60-Second Q&A: Tom Curran, independent DP, Los Angeles, CA
08|26|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Shooting TLC’s hit documentary series Little People, Big World—mostly handheld, for more than 12 hours a day—is no small feat. Director of Photography Tom Curran heads up a crew of four, two teams working in 12-hour shifts, who follow the Roloff family of six everywhere.... »
Gefen Eases HD System Setup
08|26|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Gefen has introduced two new matrix switching systems that provide an easy way to connect multiple HD audio/video sources and displays. Source switching is controlled by a Gefen IR remote control unit or through the RS-232 port (available on all three rack mountable units). Source switching occurs instantly, so there is no downtime or noticeable lag between source selections.... »
Solid-State Storage Trend Masks Hidden Costs
08|26|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Many of today’s professional HD camcorders record their video data onto solid-state memory cards. A trip to any video store will quickly show even more consumer camcorders are doing the same.... »
Q&A: Donald Bland, camera operator/DP
08|12|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
At the beginning of the year, Don Bland trekked to the Arctic Circle to shoot interviews at natural gas exploration sites and remote villages for the second season of the History Channel series Ice Road Truckers.... »
Convergent Flash XDR [in Alpha] Hits the Street
08|12|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
The highly anticipated Flash XDR HD recorder/player from Colorado Springs, CO-based Convergent Design has begun hitting the street (at least in the hands of select “alpha” customers).... »
Panasonic Sets Dates for Latest P2 and AVCCAM HD Camcorders
08|12|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Panasonic Broadcast said its new AG-HPX170 fully solid-state P2 HD handheld camcorder would be available in late September at a suggested list price of $5,695, which includes a 16 GB P2 card.... »
Sony’s Back-Illuminated CMOS Sensor Promises Better Camcorder Performance
08|12|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Sony has announced a new CMOS sensor technology that claims to offer better image acquisition, lower noise, and nearly twofold light sensitivity in future camcorders.... »
Manfrotto ModoSteady Supports Small Camcorders
08|12|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Manfrotto, a leading name in photographic support gear, has introduced the ModoSteady, a three-in-one image stabilization system designed by Sapio for small camcorders.... »
Blackmagic Converters Provide Big Features in Small Package
07|22|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Blackmagic Design is now shipping a new family of five Mini Converters that are smaller and more fully featured than ever before. The series includes capabilities like 3 Gbps HD-SDI signal support, redundant SDI inputs, balanced analog and AES/EBU switchable audio, standard 1/4-inch jack audio connections, and a universal power supply that includes adapter plates for all international power sockets.... »
Hoodman’s WristShot Lightens Load on Fragile Wrists
07|22|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
While camcorders are smaller and lighter than ever before, handheld shooting with even the lightest device for even a short time can quickly fatigue the wrist—causing discomfort or strain for some operators.... »
Canon’s “Cadillac” HD Lens Finds an Audience
07|22|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
When Canon introduced its new HD studio lenses at NAB this year—with their eye-opening sticker price starting at $90,000—many felt they would be a hard sell to broadcasters increasingly on fixed incomes. Four months later, it appears as though Cannon was on to something, as major broadcasters like ABC, CBS News, Entertainment Tonight and ESPN have all ordered several for their state-of-the-art HD studios and are now using them on air.... »
JVC's New Software Takes Guesswork (and Cost) out of Calibrating HD Monitors
07|22|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
JVC has developed new software to help users of its DT-V professional HD monitors adjust color temperature, gamma curves and luminance levels with the click of a mouse. Bets of all: the software is free for existing customers who own JVC’s 17-inch, 20-inch and 24-inch DT-V flat-screen LCD monitors.... »
Innovision Enables Super-Tight Shots With Small-Format HD Cameras
07|08|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Ever watched CSI on television and wondered how the director of photography gets those extreme close-ups and into-the-body shots? The answer is a tubular lens—known as a Probe—by Innovision, a specialized optics company based in Los Angeles.... »
Convergent Design Unveils nanoFlash HD Recorder/Player
07|08|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Continuing to leverage the size and storage advantages of CompactFlash (CF) memory, Convergent Design has unveiled the nanoFlash portable HD Recorder/Player, which records video, audio and time code from an HD-SDI stream onto memory cards using 4:2:2 (MPEG-2) compression. The unit measures 4.2x3.7x1.4 inches and, powered by the camera battery, consumes less than 10W.... »
Angenieux’s “Rouge” Lens Delivery Set
06|24|2008 – By Michael Grotticelli
Thales Angenieux’s highly anticipated new Optimo DP (digital production) Series Lens—nicknamed “Rouge”—is set for delivery in the fourth quarter, according to the company. Some DPs say it can’t arrive soon enough.... »
- Solid-State Storage Trend Masks Hidden Costs
- Gefen Eases HD System Setup
- 60-Second Q&A: Tom Curran, independent DP, Los Angeles, CA
- Inlet H.264 Encoding Distributes One Live Feed to Many Web Users
- Cinema Success Drives 3D Technology for HDTV
- Maximum Throughput Builds a Better Sledgehammer

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| Michael Grotticelli |
• Sony PlayStation: Senior Environment Artist Sony Computer Entertainment America
• Production Assistant Nielsen IAG
• Producer (animation/graphics) MAKE
• Video Instructional Designer - Mathematics (4005) Compass Learning
• Video Instructional Designer - Science (4003) Compass Learning
• Audio Visual Production Specialist Social Security Administration: Social Security Administration
• Instructors Needed for Media Arts and Animation The Art Institute of California-San Diego
• Video Production Internship New York Islanders




