach your fans, and sell your products. Online video makes it happen.

To reward sites that are using online video well, we’ve created our own unique contest: the Video in Practice contest. Do you have what it takes to be an online video VIP? We’re awarding prizes in five categories:

• Small business – fewer than 100 employees
• Large business – more than 100 employees
• Local products and services
• National products and services
• Nonprofit/government/educational/other organizations

You can read the rules and details on their website: OnlineVideo.net Video In Practice Contest

Ask The Expert: Will Magic Bullet Software Ever Work on the Casablanca?

The following is another in the series of the Ask The Expert questions that members at CasablancaExpert.com can pose to the Casablanca Expert Chet Davis.  If you're not yet a website subscriber/member, consider joining today to have access to more than 560 online articles, streaming videos and tips to help you get the most from your Casablanca video editor.

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QUESTION: Can you tell me if MacroSystem will develop or collaborate with Magic Bullet to release an equivalent version on the platform Bogart?


ANSWER: The answer to your question about Magic Bullet type software can only be answered by the development team at Macrosystem AG. There is some capacity in the system now to do some of this, using the Effects Stack options in the Operating System. You may know this, but you can customize a stack or layer of image processing effects and save them as one preset.


But in the Magic Bullet video I saw on their website, there are things in there that are not addressable by the Effects Stack (moving graphics, etc). I am sure it can be developed but the big question for a company like Macrosystem AG is - will all the development hours we would spend on such a project be of sufficient interest and truly purchased by our core customers. Without that they run the risk of investing resources where they could not recoup their monies.

I think there are enough who may be interested in this type of product but I do not know the specifics of development and what this would entail.

The challenge for Macrosystem products for a long time is that it was/is a more closed system that the other computer based editing applications.
A good portion of that was cleared away with the move to the Lynux based Bogart Operating System. I do not personally know how much of the 'open-ness' and collaboration is a possibility with the current Casablanca Bogart OS and how much is an internal decision to keep software development tied close to the parent company (a decision to keep revenue closely controlled).

Monday Morning Archives for April 18 - Includes the Tale of Two YT Videos

We had a good gathering this Monday morning during the Casablanca Coffee Klatsch

I kicked off the Monday Morning Meeting of the Minds with a look at several reviews of the best new technology from the NAB Show 2011 (which tool place in Las Vegas, Nevada last week).  I also discussed briefly the announcement from Cisco Systems last week that proved the demise of the popular Flip Video camcorders, and some suggestions for other models of pocket video cameras.

And I discussed the Members Only webinar from last Thursday where I presented a session on common video editing challenges and solutions within the Casablanca to cure those situations. We dealt with a couple of colleagues questions. And I closed the meeting by showing a YouTube video - this video has gone 'viral' with more than 4-million views after being posted on Facebook.  When I saw the video last week I thought it was touching and very well done (as do most who see it).  But there is drama behind the video -- and a lot of viewers of this newer version don't know it is apparently a remake (almost shot by shot) of an earlier indie film from the Cannes Film Festival in 2008.  I have the links to both of these on-line videos, as well as the internet links (URLs) for the items mentioned above and the audio recording (available as an MP3 file) from the meeting are available for Website members to review here: Coffee Klatsch Archives

If you are a website member and would like to join us for any one of the Monday sessions - please see this web page: Casablanca Coffee Klatsch

Photos from MGT 2011 Online at the MGT website

The following is from Jim Meeker, Founder of the March Get Together (MGT)  "Thanks to my good friend Jim Williams, we now have our 1st MGT 2011 photo slideshow on the March Get Together web site: http://www.marchgettogether.com/2011_MGT.html

Take a look and if you attended the 2011 MGT and have ANY photos... PLEASE contact me so we can create additional photo slideshows.
Much more to follow so check the web site often!"

 

The 2011 NAB Best of Show Winners from DV Magazine

DV Magazine announced theri 2011 Black Diamond Award Winners:

"The DV Black Diamond Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the advancement of the art and science of video technology."

The 2011 Black Diamond Award winners are:

Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Lite
Edelkrone DSLR Rig
Genus Hurricane 3D Camera Rig
GoPro 3D HERO System
Ikonoskop A-cam dII
Innovision Optics Spintec Rain Deflector
K-Tek Norbert
Matrox Thunderbolt Adapters for MXO2 Devices
Matthews Studio Equipment DCSlider
OConnor O-Box Mattebox System
Red Giant Software Colorista II
SmartSound Software Quicktracks
Sony Electronics NX-FS100U NXCAM
Sound Devices PIX 240
The Foundry STORM
Vinten Vision blue Pan and Tilt Head Bundle
Zacuto EVF Flip

"Our teams searched the NAB show floor for products that were truly deserving of recognition," says NewBay Media Broadcast & Video Group Vice President & Group Publisher Eric Trabb. "Recognition with an award at NAB from the Broadcast & Video Group is a strong vote of confidence and admiration from this leading industry publication."

The winners of the 2011 Black Diamond Awards will be featured in the June 2011 issue of DV magazine, as well as online at www.dv.com.

Casablanca Expert Membership Drive - Grand Prize Winners Announced!

Congratulations to the following website members whose name was drawn for the 2011 Casablanca Expert Membership Drive:             

* Existing Member:
Donald Ross - Kilmacolm, Great Britain
* New Member:
Robert Weeding - Nevada - USA
* Member Referral:
Barry Hugg - Stirling, Australia
    

(the drawing was held Friday, April 15, 2011)

 

They will each receive the Casablanca Expert Bundle.This set of valuable Casablanca learning resources includes the first ten volumes of the popular DVD tutorials, Casablanca Foolproof:

* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 1: Smart Edit 8/Bogart 2 Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 2: DVD Arabesk 4 Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 3: Media Manager Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 4: Photo Studio 2 Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 5: Columbus Travel Animation Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 6: Title Studio Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 7: Candy Factory Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 8: Casablanca Chroma Key Effects
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 9: Bogart 4 Intensive
* Casablanca Foolproof Volume 10: Casablanca Eye Candy - Volume 1

Also included in the '2011 Casablanca Expert Bundle' are Chet's favorite Casablanca Expert Webinar Lessons - with DVDs of Chet's lessons, AVI disk of Chet's footage and printed guide to maximize your learning. 

Total value of the 2011 Casablanca Expert Bundle' is $ 388!

Casablanca eNewsletter for April 2011 Available Now!

Check out the info in this month's eNewsletter... from the recent Casablanca tips, the Streaming Video about Effects Pack One, info on the Spring Membership Drive, Community News and more!

 

If you are not already receiving this free monthly email newsletter, use this form to sign-up today (no obligation... and I won't share your address, I hate spam too!)

 

  

View the April 2011 Newsletter - click here