Episode 67: Automatic Captions for Videos

Griffin tests out SpeedScriber, an app that automatically generates subtitles for his latest video. Plus, your questions about editing out background music, when to use what kinds of stabilization, and issues with 24 vs. 30-frame videos.

SpeedScriber(for Mac OS) includes 15 free minutes of automatic transcription. After that, it’s $0.50/minute.

Joseph Linaschke, known as PhotoJoseph, has also experienced the DJI Spark/FCPX framerate issue we discussed last week. He sent me this thread in the DJI forums.

Nick helped me understand how 60hz televisions can avoid 24fps judder.

Episode 66: The Framerate Mismatch Problem

Griffin attempts to solve a weird frame-skipping problem showing up in Nick’s latest drone footage. Plus, your questions about handling audio tracks in Final Cut Pro X, producing a compelling story, and how to create a video podcast like ours.

Episode 65: Ronin-S, DJI’s new handheld gimbal

The new Ronin-S ships on June 11, 2018. Is DJI’s new handheld gimbal worth the $699 price tag? Plus, your questions about producing political ads, how to sound professional over email, and post-production tips for audio.

The DJI Ronin-S is a 4.1-lb. 3-axis gimbal that can handle camera/lens combos up to 7.9 lbs. The Ronin-S can connect to these supported cameras to control recording and/or focus.

Upcoming workshop in Los Angeles
PHOTOCON LA 2018 is a three-day photo and cinema learning event in Los Angeles, which opens with my keynote Traveling Light While Filmmaking on June 8, 2018.

Griffin cuts these rubber sheets into pieces to squeeze between slippery metal camera parts—to keep a tight connection between a tripod head and legs, for example.

For DVD production, Nick uses MediaZilla. For email hosting, he recommends Zoho.

To learn Final Cut Pro X tips, Griffin recommends Larry Jordan.

Bonus: The Four Ingredients of Documentary Film

From his recent filmmaking workshop at Illinois State University, Griffin explains the four elements of news and documentary—SOT, b-roll, voiceover and natural sound.

Upcoming workshop in Los Angeles
PHOTOCON LA 2018 is a three-day photo and cinema learning event in Los Angeles, which opens with my keynote Traveling Light While Filmmaking on June 8, 2018.

Episode 64: SD Card Problems

From Singapore, Griffin describes two recent problems he’s encountered with SD cards. Plus, your questions about the visual grammar of storytelling, pulling focus with electronic lenses, and the lenses I used on my latest film from Japan.

Directed by Errol Morris, The Fog of War is a documentary that features a special camera device called the Interrotron, which allowed former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara to speak directly into the camera during his interviews.

For the footage I shot in Kyoto, Japan, I relied on three Panasonic lenses—the 42.5mm f/1.2, 25mm f/1.4, and 8–18mm f/2.8–4. For Panasonic GH5 V-Log footage, I’ve enjoyed a LUT called VLog_to_V709_Varicam, included in this free zip file of LUTs created by Mitch Lally.

Here are the instructions for getting a podcast on Spotify.

Upcoming workshop in Los Angeles
PHOTOCON LA 2018 is a three-day photo and cinema learning event in Los Angeles, which opens with my keynote Traveling Light While Filmmaking on June 8, 2018.

Massachusetts Special Olympics video gig
If you’re interested in helping film the Massachusetts Special Olympics in Boston June 9–10, or the Cruiser Convoy in Mansfield, Braintree, Sagamore Beach, Danvers, or Reading, email Bruce Goguen at gig@EventsOnDVD.com

Episode 63: Filmmaking in Japan

Griffin and Amy are in Japan, filming a client project with the Zhiyun-Tech Crane v2 handheld gimbal. Plus, your questions about aspect ratios, offloading footage during international trips, and how audio syncing helps edit a podcast.

For backing up footage without a computer, there are many hard drives with built-in SD card readers:

• LaCie 2TB DJI Copilot BOSS

• GNARBOX 256GB

• Sanho HyperDrive ColorSpace 500GB

• WD 4TB My Passport Wireless Pro

Nick is interested to try Ferrite, an audio editing app for iPad.

Episode 62: Cheap vs. Expensive Sliders

Griffin buys an $820 Kessler Stealth slider, compares it to a $249 carbon fiber slider by Benro. Plus, your questions about SD card speeds, how to record two mono audio tracks, and whether to shoot your documentary in 4K or 1080.

Items I purchased today:

• Kessler Crane Stealth Slider Standard (39.5")

• Kessler CineSlider crank handle—can you believe this costs $50?!

• Benro MoveOver8B Carbon Fiber Slider and Case (35.4")

• (used) Manfrotto 3021Pro Tripod Legs

Nick thinks I need to upgrade my 37" 720p/1080i television. He just sent me this link—he recommends this new TCL 4K TV.

Episode 61: Digital Cinema Specs

A document from Australian theaters shows what tech specs they expect for your digital cinema files. Plus, your questions about SD cards and X-ray machines, the difference between European and American camera models, and how to film a weeks-long time lapse.

Thank you to John Cochrane in Brisbane, Australia—CEO of John Cochrane Advertising—for sharing these tech specs from Valmorgan Cinema Network:

View PDF—Production Specifications and Requirements

Episode 60: The Story of the Fire

Fire destroyed Griffin’s mom’s apartment in Bloomington, Illinois. She is safe, and the recovery process is going well. Plus, your questions about crop focal lengths, tracking freelance hours, and the best headphones for under $100.

Central Illinois news agencies reported on the fire, including this story in The Pantagraph.

How to protect yourself
The Red Cross has several fire preparedness tips—most importantly making sure you have working smoke alarms.

*My mom also appears in episode 54—she's interviewed on-campus at Illinois State University.

Upcoming workshop in Los Angeles
PHOTOCON LA 2018 is a three-day photo and cinema learning event in Los Angeles, which opens with my keynote Traveling Light While Filmmaking on June 8, 2018.

Regarding Austin’s question about counting freelance hours, I’ve come across ZEI° by Timeular, a tabletop device that tracks your working hours.

Although I prefer to trust wired lavalier mics (like the Sony ECM-44B) when possible, I’ve recently purchased a Sennheiser EW100 G3 wireless transmitter and ME 2-II lavalier mic.

John—looking for sub-$100 headphones—is considering the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO. Griffin likes his Sony MDR-V6. One of Nick’s favorite review sites, Wirecutter, has several suggestions.

Episode 59: Blackmagic Design Pocket 4K camera

Film tech announcements from the NAB Show, including the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Plus, your questions about shooting for cinema screens, what framerate to choose for editing, and if you should spend $1,000 on a microphone.

NAB announcements that caught our eye:

• Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

• Panasonic EVA1 firmware update

• Vimeo app for MacOS

• Rode NT-SF1 ambisonic microphone

Episode 58: ProRes RAW in FCPX 10.4.1

Final Cut Pro X’s latest update (v10.4.1) to video editing adds ProRes RAW and closed captioning right in the timeline. Plus, your questions about when you’re allowed to record audio without permission, the etiquette of film festival laurels, and how to sync timecode between cameras.

• NoFilmSchool’s article about this FCPX update
• Apple’s white paper about ProRes RAW

Next week, I’m teaching a one-hour filmmaking workshop at Illinois State University!
"Upgrade from Amateur to Documentary Filmmaker"
Tuesday, April 17, 5:00pm CT
Normal, Illinois
Illinois State University
Fell Hall 280 (Communication Innovation Center)
Facebook event—Let me know if you're coming!

This free event is part of COM Week—a series of educational events focused on entrepreneurship and career-building, hosted by the School of Communication at ISU.

HIRING
I’m hiring a few freelance positions around the world for an upcoming project. Email me at griffin@hey.film. Looking for—

• Drone operator in Tokyo
• Location scout/manager in Tokyo
• Drone operator in Taipei
• Location scout/manager in Taipei
• Drone operator in Singapore
• Location scout/manager in Singapore
• NYC-based editor fluent in Japanese
• NYC-based editor fluent in Mandarin Chinese

Episode 57: New HDR Monitor to Test

BenQ sent Nick their latest 31.5” HDR LCD monitor to test out. Plus, your questions about editing video on a Surface Pro, finding video work through the internet, and whether to place a lavalier mic on the bride.

In two weeks, at Illinois State University, I'm teaching a one-hour filmmaking workshop. And you're invited!

"Upgrade from Amateur to Documentary Filmmaker"
Tuesday, April 17, 5:00pm CT
Normal, Illinois
Illinois State University
Fell Hall 280 (Communication Innovation Center)

Facebook event—Let me know if you're coming!

This free event is part of COM Week—a series of educational events focused on entrepreneurship and career-building, hosted by the School of Communication at ISU.

Bonus: "What's your biggest failure?"

Jonathan Tilley is a personal brand strategist, and author of the book Embrace The F Word: Failure. On his interview series, he asked me about my greatest failure.

Bonus: How do I recover corrupt video files?

After shooting a music video, Taylor worries his SD card is corrupted. Nick recommends software to recover missing video files. Plus, we won “Best Podcast” from Johny Bosworth!

For recovering deleted or corrupted video files, Nick recommends the free, open-source, multi-platform software PhotoRec.

Episode 56: New, quicker FAA authorization for drones

In the United States, the FAA is rolling out a system called LAANC to make it easier and much quicker for commercial drone pilots to receive authorization to fly near airports. Plus, your questions about filming loud concerts, entering film festivals, and storing video assets.

Articles on this subject:

• Airmap: Nationwide Expansion of LAANC to 500 More Airports Begins Next Month
• Nextgov: FAA Expands Instant-Approval Flight Plan Program for Drones
• UAS Magazine: FAA expands drone airspace authorization program

Brendan asked about film festivals. Here’s a spreadsheet from 2014 that details the film festivals I entered Sriracha into, including their various deadlines and costs.

Episode 55: Cameras used by SXSW Filmmakers

No Film School asked 43 filmmakers at this year’s SXSW film festival what cameras they shot with. (It’s mostly ARRI Alexas.) Plus, your technical questions about the Panasonic GH5, lenses, hard drives, and what audio mixer to hook up to your computer.

Read: From ALEXAs to 1980s JVCs: Cameras & Lenses Used on SXSW 2018 Films

Warren asked what audio interface to use with his Sennheiser MD 421-II microphone ($380). He’s currently using the $40 Behringer XENYX 502 mixer. Our voiceover artist friend Matt Shivers recommends he upgrade to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ($150).

Episode 54: Filmed With a Live Studio Audience

Griffin is on campus at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois—where his friends have joined as this podcast’s first live studio audience. Plus, your questions about the DJI Spark, unconventional interview framing, and why Griffin uses an ND filter but Nick doesn’t.

Special thanks to Illinois State University, Dr. Steve Hunt and Dr. Nathan Carpenter for letting us use their new Communication Innovation Center to film this week’s episode.

Special guests featured in this episode

• Adam Rahn also co-hosted Hey Indie Filmmakers episode 15. His website is Droi Media, his latest YouTube video is What should I charge as a freelancer?, and if you like his t-shirt, he sells them.

• Matt Edwards is a photographer and drone pilot flying the new Mavic Air. His website is Redcorn Studios, and he shares vlogs on YouTube.

• Matt Shivers is a professional voice over artist. I borrowed his Behringer B-2 Pro to record my VO for Sriracha. He currently uses a Neumann TLM 103 condenser microphone and Sennheiser MKH-416. His website is Shivers Media.

• My mom, Carol Hammond, starred in and produced my first film (at age 6)—Ghostbusters 3.

Join me this Sunday at Illinois State University for a live recording of Hey Indie Filmmakers!

Doors open at 11:00am. This free event begins at 11:15am.
Normal, Illinois
Illinois State University
Fell Hall 280 (Communication Innovation Center)

Nick will join remotely from Las Vegas, & we'll answer filmmaking questions from the audience!

Film Gear Garage Sale

Nick is moving, and Griffin is clearing out closet space. They’re selling filmmaking gear they no longer use, in a YouTube Garage Sale. You can buy any of these 11 items at http://griffinhammond.com/sale

EDIT: All 11 items were claimed in the first 90 minutes of posting the video!

• $250 — Nick's Synology DS41j DiskStation 12TB NAS
• $230 — Panasonic 14–140mm f/4.0-5.8 lens (version 1)
• $175 — Olympus A01 tiny camera (requires m4/3 lens and microSD)
• $40 — CineSkates & Cinetics Skate Plate (GorillaPod not included)
• $25 — My homemade DIY Video Light (includes eight 5500K CFL bulbs & umbrella)
• $20 — Beast Grip phone adapter
• $15 — Magnetic Coaster Set (new in box, looks like a 85mm f/1.2 lens)
• $5 — Sriracha art print
• $1 — Adobe CS3 Master Collection for Mac (on DVD)
• FREE — Sriracha movie poster
• FREE — The Last Jedi BB-8 figurine

Episode 53: Retractable Closet Camera

To build a convenient, retractable podcasting system, Griffin mounted an LED panel and a retractable camera mount in his office closet. Plus, your questions about step-up rings, when to use shotgun vs hyper-cardioid mics, and if you can show the iPhone operating system in your film.

Ingredients for Griffin’s retractable podcasting system

• Spekular LED panel mounted via Pedco Ultra Clamp
• LEE Filters CTO gel to make the bluish LED warmer
• Reflex SR5 shoulder rig reconfigured into a retractable rail system
• Barska Ball Head with an Arca-style quick release plate
• B+W 2-stop ND Filter to use with my 12mm f/1.4 lens

In addition to our usual filmmaking questions, Nick wants you to tweet other types of questions using the hashtag #askgriffin

Hey Indie Filmmakers is brought to you by Squarespace. Try it for free, then save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain—visit squarespace.com/griffin

We received a question about the pocket-sized Panasonic LX10, which has a built-in f/1.4–2.8 24–70mm lens (super 35 equivalent).