Thank you, Vimeo. The short video that Lisa and I made, The Coffinmaker, was just named today’s Vimeo Staff Pick. It’s a big thrill to have the second film in our series make Staff Pick, because it ensures tens of thousands of people will see it. And I think Marcus Daly’s work deserves to be known far beyond Vashon Island, don’t you?

I also want to thank Jesse Solomon Clark for his original music, which really brings the piece home.

The only thing that sucks about having the last two films in this series be so well received, is that it sure puts the pressure on our next one! We are looking for people in Seattle area who make things by hand, so if you know someone who you think would be a good fit for this series, please drop me a line and suggest them.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Beyond Naked is now available to watch instantly. We picked Vimeo to be our first distribution partner, and that means you can now view it on any compatible device — including your TV in full HD via Apple TV, Samsung smart TVs, Roku, Xbox, and more.

Further, the film’s introductory price of $9.99 includes ability to download the file and watch it any time you like for as long as you like. After June 21, we will be removing the file download option, and it will be available for streaming only.

As a filmmaker, Vimeo is a compelling option. The quality blows doors off YouTube. All of the most common options you would want control over are at your fingertips. And the deal is impossible to beat: 90 percent of all sales go directly into the filmmaker’s paypal account.

Here’s my request to you, Beyond Naked fans: please rate and take the time to post a one or two sentence review of the film. This will go a long way toward helping the film rise toward visibility and help it find its audience. Thank you!

Popularity: 1% [?]

I’m thrilled to report that Beyond Naked has won Best Documentary Feature and the associated $1,000 jury prize at STIFF! We were traveling back from Ashford, Wa. where we had a screening of one of our shorts earlier in the day, when we got the news in a text from Jeff Hedgepeth, who represented us at the awards ceremony. But we did make it in time for the after party at Metropole.

I can’t say enough good things about STIFF and the organizers Tim Vernor and Willard Chase, as well as all the other volunteers who made the festival happen. Thank you STIFF for making our dream of screening Beyond Naked in front of a local audience come true.

Next up for the film: We will be launching the film on Vimeo on demand very soon.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I’m excited to be headed to Ashland, Washington, this weekend, where the Rainier Independent Film Festival is happening. The short I made about Seattle metalsmith Andy Cooperman will screen at the festival at 11am on Saturday. It’s Lisa and my first time at the festival, which is located very close to Mt. Rainier in a place that sounds perfect for hanging out with fellow filmmakers and watching a bunch of films. Can’t wait!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Just in time for the premiere tomorrow, the poster art has landed! I’m so excited to screen this film for a real audience. Both screenings are sold out!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Dig this: researchers at Harvard have given flight to the world’s smallest aerial drone. Now we just need to figure out how to cut the cord and put a camera on it. Imagine the possibilities…

Popularity: 1% [?]

UPDATE: Canon have now officially posted the new firmware, version 1.2.1. You can grab it here.

Canon’s long-anticipated firmware update to the 5dmkiii was leaked yesterday, and I couldn’t resist trying it out. The video isn’t any better as far as my eye can see. But there is one sweet thing that it does: it allows you to record the sensor crop image (in 4:3 aspect ratio) without any overlays, which you can activate by pressing the magnify button. The first one magnifies 5x, second push is 10x.

Here’s what that looks like with a 300mm lens. I’m filming from Gas Works Park, for a little perspective.

5dmkiii 1.2.1 firmware focus magnification shooting with 300mm lens.

In post, you have to enlarge these clips 119 percent to fill the frame. I’m definitely seeing the green shift in the externally recorded footage that people are talking about. Although my clips are even greener than would otherwise be the case, because I was shooting through a Tiffen .6 IR ND, which itself leaves a slight green cast on my 5dmkiii’s sensor.

In my view the 5x is definitely useable, but 10x the image starts to break down pretty badly. There’s also quite a bit of noise that appears in the crop mode. In the graded version above, I’ve applied Neat Video denoiser in FCPX, which cleans it up pretty well.

Canon has three options for HDMI ouput: auto, 24p, and 60i. First I tried the 24p mode. My footage showed a noticeable judder when played back. Definitely not very filmic. Then I tried 60i and auto (selecting auto outputs 60i also). And then I used Compressor to remove the pulldown. But the judder remains. Will have to investigate whether it’s possible to remove that with Compressor using other settings. But if the juddering playback is something we’re stuck with, then it’s a dealbreaker for me.

Popularity: 1% [?]

News flash: word on the street is that some of the lucky people who have tickets to the STIFF screening of Beyond Naked will be attending in costume. This guy is one of them:

I just might have to come up with something special myself. I can’t let The Joker outdo the director of the film, now can I?

What will you be wearing – or not wearing? There’s still a few tickets left to the second screening on May 8!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Warren Etheredge of The High Bar is doing it again. He’s hosting another one of his The Art of the Interview workshops on April 29.

If you’re thinking about making a documentary, you’d be crazy not to stop whatever you’re doing and go. I went twice. And Warren’s advice and examples carried me all the way through my first feature-length doc. You’ll learn answers to questions like: should I prepare questions in advance? How to keep the conversation moving? Should I interrupt? How?

UPDATE: Warren says mention that you’re a “friend of Dan” to get the $125 rate.

Here’s the full description:

In five words or fewer, you can broker a peace, inspire a book, embark on a life-long relationship. How can I be so sure? Because I have done so. Conversation is the greatest gift and the most powerful tool , but only when handled with care and tact and class.

In this unorthodox workshop, I’ll teach you how to get the most out of every interview, every conversation whether chatting with an A-list guest, a potential employer or your mom. You’ll discover why my PBS series, The High Bar (http://thehighabr.tv), has been nominated for its first Emmy® and why the BBC invited me to address students at ther College of Journalism. You’ll learn why best-seller Steven Johnson credits me for his latest “Future Perfect” and why Lewis Black still speaks to me after greeting him in a leopard-print bathrobe. You’ll discover how I put Oscar®-winner Jodie Foster at ease and how I got critically-beloved author Andre Dubus III to put up his dukes. You’ll learn why Al Gore’s speechwriter recognizes me as one of the three best interviewers in the country and why Cornel West may still be laughing *with* me and Woody Allen, well, not so much.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The first screening of Beyond Naked sold out in 48 hours! That could have been bad news for everyone who missed getting tickets, but happily STIFF has responded by adding a second screening. And this one is in the evening, at 8pm on May 6.

>> Get Tickets

Popularity: 1% [?]