The National Wildlife Federation has teamed with the Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertainment to inspire kids and families to learn about dolphins and protect ocean habitat with the release of Dolphin Tale which opened nationwide last month. The film is inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the people who worked together to save her life. After being caught in a crab trap the bottlenose dolphin later named Winter is rescued but looses her tail. A dedicated marine biologist a brilliant doctor and a devoted young boy bring about a miracle: a prosthetic tail to help Winter swim again.
Charles Martin Smith directed the film which was shot on location at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where the real Winter—who plays herself in the movie—makes her home. “Dolphin Tale beautifully portrays the value of wildlife in a modern world. We hope the film and the true story of Winter will inspire people of all ages to learn more about these amazing marine mammals and use the online resources we’ve created to realize how they can help dolphins and our oceans ” says Carey Stanton National Wildlife Federation senior director for education.
Warner Bros. is pleased to partner with the National Wildlife Federation and admires its efforts to inspire families to protect wildlife. Dolphin Tale is a film that showcases the bonds between people and wildlife. We believe it will inspire kids to think about how they can help dolphins and ocean habitats ” says Nicole Sedita Warner Bros. vice president for national promotions. National Wildlife Federation www.nwf.org ,2771
Panasonic AG-HPX250 Now Available,2011-09-30,Panasonic’s new AG-HPX250 its first P2 HD handheld camcorder with 10-bit 4:2:2 independent-frame full 1920 x 1080 resolution AVC-Intra recording is now available at the suggested list price of $5 995. “The AVC-Intra codec is highly prized for the master-quality 10-bit 4:2:2 independent frame images it produces ” says Joseph Facchini vice president of sales and product management Panasonic Solutions Company. ”Now for the first time with the HPX250 Panasonic offers an ultra-portable handheld camera with full-resolution 10-bit intra-frame recording in a one-piece unit without the need for an add-on recorder. This is an unprecedented level of image quality in such a lightweight camera.” Weighing 5.5 pounds the HPX250 incorporates high-sensitivity 1/3-inch full-HD 2.2 megapixel 3-MOS imagers and a 20-bit Digital Signal Processor to acquire native 1920 x 1080 resolution images. Offering a wide 28mm to 616mm (35mm equivalent) 22X HD lens with three independent adjustable rings (Zoom/Focus/Iris) the HPX250 covers most shooting situations without the need for a wide-angle conversion lens. The 22X lens also features an Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) function that ensures stable images during shooting. The HPX250 offers variable frame rate capability in 1080p up to 30fps (17 steps) as well as 720p up to 60fps (25 steps) for undercranking/overcranking to create fast or slow-motion effects. In addition to AVC-Intra 100/50 recording the HPX250 records in DVCPRO HD as well as standard definition recording in DVCPRO50 DVCPRO and DV. The HPX250 supports international HD and SD standards an added benefit to producers with global clients. The HPX250 offers recording in 1080/59.94i 29.97pN 23.98pN as well as 720p at 23.98pN and many other formats. The HPX250 offers Genlock/timecode input for multi-camera operation as well as an HD-SDI output an HDMI output and an IEEE 1394 in/out. The camcorder is equipped with a Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS)* function to help compensate for wide variations in lighting a waveform monitor and vectorscope display and two focus assist functions – a picture expanding function and a focus bar. The HPX250 features two locking XLR inputs with switches for mic/line two RCA audio outputs +48V Phantom Power capability and records four channels of 48kHZ/16 bit digital audio. Equipped with two P2 card slots the HPX250 can record for up to 320 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 at 720/23.98pN 160 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 1080/23.98pN and 128 minutes in other AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD formats on two 64GB cards. The camera is equipped with a widescreen 1 226 000-pixel LCOS color viewfinder and a widescreen 921 000-pixel 3.45-inch LCD color monitor. Its power consumption is low at only 15 watts. The HPX250 is backed by a five-year limited warranty program (one year plus four additional years with registration). Panasonic Solutions Company www.panasonic.com/broadcast ,2772
Filming Ends on The Paperboy,2011-09-30, Filming has wrapped in New Orleans Louisiana on the erotic thriller The Paperboy. Lee Daniels who directed the Academy Award-winning Precious directed this character-driven film set in central Florida during the late 1960s.
It stars Matthew McConaughey (The Lincoln Lawyer ) Zac Efron (Me And Orson Welles ) Academy Award-winner Nicole Kidman (The Hours) and John Cusack (2012) with David Oyelowo (The Help) Macy Gray (For Colored Girls) and Scott Glenn (Bourne Legacy) co-starring. New York Times’ best-selling author Pete Dexter writer of such American classics as Paris Trout and Deadwood adapted his book of the same name. As filming came to a close pre-sales for the film at 2011 Toronto International Film Festival were strong with deals being signed across multiple territories. With post-production next Daniels says “I am honored to have worked with this cast as they brought these offbeat characters to life. Everyone has knocked it out of the ballpark with their performances. I’m very excited as I head into post-production.”
The story follows two brothers: Ward Jansen (McConaughey) a reporter for The Miami Times and Jack Jansen (Efron) a recent college dropout who lives in a small town in central Florida with their overbearing father W.W. Jansen (Glenn). When Ward shows up with his writing partner Yardley Acheman (Oyelowo) to investigate a story for their paper Ward offers Jack the job of driving them around. The reason Ward is in town is that Charlotte Bless (Kidman) an enigmatic loner who writes to prisoners on death row has convinced them that Hillary Van Wetter (Cusack) an unsavory alligator hunter from the backwoods was wrongly convicted at a trial that took place near their hometown.
As the investigation unravels it becomes clear that these brothers are on a journey that is filled with betrayal. The only thing that remains constant is that there is this strange beautiful woman who falls in love with killers.
The film’s producers are Daniels Hilary Shor (Children Of Men) and Ed Cathell (Secret Lives of Bee.) Nu Image/Millennium Films’ Avi Lerner Trevor Short Danny Dimbort Boaz Davidson and John Thompson join Michael Benaroya (The Romantics) and Cassian Elwes (Blue Valentine) to executive produce. Co-producers Asger Hussain (Tennessee) and Simone Sheffield (Precious) completed the filmmaking team. The production was financed by Millennium Films.
The production crew also included director of photography Roberto Schaefer (Monster’s Ball) production designer Daniel T. Dorrance (upcoming Playing The Field) costume designer Caroline Eselin-Schaefer (Leaves Of Grass) and Academy Award-nominated editor Joe Klotz (Rabbit Hole.)
Filmed around New Orleans the Louisiana locales doubled as Florida of the late 1960s. Principal photography began on August 1 and wrapped on September 15.
A domestic release date will be determined once a domestic distribution deal is final. ,2773
Sachtler Introduces Telescopic TT 75/2 CF Lightweight Tripod,2011-09-30,Sachtler has introduced a new lightweight two-stage carbon fiber tripod ideally suited for HDV and video enabled DSLR cameras. The TT 75/2 CF features a 75mm bowl and three-section single carbon fiber tubes. Varying leg angles can be quickly deployed and adjusted. The tripod comes with Sachtler’s distinctive red footpads with retractable spikes.The Sachtler TT 75/2 CF offers a wide height range from as low as 10.6 inches up to a maximum height of 67.3 inches and weighs just 5.1 pounds. The new telescopic tripod is available in a system along with a Sachtler FSB 4 Cine DSLR FSB 6 or FSB 8 fluid head plus the DV 75 L padded carrier. The TT 75/2 CF Lightweight Tripod is available in the United States only. Sachtler www.sachtler.com ,2776
MPAA’s Dodd to Speak at SMPTE Conference,2011-09-30,Chris Dodd the chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America and former United States Senator will address attendees at the 2011 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference & Exposition to be held October 25-27 in Hollywood. “The movie and the TV industries aren’t just about big studios and stars. More than 2.2 million hard working middle-class people in all 50 states depend on the entertainment industry for their jobs. They work behind the scenes in production and in small businesses like equipment rental transportation construction and food service ” Dodd says. “Millions more people work in theaters video stores retail restaurants and other businesses that depend on entertainment. For all of these workers and their families content theft means declining incomes lost jobs and reduced health and retirement benefits.” The 2011 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference & Exposition is the pre-eminent gathering of motion-imaging scientists researchers engineers and business decision makers and is emblematic of the leadership role that the Society is taking to drive standards that will accelerate industry expansion and business success. SMPTE officials have cited an exceptionally strong class of presentation for this year’s conference including those on new multi-platform distribution schemes including next-generation watermarking; cloud-computing production solutions; new approaches to 3D acquisition production distribution and display; and new and more efficient ways of managing file-based workflows and locating digital media. A pre-conference SMPTE Symposium produced in cooperation with the American Society of Cinematographers will focus on large-sensor imaging revolution that is remaking creative production workflows. “We are thrilled to have Senator Dodd address the 2011 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference ” says SMPTE president Pete Ludé. “Our attendees are on the front lines of creating the technologies that help protect the creative product of the MPAA’s members let consumers experience in new ways and form the basis for entirely new business models that will help the industry thrive.” “Attendees at the 2011 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference have delivered some of the most incredible technologies for creating entertainment programming and I am honored to address this gathering to discuss how we must protect it ” Dodd says. Dodd served in the U.S. Congress representing Connecticut for 36 years – six years in the House of Representatives and thirty years in the U.S. Senate. He was one of the most widely respected legislators during his years in Congress earning the trust and admiration of both Democrats and Republicans. 2011 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference www.smpte.org/events/TheForum/ ,2777
Sony Digital Cinema Projector Shipments Exceed 10 000 Units ,2011-09-30,Last month cumulative shipments of Sony’s 4K digital cinema projection system set a new record by crossing the 10 000 units sold mark worldwide. Sony’s system has been adopted not only by Regal Entertainment AMC and National Amusement in the US but also by VUE and CinemaxX in Europe Megabox and Cinus in South Korea and by T-Joy Toho and 109 Cinemas in Japan. Sony’s projection system is based on its ultra-high resolution LCD component device known as 4K SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display). ,2778
Sony Pictures to Stop Subsidizing 3D Glasses in May,2011-09-30,Sony Pictures has announced that it will stop subsidizing 3D glasses in May beginning with Men in Black III and The Amazing Spider-Man. So far Sony is the only studio to make the move but Variety has reported that other major studios are studying the issue. The National Association of Theatre Owners issued a scathing response. Sony's actions raise serious concerns for our members who believe that provision of 3D glasses to patrons is well established as part of the 3D experience. Since the onset of the digital 3D revolution in 2005 it has been understood that exhibitors would bear the weight of technological and facility modification costs related to 3D while distribution took on the cost of 3D glasses. Any changes to that understanding must be undertaken through the mutual agreement of both sides of the business. According to the Variety report. Sony denied that studios have any ongoing responsibility to fund 3D glasses. We have been speaking with people in the industry for a long time about the need to move to a new model so this certainly comes as a surprise to no one in the business.” Regal Entertainment CEO Amy Miles told Variety that there could be potential fallout should the distributors’ subsidies of 3D glasses be halted: This could result in fewer screens exhibiting 3D films she said. Under the current model 3D has generated more entertainment options for our customers and helped exhibitors and studios generate incremental box office revenue Miles said in a statement. To the extent that Sony seeks to change the current model in a manner that shifts costs to exhibitors we would be forced to evaluate this new economic model and program our screens accordingly.
NWF Warners Alcon Team Up on Dolphin Tale Release
