Featured video: "New York City | "Color Commentary" on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera" by H. Paul Moon

At Vimeo, the caption says: Within the week of posting, my NYC test run of the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera went north of 3k playbacks, seeming sensible now to complement with a split-screen comparison of the untouched footage straight from the camera, alongside that finished product after color correction/grading. I have no delusions of being a studio auteur, who could justify a braggart director's commentary, but after thinking about the option to write a long, wordy blog post, I figured it's easier and better all-around just to talk over my footage. It's a visual medium anyway, and I'm sort of surprised there aren't more of these. Would love to see yours, too. The video streams by default in full 1080p high definition, so if you get jitters, click the HD icon in-frame to reduce your playback resolution. For reference, here's the original seven-minute film: http://vimeo.com/hpmoon/nyc. As I say at the end of this commentary, please add your comments below, and please share your work as it happens by joining the User Group: http://vimeo.com/groups/blackmagic http://facebook.com/BMCCusers http://twitter.com/BMCCusers TECHNICAL NOTES: Filmed handheld on a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (http://bhpho.to/bmccpckt), using a single lens (Panasonic 12-35mm, continuous f2.8 aperture, optically stabilized H-HS12035 | http://focuspull.in/hs12035). Shooting was on September 1 and 2, 2013, with post-production on September 7 and this commentary on September 12. Edited and graded in Adobe Premiere Pro CC, with clip-by-clip balancing adjustments using Fast Color Corrector, then applying an Adjustment Layer over the entire sequence with FilmConvert Pro 2, using its Blackmagic Cinema Camera profile and selecting the classic film stock emulation of KODAK VISION3 250D Color Negative Film 5207/7207 (with vintage Super 16mm film grain to match the feel -- and the actual size -- of the BMPC's digital sensor).

Featured video: "New York City | Breaking in the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera" by H. Paul Moon

At Vimeo, the caption says: On August 29, there were just a handful of Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras (BMPCs) in circulation, but I managed to get one. That weekend, I took a visit to New York City as my occasion to break it in. Manhattan has been a limitless source of inspiration for people far more talented than me, but the Blackmagic technology, coming to market in such a versatile size, invited this cinematic tone poem which might, even so, look different. Instead of creating something like a tourism video, I wanted to try and capture the human energy of the city that New Yorkers themselves know best, driven by the extraordinary music of Richard Danielpour that I came across recently (ringing in my head all weekend as I captured these shots). True to the elegant simplicity of the BMPC (http://bhpho.to/bmccpckt), I shot the entire piece handheld, using a single lens (Panasonic 12-35mm, continuous f2.8 aperture, optically stabilized H-HS12035 | http://focuspull.in/hs12035). Shooting was over the course of two days, September 1 and 2, gathering well under an hour of raw footage which was all that could fit onto a flash card using ProRes 422 HQ anyway. In post-production on September 7, I performed clip-by-clip balancing adjustments using Fast Color Corrector in Adobe Premiere Pro CC, then applied an Adjustment Layer over the entire sequence with FilmConvert Pro 2, using its Blackmagic Cinema Camera profile and selecting the classic film stock emulation of KODAK VISION3 250D Color Negative Film 5207/7207 (adding vintage Super 16mm film grain to match the feel -- and the actual size -- of the BMPC's digital sensor). The BMPC concept has a long way to go; it doesn't live up to its promises in terms of dealing with highlights (those dreaded white orbs), its batteries last a New York minute, and its interface is wonky, but I'm excited by the latitude that it buys me for image corrections in post, given its portable form factor which really suits my working style. If you're interested in seeing the creations and comments and tips of other filmmakers using this camera, join the User Group community that I created at: http://vimeo.com/groups/blackmagic http://facebook.com/BMCCusers http://twitter.com/BMCCusers [Note: This video streams by default in full 1080p high definition. If you experience stuttering, click the HD icon in-frame to reduce its playback resolution.]

Featured video: "Allegretto from "Excursions" by Samuel Barber" by H. Paul Moon

At Vimeo, the caption says: Michael Adcock, piano Washington Conservatory of Music Washington, D.C. April 12, 2013 Filmed and edited by H. Paul Moon | Zen Violence Films | http://zenviolence.com for the forthcoming feature-length documentary on Samuel Barber

Featured video: "Wallace McRae: Things of Intrinsic Worth" by H. Paul Moon

At Vimeo, the caption says: A reading by Wallace McRae of his poem "Things of Intrinsic Worth" during the 29th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada on February 1, 2013. [NOTE: If the video stutters a lot, click the "HD" icon at the lower-right of the frame to toggle off high-definition streaming.] Camera by Brad Winegar and H. Paul Moon, editing by H. Paul Moon. This piece is from footage we filmed for a feature-length documentary work-in-progress. For more information, visit: http://westdocumentary.com ABOUT THE POET: Wallace McRae is a third-generation rancher, with a 30,000 acre cow-calf ranch in Forsyth, Montana. He has been a part of nearly every National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. He was the first cowboy poet to be awarded the National Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. He is a recipient of the Montana Governor's Award for the Arts, and has served on the National Council of the Arts. Mr. McRae is fighting to protect his ranch and the greater environment in Montana, making the words of this poem tragically real. Read about it here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-montana-coal-20130427,0,4210576,full.story

Featured video: "Piano Trio by Lembit Beecher" by H. Paul Moon

At Vimeo, the caption says: Emily Daggett Smith, violin Karen Ouzounian, cello Lembit Beecher, piano and composer Commissioned by David Ehrlich for the 15th Anniversary of The Southwest Chamber Players, and to commemorate the 100th National Cherry Blossom Festival. This world premiere performance was given on March 30, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Filmed and edited by H. Paul Moon | Zen Violence Films | http://www.zenviolence.com

Featured video: ""Boris Bobby" by Jimmy Ghaphery [HD 1080p]" by H. Paul Moon

At Vimeo, the caption says: NOTES FROM THE PROGRAM: "Boris Bobby" is the premiere of a new composition by Jimmy Ghaphery for 21 electroacoustic improvisors. Based on the 1972 World Chess Championship between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, the score revolves around the end of game chessboards from each of the 21 games. Strategy, restraint, concentration, and tension are promised, with a nod toward unsustainable Cold War ideology. Performed at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C. as part of the Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music, September 29, 2012. Special thanks to Jeff Surak (curator and festival director). Gallery of still pictures at: https://picasaweb.google.com/112475141862795445381/BorisBobbyByJimmyGhapherySonicCircuitsFestival2012?authuser=0&feat=directlink Music composed and conducted by: Jimmy Ghaphery Music performed by: John Allen, nylon string guitar Daniel Barbiero, double bass Tommy Birchett, electronics Bruce Blizard, banjo Will Bryce, electronic clay pot Jeff Byrd, photo theremin Sam Byrd, drums Paul Faatz, tenor sax, clarinet, toys Jim Fabricatore, electric guitar Tim Harding, alto sax, clarinet Eric Helm, electric bass Pooh Johnston, viola Janel Leppin, cello, electronics Gunnar Lettow, amplified objects Will O'Donovan, glass emitter Anthony Pirog, electric guitar Gary Rouzer, amplified objects Keith Sinzinger, horn, hubcap Tom Wall, bari sax, clarinet Chris Videll, oscillators Ted Zook, basscello Filmed and edited by H. Paul Moon | Zen Violence Films | http://zenviolence.com